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Evaluation sample
Evaluation samples are free of charge; the buyer covers the courier cost. Ask for a named lot, or a curated set of 3–5 teas.
Request a sampleFor specialty buyers
How to Import Chinese Tea: Samples and First Orders
Cup a named lot, then place a wholesale order. Samples and order minimums are two different steps — do not treat 5 kg as a sample size.
Evaluation samples are free of charge; the buyer covers the courier cost.
Three steps, not one size
Sample, first order, then scale
Evaluation samples let you cup the leaf. A first wholesale order is the commercial lot. Full-container loads are available later, when your volume requires them — they are a capability, not the starting point.
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First wholesale order
Low minimums — most teas from 5 kg. A few bulk grades start higher because of how those lots are packed and sold. Each product page shows the actual minimum.
Browse lots03
Repeat and scale
Reorder the same lot, or scale up to full-container loads when you need them. Freight and Incoterms are on the shipping page.
Shipping InfoCup before you commit
Evaluation samples
Evaluation samples are free of charge; the buyer covers the courier cost.
Ask for a named lot, or a curated set of 3–5 teas when you are comparing grades or styles. We typically dispatch sample sets within 3–5 business days of your request. There is no sample fee and nothing to credit against a first order.
Use the sample form so the request is tagged correctly. If you already know the volume you want to buy, use the quote form instead.
Commercial lots
First orders and minimums
Low minimums — most teas from 5 kg. That figure is the default order minimum, not a sample size. A first commercial order follows only after you approve the sample — we do not ask you to skip that step.
Exceptions come from grade, not from a volume ladder. A few grades carry a higher order minimum, set by how those lots are packed and sold. We do not publish a complete exception list here; the product spec sheet for each lot shows the actual figure.
We quote by grade and lot. There are no volume-tier prices on this site. Full-container loads are available when your volume requires them.
See minimums on each product pageA short path
How to import Chinese loose-leaf tea
This is the buyer workflow, not a second catalogue. Category pages help you choose a style; this page is sample, first order, documents, and freight.
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Request a sample
Tell us the lots you want to cup via the sample form. We typically reply within 24 hours with availability and grade notes.
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Cup the sample
Evaluation samples are free of charge; the buyer covers the courier cost. Curated sets of 3–5 teas are available. Sets usually leave within 3–5 business days of the request.
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Place a first order
After you approve the sample, order the volume you actually need. Low minimums — most teas from 5 kg. The product page shows that lot’s actual minimum.
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Documents and shipping
We agree Incoterms, packing, and export documents on the order. Destination customs clearance is the buyer’s responsibility under standard Incoterms.
For the first shipment
Incoterms and export packing
Short facts for a first import. Freight methods and transit times live on the shipping page.
Incoterms
FOB, CIF, CFR, and EXW
We work with FOB, CIF, CFR, and EXW. For a first-time import, FOB China port is usually the clearer split: you appoint the forwarder and insurance. CIF to a named destination port is available when you want freight and insurance in the quote. The applicable term is stated on the proforma invoice.
Courier, air, and sea options — and how larger consignments typically move — are explained on the shipping page. This page does not replace that logistics detail.
Open shipping and freightExport packing
How the leaf is packed
Leaf is packed in food-grade multi-layer aluminum foil bags, then export cartons. That is the export-shipping pack, not a design service.
Evaluation samples ship as parcels. Small wholesale lots may ship as parcels or as less-than-container cargo, depending on destination and weight.
Choose a style first
Category pages, then a named lot
Hubs explain harvest, processing, and how to read a grade. Product pages carry the actual minimum for that lot. Request the sample against a named tea, not a generic category.
Quick answers
Samples and first-order questions
- Are evaluation samples free?
- Evaluation samples are free of charge; the buyer covers the courier cost. Curated sets of 3–5 teas are available. Samples are not credited against a first order — there is no sample fee to credit.
- What is the minimum order quantity for loose-leaf tea?
- Low minimums — most teas from 5 kg. A few grades carry a higher order minimum, set by how those lots are packed and sold; see the product spec sheet for the actual figure. Evaluation samples are a separate step, not a 5 kg order.
- How do I import loose-leaf tea from China?
- Send an inquiry, cup an evaluation sample, then place a first wholesale order. Export documents and Incoterms (FOB, CIF, CFR, or EXW) are agreed on the order. Destination customs clearance is the buyer’s responsibility under standard Incoterms. Freight options are on the shipping page.
- How are samples and small lots packed?
- Leaf is packed in food-grade multi-layer aluminum foil bags, then export cartons. Evaluation samples ship as parcels. First orders may go courier, air, or sea depending on destination and consignment size — see shipping.
Ready to cup a lot
Request a sample or a first-order quote
Evaluation samples are free of charge; the buyer covers the courier cost. Most teas from 5 kg.