Article

What Goes into Your Cup of Rainforest Alliance Certified Tea

Filed Under: Insights  |  Tagged: , , ,

Ellen Chege, Tea farmer, Kenya

Tea is the world’s most popular beverage after water, with a staggering five billion cups consumed each day. And why wouldn’t it be? Whether it’s hot, iced, herbal, or black, there’s nothing quite so soothing as a nice cup of tea.

But look beyond your cup, to the fields and factories where tea is produced, and the view is less consoling. Historically low prices and climate events have made it difficult for farmers to make a living. Child labor, gender inequality, and workers’ rights issues plague the sector, too. And, as with the cultivation of any major crop, tea farming and processing pose devastating environmental risks.

That’s why the Rainforest Alliance works with farmers, smallholders, companies, and governments in 22 countries in Africa and Asia to tackle these challenges in ways protect nature and advance the rights and livelihoods of rural communities. 1.1 million tea farms, managed by more than a million farmers, are Rainforest Alliance Certified.

Read on to hear directly from farmers and farmworkers how Rainforest Alliance Certification protects the land and improves the lives of those who produce our beloved beverage.

Protecting ecosystems and biodiversity

Rainforest Alliance Certification strictly prohibits deforestation, land conversion, and ecosystem destruction. Farms also must plant trees and vegetation not just alongside crops, but also by streams and rivers to keep water sources clean. Certified farms work to protect biodiversity and wildlife, as well—and in tea landscapes, that means helping to conserve such iconic and vulnerable species as elephants, rhinoceroses, capped langurs, and more.

  • “Tea farming is more than a livelihood for us. It is a heritage passed from one generation to the next. Our responsibility is to ensure that the next generation inherits land that is healthier, more fertile, and better prepared for the challenges ahead […] For many years, farmers were taught to focus only on production.”

    Kamal Premawansa, smallholder farmer, Norton Bridge, Sri Lanka

  • “Through biodiversity restoration, we improved the food chain within the tea gardens, making use of natural enemies such as insects, birds, and microorganisms to control pest populations. We do not seek to completely eliminate pests but rather strive to keep the level of damage within an acceptable range while maintaining the natural balance of the ecosystem.”

    Jin Kaisheng, tea plantation manager, Pu’er Zuxiang Highmountain Tea Garden Co

  • “People in our estate are now more aware of environmental protection. Proper waste management is encouraged to keep the surroundings clean and healthy, and open burning is avoided to reduce air pollution […] Many people are planting more trees, reducing pollution, and trying to maintain a clean and healthy environment. Awareness about protecting nature is growing day by day. They also use rainwater collection for kitchen garden and other usage.”

    Barsha Hans Minz, worker, Lamabari Tea Estate, India

  • “Before certification, we weren’t very aware of environmental issues like energy efficiency. Through the Rainforest Alliance Sustainable Agricultural Standard and training, our farmers and factories have put systems in place to track energy use and increased their efficiency over time […] They are using better techniques and technologies to conserve energy and reduce their reliance on wood fuel, like hydropower and biofuel briquettes.”

    Salesio Kaberia, sustainable agriculture manager, Kenya Tea Development Agency, Kenya

  • “When we protect forests, water, and wildlife around our tea fields, we are not just saving nature—we are protecting the life of our tea and the future of our children.”

    Harsha Wijeratne, farm manager, Madulsima Plantations PLC, Sri Lanka

Climate impact

Droughts, floods, and unpredictable weather patterns pose daunting challenges to tea farms. Certification requires many practices that help farms adapt to such impacts and prepare for future challenges, while also boosting productivity and incomes.

  • “Earlier, people did not have much knowledge about climate change and its effects on nature. However, awareness has increased over time. Programs like Rainforest Alliance Certification have helped people learn about protecting nature and its species.”

    Barsha Hans Minz, worker, Lamabari Tea Estate, India

  • “Many of us wanted to better understand climate change, because we realized it is affecting our rainfall, soil moisture, pests, harvests, and the well-being of our families every day […] the project responded to this need by bringing a professor of climate change, who helped translate climate science into practical realities that we could see, discuss, and apply in our own tea lands.”

    D M Wimalawathi Manike, smallholder tea farmer, Norton Bridge, Sri Lanka

  • “Climate change is testing us with droughts, floods, and unpredictable seasons, but resilience is our strength. By protecting soil, water, and shade trees, we keep our tea fields strong and our future secure.”

    Harsha Wijeratne, farm manager, Madulsima Plantations PLC, Sri Lanka

Gender equality

Rainforest Alliance Certification not only prohibits gender discrimination and sexual harassment and violence—it provides tools to address it. Certification requires farms to establish gender committees and grievance committees to support women farmworkers. Our holistic “assess-and-address” approach helps prevent and mitigate cases of gender inequality.

  • “Since we introduced assess-and-address and gender committees, women feel empowered and confident to run for various positions of the Executive Board […] Before the implementation of these committees, these boards were dominated by men, and women often turned down the offer of a position as we felt inadequate.”

    Victoria Nyalugwe, gender committee chairperson, Msuwadzi Tea Association, Malawi

  • “Healthcare services are becoming more accessible, and women are receiving better support, especially during pregnancy from maternity benefits.”

    Lakshmi Sawra, worker, Lambari Tea Estate, India

  • “Through the Rainforest Alliance grievance committee requirements, the committees have improved employee knowledge by raising awareness of gender issues, biases, and discrimination—as well as providing training on topics like gender sensitivity and inclusive practices.”

    Ashly Nyathi, grievance committee member at Ratelshoek Estate (TangandaTea Company), Zimbabwe

  • “Gender committees and the Assess-and-Address system have also empowered women, increasing their participation across all roles, including leadership.”

    Kamayirese Stephanie, compliance and sustainability officer, Sorwathe Ltd Tea Factory, Rwanda

Workers’ rights and well-being

Rainforest Alliance Certification prioritizes the well-being of the estimated 1.5 million tea workers it reaches. Certified farms must provide safe working conditions (including personal safety equipment), clean drinking water, and decent living quarters. Certification also requires farms to inform workers of their right to freedom of association and collective bargaining—and to provide space to exercise these rights.

  • “Before certification, health and safety rules and systems existed, but they weren’t adequately enforced. After certification, we are seeing higher health and safety standards, and the number of workplace injuries has dropped.”

    Salesio Kaberia, sustainable agriculture manager, Kenya Tea Development Agency, Kenya

  • “Workers have also learned to use the complaint box system, available in the main office, which allows them to share grievances confidentially—especially those issues that cannot be expressed openly—ensuring proper redressal.”

    Lakshmi Sawra, worker, Lambari Tea Estate, India

Tackling child labor

Child labor is expressly prohibited on Rainforest Alliance Certified farms. But decades of experience have shown us that it’s critical not to simply forbid, but to address root causes like a lack of childcare and schooling during the workday. Certified farms must establish child labor committees to help keep kids out of the field and stay in school. Assess-and-address requirements support this goal.

  • “In line with Rainforest Alliance standard requirement, Muganza Kivu Tea Factory introduced the Early Childhood Development Center […] Before this initiative, many of us struggled to balance work and childcare, sometimes leaving children in unsafe conditions or bringing them to the fields. Through the ECD program, our children are now cared for in a safe and supportive environment where they receive early education, nutritious meals, and proper attention for healthy growth.”

    Claudine Musabyimana, tea plucker, Muganza Kivu Tea Factory, Rwanda

  • “People are understanding that children should be in schools, learning and building a better future. As a result, more children are getting access to education, which is helping them grow and develop their skills.”

    Lakshmi Sawra, worker, Lambari Tea Estate, India

Livelihoods

Certification works to improve the livelihoods of tea farmers through better farming practices that boost yields and improve incomes. Larger farms that employ workers must pay at least the local minimum wage, while showing progress toward a “living wage,” which allows for a decent standard of living. We often complement certification with programs that offer training in side businesses like beekeeping. Consumer trust in our little green frog seal means a more stable market for farmers—crucial for farmer incomes given today’s historically low tea prices.

  • “Today, we understand that true productivity begins with healthy soil and a balanced ecosystem. Through regenerative agriculture, we are learning how to work with nature rather than against it, so that our tea lands remain productive for generations to come.”

    Kamal Premawansa, smallholder farmer, Norton Bridge, Sri Lanka

  • “Since Rainforest Alliance certification at Sorwathe Ltd, we have strengthened our systems, improved worker welfare, and established effective grievance mechanisms. A Collective Bargaining Agreement with management has enabled fair salaries, formal employment contracts for both permanent and temporary workers, and better working conditions […] Workers now have safer, more reliable channels to raise concerns, improving trust and well-being.”

    Kamayirese Stephanie, compliance and sustainability officer, Sorwathe Ltd Tea Factory, Rwanda

  • “Many women are also developing additional sources of income. Some workers, after coming from their work, run small shops, while others maintain kitchen gardens and sell their produce in the market to earn extra income.”

    Kanika Das, worker, Lamabari Tea Estate, India

Follow the frog!

Rainforest Alliance Certification has a wide reach, but it’s just one of our powerful tools for improving the tea sector. In major tea-producing countries like Kenya, India, and Sri Lanka, we have also established robust programs that go beyond certification to support landscapes and communities.

While our certification promotes the well-being of millions of tea farmers and workers—and the health of a million hectares of land—only 20 percent of the tea we drink globally is Rainforest Alliance Certified. That’s why it’s so important that you look for our little green frog at the grocery store—because the only thing better than a nice cup of tea is knowing that every sip supports a better future for people and nature.

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