What is Organic and Fairtrade Tea and Coffee?
July 5, 2010
Most of us dont realise that this tea is often grown on tea plantations in the developing world where the crops are sprayed with many chemicals and pesticides and the workers that pick the leaves are not only exposed to this danger but are often paid a pittance of a wage as well.
Organic and Fairtrade tea, coffee and cocoa are growing in popularity as people realise the benefits of spending those extra pennies per box and the payback in both health and human terms.
Why buy organic tea, coffee or cocoa?
Consumers usually decide to buy because production is carried out using sustainable farming practices, specifically not allowing deforestation to occur as part of plantation farming techniques.
Some producers go down the Fairtrade route, which gives the consumer further altruistic benefit in terms of assurance that the workers on the tea or Coffee plantations have been working under improved terms and conditions, giving them a better quality of life and reducing exploitation. You can now buy organic, Fairtrade tea which is not much more expensive then just organic tea. I buy Morrisons own branded organic, fairtrade tea bags as its cheaper than the branded products such as clipper teas.
What exactly is organic I hear you ask?
Tea or coffee qualifies as organic only when environment-friendly techniques are employed in its production. An organic unit should essentially be a self-sustaining one, designing the farm at the time of establishment of new organic tea or coffee plantation is crucial for optimum utilization of resources within the plantation itself.
In order to establish organic tea fields or coffee plantations, it is necessary to build up inherent nutrient levels and neutralise the chemical residues left in soils from past cultivation. This requires an interim period – called the conversion period. Based on the agro-ecological conditions, this period may vary from 3 to 5 years. If plantation is taken up before conversion period is over, chemical residues may show up in the product. These processing techniques are sufficient to make it highly unusual for any pesticides to be present in the end product.
Insect pest and disease management
Insect and disease management in organic farming systems rely on the inherent equilibrium in nature. This includes using natural enemies of pests to keep their numbers in check.
There are many varieties of organic herbal teas now available also. Some of these have the added benefit of possessing medicinal properties. For example, peppermint tea aids indigestion and chamomile can soothe and relax you.
Find companies that sell organic tea in GuideMeGreen.com
Davinos Greeno
http://www.articlesbase.com/environment-articles/what-is-organic-and-fairtrade-tea-and-coffee-92695.html
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7 Responses to “What is Organic and Fairtrade Tea and Coffee?”
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Help with my food technology coursework?
I just need a few people to fill out this questionnaire so i can use it as research for my gcse food tech coursework. i know its a bit lengthy, but if you could fill it out it would be much appreciated. (:
1) What age group do you fit?
0-15 16-20 21-30 31-40 41-50 51-60 61-70 70+
2) How often do you visit coffee shops?
Very regularly Quite regularly Often Occasionally Rarely Never
3) Why do you visit coffee shops?
To get a quick breakfast/lunch/snack To meet with friends/family
To relax after a busy day Other (please specify)
4) What kind of product do you usually purchase/prefer? (Circle one)
Cake Biscuit/Cookie Slices/Tray bakes Other (please specify)
5) How much would you expect to pay for the following:
a) A Muffin
b) Slice of cake
c) Brownie
d) Small cappuccino and a flapjack
e) Large latte and a shortbread
6) What is your favourite coffee shop?
Starbucks Costa Caffé Nero Other (please specify)
7) What kind of product would you like to see sold in coffee shops? (e.g. certain type of muffin/cake etc)
a) is/uses ingredients that are Fairtrade? Yes/No
b) is/uses ingredients that are Organic? Yes/No
c) uses non-GM ingredients? Yes/No
9) Do you have any dietary requirements? (e.g. diabetic, gluten allergy etc.)
10) Finally, what would you rather a product be?
Low cost, lower quality Medium cost, average quality Higher cost, higher quality
Thanks you for completeting the questionnaire (:
1) What age group do you fit?
21-30
2) How often do you visit coffee shops?
Quite regularly
3) Why do you visit coffee shops?
To get a quick breakfast/lunch/snack )
4) What kind of product do you usually purchase/prefer? (
coffee and sandwich/panini
5) How much would you expect to pay for the following:
a) A Muffin £1.10
b) Slice of cake£1.25
c) Brownie75p
d) Small cappuccino and a flapjack £2.99
e) Large latte and a shortbread £3.50
6) What is your favourite coffee shop?
Other (please specify)
Local independants
7) What kind of product would you like to see sold in coffee shops? (e.g. certain type of muffin/cake etc)
newspapers
a) is/uses ingredients that are Fairtrade? Yes/No
b) is/uses ingredients that are Organic? Yes/No
c) uses non-GM ingredients? Yes/No
all of the above – depends on the individual product and whether or not it was a marketing excercise
9) Do you have any dietary requirements? (e.g. diabetic, gluten allergy etc.)
no
10) Finally, what would you rather a product be?
Higher cost, higher quality
Thanks you for completeting the questionnaire (:
References :
1) What age group do you fit?
21-30
2) How often do you visit coffee shops?
Occasionally
3) Why do you visit coffee shops?
To get a quick breakfast/lunch/snack
To meet with friends/family
(both answers apply)
4) What kind of product do you usually purchase/prefer? (Circle one)
Other – mostly coffee/other drinks, sometimes pastries
5) How much would you expect to pay for the following:
a) A Muffin – CAD 1.something
b) Slice of cake – CAD 2
c) Brownie – CAD 2
d) Small cappuccino and a flapjack CAD 2 something
e) Large latte and a shortbread CAD 4
6) What is your favourite coffee shop?
Other – Tim Hortons
7) What kind of product would you like to see sold in coffee shops? quick sandwiches
a) is/uses ingredients that are Fairtrade? Yes
b) is/uses ingredients that are Organic? Yes
c) uses non-GM ingredients? Yes
9) Do you have any dietary requirements? (e.g. diabetic, gluten allergy etc.)
No
10) Finally, what would you rather a product be?
Medium cost, average quality
References :
1) What age group do you fit?
16-20
2) How often do you visit coffee shops?
Rarely
3) Why do you visit coffee shops?
To get a quick breakfast/lunch/snack
4) What kind of product do you usually purchase/prefer? (Circle one)
Cake
5) How much would you expect to pay for the following:
a) A Muffin – £1.50
b) Slice of cake £2-2.50
c) Brownie £1.50-£2.00
d) Small cappuccino and a flapjack £3.50
e) Large latte and a shortbread £4.00
6) What is your favourite coffee shop?
Starbucks
7) What kind of product would you like to see sold in coffee shops?
Hot Chocolate with Baileys!
a) is/uses ingredients that are Fairtrade? No
b) is/uses ingredients that are Organic? Yes
c) uses non-GM ingredients? No
9) Do you have any dietary requirements? (e.g. diabetic, gluten allergy etc.) Nope
10) Finally, what would you rather a product be?
Higher cost, higher quality
References :
1) What age group do you fit?
0-15 16-20 21-30 31-40 41-50 51-60 61-70 70+
21-30
2) How often do you visit coffee shops?
Very regularly Quite regularly Often Occasionally Rarely Never
Often
3) Why do you visit coffee shops?
To get a quick breakfast/lunch/snack To meet with friends/family
To relax after a busy day Other (please specify)
to meet with friends/family
4) What kind of product do you usually purchase/prefer? (Circle one)
Cake Biscuit/Cookie Slices/Tray bakes Other (please specify)
bakes
5) How much would you expect to pay for the following:
a) A Muffin – £2
b) Slice of cake £3
c) Brownie £1.50
d) Small cappuccino and a flapjack £6
e) Large latte and a shortbread £6
6) What is your favourite coffee shop?
Starbucks Costa Caffé Nero Other (please specify)
Other – local place
7) What kind of product would you like to see sold in coffee shops? (e.g. certain type of muffin/cake etc)
ice cream
a) is/uses ingredients that are Fairtrade? Yes/No
b) is/uses ingredients that are Organic? Yes/No
c) uses non-GM ingredients? Yes/No
Fairtrade – yes.
organic – no
non-GM – maybe
9) Do you have any dietary requirements? (e.g. diabetic, gluten allergy etc.)
No
10) Finally, what would you rather a product be?
Low cost, lower quality Medium cost, average quality Higher cost, higher quality
higher cost higgher quality
References :
1) 16-20
a – Yes
2) Occasionally
3)To meet with friends/family
4) Cookie slices
5) a – £2 maximum
b – £1.25 maximum
c – £1 max
d – £3.50
e – £4
6) Any of them!
7) Gingerbread
b – No
c – No
9) No
10) Higher Quality
References :
1) What age group do you fit?
21-30
2) How often do you visit coffee shops?
Very regularly
3) Why do you visit coffee shops?
Lunch
4) What kind of product do you usually purchase/prefer? (Circle one)
I’m coeliac…so none
5) How much would you expect to pay for the following:
a) £1.50
b) £3.00
c) £2.00
d) £4.00
e) £4.50
6) What is your favourite coffee shop?
Starbucks
7) What kind of product would you like to see sold in coffee shops?
Any gluten free products
a) is/uses ingredients that are Fairtrade? Yes
b) is/uses ingredients that are Organic? Yes
c) uses non-GM ingredients? No
9) Do you have any dietary requirements?
Gluten free
10) Finally, what would you rather a product be?
I would not care about the price as long as it is good quality, however would not want to pay more than £5.00 for a drink and a snack.
References :