A daily cup of tea (or multiple) is a ritual most of us will relish. Now CO-OP GOLD PURE® Loose Leaf Tea is not just delicious, it’s ethical too!
Made together with Air Ronge-based company Boreal Heartland, Co-op Gold Pure Loose Leaf Tea supports sustainable practices and Indigenous opportunities in Northern Saskatchewan- going above and beyond for your daily cuppa.
A Brew-tea-ful Relationship
Creating Co-op Gold Pure® Loose Leaf Tea is something Boreal Heartland is proud to be a part of.
"Co-op allows us to share our product and story with more Canadians and to expand the business,” explained Jenna Zee, Boreal Heartland’s Sales Manager. “Their values align with ours so it’s a really good fit."
Boreal Heartland provides an economic foundation for small isolated communities in Northern Saskatchewan and is founded on sustainability and respect for Indigenous traditions.
“For me and for a lot of people, the forest is healing. It helps Indigenous people reconnect to the land and that helps people spiritually and emotionally,” Boreal Heartland CEO, Randy John said.
The Mug-nificient Lineup
Boreal Heartland sources all the ingredients for their teas from wildcrafting (foraging) the pristine Northern Saskatchewan boreal forest. Once the herbs are harvested, they are dried and stored in airtight containers to preserve their flavour. Teas are then blended by hand in small batches.
Each of the sustainably sourced teas in the Co-op Gold Pure Loose Leaf Tea collection are wild-sourced, caffeine-free, and delicious. The herbs in each blend have been meticulously chosen for their traditional uses and health benefits.
The richly flavoured Restoration Blend, a mix of fermented fireweed and wild mint, eases indigestion and urinary tract problems, where the Relaxation Blend, a combination of Labrador tea, goldenrod, and nettle, is perfectly calming.
Putting the Tea in Opportunity
Boreal Heartland is Indigenous-owned and operated, and has an Indigenous advisory board that makes recommendations on culturally appropriate harvest practices. Committed to ensuring their tea production is both sustainable and ethical, the company trains local people in Good Agricultural Collection Practices (GACP). Their harvesters then forage wild herbs in their own time and are paid a fair wage for their knowledge, skill, and work.
“Our goal is to provide sustainable, environmentally sound and culturally appropriate economic opportunity for the people of Northern Saskatchewan where there is only 38% employment,” said Zee. The majority of Boreal Heartland harvesters are Indigenous and many harvest on their traditional territories or traplines.
Make sure you support great Canadian producers and sample one of Canada’s best-kept home-grown secrets! You can find Co-op Gold Pure Loose Leaf Tea blends in the tea aisle of your local Co-op food store.