With the august tasting coming around the corner i've been looking for tins/bags to send some tencha into the world. I was browsing through specialty bottle, dragonwater, and one other who the name escapes me at the moment (i've heard it referred to a few times since they have a 24 pack of tins for like 15 dollars)
Between plastic pouches and the small tins, which do you guys prefer? do you actually find use for the small tins in the post-tasting time? I noticed on specialty bottle that they have tins they refer to as tea tins for around a dollar and wouldn't mind splurging for those if you guys would think you would actually use them afterwards.
What do you guys think? cheap tins, baggies, or slightly nicer tins?
Jul 24th, '08, 01:34
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Go for the nicer stuff! 
Don't always believe what you think!
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Jul 24th, '08, 01:54
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I went with the Upton tins because:
a) Chip likes them
b) They let me save $ and time by using padded envelopes instead of small boxes, like I would have had to do had I chosen mylar bags.
The trade off was that I just wasn't able to send out as much tea as I'd hoped. I'd calculated 30 g apiece, but was only able to fit 18-20 in the tins. So sad.
a) Chip likes them
b) They let me save $ and time by using padded envelopes instead of small boxes, like I would have had to do had I chosen mylar bags.
The trade off was that I just wasn't able to send out as much tea as I'd hoped. I'd calculated 30 g apiece, but was only able to fit 18-20 in the tins. So sad.
Do you know a good place to find small boxes? My tin was unfortunately dented, which is no fault of the tin or detriment to the tea, just reduces the chance i'll reuse the tin at a later time.Mary R wrote:I went with the Upton tins because:
a) Chip likes them
b) They let me save $ and time by using padded envelopes instead of small boxes, like I would have had to do had I chosen mylar bags.
The trade off was that I just wasn't able to send out as much tea as I'd hoped. I'd calculated 30 g apiece, but was only able to fit 18-20 in the tins. So sad.
Here is my link for boxes - but honestly I would just go with padded envelopes with the tins.
http://www.uline.com/Browse_Listing_140 ... +%2D+White
My tin arrived fine, dents are not a big deal to me anyway.
http://www.uline.com/Browse_Listing_140 ... +%2D+White
My tin arrived fine, dents are not a big deal to me anyway.
Jul 24th, '08, 13:41
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My tin from Scruff and Mary both arrived unscathed. I guess a few might get damaged.
But til you figure in the added expence of the box and the added shipping as well.... I was going to go the tin and box route for the sencha samples, but since I was sending out to more than 20 addresses and mulitble teas, as it was the shipping was $40. The tin and box route would have approached doubling that.
I am wondering how I will do the Gyokuro sampling later this year...I want to really take exceptional care of that leaf.
But til you figure in the added expence of the box and the added shipping as well.... I was going to go the tin and box route for the sencha samples, but since I was sending out to more than 20 addresses and mulitble teas, as it was the shipping was $40. The tin and box route would have approached doubling that.
I am wondering how I will do the Gyokuro sampling later this year...I want to really take exceptional care of that leaf.
blah blah blah SENCHA blah blah blah!!!
Just echoing that the tins seem to be better in protecting the tea. I'm not sure, though, whether there's a cost issue, and if there is, I'm sure we'd all be sensitive enough to let the sender send out their tea in whatever is financially feasible.
That said, Mary's tea tin and Scruff's are now my prized tea carrying devices. My Ogio Metroid backpack has this felt lined pouch/pocket on top that's supposed to be used for MP3 players, but I've officially designated it as my tea-on-the-go spot.
That said, Mary's tea tin and Scruff's are now my prized tea carrying devices. My Ogio Metroid backpack has this felt lined pouch/pocket on top that's supposed to be used for MP3 players, but I've officially designated it as my tea-on-the-go spot.
I have also another concern. Is there any problem to send tea from France to the USA? Won't it be opened (or confiscated) by custom services because of FDA regulations (I looked on the french postal services website and they mentioned restriction for sending food and need of FDA approval)Chip wrote:
I am wondering how I will do the Gyokuro sampling later this year...I want to really take exceptional care of that leaf.
Jul 24th, '08, 17:55
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I have been wondering the same thing. Here in Canada, I've had no difficulties receiving samples from France and the U.S.A.olivierco wrote:I have also another concern. Is there any problem to send tea from France to the USA? Won't it be opened (or confiscated) by custom services because of FDA regulations (I looked on the french postal services website and they mentioned restriction for sending food and need of FDA approval)Chip wrote:
I am wondering how I will do the Gyokuro sampling later this year...I want to really take exceptional care of that leaf.
Recently I was sending some goodies out to TeaChatters in America and France. I wanted to include a couple of tea samples, but hesitated because I wasn't sure whether they would cause the shipments to be held up or (worst case scenario) confiscated.
Americans, what is your experience - especially with samples sent by individuals rather than from "official-looking" tea companies?
______________________
"Never trust a man who, when left alone in a room with a tea cosy, doesn't try it on."
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"Never trust a man who, when left alone in a room with a tea cosy, doesn't try it on."
- Billy Connolly
As far as sending tea to the US...it may or may not be held up by customs...depending on how you label the customs form.
Here's what I found on a US Embassy webpage:
And dried tea is on the list of food products that one can bring into the United States. So yay tea!
Here's what I found on a US Embassy webpage:
So, in short, if you check the box that says gift, US customs pretty much sends your package right on through.Can I send personal food products by post?
The Public Health Security and Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Act of 2002, commonly known as the "Bioterrorism Act", or BTA, was enacted on 12 December 2003, requiring that certain information be provided to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) prior to the arrival of a food shipment.
This applies to any manufactured food for either humans or animals but does not apply to homemade or manufactured foods being sent as a personal gift to individual persons in the USA but you should clearly indicate this on the Customs Form if this is the case. If you don't your parcels or packets containing food may be returned to you or even destroyed. This act also doesn't apply to personal importation of food products carried by Air Passengers.
Note that air passengers or postal shipments are still subject to the normal food restrictions as stated above.
Those sending food products commercially will need to go the FDA web site at www.access.fda.gov (Embassy personal cannot enter this information for you).
Further information on the BTA can be found at www.fda.gov/oc/bioterrorism/bioact.html
And dried tea is on the list of food products that one can bring into the United States. So yay tea!