Foreign Correspondent S2025E3: Sri Lanka: Bitter Brew

Overview

Tea is the second most consumed drink in the world after water and chances are the tea in Australian cupboards comes from Sri Lanka. Consumers of the more popular brands are assured by guarantees clearly marked on the packaging that the tea they are buying is ethically and sustainably produced. But are these guarantees accurate?Foreign Correspondent goes deep into the tea fields of Sri Lanka to investigate the "ethical" promises made by the most famous brands of tea. Reporter Naomi Selvaratnam visits the estates to investigate the living and working conditions approved by independent certification schemes and reveals how the system is failing both Sri Lankan tea workers and consumers.