Organic tea is one of the most popular drinks on the planet, and unlike soda, fruit punch, or coffee blends, it is considered a rehydrating beverage - just like water. That may be why this 5,000-year-old drink, that legend says was first brewed in the Tibet region of China by Emperor Shen-Nung, is now enjoyed by almost 160 million people in the U.S. every day. Tea drinkers around the world number in the billions.
Some of the most sought-after organic teas include black, green, and herbal blends primarily due to their health-boosting qualities. For example, the eye-catching calendula flower is widely used to make organic teas, known for boosting certain types of antioxidants resulting in more beautiful skin, hair, and nails, and better overall health.
Let's take a look at just what makes today's teas organic, and five ways in which they differ from conventionally produced tea.
What is Organic Tea?
Back in Emperor Shin-Nung's day, all tea plants grew in naturally fertilized, sustainably cultivated environments and were therefore technically considered "organic". While this is the original type of tea, currently, organic tea must meet certain growing, cultivation, and processing standards that are set by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Quality Assurance International (QAI). These include:
- No chemical pesticides or synthetic fertilizers
- No GMO seeds or fertilizers
- No ionizing radiation or sewage sludge
- Optimization of soil fertility and crop nutrient levels through best practices like crop rotation and natural fertilization
These guidelines highlight how the farm-to-table journey of organic tea is full of life-enhancing benefits that focus on quality over quantity. In conventional tea processing, synthetic fertilizers, chemical toxins, and soil-depleting farming practices can create bigger yields, but they also have been shown to counteract tea's naturally healthy properties.
Because of this, you will see the word 'organic' listed on tea packages when they are produced using these higher USDA production standards. This lets you know that extra steps have been taken to protect your wellbeing and ensure that your tea is worthy of an emperor!
5 Reasons Why Your Tea Needs to Be Organic
- Improved Levels of Powerhouse Antioxidants
One of tea's biggest claims to fame is that it is chock full of antioxidants. These are compounds in your body that help reduce "free radicals" in order to decrease oxidative stress and encourage your body back to an optimal state of health. Since oxidative stress is an underlying cause of many conditions like psoriasis, acne, and dull, damaged hair, antioxidants can be thought of as your youthful beauty's best friend.
The best news? Science has now shown that organic teas contain higher levels of antioxidants than their non-organic counterparts. This means you get more bang for your buck when choosing organic brews.
- Better for the Environment
You might think a lot about how brewing up a tumbler of hot or iced organic tea will add to your health scorecard, but did you also know that the United Nations lists more than ten major environmental benefits to going organic? Here are some of the highlights:
- It Reduces Water Pollution
- It Protects Biodiversity
- It Decreases Non-renewable Energy Use
- It Favors Carbon Storage to Better Manage Climate Change
- It Creates Better Balanced Plant and Soil Systems
Research also highlights how organic tea growing helps reduce the heavy metal content in the soil. So, next time you're wondering whether to choose conventional or organic, remember the positive impact a delicious box of organic tea can have on the world.
- Free of Harmful Toxins
With conventional growing methods, pesticides and synthetic fertilizers get into the stems and flowers of tea plants, either through spraying, or by soaking up existing toxins from the ground. Many of these chemicals are formulated to be water-soluble. This means that when you steep the plant in water during the tea brewing process, it will mix with the liquid and release its toxins into your cup or teapot. Many of these toxins have been linked to health issues, including skin inflammation, rashes, and the disruption of normal hormone functioning.
Because of this, organic tea growers follow strict safety standards to radically reduce the risk of harmful toxins getting into the roots, leaves, and flowers of the tea that you drink. That's why these organic blends are considered to be much better for your mind-body health than conventional tea.
- More Robust Flavors
Besides being a natural beauty enhancer, the antioxidants that are found in abundance in tea have another mouthwatering secret: they naturally enhance the flavor of drinks. Since tea plants grown with organic farming methods tend to contain more antioxidants than those cultivated using synthetic fertilizers, going organic means you'll get to enjoy fuller, more robust flavors with each and every sip of your delicious brew. In fact, green and black teas have been found to have up to 10 times more polyphenols (a compound that acts as an antioxidant) than fruits and vegetables!
- Support for Sustainable Farmers
Any farmer will tell you that getting tea certified organic by the USDA is a labor of love that takes a sizeable investment of time, energy, and funds. Those farmers who take the high road, do so because they want to be part of creating healthier food, beverage, and ecological systems. In fact, the 2019 National Organic Producer Survey revealed that nearly one-third of organic farmers would like to increase their organic farming production over the next five years.
In the U.S. alone, fifteen states now have tea farms, with at least seven of these farms using organic practices. By purchasing organic tea, you help to support these farmers' efforts to create a more sustainable world.
At BeauTeas, we celebrate organic farming practices and the health benefits they bring to both people and the environment. That's why we've launched our Clearly Calendula Organic Tea line that's packed full of antioxidants for clear, glowing skin, a beautiful healthy body, and a more positive impact on the planet. Sign up today and we'll enter you into our drawing for a chance to win one of our up-and-coming sets of beauty-boosting, organic BeauTeas.