Tea. That first sip in the morning. A late afternoon pick me up. A moment of peace in a busy day.
We love tea. And here at Navygrey we feel something that is so fundamental to our everyday, should be really really good. The thing is, not all teas are equal.
Whether you prefer a classic builder's tea (yes please, with a smidgen of milk) or a sophisticated Earl Grey, we've pulled together a list of five brilliant British tea brands that are playing their part in making tea more ethical and joyful.
From blends grown in Cornwall to ones supporting refugees, these ethical, sustainable British tea brands will elevate your morning cup.
From one tea lover to another, here are our top picks to inspire.
1. Tregothnan
If you’re concerned about the carbon footprint of your favourite beverage, try Tregothnan teas, which are crafted from leaves grown in Cornwall. You won’t need to sacrifice on taste either, as the Black Single Estate Tea was ranked as amongst the best tea in the world by Epicure last year.
The leaves can also be re-infused multiple times, meaning you can enjoy as many as 12 cups of tea from just 3 grammes of leaves.
Tregothnan... you had us at our first cup. 
Image from Tregothnan
2. Noble Leaf
Noble Leaf’s founders decided to launch a tea brand when they were travelling together in India. They discovered a type of Darjeeling that far surpassed anything they’d tried back home in the UK. Today, Noble Leaf has built a relationship with a number of small tea farmers in Darjeeling and Assam. It also offers a range of herbal teas, which are grown here in the UK.
3. Joe's Tea Company
Is there a more perfect name for the founder of a tea company than Joe? This one decided to prioritise both taste and ethics when he launched his brand. Today, the company’s teas have won more than 30 Great Taste Awards and it’s not hard to see why.
For a start, the leaves are 100% organic Ceylon, handpicked on small plantations in the hills of Dyatalawa, Sri Lanka.
Image courtesy of Joe's Tea Company
4. NEMI
Plastic-free packaging, biodegradable tea bags, Fairtrade-certifications, organic flavour-packed blends… There are a lot of reasons to love NEMI. Perhaps top of the list is the work the brand is doing to support refugees.
NEMI offers work experience opportunities that help refugees to gain more skills, practise their English and grow in confidence. As co-founder Pranav Chopra says, “At NEMI, our focus is not to just offer an exceptional product but to also ‘give back’ to society and do the right thing.”
5. Teapigs
Teapigs - probably one of the more well-known brands on our list. Stocked in all major retailers, they are a certified B Corp, meaning they are actively committed to making a positive impact. It does that in a range of ways, from having 100% plastic-free packaging and teabags to supporting orphans and disabled children in Rwanda.
A delicious array of tea flavours are on offer, presented in clever packaging - you can find out more just here. Join their mailing list and you can save 15% off your first order.
Cheers...
x Navygrey