My Tea Story

I am a tea addict. In fact, I would like you to believe that I can have tea almost any time of the day. Refusing tea is a rude gesture; well not actually but certainly to me. Tea boiled rigorously in water with a good amount of sugar ginger, basil and black pepper is the flavor I relish the most. However, I do not undermine the flavors of other Indian spices in tea making. 

I had never imagined that an email about tea (from a reliable source) would stun me enough to reconsider drinking tea again. The email was from Greenpeace to sign for a campaign which it is running against the presence of some very harmful pesticides which have been found in some brands of Indian tea. Their report concludes after a research that 34 types of pesticides were found in 46 tea brands. The whole report can be read here.

Before progressing on this report further it would be fair to state that the Tea Board of India refutes the claim leveled by Greenpeace against Indian tea. In a report published in Business Standard, the Tea board of India stated, "Indian teas are well regarded the world over and are totally safe following stringent standards". Tea Research Association, also weighs down the NGO's claim saying, "Indian tea is perfectly safe for consumption and there is no health hazard whatsoever from the most sought-after drink in the country". Crop Care Federation of India sees an attempt to discredit India agriculture produces in this claim.

But it's not only Indian tea which the Greenpeace has raised alarms about. The brands constituted in the claims comprise international names as well. Last year, the organisation had published a similar report about Chinese tea contributing presence of pesticides like methomyl and endosulfan in their tea brands. Thus, anyone suggesting that Greenpeace is on a run to denounce Indian agriculture produce or economy might consider to dismiss their claim. 

Moving on, I understand the move by Indian tea organisations to come clean in such situations but it needs to do more than just give an official statement to assure the consumers. The said pesticides are hazardous enough to have been banned for use in India and internationally. 

Though the issue of toxic pesticides in tea has been raised many a times globally and it cannot be ruled out I see this trend as a result of commercialization and only hope that planters here and everywhere resort to organic forms of cultivation but that's not going to happen any sooner. Until then I do not think I can give up on tea but yes avoid branded tea. The local tea suppliers bereft of large or any marketing budget and plans offer some really good tea leaves. Hoping they would have lesser if not any pesticides. I would sustain on those locally available, unbranded tea and enjoy a hot sip from my cup of chai.