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FOOD: The Fairtrade ; TASTE TEST - Thousands of People Are Buying Fairtrade Food and Drink As a Way of Helping Producers in the Third World. We Put Fairtrade Tea, Coffee and Chocolate to the Test.

Posted on: Sunday, 12 March 2006, 06:00 CST

By ZOE CHAMBERLAIN

WE spend more than pounds 200 million a year on fairtrade products, and there are currently more than 1,500 of them available.

On the eve of Fairtrade Fortnight, even more people are being encouraged to make it a habit - by looking out for the Fairtrade logo when they shop.

"It benefits farmers and workers in developing countries, offering a fair price, environmental benefits and more secure markets," says Harriet Lamb, executive director of the Fairtrade Foundation.

"We want to expand the market in the UK so that still more farmers, workers and their families can benefit.

"Our challenge now is to make it easy to get the habit and switch to buying Fairtrade-certified goods."

Banana farmers from the Windward Islands, cocoa farmers from Ghana, a wine grower from Chile, a cotton producer from India and a tea producer from Uganda are touring the UK to take part in conferences, fairs and other events.

Silver Kasoro-Atwoki from the Mabale Growers Tea Factory Ltd in Uganda, explains: "Through Fair-trade, we've been able to change our agricultural techniques to improve the quality and quantity of our teas.

"We've opened new access roads to benefit the community, assisted in providing primary healthcare through the construction of health clinics and added a new block to the local secondary school.

"Fairtrade is significantly contributing towards the social improvement of our community and providing a better future for our youngsters."

And it's catching on in the High Street. Chain stores such as Co- op and Marks and Spencer have opted to make much of their own-brand fairtrade tea and coffee.

Seventy-five per cent of the rose bouquets at Sains-bury's are now fairtrade-certified' Waitrose has launched Fairtrade loose bananas from the Caribbean and Asda is offering fairtrade lychees from Mozambique.

Even Virgin Trains is switching all tea, coffee, hot chocolate and sugar on board to fairtrade - but what does it taste like? We put the products to the test.

WHAT IS IT?

FAIRTRADE is about better prices, decent working conditions, local sustainability and fair terms of trade for farmers and workers in the developing world.

By requiring companies to pay above-market prices, Fairtrade addresses the injustices of conventional trade, which traditionally discriminates against the poorest, weakest producers.

It enables them to have more control over their lives. The Fairtrade Foundation, with its partners, maintains these standards by regularly inspecting third world suppliers, and checking contracts and trade terms.

The Fairtrade Mark is an independent consumer label which appears on UK products as a guarantee that they have given their producers a better deal.

Thousands of activities are happening across the Midlands and beyond as part of Fairtrade Fortnight. Visit website www.fairtrade.org.uk for further details.

TEA

Clipper teabags: pounds 1.85 for 80 teabags from supermarkets. Rich and flavour some with a pleasant, lasting aftertaste. Pleasing copper colour, good for those who like their tea strong. Excellent value for money.Mercury choice

Tea Direct tea bags: pounds 1.90 for 80 teabags from supermarkets. A light, pleasant-tasting tea with a good colour and aroma but not a long-lasting flavour or aftertaste.

Traidcraft English Breakfast Tea: pounds 1.79 for 50 teabags from Oxfam. A slightly strange floral aroma but a pleasant, lasting flavour. A refreshing morning cuppa.

Equal Exchange Breakfast Blend Tea: pounds 2.19 for 50 teabags from Oxfam. Lacking in flavour, even having squeezed out the last dregs and adding very little milk. Might be nicer with lemon.

COFFEE

Tesco Fair Trade Instant Coffee: pounds 2.33 for 100g from Tesco. Pleasing aroma, good everyday coffee and very reasonably priced.

Union Coffee Roasters Rwanda Ground Coffee: pounds 3.15 for 227g from House of Fraser. Full-bodied and powerful, with milk chocolate and caramel flavours. Very easy to drink, despite being thick and rich.

The Natural Coffee Company: pounds 2.79 for 250g from House of Fraser. Not as flavour-some as its aroma might suggest but quite mellow and easy-drinking, especially as an after-dinner coffee.

Caf Direct Instant Coffee: pounds 2.75 for100g from supermarkets: Slightly burnt aroma and a very bland taste. Not pleasant to drink.

Nescaf Partners Blend Instant Coffee: pounds 2.69 for 100g from supermarkets. An earthy aroma and quite a bitter aftertaste. Wouldn't choose it as an everyday coffee.

Percol Fair Trade Colombian Ground Coffee: pounds 2.50 for 250g from supermarkets. An irresistible chocolatey aroma and a rich, spicy flavour. Delicious. l Mercury choice

CHOCOLATE

Green & Black Maya Gold Chocolate: pounds 1.59 for 100g from Sainsbury's. Rich, dark and delicious with orange, Christmassy spices. Even though it's quite pricey, a little provides a long, enjoyable aftertaste. Mercury choice

Traidcraft Organic Swiss-Made Milk Chocolate: pounds 1.40 for 100g from Oxfam. Lacking in depth of flavour, doesn't give a real chocolatey-hit.

Divine Heavenly Milk Chocolate with a Heart: 99p for 100g from Oxfam. Creamy and rich, very similar to Cadbury's Dairy Milk. A reasonable price.

Source: Sunday Mercury; Birmingham (UK)

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