🧾 Behind Your Tea - the Index : A Concept Note

This index grew out of conversations on a series of walking tours in London about the history of tea. People were often surprised by what sits behind something as familiar as a cup of tea, and many wanted a simple way to compare different brands once they got home. This index is a response to that. It looks at the tea you drink, and gives you a way to see how different teas measure up against the things you may care about.

Tea has a long and complex history. It is closely tied to empire, and some of those structures still shape how tea is grown, traded, and priced today. At the same time, tea has become an everyday product in the UK — widely available, inexpensive, and often bought without much thought beyond taste and habit. Bringing those two things together — history and everyday choice — is part of the motivation for this work.

Many people may wonder why price has been left out of the index. That is deliberate. Tea in the UK is already very cheap, and low prices are part of the wider problem. We know from studies that only a small share of the price you pay reaches the people who grow and pick the tea — in some cases around 4%. Including price as a measure risks reinforcing the idea that cheaper tea is better value, when in reality the opposite may be true. Instead, this index looks at what sits behind the price: how tea is sourced, how producers and workers are treated, and how companies approach the longer-term sustainability of tea.

The index brings together four areas that are not usually considered side by side: 

• how workers are paid and treated, 

• how producers are supported, 

• how environmental challenges are addressed, and 

• how the tea actually tastes. 

Taste is included deliberately. It is possible for a tea to meet certain standards on paper but still not be enjoyable to drink. This index recognises that quality in the cup matters, and that a better tea should ideally deliver on both.

All of the information used in the index, apart from the tasting, comes from what tea companies publish on their own websites. This is important. It means the index reflects not only what companies say they do, but how clearly they explain it. Alongside the scoring, the index sets out what each company says about its practices, so you can see how the assessment has been reached.

The approach is designed to focus on what tea companies can realistically influence. Tea companies do not control everything that happens in the supply chain, and they do not set retail prices. Supermarkets, in particular, play a significant role in shaping price and promotions, which can create pressure across the system. But companies still make choices — about who they buy from, what they pay, and how they work with their suppliers — and those choices affect outcomes for producers and workers. This index looks at those decisions.

At the same time, the intention is not to create additional layers of complexity or paperwork for those producing tea. Farmers and estates are already subject to a range of standards and certification requirements. This index does not involve new data collection from producers. It relies entirely on what companies choose to make public, and aims to encourage clearer communication rather than additional bureaucracy.

For you as a tea drinker, the aim is not to tell you what you should or should not buy. You may be perfectly happy with the tea you already drink. What the index offers is a way to compare different brands and to be more confident about the conditions in which your tea is grown, picked and processed, if that matters to you.

In many households, choosing tea is part of everyday grocery shopping. Research suggests that around three-quarters of women are the primary shopper in their household, which means that decisions about tea often sit within a wider set of choices about what to buy and why. Making more information available is one way of supporting those decisions.

The index is intended to be updated each year, so that changes in company practice can be tracked over time. It is also intended to be useful beyond individual tea drinkers. Organisations such as the Ethical Tea Partnership, the UK Tea Academy, trade bodies, retailers, and tea media may find it a useful reference point for their own work or for wider discussion in the sector.

There is more to explore. One area for future work is how value is shared across the tea supply chain, and the role that retail pricing plays in shaping outcomes. This is not included in the current scoring, but remains an important part of the wider picture.

At its simplest, this index makes more of the story of tea visible. That on its own does not change the system. But it does make it easier to see which companies are taking steps in the right direction — and, over time, it can help shift attention towards those choices.

🧾 Behind Your Tea - the Index – Company Assessment Template

Purpose of the Index

This index assesses how tea sold in the UK is sourced, produced, and presented to consumers. It evaluates company practices across ethical sourcing, worker protection, environmental impact, and taste, alongside how transparently companies demonstrate these practices.

🔹 2. Ethically Sourced

Purpose:

This section assesses whether the company sources tea in a way that delivers fair income to workers and producers, and whether it contributes to a more equitable tea supply chain.

2.1 Worker Income, Conditions & Benefits

This section assesses whether workers, including pickers and processing workers, are paid fairly and provided with adequate living and working conditions.

Indicators:

Does the company set expectations that workers are paid a living wage?
(e.g. reference to living wage benchmarks, commitments or targets, expectations set with suppliers, or other clear approaches to ensuring workers earn enough to meet basic living costs.)

Does the company set expectations for fair and safe working conditions for workers?
(e.g. health and safety, housing, access to healthcare, sanitation, or general worker welfare.)

Does the company contribute to or engage in activities that support producers or communities in its supply chain?
(e.g. participation in schemes such as Fairtrade or Rainforest Alliance, partnerships with organisations, training, infrastructure support, or other initiatives — recognising this may vary depending on company size and sourcing model.)

Does the company provide evidence that increased value or support reaches workers or farming households?
(e.g. examples, surveys, case studies, or reporting on how higher prices, premiums, or programmes affect income, welfare, or household wellbeing.)

Does the company set expectations for worker voice and representation within its supply chain?
(e.g. trade unions, worker committees, grievance mechanisms, or other ways for workers to raise concerns and be heard.)

2.2 Producer Income & Pricing

This section assesses whether producers, including farmers, estates, cooperatives and factories, receive a sustainable and fair price for tea.

Indicators:

Does the company assess whether farmers earn, or are moving towards, a living income?
(e.g. reference to living income benchmarks, farmer income assessments, pricing models designed to meet household needs, or evidence that producers are better off as a result.)

Does the company pay prices that provide fair and stable income for producers?
(e.g. cost of production approaches, price floors, premiums above market or auction prices, or other mechanisms that protect producers from low or volatile prices.)

Does the company build stable, fair sourcing relationships with producers?
(e.g. repeat purchasing, long-term supplier relationships, clear quality expectations, support to improve quality, or fair notice where sourcing changes.)

Does the company explain its sourcing model?
(e.g. estates, smallholders, cooperatives, factories, direct sourcing, auction sourcing, or blended supply chains.)

Does the company support or engage in sourcing models that increase value retained at origin?
(e.g. producer ownership, cooperative sourcing, local processing, direct trade relationships, or reduced reliance on auctions.)

2.3 Structural Equity & Decolonisation

This section assesses whether the company recognises and responds to historical and structural inequalities in the tea supply chain, including colonial legacy, plantation systems, labour structures, auctions, low producer prices and unequal value distribution.

Indicators:

Does the company disclose where its tea is sourced from?
(e.g. countries, regions, named estates, factories, cooperatives, or producer groups, recognising that some teas are blended.)

Does the company show awareness of the historical and structural context of the tea it sources?
(e.g. colonial legacy, plantation histories, labour structures, auction systems, low producer prices, or unequal value distribution.)

Does the company take steps to source tea in ways that address or move beyond these structures?
(e.g. traceable sourcing, clearer producer relationships, reduced reliance on anonymous auction sourcing, alternative pricing models, or greater visibility of who grows and processes the tea.)

Does the company support inclusion and empowerment of producers?
(e.g. smallholder farmers, cooperatives, farmer representation, producer-led initiatives, producer participation in decision-making, or mechanisms that give producers more visibility or influence.

🔹 3. Worker Safety & Protection

Purpose:

This section assesses whether the company protects workers in its supply chain from harm, and whether appropriate safeguards, reporting mechanisms, and responses are in place.

3.1 Risk Awareness, Policies & Response

Indicators:

Does the company acknowledge known risks in the tea sector?
(e.g. harassment, unsafe conditions, exploitation.)

Does the company have clear policies and expectations for protecting workers in its supply chain?
(e.g. supplier codes of conduct, human rights policies.)

Does the company actively assess and monitor risks across its supply chain?
(e.g. audits, risk assessments, ongoing monitoring.)

Does the company demonstrate how it responds to issues identified?
(e.g. corrective actions, remediation, reporting.)

Does the company support or require mechanisms for workers to raise grievances?
(e.g. confidential reporting systems, worker hotlines, independent channels.)

3.2 Gender & Inclusion

Indicators:

Does the company recognise gender-related risks and support practical measures to address them?
(e.g. policies, safe working environments, sanitation, menstrual health support.)

Does the company support the inclusion and advancement of women?
(e.g. training, leadership opportunities, targeted programmes.)

Does the company demonstrate gender balance or inclusion within its own leadership?
(e.g. representation in senior roles, governance structures.)

🔹 4. Climate & Environment

Purpose:

This section assesses how the company manages the environmental impact of its tea supply chain and supports long-term sustainability and resilience in tea-growing regions.

4.1 Packaging & Materials

Indicators:

Does the company use environmentally responsible materials for tea bags and packaging?
(e.g. plastic-free tea bags, biodegradable or compostable materials, recyclable or recycled packaging.)

Does the company demonstrate efforts to reduce or eliminate plastic and improve packaging sustainability over time?
(e.g. removal of polypropylene, reduction in packaging weight, transition plans or timelines.)

4.2 Agricultural Practices & Regeneration

Indicators:

Does the company set or require environmental standards across its supply chain?
(e.g. certification schemes, supplier codes of conduct, environmental sourcing policies.)

Does the company require, incentivise, or preferentially source from farming practices that improve soil health, biodiversity, and water management?
(e.g. certification requirements, supplier standards, or sourcing choices that favour composting, reduced agrochemicals, shade trees, habitat protection, or water conservation.)

Does the company support programmes to improve farming practices?
(e.g. farmer training, partnerships, or participation in initiatives to improve agricultural practices.)

Does the company provide examples or evidence of how these practices are applied across its supply base?
(e.g. case studies, data, named origins, or programme outcomes.)

4.3 Climate Impact & Targets

Indicators:

Does the company measure and disclose its carbon footprint?
(e.g. greenhouse gas reporting across operations and supply chain.)

Does the company set emissions reduction or net-zero targets with clear timelines?
(e.g. dated commitments, science-based targets, interim milestones.)

Does the company include supply chain emissions (Scope 3) in its approach?
(e.g. emissions from tea production, processing, and transport.)

4.4 Climate Resilience & System Improvement

Indicators:

Does the company take part in or work with initiatives that help tea producers adapt to climate change?
(e.g. working with organisations such as ETP or NGOs, participating in programmes on climate-resilient crops, water or pest management, or farmer training.)

Does the company drive or incentivise improvements in how tea is produced across its supply chain?
(e.g. preferred sourcing, supplier requirements, or engagement to support efficiency, lower-impact processing, or improved production methods.)

Does the company assess whether environmental initiatives actually improve producer income?
(e.g. considering potential impacts and/or tracking outcomes such as yields, costs, or income.)

🔹 5. Taste

Purpose:

This section assesses the quality of the tea as experienced in the cup, based on independent tasting and observable product characteristics.

5.1 Tea Bag Content & Consistency

Indicators:

Does the tea demonstrate a consistent particle size within the tea bag?
(e.g. uniformity of leaf grade, absence of excessive dust or variation.)

Does the tea appear clean and well-processed?
(e.g. minimal stalks, fibres, or visible defects.)

5.2 Brewing Guidance

Indicators:

Does the company provide clear and practical brewing instructions on the packaging?
(e.g. time, temperature, quantity, guidance for milk or no milk.)

5.3 Independent Tasting Assessment

Assessment criteria:

• Liquor (appearance): colour and brightness

• Aroma

• Flavour

• Body (strength)

• Balance (including astringency / dryness, e.g. “dry mouth”)

• Finish

• Performance with milk

• Performance without milk

Does the tea reflect its stated style?
(e.g. alignment between flavour profile and how the tea is described.)

Style / Intended Use

• Builders (strong, suited to milk)

• Everyday

• Other (specify)

Overall Assessment (by tea taster)

• Acceptable

• Good

• Very Good

• High Quality

🔹 Cross-Cutting: Means of Verification

This index is based on publicly available information from company websites. Each indicator is assessed based on the level of substantiation and verification provided.

Substantiation Level (What the company shows)

0 – No evidence: No relevant information provided
1 – Statement only: General claims without detail
2 – Descriptive: Policies or programmes described
3 – Specific: Data, examples, or case studies provided
4 – Robust: Detailed evidence with methodology or clear metrics

Verification Level (How credible it is)

A – Self-declared: Company statements only
B – Referenced: Linked to external standards or initiatives
(e.g. Fairtrade, Rainforest Alliance, ETP)
C – Independently evidenced: Third-party verification or audit

Note

This index reflects what companies disclose publicly. Absence of evidence does not necessarily indicate absence of action, but reflects the level of transparency provided.

This index recognises that companies operate at different scales. Indicators assess the actions taken and transparency provided within a company’s sphere of influence, rather than absolute size or resources.