Ethical Tea Partnership

ETHICAL TEA PARTNERSHIP

We are committed to making a difference in our region, in our environment and in our world. That is why "Miss Melanie's Tea Room & Gourmet Tea Emporium" is proud to purchase tea from estates that are monitored by the Ethical Tea Partnership or ETP. The ETP is an initiative started within the tea industry to monitor and regulate living and working conditions on tea estates around the world to guarantee that the tea you drink is "socially responsible."

What we mean by "socially responsible" is that tea estate workers are treated with respect and dignity, that their families and children have access to schools and a free education as well as good medical treatment.

For more information on the ETP, please visit www.ethicalteapartnership.org.

FAIR TRADE TEAS

Whenever possible, we also purchase our teas from estates that are Fair Trade certified. "Fair Trade is an organized social movement and market based approach to alleviating global poverty and promoting sustainability"- Source: Wilkipedia. Most of our teas are Fair Trade Certified and we believe that aiding tea estate workers from a position of vulnerability to one of economic self-sufficiency is vital to the development of third world countries.

GOING GREEN!

Our world and our environment are in a precarious state and it is up to each of us to do our part to ensure the care of the Earth. We use recycled packaging materials whenever possible in our shipping department and we practice responsible recycling of aluminum and plastics in our kitchen.
We have steeped and served thousands of pots of tea at Miss Melanie's Tea Room. During the preparation of our loose gourmet teas, we use T-Sacs which are disposable and biodegradable paper sacs, perfect for composting. Did you know that rose bushes love tea?
What do many other tea companies use? Silken pyramid tea bags which are made of nylon mesh that recent research has shown may release toxins when exposed to boiling water. And nylon does not biodegrade easily.

CLEAN WATER

We believe that using the cleanest and purest water results in a better tasting pot of tea. That is why our kitchen equipment dechlorinates and filters the water we use in our tea preparation. Please visit our "Tea Preparation" page for more tips to ensure a perfect pot of tea!

Make your reservations early for our third annual "Jingle Bell Tea With Mrs. Claus" December 13th & 14th
Call (423) 926-0123 for more information! Space is limited and filling fast for this memorable tea !