Each year on August 12th, World Elephant Day asks organizations and individuals around the planet to help give voice to the numerous issues threatening Asian and African elephants.
In observance of World Elephant Day, The Republic of Tea is committed to bringing attention to the urgent plight of wild elephant populations and sharing important information about elephant conservation.
We are proud to be the first nationally distributed tea company to offer tea grown on Certified Elephant Friendly™ tea gardens. Below, learn more about the history of World Elephant Day and our Certified Elephant Friendly™ chai teas.
History of World Elephant Day
Despite being revered and respected by cultures from all around the world, elephants are at risk of extinction due to poaching, human-wildlife conflict and habitat destruction.
According to the World Wildlife Fund, the number of Asian elephants in the wild has declined by fifty percent over the last three generations, and the species is classified as endangered. While some populations of African elephants are secure, others are being poached towards extinction and the species is considered vulnerable.
On August 12, 2012, the inaugural World Elephant Day was launched with the goal of building awareness about the numerous threats elephants face.
Suggested ways to observe this day include using #WorldElephantDay on social media, learning and sharing information about elephant conservation, and supporting organizations that are protecting wild elephant habitats and finding solutions for human-elephant conflict.
Certified Elephant Friendly Teas
The Republic of Tea is proud to support the conservation and protection of these majestic animals by offering premium Certified Elephant Friendly™ teas to our Citizens. These teas are sourced from gardens that meet certain high standards for the protection of Asian elephants and their habitats.
Throughout Asia, wild elephants continue to travel along ancient migration routes — including through land that has been converted into human settlements and farmland, such as tea gardens. These farms sometimes use toxic pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers which can contaminate the water that migrating elephants drink.
Additionally, electric fencing, drainage ditches, razor wire and other deterrent fencing have all been known to cause injury and death to migrating Asian elephants.
Certified Elephant Friendly™ tea is sourced from tea gardens that are committed to protecting Asian elephants from these hazards and reducing barriers to elephant movement between natural habitat areas.
These tea growers allow wild elephants to move freely and safely across their land without risk of harm from contaminated water, fences, ditches, power lines or human conflict.
The Republic of Tea is proud to support the coexistence of tea agriculture and wildlife by offering two delicious flavors of Certified Elephant Friendly™ chai tea:
- Bold Black Chai: Strong black Assam tea leaves are infused with a blend of rich warming spices: cinnamon, ginger, cardamom, clove and a hint of black pepper. The flavor profile is bold, malty and spicy. Serve with milk for a hearty and energizing cup.
- Bold Green Chai: Full-bodied Indian green tea is enlivened with cardamon, clove, ginger, cinnamon and black pepper. This spicy-yet-smooth, naturally low-caffeine chai is excellent served hot or over ice. A wonderful pick-me-up any time of the day.
Additionally, our herbal Mushroom Cacao Chai is an earthy, chocolatey blend that contains adaptogenic reishi mushrooms, raw cacao and a blend of spices to keep you grounded and centered. Nice with or without milk, and naturally caffeine-free.
Delight in Certified Elephant Friendly™ teas and their delicious, mushroomy companion with the Chai Stackable Tin.
