Williamson Tea
Lacks transparency. Publishes some details, but doesn't show its workers are paid and treated fairly.
Last researched 30 October 2026 · 7 sources
UK tea brand selling Kenyan tea from its own farms in elephant caddies.
Williamson Tea can't show that the people who grow its tea in Kenya earn a living wage, which workers there are very unlikely to.
Better-graded tea
Graded higher than Williamson Tea, selling the same kinds of things.
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Why it's graded Lacks transparency
- Not met: Meets 1 of 5 Good requirements.
- Holds the grade back: It doesn't show that workers are paid a living wage, and isn't certified as working towards one. On Track needs at least one of these.
- 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 rightsJudged on where its tea is grown: worker rights are poorly protected in Kenya.
- 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 1
- Red flag: No evidence it pays a living wage
| Star | Awarded for |
|---|---|
| Finds and fixes problems, or invests in communities |
Stars only show on Good companies. About stars
Estimates for its products
Our rules applied to one kind of product at a time, using Williamson 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
Williamson Tea says which countries its tea comes from, but doesn't name the farms or co-operatives.
| Country | Worker rights | Legal minimum wage | Forced labour risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya | Systematic violations | 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). (partly offset by certification or direct sourcing)
- Invests in worker and farming communities
Research notes Williamson Tea's tea comes from four farms in Kenya's Nandi and Bomet highlands (Kapchorua, Tinderet, Kaimosi and Changoi), run by the Nairobi-listed Williamson Tea Kenya and Kapchorua Tea Kenya, which employ over 1,500 people; 14,400 smallholders supply over 60% of the leaf its factories process. It says the tea is Rainforest Alliance certified and funds schools and health care through its foundation, but publishes no wage levels against a living wage, audit results or union details. Blending and packing are in the UK.
What independent sources say
| Source | Result | Details |
|---|---|---|
| UK Modern Slavery Statement Registry | Unclear | No modern slavery statement is among the policies Williamson Tea publishes; it publishes a no child labour and no forced labour policy and a sexual harassment policy. View |
Sources and actions
Sources 7
Show all 7 sources
- Williamson's Regal elephant caddy (Whisk & Pin) · search the archive · In stock at Australian retailer Whisk & Pin; Kenyan black tea, made in the United Kingdom
- Tembo Blue Elephant Caddy (Whisk & Pin) · search the archive · Whisk & Pin sells Williamson Tea from its Gourmet Gallery store in Katoomba, NSW
- Whisk & Williamson (Whisk & Pin) · search the archive · Whisk & Pin agreed with Williamson Tea to bring its teas to Australia; all teas grown on its own farms in Kenya
Published by Williamson Tea or its owner
- Williamson Tea (official site) · search the archive · Tea grown on four farms in the Kenyan highlands: Kapchorua, Tinderet, Kaimosi and Changoi; supports over 80,000 people in rural Kenya
- Sustainable Progress Report 2026 (Williamson Tea) · search the archive · Farms employ over 1,500 people; 14,400 smallholders supply over 60% of leaf; Rainforest Alliance certified; Williamson Tea Kenya and Kapchorua Tea Kenya listed in Nairobi
- Progress reports (Williamson Tea) · search the archive · Williamson Tea Foundation funds education, healthcare and community projects
- Our policies (Williamson Tea) · search the archive · Publishes no child labour, no forced labour, gender equity and sexual harassment policies; no modern slavery statement listed
Company details
- Headquarters
- United Kingdom
- Employees
- About 1,500
- Last researched
- 30 October 2026
- Cite this page
- Labour Lens, "Is Williamson Tea ethical? Labour rating", https://www.labourlens.net/brand/williamson-tea, last researched 30 October 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 Williamson Tea.