Have you ever been told the best tea is grown in a particular province or region? Then immediately wondered what made this tea so unique, so special? For me, that question resulted in a trip to Japan to meet with prospective suppliers at the 2007 O-Cha(tea) Conference in Shizuoka, Japan.
Beyond the education benefit, the trip allowed me to establish a relationship with a supplier and to discuss our mutual needs on product, packaging and cost. I was able to observe the tea production process first hand while validating my particular tea’s journey from garden to cup. While an overseas trip is not an option for everyone, our digital world has made it possible to contact and work with purveyors around the globe.
Finding a Tea Supplier
The US Tea Association and the Internet allows us to research a specific tea and to initiate contact with suppliers. You can use your industry network or government agencies, such as the US Embassy Commercial Section to supply a reference check or an interpreter during a trip.
Research the local tea industry to include how the tea is processed and marketed, i.e. bulk or custom packaging. While in Japan, I met enthusiastic suppliers willing to provide excellent teas in bulk form only. However, my current niche is tea bags, so I had to locate a partner that could work with my specific needs.
I began with a small order size even though it limited the economy of scale as it related to product and freight cost. Use this as a starting point towards achieving an appropriate return on investment.
Tea Transportation
After negotiating your tea purchase, you will need to arrange transport to your facility. For small shipments, the Post Office, UPS, FedEx, etc. are the preferred options. For larger shipments, the use of air freight or ocean transport can be arranged by a freight forwarder.
A forwarder is a licensed, logistic specialist who can arrange pickup, import clearance and delivery of your tea. Compare freight cost against how quickly you will need the tea delivered. Most tea enters the US as duty-free. One exception is flavored green, which is assessed a duty rate of 6.4% on the value of the tea imported.
Tea, FDA & Food Safety
Registering your tea shipment with the FDA will ensure food safety compliance. It is best that food importers self-register at FDA’s web site under Prior Notice; otherwise, your broker will submit shipment information on your behalf. The site is a great resource for information from food labeling to safety.
I believe that discovering and sourcing the special teas of the world will ensure the continued growth of the US tea industry. I encourage you to include direct importing in your purchasing toolbox.
About the Author
| Mr. Dewgard, a Marine Corps veteran, has experience in logistics, cross-border sales and supply chain management. His online company, Dewdrop Tea, www.dewdroptea.com, imports Japanese green tea. E-mail: oliver@dewdroptea.com.
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