Shipping and Custom

Highest quality tea deserves the anticipation.



For a limited period until 15 March 2012, we offer FREE worldwide shipping for all parcels.

Our shipping rate is very reasonable. We offer free shipping over $50. Otherwise, we ship anywhere in the world for $4.00.

What happen if I don't get my parcels?

I am fully commited to your order. If your parcel do not arrive in time, you are entitled to a full refund. Please read my 60-day Guarantee.

I have run this tea shop for four years and have always kept my promise, regardless of whether my customers like my teas.

How long does it take?

We post within 1 to 3 business days by Airmail. From past experience, this is how long it takes to get to the following countries:

  • United States (3 weeks)

  • Canada and Western Europe (4 weeks)

  • Scandinavia countries (2 weeks)

  • Singapore and Malaysia (2 weeks)

Where are you based?

We keep our tea treasures in our Chinese warehouse, where the site's co-founder HQ lives. We believe having a warehouse near the Source is the most efficient way to distribute these treasures around.

What we do is really quite simple. Both I and HQ taste the teas. When we think we spot a star - something we think you would be extremely pleased to have - we place a large order as soon as the harvest finishes.

We pack the teas into air-tight bags; leave them in freezer until your orders come in.

Because we have total control over the sourcing process, from wholesale to storage, we have total confidence the teas will reach you in excellent condition.

Are you authorized?

stiWe have been approved by the US Food Drug Administration (FDA) to ship tea leaves to the United States. Our agent is the Tea Association of the USA.

Other countries do not have similar requirements. So we are free to ship teas worldwide.

How about custom and tax?

You are responsible for the custom and tax. Fortunately, they don't normally apply to small packages bought for personal use.

This is my personal understanding on how the custom tax applies, please feel free to carry out your own research:

  • If you live in the US, tea leaves are exempted from custom tax. In any case, for any international purchase (and not just tea leaves), exemption limit is 200 US dollars.

  • If you live in the UK, tea leaves are considered an essential item and therefore not subject to sales tax (VAT). They also don't attract custom charge.

  • Due to harmisation rules, the same situation applies to Europe.

  • I have also have several Australian customers. As far as I am aware, parcels are allowed through as long as they have been labeled "Camellia Sinensis".

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References

HM Revenue & Customs. VAT, Customs & Excise.
http://customs.hmrc.gov.uk/channelsPortalWebApp/channelsPortalWebApp.portal?
_nfpb=true&_pageLabel=pageLibrary_PublicNoticesAndInfoSheets&property
Type=document&columns=1&id=HMCE_CL_000118#P67_4124

Sloane Fox (2006). Importing into the UK: UK and EU Import Taxes. 
http://www.sloanefox.freeserve.co.uk/importukduty.htm

US Customs and Border Protection. Internet Purchases. 
http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/import/infrequent_importer_info
/internet_purchases.xml

Canada Border Services Agency
http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/import/courier/postal/ind_duty_free-e.html#value

Australian Customs Service
http://www.customs.gov.au/site/page.cfm?u=5549

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Amazing Green Tea

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