Tea Forté
Lacks transparency. Shows little about where or how its products are made.
Last researched 3 November 2026 · 6 sources
US premium tea brand known for pyramid infusers, owned by JDE Peet's.
We couldn't find where Tea Forté gets most of its tea, a certification covering its range or a list of its suppliers.
Also worth knowing
Most tea is grown in countries such as India and Kenya, where workers are very unlikely to earn a living wage.
Better-graded tea
Graded higher than Tea Forté, selling the same kinds of things.
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Compare Tea Forté with another brand
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 unaudited production, probably in high-risk countries. 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.
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 rightsWhere tea is usually grown, such as India and China, unions are heavily restricted, and it has no full supply chain audit.
- 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: Probably made partly in countries with poor worker rights, without a full independent audit of its supply chain
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 Tea Forté'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
We couldn't confirm where Tea Forté gets most of its tea, so this shows where tea is usually grown.
| Country | Share | Worker rights | Legal minimum wage | Forced labour risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| India | 30% | No guarantee of rights | Well below a living wage | High |
| Kenya | 25% | Systematic violations | Well below a living wage | Moderate |
| Sri Lanka | 20% | Systematic violations | Well below a living wage | Moderate |
| China | 15% | No guarantee of rights | Below a living wage | Moderate |
| Malawi | 5% | Strong protections | Far below a living wage | Moderate |
| Indonesia | 5% | No guarantee of rights | Well below a living wage | Moderate |
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).
Research notes Tea Forté does not say which countries or estates its teas come from, apart from rooibos from South Africa, and publishes no supplier list, audit results or living wage commitment; owner JDE Peet's group modern slavery statements focus on coffee and do not name it. Some ranges, such as the Lotus and Jardin collections, are USDA certified organic, which has no labour criteria, and its teas are not Fairtrade or Rainforest Alliance certified. No labour abuses linked to its suppliers have been reported.
What independent sources say
| Source | Result | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Fairtrade (incl. FLOCERT and Fairtrade ANZ) | Not listed | Tea Forté's teas are not Fairtrade certified; only some ranges are certified organic. View |
Sources and actions
Sources 6
Show all 6 sources
- Sara Lee acquires Tea Forté (World Tea News, 2012) · search the archive · Sara Lee completed purchase in January 2012; Sara Lee's coffee and tea arm later became JDE
- Tea Forté sales manager job (JDE USA, Built In Boston, 2025) · search the archive · JDE USA, a subsidiary of JDE Peet's based in Maynard, MA, offers Tea Forté globally
- Keurig Dr Pepper completes acquisition of JDE Peet's (Cleary Gottlieb) · search the archive · Keurig Dr Pepper's acquisition of JDE Peet's closed in April 2026
- Tea Forté launches in Australia (Gourmantic, 2014) · search the archive · 2014 Australian launch via online store, hotels and spas
Published by Tea Forté or its owner
- Tea Forté organic tea collection · search the archive · Organic ranges USDA certified; rooibos from South Africa; no Fair Trade or origin details
- Tea Forté Australia · search the archive · Tea Forté AU online store live in 2026, selling in AUD
Company details
- Headquarters
- United States
- Last researched
- 3 November 2026
- Cite this page
- Labour Lens, "Is Tea Forté ethical? Labour rating", https://www.labourlens.net/brand/tea-forte, last researched 3 November 2026, accessed [date].
- Method
- Researched with AI assistance against published rules. How we check · What Lacks transparency means
Something missing or wrong?
Grades are opinions based on the evidence listed here. Send us evidence, or a right of reply if you represent Tea Forté.