There’s nothing I like more than sitting back with a good cup of hot, steamy tea. When I heard about the Fair Trade Fair at the UBC Bookstore with tea samples, I buzzed there even if i only had ten minutes to check it out.

Firstly, what is Fair Trade?

Fair trade means acting on fairness in the business world. In developing countries, the protection of workers are very weak and limited. Fair Trade is a social movement by changing the environment of those workers. Fair Trade improves sustainable development and workers are able to be paid fairly for their work. Better trading terms are offered to workers.

If you buy a Fair Trade certified product, the producer/worker of the product is ensured to receive fair pay and that they are living in a safe working environment.

There were organizations supporting Fair Trade products at the UBC Bookstore. Due to my lack of time, I only visited the one booth that was showcasing one my of favourite teas – zhena’s gypsy tea.

“Zhena’s Gypsy Tea is proud to be one of the earliest supporters of the Fair Trade movement dedicated to building equitable and sustainable trading partnerships that create opportunities to alleviate poverty. The company stands in solidarity with the tea workers and empowers them by paying a pro-active premium which provides and supports fair wages and added benefits such as better housing, healthcare, education and a sustainable environment.

In order to provide these benefits, Zhena’s premium is up to ten times more than conventional prices paid by many tea companies. The workers in Zhena’s gardens benefit from guaranteed health insurance, education, safe working conditions and no child labor. Every time you purchase Zhena’s Gypsy Tea you join in the Fair Trade movement and become an advocate for humane working conditions worldwide. “ – Zhena’s Gypsy Tea

By purchasing Zhena’s tea, you are being active in the fair trade movement and you are an advocate for “humane working conditions.” Zhena’s Gypsy tea offers fine natural teas that do not contain genetically modified organisms or allergens. They have a variety of flavours amongst black, green, herbal, tropical, and white tea.

Some flavours of tea include:
Black Tea – Earl Greater Grey, Peach Ginger, Raspberry Rose
Green Tea – Earl Green, Egpytian Mint, Goji Cacao Berry
Herbal Tea – Luminous Lemon, Caramel Apple, Chocolate Chai

(You can see a full list on their website.)

I have tried several different flavours, and they haven’t disappointed yet.

My favourite blend of tea so far is Peach Ginger. It has a wonderful aroma of fruity peach and ginger spice. I like to drink it in the morning when I’m on campus early and a cup of this would keep me awake. Ginger is known for aiding digestion, and stimulating/strengthening the immune system. Also, black tea has many health benefits since they have many antioxidants and they reduce cardiovascular related issues.

Another option I sometimes buy is the Luminous Lemon herbal tea. Luminous lemon is a blend of rooibos, lemon myrtle, and it has a scent of lavender as well. For those who like drinks with a bit of a zesty taste, this is a great tea to try. It is also high in antioxidants and has no caffeine. Lemon is also rich in Vitamin C.

Today, I received a sample of Egpytian Mint green tea. It is an infusion of organic Egyptian peppermint and organic Ceylon green tea. It has a refreshing mint aroma and taste too. Peppermint has lots of health benefits, including aiding the digestive system and helps clear your mind and keep your focus.

Tea contains many vitamins and minerals that regulate your health and combat disease. Honestly, I hate drinking water alone, and I can drink 8- 10 cups of tea a day to keep me going.

What’s not to love about this tea?

Fair Trade? Check.

Organic? Check.

Health supplement? Check.

Delicious? Check.

You can buy this tea around UBC Food Services Locations- such as Caffe Perugia at Life Sciences Centre, IKE’s Cafe at Irving K Barber, Reboot Cafe at ICICS, and the cafe at Woodward Library as well. It costs approximately $1.75-$1.95 for a cup of tea depending on location, and you can get an environmental discount for bringing your own mug!