If the conference brief requires Fairtrade-certified matcha, choose a product only after checking certification for the exact pack; organic matcha and Fair for Life tea do not establish the same claim. Powder suits a staffed drinks station, portioned sachets can make servings easier to allocate, and a matcha-containing tea-bag blend suits self-service only if a blend is acceptable. If the required certification cannot be confirmed, ask the brief owner whether a clearly labelled Fairtrade green tea may replace matcha.
Check the mark and its ingredient scope on the exact matcha pack or in supplier documentation before using a Fairtrade claim in the menu or procurement record. The Fairtrade Foundation distinguishes the classic FAIRTRADE Mark from other forms of ingredient claim.
Choose a portion and preparation method staff can repeat during a conference break. Clearspring gives directions for 1g portions of its matcha, while JING Tea gives a 1.5g-per-160ml guide for its ceremonial matcha; neither is a universal recipe for other products.
Tea bags avoid a powder-mixing station, but a green-tea blend containing matcha is not the same drink as pure powdered matcha. Pukka describes its teas as Fair for Life certified; that is distinct from confirming a FAIRTRADE Mark for an exact product.
Settle the certification requirement first, then match the drink format to the way delegates will be served. Check ingredients and allergens for the finished drink, not just the tea component.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Fairtrade claim | Check the exact pack or supplier documentation for the applicable FAIRTRADE Mark and which ingredient it covers. The Fairtrade Foundation explains that organic and Fairtrade claims establish different things. | I need the menu and procurement record to describe the certification the product actually carries. |
| Service format | Decide whether staff will prepare powder or delegates will brew tea bags. For its own products, Clearspring gives a 1g powder guide and JING Tea specifies 1.5g per 160ml with shaking or whisking. | During a short break, I need a serving method that fits the staff and equipment available. |
| Drink type | Check whether the product is powdered matcha or a green-tea blend containing matcha. Tesco describes Pukka Supreme Matcha Green as a blend of green teas with matcha. | I want delegates to receive the kind of matcha drink promised on the conference menu, rather than a different tea format. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Retain current product labels and record anything added during preparation, including milk or other drink ingredients. GOV.UK and Food Standards Agency guidance says food businesses in England, Northern Ireland and Wales must provide allergen information for prepacked and non-prepacked food and drink. | Delegates need accurate information about the drink as served, not only the matcha powder or tea bag. |
| Approved alternative | If the brief can change, confirm the substitute in writing and label it accurately. M&S Food identifies its Pure Green Tea Bags as Fairtrade green tea; that does not make them matcha. | When the matcha requirement cannot be met as written, I need an agreed alternative that the menu describes correctly. |
That can make a conference menu or tender response inaccurate. Clearspring and JING Tea describe organic matcha, while Pukka describes Fair for Life certification; those claims do not by themselves establish an applicable FAIRTRADE Mark.
Ask for a current pack image or manufacturer statement for the exact product, and retain the mark and ingredient-scope information with the catering specification.
Loose powder requires measured preparation, while individual sachets simplify allocating portions but still need a workable mixing method.
Set the number of servings and decide who will prepare them. Follow the chosen product’s directions rather than applying one brand’s portion guide to another.
Milk or another added ingredient can change the allergen information delegates need. GOV.UK and Food Standards Agency guidance requires food businesses in England, Northern Ireland and Wales to provide allergen information for prepacked and non-prepacked drinks and to train staff on allergens.
Record the full recipe, retain current ingredient labels and make accurate allergen information available before service.
M&S Food’s Pure Green Tea Bags are identified as Fairtrade green tea, whereas Pukka Supreme Matcha Green is a green-tea blend containing matcha. Neither description makes the two drinks interchangeable.
If the event brief can change, obtain approval for the alternative and name the drink accurately on the menu.
These references illustrate different conference-serving options; a brand’s inclusion does not establish Fairtrade certification for its matcha.
Powdered matcha and portioned Matcha Shot sachets for organisers preparing matcha drinks.
Loose organic ceremonial matcha for a staffed station that can measure and mix each drink.
A tea-bag route when a matcha-containing green-tea blend is acceptable for self-service.
A Fairtrade green-tea alternative if the conference brief explicitly permits a change of drink.
These powdered matcha options suit a conference planning prepared drinks or allocated sachets. Check certification for the exact pack before using either for a strict Fairtrade-certified matcha brief.
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This 30g powdered matcha gift set is an option for a staffed station where drinks can be prepared to order.
Confirm certification for the exact pack before describing it as Fairtrade, and check the complete prepared-drink recipe for allergens.
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Individually portioned sachets offer a way to allocate matcha servings at a conference; this selection contains four packs of seven 1.5g sachets.
Confirm the preparation method before planning service, and check certification for the exact pack before making a Fairtrade claim.
Not on the basis of organic status or origin alone. Check the exact product’s mark or supplier documentation and the ingredients covered; the Fairtrade Foundation distinguishes its classic FAIRTRADE Mark from other ingredient claims.
Only if the brief owner accepts that different standard and the proposed drink format. Pukka says its teas are Fair for Life certified, but that statement does not establish an applicable FAIRTRADE Mark for a matcha product.
They can help staff allocate individual portions, but the drink still needs a preparation method. Waitrose & Partners lists Clearspring Matcha Shot as eight 1g portions and gives whisking directions; check the directions for whichever product you order.
For food businesses in England, Northern Ireland and Wales, GOV.UK and Food Standards Agency guidance requires allergen information for prepacked and non-prepacked food and drink, alongside staff allergen training. Check current labels and every ingredient added to the matcha before providing information about the finished drink.
Not necessarily. The Fairtrade Foundation explains that its mass-balance model requires companies to buy the corresponding amounts of relevant Fairtrade ingredients. Check the exact mark and accompanying wording before describing the tea used at the event.