Who is this for?

Fairtrade-first top-up shoppers

You want an everyday refill and need the specific tea-bag pack to carry a Fairtrade claim or Mark, rather than relying on a familiar brand name.

Shoppers comparing sourcing labels

You care about how tea is sourced and need to decide whether Fairtrade is a requirement or whether you would also consider Rainforest Alliance certification or a brand sourcing programme.

Everyday tea drinkers choosing a refill size

You want the right number of bags for your next top-up while keeping your preferred tea type and certification in view.

What should you check?

Start with the certification you require, then compare the tea type, pack count and any traceability information that matters to you.

Priority What to check Your needs
Fairtrade status Look for the Fairtrade Mark or explicit Fairtrade wording on the exact pack. For an online order, check the individual product listing as well as the pack when it arrives. I want the tea I pick up for this top-up to meet a Fairtrade-only requirement, not merely to come from a brand I recognise.
Other sourcing labels Read the precise certification or programme named. Rainforest Alliance certification and a brand’s responsible-sourcing programme do not, by themselves, establish Fairtrade status. I’m open to another sourcing route only if Fairtrade is a preference rather than a firm requirement.
Traceability Read the pack’s Fairtrade traceability statement if physical separation matters. Fairtrade International permits mass balance for tea, under which Fairtrade and non-Fairtrade tea can be mixed during processing. Does the sourcing claim need to mean that the tea in my bags was kept physically separate? If so, I need to check the pack’s explanation before choosing.
Refill size and tea type Check the number of bags and whether the variant is the type you want, such as decaffeinated tea. Read the current pack information rather than assuming variants within a brand are alike. A smaller refill may suit my immediate top-up; for a longer-lasting pack, I’ll check the bag count without overlooking the tea type.
Food information Read the ingredients, including any allergen information, and the date label on the pack. UK food-labelling guidance from the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs and the Food Standards Agency identifies these as information to check. Before putting the pack away, I want to know what the current label says and check its date.

Mistakes to avoid

  • Assuming a familiar tea brand is Fairtrade

    Fairtrade International’s 2025 UK research says shoppers wrongly assume PG Tips, Tetley, Typhoo and Yorkshire Tea are Fairtrade. That distinction matters when Fairtrade certification is your reason for buying.

    Use the exact pack’s Fairtrade claim or Mark as your check. Treat a Rainforest Alliance label or a brand sourcing statement as a separate claim.

  • Assuming Fairtrade tea is always physically separate

    Fairtrade International permits mass balance for tea, so Fairtrade and non-Fairtrade tea can be mixed during processing.

    If physical separation matters to you, read the Fairtrade traceability information for the individual pack before choosing it.

Brand references for tea-bag shoppers

A brand’s sourcing approach is a starting point, not a substitute for checking the certification on the tea-bag pack you intend to buy.

Clipper

Clipper has identifiable Fairtrade Everyday tea-bag products, including an Organic & Fairtrade Everyday 40-bag listing on its own shop and a Fairtrade Everyday 80-bag listing at Tesco.

  • Clipper Tea Shop states that the tea in its Organic & Fairtrade Everyday 40-bag product is traded in compliance with Fairtrade standards.
  • Check the Fairtrade wording on the particular pack and variant you choose.

Twinings

Twinings describes Sourced with Care as its responsible-sourcing programme and has an online collection labelled Organic & Fairtrade Tea.

  • The collection offers a place to look for a tea with Fairtrade wording.
  • Check the individual tea-bag product and its pack claim; the collection name and sourcing programme do not identify the certification of every variant.

PG Tips

Rainforest Alliance lists PG Tips tea as a certified product available in the United Kingdom. This is a different certification route from Fairtrade.

  • The Rainforest Alliance product listing identifies tea as the certified ingredient.
  • Fairtrade International’s 2025 UK research names PG Tips among brands shoppers wrongly assume are Fairtrade; check the exact pack if Fairtrade is required.

Tetley

Tata Consumer Products’ 2025 sustainability report says it sources Tetley tea from Rainforest Alliance Certified farms.

  • The report identifies a Rainforest Alliance sourcing route for Tetley tea.
  • Fairtrade International’s 2025 UK research names Tetley among brands shoppers wrongly assume are Fairtrade. Check the individual pack for a Fairtrade claim if that is your requirement.

Yorkshire Tea

Yorkshire Tea says its tea comes from suppliers with Rainforest Alliance certification, rather than presenting that sourcing as Fairtrade certification.

  • The brand explains which certification route it uses for its suppliers.
  • Fairtrade International’s 2025 UK research names Yorkshire Tea among brands shoppers wrongly assume are Fairtrade; its Rainforest Alliance sourcing does not meet a Fairtrade-only requirement.

Typhoo

The Ethical Tea Partnership says Typhoo sources from Rainforest Alliance-certified estates in Kenya and Malawi.

  • The partnership identifies a specific sourcing route for Typhoo tea.
  • Fairtrade International’s 2025 UK research names Typhoo among brands shoppers wrongly assume are Fairtrade. Look for a Fairtrade claim on the exact pack if you require one.

Joybuy tea-bag options

These Clipper options are both listed as organic Fairtrade 80-bag packs for an everyday top-up; one is a decaffeinated variant. Check the Fairtrade wording on the individual pack, particularly where the claim itself is decisive for your purchase.

Clipper Organic Fairtrade Decaf Everyday, 80 tea bags, 277g

Clipper Organic Fairtrade Decaf Everyday, 80 tea bags, 277g

Consider this 80-bag refill if you want the decaffeinated variant. The product name identifies it as organic and Fairtrade; check the pack’s Fairtrade and traceability wording if either is important to your choice.

View on Joybuy
Clipper Organic Fairtrade, 80 tea bags, 232g

Clipper Organic Fairtrade, 80 tea bags, 232g

This is another 80-bag refill whose product name identifies an organic Fairtrade variant. Confirm the Fairtrade claim on the physical pack before buying if certification is a firm requirement.

View on Joybuy

Questions about Fairtrade tea bags

How can I tell whether tea bags are Fairtrade?

Check the Fairtrade Mark or explicit Fairtrade wording on the exact pack. Brand recognition is not enough: Fairtrade International’s 2025 UK research says shoppers wrongly assume PG Tips, Tetley, Typhoo and Yorkshire Tea are Fairtrade.

Can Fairtrade tea be mixed with non-Fairtrade tea?

Yes. Fairtrade International permits mass balance for tea, which can involve mixing Fairtrade and non-Fairtrade tea during processing. Read the individual pack’s traceability information if physical separation matters to you.

Is Rainforest Alliance certification the same as Fairtrade?

No. They are different certification routes, so a Rainforest Alliance claim alone does not meet a Fairtrade-only requirement. Check the specific tea-bag pack for Fairtrade wording rather than treating a brand’s sourcing approach as proof.

What else should I read on a UK tea-bag pack?

Check the ingredients, including any allergen information, and the date label on the current pack. The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs and the Food Standards Agency identify these as food-label information; also confirm that the bag count and tea variant suit your top-up.