Edinburgh based tea merchants PekoeTea have recently become members of The Ethical Tea Partnership (ETP).
As loose leaf tea specialists, PekoeTea import teas from all over the world, these teas are then served in their two Edinburgh tea bars, retailed to customers online or in their shops or sold to their wholesale clients situated throughout the UK and Europe.
Through membership to the internationally active Ethical Tea Partnership they say they can now be proud to offer their assurances and confirm their dedication to ethical standards across the entire supply chain, from workers’ rights to sustainability to all of their wholesale and retail customers as well as the patrons of their tea bars. PekoeTea is the first and only Edinburgh tea company to have submitted themselves to the strict audit and buying policies required by membership to The Ethical Tea Partnership.
Sarah Roberts, Executive Director, The Ethical Tea Partnership, said:
“It’s great that a company which is taking loose leaf artisan teas to a new generation sees the merit of joining ETP. On a weekly basis we seem to be getting more interest from tea companies wishing to trade ethically and responsibly. With each new acquisition we can make more of a difference to the lives of people who grow and produce our tea.”
Jon Cooper, Director, PekoeTea, said:
“It has always been important for us to join ETP because we feel very strongly about transparency in the tea supply chain. One of the most common questions we’re asked is ‘where does your tea come from?’ and by taking the steps necessary to join ETP we can be more confident that we are sourcing tea produced and traded ethically. It’s also good for business because our customers can be assured as to where their tea is coming from. For me, ensuring we truly source our tea responsibly and ethically has always been one of my personal objectives.”
From its creation in 2006 PekoeTea has been committed to building a collection of teas from all over the world, which we have ensured are produced in an ethical way through fostering personal relationships with tea producers. Our tea bars are designed to provide a modern and informed approach to tea drinking and we prepare the teas in traditional and culturally appropriate ways. It is this approach that sets us apart in an industry which has seen incredible growth over the last few years. We have now grown to employ six staff members and an increase in retail revenue of 35% in the last year has allowed us to open a second tea bar in Stockbridge. We look forward to continued growth for PekoeTea and a continued commitment, along with The Ethical Tea Partnership, to ever improving ethical standards in the tea trade.
Submitted by Pekoetea of Edinburgh
