From Leaf to Cup: How We Source and Curate Our Teas
- Mabel
- Jul 23
- 3 min read
At Mabel & Pearl Tea Co., we believe you deserve to know where your tea comes from—not just which region or garden, but how it’s grown, how the people behind it are treated, and what impact it has on the planet. We didn’t choose our tea supplier lightly. After a lot of research and a fair amount of soul-searching, we landed on a sourcing partner whose integrity, sustainability, and human-first practices blew us away.
Here’s a look behind the curtain—and why we’re so proud of what goes into your cup.
Powered by the Sun
Our supplier operates using 100% solar energy. In fact, they produce over three times more solar power than they need annually, feeding the rest back into the grid. This commitment avoids the release of more than 1.2 million pounds of CO₂ into the atmosphere every year, along with other pollutants like nitrogen oxide and sulfur dioxide. Clean energy isn’t a buzzword for them—it’s standard practice.
Tea with a Conscience
The tea industry is massive, and unfortunately, not all of it is pretty. But our supplier prioritizes long-standing relationships with growers—many of whom have been partners for over 20 years. They know where their tea comes from, down to the specific garden, and they visit regularly to ensure working conditions are safe, fair, and ethical.
Here are just a few of the things they look for before sourcing:
Access to education, fair wages, healthcare, and religious inclusion
No pesticides or chemicals near schools or water sources
Clean energy practices and sustainable land use
Support for regenerative agriculture, community resilience, and biodiversity
It’s not the cheapest way to source tea—but it’s the right way. And that matters deeply to us.
Zero-Waste Packaging & Clean Processing
Everything—from the tea bag to the envelope it’s sealed in—is 100% compostable and made from plants. Even their ink is vegetable-based. Their processing facility runs on clean energy and is certified at the highest levels of food safety (FSSC 22000), vegan, kosher, and halal.
Even their packaging facility is zero waste—reusing cartons and packaging materials wherever possible and continuously seeking innovative ways to reduce impact. They even built their own electric truck charging stations and subsidize clean transportation for employees.
Restoring the Land, One Tree at a Time
To offset any remaining emissions, they’ve planted over 15,000 native trees on previously degraded farmland. This reforested land is now home to endangered species and protects over 80 acres of wetland and mature forest. We love that they didn’t just focus on carbon credits—they chose biodiversity, restoration, and long-term community benefit.
A Culture That Feels Like Family
We talk a lot about creating community—and it matters that our sourcing partners do too. Their internal company culture is rooted in diversity, equity, and inclusion, with 30+ cultures and languages represented. Team members are offered pensions, paid sick leave, parental benefits, bonuses, and fair wages. It’s the kind of place where people thrive—and where doing good is just part of the job.
Why It Matters to Us
We know this probably isn’t what most people think about when they think “tea company.” But we’re not here to be like most tea companies.
We’re here to do this right—to choose transparency, to support people and the planet, and to make tea approachable without compromising on quality or ethics. It means the world to us that your tea isn’t just delicious—it’s doing some good with every sip.
And that’s the kind of leaf-to-cup journey we think you deserve.
Sip With Purpose
When you choose Mabel & Pearl, you're supporting more than just premium tea—you're backing clean energy, ethical sourcing, and the dream of our future tea bar and cat lounge. Each cup brings comfort to tea lovers and hope to shelter cats
Shop our collection and taste the difference that thoughtful sourcing—and a whole lot of heart—can make.
Comments