How to check if a fruit tea carries the FAIRTRADE Mark

Who is this for?

Budget shoppers requiring the FAIRTRADE Mark

You want a fruity hot drink for a budget shop, but will count a product as Fairtrade only after checking the individual pack.

Fruit-infusion drinkers comparing ethical labels

You prefer fruit, herb or spice infusions and want to distinguish the FAIRTRADE Mark from other named certification schemes.

Supermarket shoppers comparing pack sizes

You want to compare the number of servings without treating Fairtrade black tea as an interchangeable fruit infusion.

What should you check?

Start with the certification you require, then check the drink itself and the number of servings in the pack.

Priority	What to check	Your needs
Fairtrade certification	Look for the FAIRTRADE Mark on the exact pack. Fairtrade International says an arrow on the mark directs shoppers to the back of pack for ingredient and sourcing details.	I need the fruit tea I buy to carry the FAIRTRADE Mark, not just another product from the same brand.
Type of drink	Read the ingredients for fruit, herbs, spices and any tea leaves. Twinings describes fruit tea as an infusion without Camellia sinensis leaves; Fairtrade International’s tea standard covers tea from the Camellia plant.	I’m looking for a fruit infusion, so Fairtrade black tea would be a different drink rather than a direct substitute.
Other ethical labels	Identify the named scheme and what the pack says it covers. Pukka says its teas carry Fair for Life certification; that label is not the FAIRTRADE Mark.	A separately certified fruit or herbal infusion could suit me if Fairtrade certification is not essential.
Servings and caffeine	Check the stated bag or sachet count and the exact pack’s ingredients and caffeine statement. Do not assume caffeine status from the words ‘fruit tea’ alone.	I want to know how many drinks the pack makes and whether this particular blend meets my caffeine preference.

Common buying mistakes

Assuming a Fairtrade-associated brand certifies every fruit infusion

A brand can sell both Fairtrade tea and fruit infusions. Clipper’s product range, for example, lists Fairtrade Everyday Tea and Organic Blackcurrant & Blueberry Infusions as distinct products; one listing does not establish the other’s certification.

Check the FAIRTRADE Mark on the fruit infusion’s own pack and read any additional pack information indicated by an arrow.
Using different ethical labels interchangeably

Fair for Life and the FAIRTRADE Mark name different schemes. Teapigs also describes sourcing from Rainforest Alliance and Ethical Tea Partnership certified tea estates; that statement does not certify an individual fruit infusion as Fairtrade.

Decide whether the FAIRTRADE Mark is required or whether a different named scheme meets your preference, then check the product’s own label.
Comparing pack counts without checking the drink

A larger pack of Fairtrade black tea does not provide the same drink as a fruit infusion. Sainsbury’s listings include both types, so bag count alone cannot settle a fruit-tea choice.

Compare serving counts among drinks you would actually choose, and check certification separately on each pack.

Brand references for fruit tea and ethical labels

Clipper

Clipper describes itself as the UK’s first Fairtrade tea company and lists UK stockists including Tesco and Sainsbury’s.

Its range includes Fairtrade-labelled tea products.
Its separate fruit-infusion listings still need their own pack-level certification check.

Pukka

Pukka presents Fair for Life as the certification used for its teas.

Pukka says its tea packs identify certified ingredients and their proportion.
Fair for Life does not meet a requirement for the FAIRTRADE Mark.

Twinings

Twinings lists fruit and herbal infusions separately from its Organic & Fairtrade tea collection.

Its fruit-and-herbal range offers a reference point for identifying fruit, herb and spice infusions.
Certification in a separate collection does not establish the status of an individual fruit infusion.

Teapigs

Teapigs lists Super Fruit as a blend containing hibiscus and fruit ingredients.

The Super Fruit ingredient listing helps shoppers assess whether that blend matches their flavour preference.
Teapigs’ statements about certified tea estates do not establish that Super Fruit carries the FAIRTRADE Mark.

Sainsbury’s

Sainsbury’s lists own-brand fruit infusions alongside Fairtrade black tea.

The separate listings let shoppers check drink type and bag count before choosing.
J Sainsbury plc’s May 2025 statement that its own-brand black tea is Fairtrade does not extend that claim to fruit infusions.

Tesco

Tesco has published information about sourcing for its UK own-brand tea.

Its sourcing information provides context about its tea supply chain.
A sourcing statement is not a FAIRTRADE Mark on a particular fruit-infusion pack.

Joybuy product options

This berry herbal infusion is an option if you accept Pukka’s Fair for Life certification rather than requiring the FAIRTRADE Mark.

Pukka Night Time Berry Organic Tea, 20 sachets, 36g

A berry herbal tea for shoppers who are open to an ethical certification other than Fairtrade.

The listed pack contains 20 sachets and weighs 36g. Pukka says its teas are Fair for Life certified; this is not evidence that this pack carries the FAIRTRADE Mark.

View on Joybuy

Frequently asked questions

How can I check whether a fruit tea is Fairtrade?

Look for the FAIRTRADE Mark on the exact pack. Fairtrade International says that, if the mark has an arrow, the back of the packaging explains more about the certified ingredients and sourcing method.

Does a brand’s Fairtrade tea range cover its fruit infusions?

Not necessarily. Clipper lists Fairtrade tea and fruit infusions as separate products, while Twinings has separate fruit-and-herbal and Organic & Fairtrade collections. Check the fruit infusion’s own pack.

Is fruit tea always caffeine-free?

Do not rely on the name alone. Twinings describes fruit tea as an infusion without Camellia sinensis tea leaves, but check the ingredients and caffeine statement on the particular blend you are buying.

Is Fair for Life the same as Fairtrade?

No. Pukka says its teas are Fair for Life certified, which offers a differently named certification choice. If you specifically require the FAIRTRADE Mark, check for that mark on the individual product instead.

Can Fairtrade black tea take the place of fruit tea?

Only if black tea is a drink you would choose in its own right. Sainsbury’s lists fruit infusions and Fairtrade black tea as different products; the black tea’s certification does not certify the fruit infusion.