By — P. J. Tobia P. J. Tobia Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/heres-the-real-story-behind-your-cup-of-tea Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Here’s the real story behind your cup of tea World Feb 12, 2016 10:27 AM EDT When you wrap your hands around a toasty cup of tea this winter, consider the source. The U.S. imports about 400 million pounds of tea each year, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Tea makers often market their product with the idea that sipping tea is a relaxing, nearly spiritual experience. But for many of the people who produce our tea, life is hardly tranquil. The United Nations, nongovernmental organizations and human rights lawyers describe tea-leaf pickers living and working in vile, dangerous conditions. Child labor is prevalent, as is wage theft and even human trafficking on tea plantations across the globe. This week on Shortwave, we tell you all about where your cup of tea comes from with Peter Rosenblum, a lawyer and professor at Bard College who spent two years investigating Indian tea plantations and produced this report. We also spoke with Ruth Dearnly, director of Stop the Traffick, an organization that produced “Not My Cup of Tea,” a report on human trafficking in the industry. Shortwave is a podcast. That you listen to. With your ears. By — P. J. Tobia P. J. Tobia P.J. Tobia is a Foreign Affairs Producer at PBS NewsHour, covering the Middle East and North Africa. He is also the host and producer of the foreign affairs podcast "Shortwave." Prior to this Tobia spent two years in Afghanistan covering Afghan politics, life and the U.S.-led war. @PJTobia
When you wrap your hands around a toasty cup of tea this winter, consider the source. The U.S. imports about 400 million pounds of tea each year, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Tea makers often market their product with the idea that sipping tea is a relaxing, nearly spiritual experience. But for many of the people who produce our tea, life is hardly tranquil. The United Nations, nongovernmental organizations and human rights lawyers describe tea-leaf pickers living and working in vile, dangerous conditions. Child labor is prevalent, as is wage theft and even human trafficking on tea plantations across the globe. This week on Shortwave, we tell you all about where your cup of tea comes from with Peter Rosenblum, a lawyer and professor at Bard College who spent two years investigating Indian tea plantations and produced this report. We also spoke with Ruth Dearnly, director of Stop the Traffick, an organization that produced “Not My Cup of Tea,” a report on human trafficking in the industry. Shortwave is a podcast. That you listen to. With your ears.