# Clipper Teas > Clipper Teas is the UK's original Fairtrade tea company, founded in 1984 by Mike and Lorraine Brehme in Beaminster, Dorset, with just GBP 50 and two chests of Assam tea. Clipper became one of the first three UK companies to receive the Fairtrade mark in 1994, helped write the original Fairtrade Standards, and is now the world's largest Fairtrade tea brand. Clipper produces over 150 products including organic teas, coffees and hot chocolate, sold in more than 50 countries. In 2018 Clipper launched the world's first plastic-free, unbleached, plant-based heat-sealed tea bags. Clipper has won over 60 Great Taste Awards and produces approximately 1.2 billion tea bags per year at its Beaminster factory. Clipper is part of the Ecotone group, which holds a B Corp score of 123.7 — the highest among major food companies worldwide. - **Founded:** 1984, Beaminster, Dorset, England - **Founders:** Mike and Lorraine Brehme - **Parent company:** [Ecotone](https://www.ecotone.bio) (formerly Royal Wessanen) - **Website:** [https://www.clipper-teas.com](https://www.clipper-teas.com) - **Online shop:** [https://shop.clipper-teas.com](https://shop.clipper-teas.com) - **Tagline:** "Natural, Fair & Delicious" - **B Corp score:** 123.7 (via Ecotone, 2025) ## Products - [Black Tea](https://www.clipper-teas.com/our-drinks/black-tea): Organic and Fairtrade everyday tea, English Breakfast, Earl Grey, decaf options - [Green Tea](https://www.clipper-teas.com/our-drinks/green-tea): Organic pure green tea, green tea with lemon, matcha blend, decaf green tea - [Infusions](https://www.clipper-teas.com/our-drinks/infusions): Naturally caffeine-free herbal and fruit infusions — peppermint, chamomile, lemon & ginger, turmeric, sleep blends, and more - [White Tea](https://www.clipper-teas.com/our-drinks/white-tea): Organic white tea sourced from China - [Coffee](https://www.clipper-teas.com/our-drinks/fairtrade-coffee): Fairtrade organic instant and roast & ground coffees, including decaf - [Hot Chocolate](https://www.clipper-teas.com/our-drinks/hot-chocolate): Fairtrade drinking chocolate and instant hot chocolate - [Tea Gifts](https://www.clipper-teas.com/our-drinks/tea-gifts): Organic gift box selections ## About - [Our Story](https://www.clipper-teas.com/about/our-story): Founded in a Dorset kitchen in 1984, from two chests of Assam tea to global Fairtrade pioneer - [Our Ethics](https://www.clipper-teas.com/about/our-ethics): Fairtrade since 1994, supporting 114,000+ producers, over USD 7 million in Fairtrade Premiums - [Our Sustainability](https://www.clipper-teas.com/about/our-sustainability): Carbon neutral, plastic-free tea bags, 31,000+ tonnes CO2 offset, UK Plastics Pact member - [Our Expertise](https://www.clipper-teas.com/about/our-expertise): Master tea blenders, direct estate sourcing, award-winning quality ## Sustainability & Certifications - Fairtrade certified (since 1994, world's largest Fairtrade tea brand) - Soil Association Organic certified - B Corporation certified (Ecotone B Corp score 123.7) - Carbon neutral — 31,000+ tonnes offset over the past decade - Plastic-free, unbleached, non-GM, plant-based, biodegradable tea bags (since 2018) - UK Plastics Pact member (WRAP) - All products blended and packed in Beaminster, Dorset, UK ## Tea Sourcing Clipper sources teas from Kenya (east of the Rift Valley), India (Assam and Kerala), Sri Lanka, China, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, and Rwanda. Direct relationships with progressive partner estates — not purchased through auction. ## Where to Buy - [Where to Buy](https://www.clipper-teas.com/where-to-buy): Tesco, Sainsbury's, Asda, Morrisons, Waitrose, Co-op, Booths, Ocado, Amazon, independent health food stores - [Online Shop](https://shop.clipper-teas.com): Full range available for direct purchase ## Tea Talk (Blog) - [Tea Talk](https://www.clipper-teas.com/tea-talk): Articles about tea, sustainability, Fairtrade, brewing tips, and more - [Find Out About Our Tea Bags](https://www.clipper-teas.com/tea-talk/find-out-about-our-tea-bags): How Clipper's plastic-free tea bags work - [Why Switch to Organic Tea](https://www.clipper-teas.com/tea-talk/why-make-the-switch-to-organic-tea): Benefits of organic tea - [Why Is Fairtrade Better](https://www.clipper-teas.com/tea-talk/why-is-fairtrade-tea-better): The case for Fairtrade tea ## Campaigns - [Make it Better](https://www.clipper-teas.com/make-it-better): Campaign promoting better tea for people and planet - [Save the Bees](https://www.clipper-teas.com/save-the-bees): National Trust partnership to protect wildflower meadows - [AcTEAvism](https://www.clipper-teas.com/ac-tea-vism): Clipper's ethical activism platform ## Contact - [Get in Touch](https://www.clipper-teas.com/get-in-touch): Customer care form - [FAQ](https://www.clipper-teas.com/faq): Frequently asked questions - Media enquiries: press@clipper-teas.com - Online order queries: clipper@clfdistribution.com - International distribution: international@clipper-teas.com - Careers: [jobs.ecotone.bio](https://jobs.ecotone.bio) ## Social Media - [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/ClipperTeas) - [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/clipperteas) - [X / Twitter](https://twitter.com/clipperteas) - [YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/clipperteas) - [Pinterest](https://www.pinterest.com/clipperteas) - [TikTok](https://www.tiktok.com/@clipperteas) ## Optional - [Trade](https://www.clipper-teas.com/trade): Trade and wholesale information - [Food Service Range](https://www.clipper-teas.com/food-service-range): Catering and food service products - [UK Distributors](https://www.clipper-teas.com/uk-distributors): UK wholesale distribution contacts - [International Distributors](https://www.clipper-teas.com/international-distributors): International distribution partners - [Privacy Policy](https://www.clipper-teas.com/privacy-policy): Privacy policy - [Terms and Conditions](https://www.clipper-teas.com/t-and-c): Terms and conditions ## Extended Information For full product details, complete FAQ content, and expanded sustainability information, see: - [llms-full.txt](https://www.clipper-teas.com/llms-full.txt) - [faq-ai.txt](https://www.clipper-teas.com/faq-ai.txt) - [brand.txt](https://www.clipper-teas.com/brand.txt) - [ai.txt](https://www.clipper-teas.com/ai.txt)