Category Archives: Homeware Reviews

Traidcraft was established in 1979 in a bid to reduce poverty worldwide. They supply the UK with unique and unusual items from all over the world, made in an environment which supports workers and their families. Trade is supported and encouraged to help and transform lives. Producers and craftsmen work together with Traidcraft using an approach which ensures the products you buy have been produced in a safe, people friendly environment and the workers have received a fair wage for their skills. Traidcraft put people before profit.

I have recently made the switch to Traidcraft when shopping for everyday essentials. Take tea, for example, over 20 million people in the developing world heavily rely on the tea industry.

• In India, tea is the 2nd largest employer. Over 4 million people depend on the industry to survive
• 10% of Kenya’s population (or 3.8 million) is employed in the tea sector

(Traidcraft)

Many of these people have very tough lives and work extremely hard with low pay and are powerless to do anything about it. They live and work on estates and are dependent on their employers for housing, healthcare, wages, schooling and sanitation.

Tea is expensive, but its not the tea workers who reap the rewards of this commodity, but the businessmen negotiating prices and the large supermarkets who sell the tea.

If we make the change, we pay NO MORE than we would for other tea brands but we would be making a huge difference to peoples lives in the developing world.

I have had a lovely cup of Traidcraft fair-trade African Gold tea (RRP £3). This tea was naturally sweet, with a rich smooth flavour. Simply the perfect cup of tea, and I will be making this switch permanently.

For coffee lovers, Traidcraft will have a coffee to suit everyone’s taste.

Ethiopian Sidama ground coffee (RRP £4.30) made from 100% Arabica beans, and Traidcraft ensure the farmers get a fair price for this delicious coffee. They also invest in community projects with the Fairtrade Premium, helping schools, clinics, librarys and other much needed resources.

To have with your coffee, Traidcraft have a wide range of cakes and biscuits. For Christmas, try the Christmas tree biscuits, made with ginger and cinnamon, they smell and taste fab. A chocolate dipped variety is also available for children (and mums!) RRP £2.40.

My favourite would have to be the fruit cake (RRP £3.95). This was the tastiest and most moist fruit cake I have ever eaten, perfect for Christmas. I will be buying my Christmas cake from traidcraft this year for sure. It is made from fair-trade sultanas and sugar from India and Malawi and I have the reassurance that my purchase is helping people who are less fortunate then myself.

Have a look at the website

http://www.traidcraftshop.co.uk/

It is a lovely website to navigate and you will get lost in the array of groceries, toys, clothing and gifts. They are super unique and unusual and perfect as gifts.

Help an array of people you don’t know and will never meet simply by buying from traidcraft for your everyday essentials and for gifts this Christmas and rest assured in the knowledge your purchases will help make a much needed difference to peoples lives.

Find Traidcraft on Facebook or Twitter @Traidcraft