Objects of The German Tea Association:
The task of the association is to safeguard and promote its members' particular interests relating to the import, manufacture, packaging and/or marketing of tea (Camellia sinensis, Linnaeus, O. Kuntze) in all its varieties and forms of presentation at practical and political level.

Focus of activities:
The German Tea Association focuses on issues relating to food law, quality control and nutritional aspects of tea.

Main food law issues are: Labelling, compounds in tea, flavourings and extracts, specifications for organic food, Guidelines of the „Deutsches Lebensmittelbuch" for tea, herbal infusions, extracts and preparations thereof.

Quality control issues are of central importance and are handled in close co-operation with the tea producing countries. The German Tea Association has adopted a Code of Practice for Quality Control to which all members have committed themselves. This Code contains guidelines for sampling and minimum requirements for analysing tea for pesticide residues. The association regularly monitors tea for residues of plant protective substances and has set up a comprehensive data base for this purpose.

In addition, the association disseminates information on all aspects of tea and latest market developments.

Membership:
35 full members and 21 associate members.

Market data:

Year	total	per capita	press release	report
	consumption (tons)	consumption (litres )	English	German
2016	19,220	approx. 28.0	pdf - EN	pdf - DE

Chairman:
Jochen Spethmann, Messrs. Ostfriesische Teegesellschaft Laurens Spethmann GmbH & Co. KG

Secretary General:
Maximilian Wittig, state certified food chemist

Public Relations Manager:
Kyra Schaper 

Personal Assistants:
Christina Claußen, Christiane Hillesheim-Behrens

Additional information:
The German Tea Association is a member of

The German Tea Association closely works together with the German Herbal Infusions Association "Wirtschaftsvereinigung Kräuter- und Früchtetee e.V." (WKF).

The Tea Association operates a Tea Tasters' Panel whose task is to assess tea samples at the request of food inspectors, scientific institutes and the industry. Prior to testing, the tea samples are neutrally packed in order to conceal the identity of producer / submitter. The assessment procedure covers organoleptic properties, general and specific characteristics and labelling claims relating to origin and quality.

Scientific Research
The "Tea and Science" bulletin (W.I.T.) is issued by the German Tea Association once a year and presents latest research and essays on nutritional aspects, health benefits, history and social aspects of tea. Summaries of all articles in English are available.

» Overview of available summaries in Englisch