Tea, the most consumed beverage in Türkiye after water, is sometimes at the center of debates about “dust,” “dye,” and “adulteration,” which can confuse consumers.
Food Engineer Dr. Selen Akbulut stated that what is referred to as dust in tea actually means very small leaf particles formed as a result of the tea leaves’ processing stages such as drying, cutting, sieving, and transportation. “This dust may be a natural crumb of tea. However, the presence of a high proportion of dust in tea can be considered an indicator of low quality or excessive mechanical processing,” she said.
Emphasizing that “the content of tea should consist solely of the leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant,” Dr. Akbulut warned, “No tea should be purchased if it is sold as loose tea without any packaging and if producer traceability cannot be ensured.” She also noted that it is not possible to detect fraud or adulteration through home testing methods.
Üsküdar University Health Services Vocational School Head of the Food Technology Program Dr. Selen Akbulut evaluated the concept of dust in tea, additives, and what consumers should pay attention to.
Dust in tea does not always mean a foreign substance
Dr. Selen Akbulut explained that dust in tea refers to very small leaf particles formed during processing stages such as drying, cutting, sieving, and transportation. “This dust may be a natural crumb of tea. However, seeing a high amount of dust structure in tea can be considered an indicator of low quality or excessive mechanical processing,” she said.
No additives can be added to tea
Stating that the legislation regarding the use of additives in tea is extremely clear, Dr. Akbulut said, “According to the Turkish Food Codex Tea Communiqué, there is a declaration that no additives can be added under any circumstances to black tea, green tea, flavored black and green tea, and decaffeinated black and green tea. If aromas or flavorings are to be used for product development purposes, they must comply with the provisions of the Regulation on Flavorings and Food Ingredients with Flavoring Properties. The levels of contaminants must comply with the Regulation on Contaminants, and pesticide residue levels must comply with the Regulation on Maximum Residue Limits of Pesticides.”
Tea content must consist only of camellia sinensis leaves
Dr. Akbulut pointed out that when examining the list of foods subject to imitation and adulteration regularly announced by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, the most common issue encountered in tea is the detection of food dyes. “Sudan dyes such as Sudan I to IV and colorants like Metanil Yellow are unfortunately used in tea products for imitation and adulteration purposes. The content of tea must consist solely of the leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant,” she stated.
Dr. Selen Akbulut also emphasized that dyes added to tea for fraudulent purposes pose health risks. “The prohibited dyes claimed to be used in tea may carry risks such as carcinogenic effects, liver and kidney damage, allergic reactions, and long term toxic accumulation,” she said.
Do not rely on home tests
Clarifying the claims frequently shared on social media about “home tea tests,” Dr. Selen Akbulut said, “Unfortunately, it is not possible to reliably detect fraud or adulteration in tea through simple tests that can be applied at home. Whether there is any fraud in tea can only be determined through scientific analyses conducted in accredited laboratories. However, if consumers suspect that the tea they purchased is adulterated, they can file a complaint through the Alo 174 Food Safety Hotline. In addition, consumers can submit samples of suspicious products to the relevant units of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry of the Republic of Türkiye and request an official inspection.”
Stay away from loose and non traceable tea
Drawing attention to the high level of tea consumption in Türkiye, Dr. Akbulut said, “According to the latest report published by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry in 2025, tea is consumed more than all other beverages worldwide, excluding water. Drinking tea is a daily ritual for half of the world’s population. In Türkiye, per capita fresh tea consumption was 13.7 kg in 2023/24. This corresponds to approximately 3.5 to 4 kg of dry tea. Given the high level of consumption in our country, consumers should make sure to purchase this product from well-known and inspected brands. As with all food products, ‘label literacy’ is extremely important when purchasing tea. Label information such as producer, batch number, and origin must definitely be checked. If any suspicious situation is detected in sensory characteristics such as taste, color, or aroma, the relevant units of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry of the Republic of Türkiye should be informed immediately. In addition, no tea should be purchased if it is sold as loose tea without any packaging and if producer traceability cannot be ensured. Since traceability is not possible for such products, it should not be forgotten that the risk of fraud and adulteration is higher,” she concluded.
