Question 1

Which countries do you ship to?

Accepted Answer

We ship to 60+ countries worldwide from our warehouse in Chengdu, China. A few we can't currently serve — Russia, Belarus, and Venezuela — and a handful have special handling (for example Brazil, where tea imports are often held at customs). If you don't see your country or aren't sure, contact us before subscribing and we'll find a solution. Please make sure your shipping address — and a phone number, if your country requires one for delivery — is correct in your account before we ship.

Question 2

Will I have to pay customs or tariffs? (US members)

Accepted Answer

As of August 2025, the US ended the low-value (de minimis) exemption that used to let parcels under $800 clear customs duty-free — so unlike before, US-bound orders can now be subject to import duties or tariffs. Any duty or tariff owed would be the recipient's responsibility. We can't predict the exact amount, since it depends on your state and the carrier's process — we ship on a dedicated US line and keep documentation accurate to avoid unnecessary delays, and we're watching the rules closely as they continue to evolve.

Question 3

Will I have to pay customs or VAT? (EU members)

Accepted Answer

EU boxes route through the Netherlands via PostNL rather than shipping directly from China, which usually avoids the ad hoc customs and VAT charges that direct-from-China parcels often trigger. Depending on your country and the parcel's declared value, a small VAT or customs fee can still apply on delivery. This is uncommon on a box this size, and it would be the recipient's responsibility if charged. For destinations outside the US and EU, local import rules vary; any duties are the recipient's responsibility, though they're uncommon on a parcel this size, and we include standard commercial documentation (and add your VAT/EORI number on request) to help customs move smoothly.

Question 4

When will my box ship?

Accepted Answer

MyTeaPal Club runs on a quarterly cycle — four boxes a year, one per season. Each quarter has a registration window; join before it closes and your box ships that quarter. To get boxes out as early in the quarter as possible, each quarter ships in up to three batches, with fully-paid annual and 6-month members in the first batch. Once you're a member, your account shows your next shipment window. If you join after a window closes, your first box ships with the following quarter's first batch.

Question 5

How long does delivery take?

Accepted Answer

Transit times after dispatch are estimates and vary by destination: the United States is 1–3 weeks on a dedicated US line; the European Union is 2–4 weeks via PostNL; Mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, and Vietnam arrive within a few days on dedicated regional lines; and most other countries are 2–4 weeks via China Post. Customs can occasionally add time.

Question 6

How do I track my box?

Accepted Answer

We email your tracking number as soon as it's available — once you have it, the parcel has left our China hub, so allow a day or two for the link to go live. We recommend tracking at 17track.net; a few carriers show updates only in their Chinese-language view, which translates easily.

Question 7

Are there discounts or gifts for new members?

Accepted Answer

New members get a welcome discount and a free tasting cup at checkout. To get your discount code, enter your email in the banner near the bottom of the homepage, or in the floating "Get $10 off" button (and the popup it opens) on Club pages — we'll show your code there to apply at checkout. Longer plans include an extra gift — a gaiwan on the 3-month plan, a gongfu brewing bottle on 6-month, a travel tea set on 12-month (first-time purchases only).

Question 8

How does billing work, and how do I manage or cancel it?

Accepted Answer

Plans bill every 3, 6, or 12 months, matching your box's shipping cadence — there's no commitment beyond your current billing period. From your account page, open "Manage billing" to update your payment method, change your plan, or cancel anytime — it's handled through our secure billing portal.

Question 9

What's your return and refund policy?

Accepted Answer

Because each box is freshly assembled and shipped internationally, we don't offer refunds once a box has shipped. If you cancel before your box ships, a small (5%) processing fee applies. We can't cover packages lost or stolen after a confirmed delivery, returned because of an incorrect address, or held by customs — so please keep your address up to date. If a parcel comes back to us as undeliverable, we're happy to re-ship it for the cost of postage.

Question 10

Can I skip a box?

Accepted Answer

Skipping isn't available on the 3- or 6-month plans. Annual members can skip one of their four quarterly boxes per year.

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