Imports of tea, coffee, and spices are subject to inspection by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which may accept or deny entry of the goods into the country.
FDA Regulations For Importing Tea, Coffee, and Spices
To determine the proper way to label your products with respect to ingredients, nutrition, content, etc., we recommend you contact the FDA at 1-888-723-3366 or 1-888-463-6332.
There are no restrictions or quotas on tea, spices, or coffee whether bottled, packaged, or brewed.
There is no limit to the amount of these products you can import into the U.S., but some products that contain these ingredients (e.g. sauces, syrups, soups, etc.) may have restrictions or special duty fees. If you are importing any of these items, it might be best to consult an Import Specialist at your local port of entry.
Adhering to the Harmonized Tariff Schedule
"The Harmonized Tariff Schedule" will list the duty fees and harmonized codes for coffee, tea and many spices in Chapter 9. Other spices can be found in Chapter 12. Instant coffee and products containing coffee are in Chapter 21.
When reading this document, note that countries with normal trade relations with the U.S. are eligible for the duty rates in Column One, unless there is an international trade agreement that allows duty-free importation of your goods. (i.e. GSP, NAFTA, etc.) For more information on these types of agreements, please see the International Agreements section.
If you have any trouble determining the appropriate duty rates or harmonized codes, contact an Import Specialist for help.