What is the difference between organic tea and regular tea?
Differences between Organic Tea and Regular Tea
1. Higher Environmental Requirements for the Production Area
The production areas for organic tea must be chosen in regions with good ecological conditions, far from sources of pollution, and capable of sustainable agricultural production. Specific requirements include:
(a). The environment of the organic tea production base must have clean and clear air (meeting the secondary standard of GB 3095).
(b). The levels of heavy metals such as lead, mercury, cadmium, arsenic, and chromium, as well as pesticide residues like DDT, must be within the prescribed limits (meeting the secondary standard of GB 15618).
(c). The irrigation water for the tea garden must come from a clean water source (meeting the GB 5084 standard).
(d). The tea garden should be a certain distance away from major transportation routes, factories, and towns, with no pollution sources nearby or upstream in nearby rivers or prevailing wind directions.
2. The use of any synthetic pesticides, chemical fertilizers, plant growth regulators, or herbicides is strictly prohibited during the production process.
(a).Emphasis is placed on enriching soil through continuous cycling and reuse of materials and energy within the agricultural system.
(b).Stress is placed on controlling pests and diseases using ecological natural regulation, agricultural technical measures, and physical methods.
(c).Promotes the adoption of environmentally beneficial agricultural techniques to reduce resource consumption and address issues such as biodiversity loss, soil fertility decline, and agricultural environmental pollution.
3. Focus on Comprehensive Control Across Production, Processing, and Sales
Organic tea production adheres to a comprehensive quality and safety control process from "tea garden to teacup," supported by a complete management framework and system. This includes regulations such as the Administrative Measures for Organic Product Certification, Rules for the Implementation of Organic Product Certification, and Requirements for the Production, Processing, Labeling, and Management System of Organic Products (GB/T19630-2019).
From field production to processing and even sales, every step must be conducted according to standards and specifications, with detailed records maintained at each stage. These records cover inputs used in tea gardens, raw material harvests, product processing quality and quantity, product circulation, and waste management, ensuring product traceability.
4. Organic tea certification and labeling management:
Organic tea must be certified by an institution approved by the China National Certification and Accreditation Administration (CNCA) with qualifications for organic product certification. The certification must comply with the GB/T 19630 Organic Products standard and related regulations. Only after the product's smallest retail packaging is printed with the China Organic Product Certification mark, its unique number, and the name or logo of the certifying body, can it be sold on the market.
In summary, the production of organic tea, much like organic agriculture, adheres to the four fundamental principles of "health, ecology, fairness, and care." Over 30 years of organic tea production practices have demonstrated that the development of organic tea not only provides consumers with high-quality, healthy tea products but also protects the sustainability of the agricultural ecological environment. It has contributed to increasing tea farmers' incomes and wealth and played a significant role in China's efforts to alleviate poverty and promote industrial poverty alleviation. In the future, the organic tea industry is expected to play an even more crucial role in advancing ecological civilization and the rural revitalization strategy.