Labour Lens

Mlesna Tea

Lacks transparency

Lacks transparency. Publishes some details, but doesn't show its workers are paid and treated fairly.

Tea

Partly verified: what this means

Last researched 3 November 2026 · 3 sources

Ceylon tea brand selling black, green and flavoured teas.

Mlesna Tea publishes no certification, independent audit or supplier list.

Also worth knowing

Workers in Sri Lanka are very unlikely to earn a living wage.

Better-graded tea

Graded higher than Mlesna Tea, selling the same kinds of things.

Trade AidTeaFair trade tea, coffee, chocolateHolds WFTO Guaranteed Fair Trade and publishes its suppliers.GoodGoes Above and Beyond: Gives workers a real voice; Open supply chain; Finds and fixes problems, or invests in communities5 starsDaintree TeaTeaAustralian-grown unblended black teaMakes its products in its own factories in Australia, where legal wages are close to a living wage.GoodGoes Above and Beyond: Open supply chain3 starsNumi Organic TeaTeaOrganic and fair trade teasHolds Fairtrade certification.GoodGoes Above and Beyond: Finds and fixes problems, or invests in communities3 stars

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Why it's graded Lacks transparency

  • Not met: Meets 1 of 5 Good requirements.
  • Holds the grade back: It has 2 red flags: no evidence of a living wage and a hidden supply chain. Two or more red flags means a poor grade.
  • It isn't Harm on record, because there's no serious confirmed problem on its record.
  • Lacks transparency is still a poor grade: in supply chains like this, workers who can't be seen to be treated fairly are usually underpaid or unprotected.

How grades are decided

Good requirements 1 of 5

  • Not met: Pays a living wage, or holds a strong fair-pay certificationLiving wage: no evidence
  • Not met: Respects worker rightsJudged on where its tea is grown: worker rights are poorly protected in Sri Lanka.
  • Not met: Supply chain independently audited or certified, or at least 80% made in countries with strong labour standards
  • Met: No child or forced labour findings or links
  • Not met: Names the factories or farms that make its products, or is fully certified by a scheme that holds and audits that list

Red flags 2

  • Red flag: No evidence it pays a living wage
  • Red flag: Hidden supply chain: no certification, independent audits or supplier list

Stars it would earn as Good

None yet. Stars only show on Good companies. About stars

Estimates for its products

Our rules applied to one kind of product at a time, using Mlesna Tea's evidence and, where it has product lines, that line's countries. They're estimates: we don't know which factory made any single item.

  • A product carrying the Fairtrade mark: Good

Holding one? Scan its barcode for an estimate that uses its care label or ingredients.

Where its tea is grown

Mlesna Tea says which countries its tea comes from, but doesn't name the farms or co-operatives.

Where its tea is grown, and conditions there
CountryWorker rightsLegal minimum wageForced labour risk
Sri LankaSystematic violationsWell below a living wageModerate

Evidence

What we found

  • Risk across the industry, not a finding about this company: tea estate wages in Assam, Sri Lanka and Kenya are among the lowest of any export crop, often paid partly in kind (housing, rations). Source

Research notes Mlesna sells pure Ceylon tea that its tasters buy at the Colombo tea auction and blend and pack in its own factory, so it does not name the estates that grow it. It claims food safety standards (ISO 22000, GMP) but no social or fair trade certification, and publishes no supplier list, audit results, wage information or modern slavery statement. Sri Lankan tea estates have well-documented problems with low wages and poor housing for plantation workers.

What independent sources say

SourceResultDetails
Fairtrade (incl. FLOCERT and Fairtrade ANZ)Not listedMlesna claims no Fairtrade or Rainforest Alliance certification; its exporter profile lists none. View
Business & Human Rights Resource CentreNot listedNo BHRRC reports or company responses involving Mlesna or Euro-Scan Exports were found. View
Australian Modern Slavery RegisterNot coveredMlesna is a Sri Lankan company without an Australian entity required to report. View

Sources and actions

Sources 3

Show all 3 sources
  1. Business Today: Dedicated to Ceylon tea (2019) · search the archive · Buys tea at auction and blends its own recipes; ISO 22000 and GMP factory standards; agents in Australia.
  2. EDB Sri Lanka: Euro Scan Exports (Pvt) Ltd · search the archive · Over 350 permanent staff; Mlesna brand since 1983, Chairman/CEO Anselm Perera; no certifications listed.
  3. Tea Leaves (Olinda, VIC): Mlesna Ceylon Gold loose leaf tea · search the archive · Mlesna tea in stock at an Australian retailer with a shop in Olinda, Victoria; Sri Lankan origin.

Company details

Headquarters
Sri Lanka
Employees
About 350
Last researched
3 November 2026
Cite this page
Labour Lens, "Is Mlesna Tea ethical? Labour rating", https://www.labourlens.net/brand/mlesna-tea, last researched 3 November 2026, accessed [date].
Method
Researched with AI assistance against published rules. How we check · What Lacks transparency means

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Grades are opinions based on the evidence listed here. Send us evidence, or a right of reply if you represent Mlesna Tea.

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