The Dark Side of Your Morning Cup (and What We’re Doing About It)

The Dark Side of Your Morning Cup (and What We’re Doing About It)

Okay, picture this:
You're curled up in bed with fuzzy socks on, holding a mug of chai that smells like cinnamon and nostalgia. Maybe it’s drizzling outside. Maybe your cat’s asleep on your chest. You take a sip and everything feels… right.

But here’s the uncomfortable part: a lot of that warm fuzzy feeling comes at a cost—just not to us.

Truth is, the global tea industry has a serious problem with labour exploitation. And for too long, it’s been brushed under the rug like a broken biscuit no one wants to deal with.

 

 

So, what’s actually happening?

The tea in most grocery stores? It’s usually grown in big plantations across India, Sri Lanka, and parts of Africa. But behind the lovely-sounding “heritage gardens” and “handpicked leaves” is a lot of stuff that’s hard to swallow.

Like the fact that many tea workers are making less than $2 a day.
Or that a huge portion of them are women, working long hours with barely any safety nets.
Or that some tea estates have been called out for child labour, abuse, and wage theft.

That’s the real cost of “cheap and cheerful” tea.

 

 

But wait, how is this not common knowledge?

Because nobody talks about it. It’s not on the packaging, it’s not in your Instagram ads, and most brands aren’t asking too many questions because… well, cheap labour makes things easier for them.

There’s a whole chain of middlemen and exporters and “certifications” that makes it really easy to look the other way. Unless you're Sherlock Holmes with a spreadsheet, you wouldn’t know.

And honestly, most of us just want our tea to taste good and not come with homework.

 

 

That’s where we come in.

At Heavy Teas, we don’t work with shady estates. We partner directly with farms and small growers that treat people with actual decency (radical, right?).

  • We pay higher rates so farmers and workers get paid fairly.

  • We don’t tolerate child labour or unsafe work conditions—period.

  • We show up. We meet our partners face-to-face, drink tea together, ask questions, and listen.

  • We keep it small so we can keep it real.

No “plantation chic” here. Just humans respecting other humans.

 

 

Why it matters to you

Look, we get it. There’s a lot going on. But if you’re someone who cares about people, fairness, and making small choices that add up—you’re already part of this.

When you support ethical brands, you’re not just buying a tin of tea. You’re supporting someone’s rent. Their child’s school fees. Their right to safety and dignity.

And yeah, tea actually tastes better when it isn’t steeped in injustice.

 

 

Want to help without turning into an investigative journalist?

Cool. Just support brands who are transparent about where their stuff comes from.
(Like us—hi)

Because the world doesn’t need more silence.
It needs people who care—with their hearts and their wallets.

 

 

Heavy Teas
Bold flavour. Brighter future.

 

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