Specialty tea exporter

Overseas specialty tea importers, wholesalers, cafe chains and blenders looking for US-origin or private-label teas.

You buy at a supplier price and sell at a margin per pound or kilo, often in pallet or container-share orders. Some buyers reorder, but income can be uneven month to month.

• Negotiating with suppliers and buyers
• Careful with paperwork and detail
• Knowing tea types and quality

• Import rules in the destination country (labeling, testing, pesticide limits), which differ widely, so check before quoting
• Check whether you need FDA food facility registration, especially if you store or repack tea yourself
• Check US export filing and documentation requirements with your freight forwarder or the Census Bureau
• Payment risk with new overseas buyers; consider payment up front, letters of credit or trade credit insurance
• Check general liability and product liability insurance, plus cargo insurance for shipments
• Shipping costs, tariffs and currency swings can eat into margins

Startup costs are typically estimated at around $3,000 to $15,000, depending on how much tea stock and how many samples you buy, your shipping and freight arrangements, and any insurance or registrations you need.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $2,000 to $10,000, depending on order sizes and buyers. Shipping costs, tariffs and currency swings can eat into margins, so factor them in when quoting.

Check the destination country's import rules on labeling, testing and pesticide limits, and whether you need FDA food facility registration if you store or repack tea. Also check US export filing requirements with your freight forwarder, and insurance for liability and cargo.