Holistic wellness and lifestyle tea brand Organic Merchant has won the inaugural Manufacturer of the Year Award at the annual Golden Leaf Awards (GLA). The company also received six gold and four silver medals and won.
The independent GLA recognises Australasia’s best quality and tasting teas available in the commercial marketplace. The submissions are blind-tested and judged on their brewed aroma, flavour, and mouthfeel.
Organic Merchant’s 10 awards included golds for best non-traditional chai tea; best tea packaging; best natural green tea blend; best loose-leaf herbal tea; best rooibos blend; and best matcha blend.
The brewer also received four silvers for best natural tea blend; best fruit infusion; best herbal wellness tea; and best tea website.
Organic Merchant founder and naturopath Chalimah Jeanne said it is an honour to be included in this year’s award line-up.
“We have been working extremely hard over the last 12 months to refresh the brand, packaging, and website to further establish ourselves as a major player not only as a loose-leaf tea brand but within the premium wellness space.
“Winning the first-ever Manufacturer of the Year Award is an incredible honour and validates our efforts in supporting and leading the organic movement here locally in Australia and internationally,” said Jeanne.
Organic Merchant has been creating teas, tisanes, cacao blends and bath soaks since it was founded in 2011. The company uses modern science, ancient western, Chinese, Peruvian and Ayurvedic practice into its product development.
The brand has been always endeavoured to be plastic-free and only uses recyclable, biodegradable, compostable or reusable packaging. Organic Merchant is certified organic and only uses ethically and sustainably sourced tea which is whole, unprocessed, and premium grade loose leaf.
Organics Industry body Australia Organic Limited CEO Niki Ford said the awards display progress in the organic sector and recognises the winners’ commitment towards Australia’s growing $2 billion organic-industry.
“The winners all play a vital role supplying customers with nutritious food and consumables, and with nine million Australians turning to organics last year, we are very excited about the future,” Ford said.
