Story

This blend includes tea grown by the Small Organic Farmers' Association (SOFA) and processed by Bio Foods in Sri Lanka. SOFA is a community of over 1,600 small-scale landowners committed to environmental preservation. They grow a variety of crops including tea, pepper, cloves, and ginger. Bio Foods grants market access to small farmers so that they can stay on the land, provide strong livelihoods for their families, and maintain healthy and vibrant communities.

Most teas – even Fair Trade teas -- come from large-scale plantations and tea estates where workers have little say, and are trapped in a system of dependency. Equal Exchange's fairly traded, organic teas are different! We buy our delicious tea directly from democratically-organized groups of growers. When small-scale farmers gain access to the global market, they have more economic power, better lives, and healthier communities.

Each of our producer partners is unique, with a history of ambition, struggle and success. Over the years, these farmers have worked to set themselves apart in a historically oppressive industry. Read more about our tea partners and supply chain on the blog!