Fair Trade Resource Network

If you're new to Fair Trade or want a fresher on how these programs are designed to assist small farming communities, sign up for a series of seminars offered by the Fair Trade Resource Network.

They are offering a new series called, "Webinar Series "Clarifying Certifications in Fair Trade". A small donation is requested per webinar segment.

You might also want to visit FairTradeUSA or FairTradeCanada for additional resources.

Rainforest Alliance Certified Teas

The Rainforest Alliance works to conserve biodiversity and ensure sustainable livelihoods by transforming land use practices, business practices and consumer behavior. Rainforest Alliance Certified farms have reduced environmental footprints, are good neighbors to human and wild communities and are often integral parts of regional conservation initiatives.

Under the auspices of the Sustainable Agriculture Network (SAN), an international coalition of leading conservation groups, the Rainforest Alliance works with farmers to ensure compliance with the SAN standards for protecting wildlife, wild lands, workers' rights and local communities. Farms that meet these rigorous standards are awarded the Rainforest Alliance Certified seal.

Kopius Teas (www.kopiusteas.com) purchase tea from three plantations that produce Rainforest Alliance certified teas. These include Korakundah, Chamraj, and Allada. We ask that you support the Rainforest Alliance by purchasing these certified teas or asking your local tea merchant to offer these products.

Conversation with Manik Jayakumar, Qtrade Teas & Herbs

You can listen to an archived recording of a recent interview with Manik Jayakumar, President, Qtrade Teas  & Herbs. The broadcast is featured on our internet talk radio channel, TeaCast.

Many of us buy and sell organic, fair trade, and biodynamic products, but we don't always have an opportunity to see or understand its impact on the actual tea gardens. Manik discusses changes on the tea plantation when they convert from conventional to organic farming methods. In addition, he notes the range of activities and products that Qtrade Teas & Herbs now performs. We think this is a unique opportunity to feature one of the true pioneers in the specialty tea industry.

Kopius Teas is a distributor for Qtrade. We have streamlined the ordering process to allow small to mid-tier companies to purchase from Qtrade's extensive range of conventional and organic teas, herbs, spices, fruit, and flowers.

Kenya Tea Auction featured on NPR's Morning Edition

NPR’s morning edition featured a podcasted interview at the Mombassa Tea Auction by Gwen Thompkins – In Kenya, Tea Auction Steeped In Tradition, Gentility.

This gives you a feel for the traditional method of auctioning teas, which has occurred weekly for many years.
While many teas from Kenya are CTC, they do offer some limited, high quality, whole leaf tea, including oolong and black teas. Kenyan teas are bold and distinct from teas from India and Sri Lanka. In our retail environment, we felt it was beneficial to offer teas from a variety of countries to demonstrate its true international appeal and heritage.

Kopius Teas (www.kopiusteas.com) has brought in some excellent Kenya oolongs and blacks. We think the oolongs are quite rare and would make a good talking point at the point of sale.

Another resource is the Kenya Tea Board.