Who is this for?

Sellers with a Fairtrade requirement

If Fairtrade matters to your refreshment stall, check the claim for the exact tea you intend to serve rather than relying on a brand’s general sourcing message.

Organisers serving black tea

An 80-bag black-tea pack offers a format for repeated hot-drink service. Clipper Tea Shop gives a 2–5 minute infusion instruction for its Organic & Fairtrade Everyday tea.

Sellers offering green tea as well

A separate green-tea option makes sense when visitors or helpers are likely to want it and the people serving can follow its different preparation instructions.

What should you check before buying?

Start with the exact tea’s Fairtrade claim, then choose a type your stall can prepare consistently and check what trading at the event requires.

Priority What to check Your needs
Fairtrade claim Read the statement on the exact pack or official product page. Check which ingredient the statement covers; do not treat another certification as Fairtrade. I need the tea I serve to meet a Fairtrade-specific requirement, not simply to carry a general ethical-sourcing claim.
Tea and brewing Check whether the bags contain black or green tea and follow that pack’s instructions. Clipper Tea Shop specifies 2–5 minutes for its Organic & Fairtrade Everyday black tea; its Pure Green Tea instructions say to leave boiled water to cool for a minute, then infuse for 1–3 minutes. A straightforward black-tea offer suits my serving plan. I would add green tea only if I expect people to ask for it and can prepare it separately.
Pack and storage Check the bag count against the number of drinks you plan to offer and read the chosen pack’s storage directions. I want enough bags for the refreshments I plan to serve without assuming that an 80-bag pack tells me how many visitors will buy tea.
Serving requirements If you are operating a food business, check local-authority registration and the allergen information needed for the food and drink you serve. Confirm the organiser’s rules and any requirements for the event location. Before I trade, I need to know what applies to my stall, including any milk, biscuits or other items offered with tea.

Common buying and serving mistakes

  • Assuming every ethical tea certification is Fairtrade

    Yorkshire Tea describes its sourcing from Rainforest Alliance-certified suppliers and distinguishes that scheme from Fairtrade. One claim should not be presented as the other.

    Check the Fairtrade statement for the exact tea product and describe any other certification separately.

  • Brewing green tea like black tea

    Clipper Tea Shop gives different instructions for its cited products: 2–5 minutes for Organic & Fairtrade Everyday black tea, but cooled boiled water followed by a 1–3 minute infusion for Fairtrade Organic Pure Green Tea.

    Keep the packs’ instructions available to everyone serving drinks and prepare each tea accordingly.

  • Assuming a temporary stall has no food-business duties

    GOV.UK says a food business must register with its local authority. The Food Standards Agency says retail and catering food businesses must provide allergen information for prepacked and non-prepacked food and drink.

    If you are trading as a food business, check registration with the local authority and keep ingredient information for everything you serve.

  • Assuming the organiser’s permission settles every local requirement

    Event requirements depend on the location and the role you have. The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, for example, treats car boot and table-top events as occasional sales under its local guidance.

    Ask the organiser about the venue’s rules and check with the relevant council before advertising or selling refreshments.

Brands and certification claims

Clipper

Clipper Tea Shop lists 80-bag Organic & Fairtrade Everyday black tea and Fairtrade Organic Pure Green Tea.

  • Clipper states that the tea in each of these cited products is traded in compliance with Fairtrade Standards, total 100%.
  • The black and green products have different preparation instructions; check the exact pack you buy.

Twinings

Twinings has an Organic & Fairtrade tea collection that includes tea bags and loose-leaf tea.

  • The collection offers a place to look for a tea suited to your serving plan.
  • Check the individual product and pack for the Fairtrade claim before buying for a Fairtrade-specific stall.

Yorkshire Tea

Yorkshire Tea says it sources tea from Rainforest Alliance-certified suppliers.

  • Its published explanation makes the sourcing scheme identifiable when comparing labels.
  • Yorkshire Tea distinguishes Rainforest Alliance from Fairtrade, so its sourcing statement does not establish a Fairtrade claim for a pack.

Tetley

Tetley is another tea brand a buyer may encounter when planning refreshments.

  • For a Fairtrade-specific purchase, check the claim on the exact Tetley product rather than assuming it applies across the brand.

Joybuy tea-bag options

These 80-bag Clipper listings cover black-tea options for a Fairtrade-focused refreshment stall, including a decaffeinated variant. Check each pack’s Fairtrade statement and brewing directions before serving.

Clipper Organic Fairtrade 80 black tea bags, 232g

Clipper Organic Fairtrade 80 Tea Bags, 232g

This Fairtrade-labelled black-tea option fits a stall planning to serve conventional tea.

The listing identifies 80 tea bags and organically grown black tea. Check the pack’s hot-brewing directions before serving.

View on Joybuy
Clipper Organic Fairtrade Decaf Everyday 80 tea bags, 277g

Clipper Organic Fairtrade Decaf Everyday 80 Tea Bags, 277g

This Fairtrade-labelled decaffeinated black tea gives the stall a separate choice from its regular black tea.

The listing identifies 80 tea bags. Check the pack’s hot-brewing directions before serving.

View on Joybuy

Questions about buying and serving tea

How do I check whether tea bags meet a Fairtrade requirement?

Read the claim on the exact pack or its official product page. Clipper Tea Shop states that the tea in its cited Organic & Fairtrade Everyday and Fairtrade Organic Pure Green products is traded in compliance with Fairtrade Standards, total 100%. A brand name or a different sourcing certification is not a substitute for that product-level check.

Should I serve black tea or green tea at a car boot sale?

Choose black tea for a conventional hot-tea offer; add green tea if you expect demand for it and can prepare it separately. Clipper Tea Shop gives a 2–5 minute infusion instruction for its cited black tea, while its green tea instructions say to let boiled water cool for a minute before infusing for 1–3 minutes.

Must I register to sell tea from a car boot stall?

If you are running a food business, GOV.UK says you must register with your local authority; its guidance covers food and drink businesses operating from temporary premises. Contact the local authority about your planned activity before trading if you are unsure whether it qualifies.

What allergen information do I need when serving refreshments?

The Food Standards Agency says retail and catering food businesses must provide allergen information for both prepacked and non-prepacked food and drink. Keep the packaging and ingredient information for the tea and any milk, biscuits or other additions you offer so you can give information about the items actually served.

Does a car boot sale need a licence?

Requirements depend on the event’s location and your role in it. The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea includes car boot sales in its occasional-sales guidance and describes circumstances in which organisers may need a council licence. Check with the organiser and the council for the actual venue rather than applying one council’s rules elsewhere.