Tea Shop
Organic tea
Explore our collection of premium loose leaf organic tea at Tea Pilgrim. Each blend is hand-selected and ethically sourced from gardens around the world, then shipped fresh from Toronto across Canada. Free shipping on orders over $49.
About Organic
A guide to organic tea
What makes a tea organic?
Organic tea is grown and processed without synthetic pesticides or synthetic fertilizers, following an organic standard. In Canada, food sold as organic is regulated by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency under the Canada Organic Regime, and products must be certified by an accredited certification body to use organic claims.
This page gathers every organic tea in our range in one place — black, green, white, oolong, matcha, rooibos and herbal blends — so you can shop by how a tea is grown as well as by type.
How it tastes
Organic is about how a tea is grown, not a flavour of its own, so organic teas cover the full range: brisk black teas, grassy greens, delicate whites, creamy matcha and naturally sweet rooibos. As with any tea, the garden, the season and the processing shape the cup far more than the certification does. Each tea's page describes its own tasting notes.
How to brew organic tea
Brew organic tea exactly as you would any tea of the same type. The most important things are water temperature and steep time: boiling water for black teas and herbals, cooler water for green and white teas, and a short whisk rather than a steep for matcha. The brewing table on this page gives a starting point for each type.
Browse our selection above for every organic tea we carry.
Caffeine in organic tea
Being organic does not change a tea's caffeine. Organic black, green, white, oolong teas and matcha contain caffeine like their conventional counterparts, while organic rooibos and herbal blends are naturally caffeine-free.
| Tea | Water | Steep | Leaf | Caffeine |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black tea | 95–100°C | 3–5 min | 2–3 g | Moderate–high |
| Green tea | 70–80°C | 2–3 min | 2–3 g | Low–moderate |
| White tea | 75–85°C | 3–5 min | 2–3 g | Low |
| Matcha | 75–80°C | Whisk 15–20 s | 1–2 g per 70 ml | High |
| Rooibos & herbal | 100°C | 5–7 min | 2–3 g | None |
Frequently asked questions
What does certified organic mean in Canada?
It means the product meets the Canadian Organic Standards and has been certified by a body accredited under the Canada Organic Regime, overseen by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.
Does organic tea taste different?
Not because it is organic. Flavour depends on the tea type, the garden, the season and the processing, so organic teas taste as varied as any others.
Do organic teas have caffeine?
Organic black, green, white, oolong and matcha teas contain caffeine. Organic rooibos and herbal blends are caffeine-free.
How should I brew organic tea?
Exactly as you would any tea of the same type. See the brewing table on this page for temperatures and steep times.
How do I store loose leaf tea?
Keep it in an airtight container away from light, heat, moisture and strong smells. Most loose leaf teas stay fresh for 6–12 months.