US importers for bulk black tea from India
Date: 2026-09-19 Product: Bulk black tea (fermented and partly fermented, in immediate packings of content exceeding 3 kg) HS Code: 0902.40 (HTSUS 0902.40.00) Established via: Harmonized Tariff Schedule Chapter 9 (Coffee, tea, maté and spices). Heading 0902 covers "Tea, whether or not flavored"; subheadings 0902.10/20 cover green tea; 0902.30 covers black tea in packings not exceeding 3 kg; and 0902.40 specifically covers "Other black tea (fermented) and other partly fermented tea" (bulk packaging exceeding 3 kg). Reading established by analyst review of HTSUS 0902 classification.
Summary
- Qualified importers: 4 established (Universal Commodities Tea Trade, Harney & Sons Tea, Royal Estates Tea / Lipton, Southern Tea LLC / Harris Freeman)
- Importer types: Merchant traders/importers, specialty tea blenders/brand-owners, commercial tea packers/private-label blenders
- Single biggest gate: FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Foreign Supplier Verification Program (FSVP) rule compliance (21 CFR Part 1 Subpart L), including pesticide residue / MRL testing, heavy metal screening, food facility registration, and USDA NOP certification for organic teas
Importers
| Organisation | State | Type | Evidence they buy | Buys from | Gate | Contact route | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Universal Commodities Tea Trade[1] | NY | Merchant wholesaler / importer | Imported multiple 20+ MT bulk tea shipments including 20,520 kg Organic Black Tea Jalinga (BOL ONEYCCUF07290A01, 2025-08-04) and 24,412 kg Indian tea (BOL NXGWCOKDHW18211, 2026-03-04)[1] | Indian Products P Ltd, Jalinga Tea Co (India), Eastern Produce Malawi | FSVP importer verification, FDA Prior Notice, phytosanitary clearance | 141 Parkway Rd, Bronxville, NY 10708; unicomtea.com | High |
| Harney & Sons Tea[2] | NY | Specialty tea brand / blender | Direct sea imports of Assam bulk black tea including 9,220 kg in paper sacks (BOL YMJAE505001507, 2026-05-09: 'Black Tea Fermdt Other Partly Fermentd Tea Fcl Papper Sacksin Plts Organic Black Tea Npop Certified Organic Bio Certified Organic Int Usda Nop Assam Black')[2] | Indian producers / exporters, Kaburagien (Japan) | USDA NOP organic certification, FDA food facility registration | 13 Main St, Millerton, NY 12546; harney.com | High |
| Royal Estates Tea (Lipton Teas and Infusions)[3] | NJ | Major commercial tea blender / packer | Large-scale sea imports of bulk black tea in multiwall paper sacks exceeding 70-98 MT per consignment (BOL SUDU52BUE016860X, 2023-02-03) and Indian origin estate tea (BOL ONEYCOKC08721A01)[3] | Don Basilio, Glenmorgan Tea Estates (India), global tea producers | Corporate supplier audits, FDA FFR, strict MRL and microbiological limits | Englewood Cliffs, NJ 07632; liptonteas.com | High |
| Southern Tea LLC (Harris Freeman)[4] | GA/NJ | Contract packer and private-label tea blender | Sea imports of bulk black tea (BOL ONEYBUEE09107900, 2024-10-29, 48,486 kg) and botanicals for blending; associated with Harris Freeman global sourcing network[4] | Don Basilio, Worlée Naturprodukte, Indian & Argentine origins | FSVP verification, FDA registration, customer blend specifications | 1260 Newnan Crossing Blvd E, Newnan, GA 30265; southerntea.com | High |
Leads you should not chase yet
- Pure herb and botanicals importers (e.g. Aura Botanical, Botanical Therapeutics) who import hibiscus, elderberries, or herbal extracts but do not import Camellia sinensis black tea[7].
- Paper filter and packaging mesh converters (e.g. Glatfelter Lydney, Bag Filter Sa R) appearing as tea consignees or shippers on bills of lading who supply tea bag materials rather than leaf tea[8].
- Foreign tea trading houses that do not maintain a US IOR (Importer of Record) entity or US customs bond[9].
Reference documents
US customs bill-of-lading records
Total: 4 Population: US sea imports of bulk black tea consignments
- Done: US customs bill-of-lading records via
trade(harney-sons-tea,southern-tea,universal-commodities-tea-trade,royal-estates-tea,rishi-tea)
FDA registration and import requirements
Total: 1 Population: US regulatory requirements for imported food and bulk agricultural commodities
- Done: US FDA Foreign Supplier Verification Programs (FSVP) for Food Importers rule (21 CFR Part 1 Subpart L) requiring hazard analysis, pesticide residue verification, and foreign supplier evaluation; FDA Prior Notice under 21 CFR Part 1 Subpart I; and Biennial Food Facility Registration under Section 415 of the FD&C Act [6]
Retail, foodservice and private-label buyers
Total: 1 Population: US commercial tea brands, private-label packers, and foodservice distributors
- Done: Commercial tea packagers and private-label packers verified via manifest consignee and trade records: Southern Tea LLC (Harris Freeman), Royal Estates Tea (Lipton Teas and Infusions / Ekaterra), Harney & Sons Specialty Fine Teas, and Universal Commodities Tea Trade [1][2][3][4]
Duty, tariff and origin rules
Total: 1 Population: US Customs and Border Protection & USITC import tariff schedule for HTS 0902.40
- Done: USITC Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTSUS 2026), Chapter 9, Subheading 0902.40.00: Other black tea (fermented) and partly fermented tea in packings exceeding 3 kg. General rate of duty: Free (0.0%). Special rate of duty: Free. Column 2 rate: Free. Country of origin labeling under 19 CFR Part 134 required [5]
Trade directories and exhibitor lists
Total: 1 Population: Industry trade associations, importer rosters, and Indian Tea Board registered exporters
- Done: Tea Association of the U.S.A. Inc. (teaUSA) allied trade importer/packer members and Indian Tea Board registered US consignee trade channels [10]
Sources
- [1] trade company shipments universal-commodities-tea-trade
- [2] trade company shipments harney-sons-tea
- [3] trade company shipments royal-estates-tea
- [4] trade company shipments southern-tea
- [5] USITC HTSUS Chapter 9, Heading 0902.40.00
- [6] 21 CFR Part 1 Subpart L & Subpart I; FD&C Act Section 415
- [7] trade search companies botanical
- [8] trade company shipments rishi-tea
- [9] 19 CFR Part 141 (Entry of Merchandise)
- [10] Tea Association of the U.S.A. Inc. Trade Roster