Both Teapigs and Numi Organic Tea offer high-quality teas with a commitment to ethical sourcing. Numi stands out with its USDA organic and Fair Trade certifications and fully compostable packaging. Teapigs offers a diverse range of flavors and high-quality ingredients but is switching to polypropylene for inner pouches, which may concern environmentally conscious consumers. The choice depends on individual priorities regarding organic certification, Fair Trade, and packaging materials.
| Attribute | Teapigs | Numi Organic Tea |
|---|---|---|
| Tea Type | Black, green, white, oolong, herbal, and fruit teas | Black, Green, White, Oolong, Pu-erh, Herbal Teasans, flowering tea, and blends |
| Organic Certification | Not all Teapigs teas are organic, they will opt for organic teas if they meet their quality standards. | USDA certified organic |
| Fair Trade Certification | Not entirely Fairtrade, but they prioritize fair trading practices, paying premium prices for their teas and sourcing from sustainable tea estates. Their "everyday brew" (English Breakfast) is 100% Rainforest Alliance Certified. | Fair Trade Certified; Fair Labor & Community Benefits Verified program |
| Caffeine Content | Varies depending on the tea type. Black, green, white, and oolong teas naturally contain caffeine (typically 30-75mg per cup). Most herbal teas are naturally caffeine-free. Yerba Mate contains about 75-80mg of caffeine. | Low, medium, and high caffeine labeling; 15-70mg per 6-8 ounce cup |
| Flavor Profile | Diverse range of flavors, from traditional blends like English Breakfast and Earl Grey to more unique options like Chilli Chai, Chocolate and Mint, and fruit-infused teas. | Blended with real fruits, flowers, and spices for nuanced, complex flavors; avoids artificial or "natural" flavorings |
| Ingredients Quality | Whole leaf tea, whole leaf herbs, and whole flowers, avoiding the "dusty stuff" found in regular tea bags. Natural flavorings, like natural oils and extracts. | Premium organic teas and herbs; 130+ organic ingredients from over 34 countries, tracing over 85% back to the farm level |
| Packaging Material | Tea temples: Made from corn starch, making them biodegradable and compostable. Outer packs: Made from fully recyclable paperboard, with vegetable-based ink. Inner bags: Originally made from Natureflex (renewable wood pulp), which is compostable. However, Teapigs is switching to polypropylene (soft plastic) for inner pouches due to disposal infrastructure limitations. | Tea bags: compostable manila hemp cellulose (plant fiber), Non-GMO Verified, unbleached, 100% recycled tags, soy-based inks, cotton strings. Tea bag wrappers: commercially compostable, FSC certified paper, sugarcane-based Non-GMO PLA, metalized eucalyptus layers. Cardboard packaging: 100% recycled material with a minimum of 85% post-consumer waste. |
| Ethical Sourcing Practices | Member of the Ethical Tea Partnership and works to improve tea sustainability and the livelihoods of tea workers. They also have their ethical scheme that gives back to tea-growing communities. | Fair wages and safe working conditions for tea farmers; third-party certification programs and annual audits |
| Price per Serving | Prices vary depending on the blend and quantity. Sample-size boxes are available for exploration. | Not available |
| Availability | Available online and in retail stores. | Online, major grocers (Whole Foods, Safeway, Sprouts, Ralphs), Amazon.com |
| Customer Reviews & Ratings | Generally positive, with reviewers praising the high quality and flavorful teas. | Vary depending on the specific tea |
| Specialty Blends Offered | Everyday Brew, Green Tea Detox, Chai Tea, Snooze Sleepy Tea, Cold Brew Tea | Aged Earl Grey, Jasmine Green, Chocolate Pu-erh, various herbal teasans, variety packs |