This research project examines the performances of sustainability, corporate social responsibility and gender equity in the Ethical Tea Partnership, Fairtrade, Organic, and Rainforest Alliance certified value chains emerging from Tanzanian tea fields. The talk will briefly lay out the theoretical approach of value chain analysis and ‘performativity’ that is used by the researcher. It will present initial findings regarding the nature of tea value chains in Tanzania and propose questions for discussion on how best to examine the performativityof specific values in the certified tea sector.