Sellers making a Fairtrade claim
If Fairtrade will appear on a stall sign or menu, check the claim for the exact infusion and describe any stated limit on its certified ingredients.
Who is this for?
Stalls offering caffeine-free fruit drinks
Check each blend’s caffeine statement and brewing instructions, particularly if you want to serve cups to order or offer a chilled drink.
First-time prepared-drink sellers
Selling prepared cups raises questions about food-business registration, allergen information and the conditions set by the organiser and local council.
What should you check before buying?
A Fairtrade fruit infusion
Choose this route: When Fairtrade is the claim your stall needs to make; the Lichfields Red Berries listing identifies hibiscus and rooibos as compliant with Fairtrade Standards.
Keep in mind: Those ingredients make up 83% of the blend, so do not describe every ingredient as Fairtrade.
Another ethical approach
Choose this route: If your stall accepts a different named certification, Pukka says its teas are Fair for Life certified.
Keep in mind: Fair for Life and a brand’s own ethical scheme must not be presented as Fairtrade certification.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Certification wording | Read the claim for the exact product. Check whether it names Fairtrade, Fair for Life or another scheme, and whether it specifies which ingredients are covered. | I need wording for my stall sign that matches the tea I will actually serve. |
| Brewing and serving | Check the stated water quantity, brewing time and hot or chilled serving instructions. The Lichfields Red Berries listing specifies 2–3 minutes; teapigs specifies at least 3 minutes for Super Fruit. | During a queue, I want to know how long each cup takes and whether chilled service fits my preparations. |
| Blend and caffeine | Check the caffeine statement for each exact blend and the number of bags or sachets. Do not apply a statement about one fruit infusion to a different variety pack. | I want a clearly identified fruit drink for customers avoiding caffeine, with portions I can plan around. |
| Trading and allergens | Ask the relevant local authority whether your planned activity requires food-business registration. Keep ingredient and allergen information current for the infusion and any additions; confirm the organiser’s conditions. | I’m selling prepared cups, so I need to settle the food-stall arrangements before trading. |
Mistakes to avoid
-
Treating every ethical label as Fairtrade
Pukka describes its teas as Fair for Life certified, while teapigs describes its own ethical scheme. Neither statement makes the named fruit infusion Fairtrade certified.
Copy the certification name from the exact pack or current product information. If stating an ingredient percentage, keep its scope: the Lichfields Red Berries listing puts Fairtrade-compliant hibiscus and rooibos at 83% of the blend.
-
Overlooking brewing time during a queue
The Lichfields Red Berries listing gives 2–3 minutes, whereas teapigs says Super Fruit needs at least 3 minutes because its whole fruits take longer to brew.
Plan made-to-order service around the chosen blend’s instructions. If preparing drinks ahead, plan how they will be held and served.
Longer infusion times can add to the wait for made-to-order cups.
-
Assuming an occasional stall needs no food-business check
Food Standards Agency guidance for England, Northern Ireland and Wales says selling or preparing food or drink, including from temporary premises, may make an operator a food business that needs local-authority registration.
Describe your planned activity to the relevant local authority before trading, and check the organiser’s conditions for selling refreshments at the event.
-
Using only the tea box to answer allergen questions
A prepared cup may contain additions as well as the infusion. Food Standards Agency guidance addresses mandatory information about the 14 regulated allergens in non-prepacked food.
Keep current ingredient and allergen information for each tea and addition you offer, and make sure anyone serving knows where to find it.
Relevant brand references
These examples show why a certification statement for one product or brand should not be transferred to another infusion.
Lichfields
Red Berries is a fruit infusion with product-level Fairtrade wording in the Single Portions listing.
- The listing describes it as naturally caffeine free, suitable hot or cold, and brewed for 2–3 minutes.
- Its stated Fairtrade-compliant hibiscus and rooibos account for 83% of the blend, not every ingredient.
Pukka
Morning Berry is a berry-and-hibiscus tea containing rooibos, rosemary and ginseng.
- Pukka says its teas are certified organic and Fair for Life.
- Fair for Life must not be renamed Fairtrade on a stall sign.
teapigs
Super Fruit is a whole-fruit infusion for a stall able to allow time for brewing.
- teapigs describes Super Fruit as naturally caffeine free and instructs customers to brew it for at least 3 minutes.
- teapigs describes an ethical scheme, but that is not a product-level Fairtrade claim for Super Fruit.
Twinings
Cranberry & Raspberry is a fruit infusion with instructions for hot or chilled serving.
- Twinings describes this blend as naturally caffeine free and sugar free, with a 3-minute infusion in 200 ml of freshly boiled water.
- A Fairtrade claim for this blend should not be made without checking the exact product’s certification.
Clipper
Fairtrade Everyday offers a conventional black-tea option rather than a fruit infusion.
- Clipper identifies Fairtrade Everyday as a Fairtrade black-tea blend.
- It does not meet a requirement for fruit tea unless a separate fruit option is offered.
Fruit tea options on Joybuy
These portioned fruit-tea options suit a stall considering berry or mixed-fruit drinks. Check the exact pack before making a Fairtrade claim for either product.
No image available
Pukka Night Time Berry Organic, 20 sachets, 36 g
The berry-and-herb blend comes in portioned sachets and is described for hot or chilled serving. Pukka says its teas are Fair for Life certified; check this pack’s wording rather than advertising it as Fairtrade. Confirm its caffeine statement and brewing instructions before planning service.
No image available
Twinings Fruit Selection, 20 tea bags, 40 g
The pack contains four fruit-infusion blends in 20 tea bags. Its product description identifies the selection as naturally caffeine free. Check the exact pack before making a Fairtrade claim, and confirm brewing and chilled-serving instructions for the blends you intend to offer.
Frequently asked questions
What can I say about a fruit tea’s Fairtrade status?
Use the wording for the exact product and keep any ingredient-level limit. The Single Portions listing for Lichfields Fairtrade Red Berries says its hibiscus and rooibos comply with Fairtrade Standards and account for 83% of the blend; it does not establish that every ingredient is Fairtrade.
Can I put Fairtrade on a sign for Pukka’s Fair for Life tea?
Do not substitute one certification name for the other. Pukka says its teas are Fair for Life certified; use that name unless the exact product independently carries a Fairtrade claim.
How should I plan brewing time for a busy stall?
Use the instructions for the blend you will serve. The Lichfields Red Berries listing gives 2–3 minutes, Twinings specifies 3 minutes for Cranberry & Raspberry, and teapigs says Super Fruit needs at least 3 minutes. Allow for that time when deciding whether to make cups to order.
Should I check registration before selling prepared cups?
Yes. Food Standards Agency guidance for England, Northern Ireland and Wales says that selling or preparing food or drink, including at temporary premises, may make you a food business that needs local-authority registration. Ask the authority responsible for your event location about your planned activity; check local requirements separately in Scotland.
What allergen information should I have at the stall?
Keep current ingredient and allergen details for every infusion and addition you serve, such as milk, plant drinks, syrups or garnishes. Food Standards Agency guidance addresses mandatory information about the 14 regulated allergens in non-prepacked food; make sure the serving team can provide the relevant information.