What does the coffee quality institute model say about clean tea?

Sri Lankan tea farmers earned the first ozone-friendly certification by phasing out methyl bromide, an ozone-depleting pesticide used in tea gardens since 1965. Sri Lanka joined the Montreal Protocol in 1989 and was required to stop agricultural use of the chemical by January 1, 2015. The Sri Lanka Tea Board and its partners developed chemical and non-chemical alternatives, and the Ozone-Friendly Pure Ceylon Tea logo launched in 2011.

The effort mirrors the kind of sustainability scrutiny the coffee quality institute applies to coffee, and it extends beyond one pesticide. Growers are cutting energy consumption, adopting solar power and building eco-friendly tea gardens to lower their carbon footprint. The result is a cup of Ceylon black tea that does not harm the ozone layer, a point that also shapes how the tea is priced and marketed abroad.

Sri Lankan tea farmers have earned the world's first "ozone-friendly" certification by phasing out methyl bromide, an ozone-depleting pesticide, making Ceylon black tea the cleanest tea in the world. From signing the Montreal Protocol in 1989 to launching the "Ozone-Friendly Pure Ceylon Tea" logo in 2011, the Sri Lanka Tea Board, working with multiple partners, successfully developed chemical and non-chemical alternatives. In addition, tea farmers are reducing their carbon footprint by cutting energy consumption, adopting solar power, and building eco-friendly tea gardens. Today, a fresh cup of Ceylon black tea is not only harmless to the ozone layer but also a delight for eco-conscious enthusiasts. So, how much is a cup of Ceylon black tea? This article will take an in-depth look at its environmental journey and market value.

With methyl bromide, an ozone-harming pesticide once widely used in tea cultivation, being gradually phased out, now is the perfect time to savor a fresh cup of Ceylon tea that is harmless to the ozone layer.

A long-term study aimed at improving the environmental sustainability of Sri Lanka's tea industry has finally borne fruit, as local tea farmers won the world's first "ozone-friendly" designation for ending the use of methyl bromide as a pesticide in their tea gardens.

Methyl bromide is a colorless, odorless gas that has been used in agriculture as a highly effective fumigant since the 1930s to kill weeds, fungi, insects, and worms. Since 1965, Sri Lankan tea farmers have relied on methyl bromide to control certain diseases and pests affecting tea plants.

However, its destructive effect on the ozone layer was confirmed as early as the 1980s. As the ongoing thinning of the ozone layer threatens the survival of all life on Earth, immediately stopping the use of ozone-depleting substances became a top priority for agriculture and industry worldwide.

Sri Lanka became a party to the Montreal Protocol in 1989 and was required to completely stop using methyl bromide in agriculture (including tea cultivation) by January 1, 2015.

As the custodian of all Ceylon tea, the Sri Lanka Tea Board joined hands with other government organizations, Ceylon tea manufacturers, tea exporters, and the domestic and international scientific community and international donors to successfully develop an ozone-friendly alternative to methyl bromide.

Under the guidance of the Ministry of Environment, the Tea Research Institute of Sri Lanka worked with local tea farmers to successfully introduce chemical and non-chemical alternatives to methyl bromide. The country completely stopped using methyl bromide and celebrated this achievement in May 2011, launching the "Ozone-Friendly Pure Ceylon Tea" logo, which all Ceylon tea brands have now adopted in the market.

In a world constantly pursuing environmental sustainability, this logo has proven to be an important value-added certification, helping the world's best tea brands dominate a $1.5 billion market.

In addition to phasing out toxic pesticides, Sri Lankan tea manufacturers are also committed to reducing the carbon footprint of tea production by cutting energy consumption and adopting solar energy solutions.

Key players in Sri Lanka's tea production, in cooperation with government and non-governmental organizations, have also launched a series of initiatives under the slogan "Eco-Friendly Tea Gardens," seeking to reduce the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides to protect biodiversity in Sri Lanka's tea gardens and surrounding water sources.

As the environmental conditions of Sri Lanka's tea gardens continue to improve, brewing a fresh cup of tea has become an unprecedented pleasure for eco-conscious tea lovers.

For coffee lovers who pursue quality, Front Street Coffee recommends trying Ceylon black tea, whose fresh taste and environmental philosophy complement each other. So, how much is a cup of Ceylon black tea? Prices vary by brand and grade, typically ranging from 10 yuan to 50 yuan per cup, depending on the purchase channel and tea quality.

The above content is compiled by CoffeeHunters, a coffee news website.