FAQ - Japanese Green Tea Company (Frequently Asked Questions)

Shipping and Returns

Subscription Program

Green Tea Club Rewards Program

About Green Tea

Others

Shipping and Returns

  • How do you ship green tea?

    Our teas are shipped directly from Japan to our warehouse in Washington by air. Then we ship it directly to you from our warehouse using USPS or UPS; depending on the cost and speed to your location. (For Canada, Australia, the UK, Germany and Denmark, please click here)

    This shipping approach allows us to quickly send fresh green tea to your door so you don’t need to wait for any international shipping. 

    For more information, please see our Shipping and Return Page.


    USPS Priority MailUSPS
  • How much do you charge for shipping?

    We use USPS, and the following are the rates for shipping. The shipping price is a flat rate per order. All shipping comes with free insurance through USPS.
    • What is the shipping charge on a subscription order?
      Whichever shipping method you choose on the first order will be retained for all future orders. If you choose free shipping today, it will lock in free shipping for all time until you unsubscribe.

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      • Do you ship anywhere in the USA?
         Yes! We ship anywhere in the USA, including Hawaii and Alaska.
        • Do you ship internationally outside the USA?
          We now ship our products internationally.

          For Canada, Australia, the UK, Germany and Denmark, please click here

          For the rest of the world, please select your country when checking out, and our website will calculate the shipping price.

          Unfortunately, our free shipping promotion does not apply to all international orders.

          For most countries, the shipping price is a $29.99 flat rate per order. This means that the more you order at once, the better deal it is for you.

          The item will be shipped using USPS International Priority Shipping with Tracking, and shipping usually takes between 6-10 days to get to most of the country.

          We have other alternatives to save you on shipping if you live outside the USA, Canada, Australia, UK, Germany or Denmark.  Please contact us from this link if you are outside these countries
          • Does your shipment require a signature? 
            No. Unlike other companies sending packages from Japan, our tea is shipped via USPS, so it does not require your signature or picked up from the local post office. Instead, the package gets delivered to your mailbox like any other US postal mail.
          • Do you provide a tracking number for the 2- 5 day method? 
            Yes, we do provide a tracking number for 2-5 days (Free) shipping. (USPS Tracking) 
          • How soon do you provide the tracking number? 
            We ship items Mon-Fri at 11 am ET. When the item is ordered after 11 am, we send it the next day. So you get the tracking before 11 am on the day (if ordered before 11 am) or the next day (after 11 am). 
          • Can I send the package as a gift to someone?
            Yes, you can specify the shipping address separately from the billing address so that you can send it to your friends easily. We do not include the receipt in shipment in general.
            • Do you allow shipping to PO Box?
              Yes, we do allow PO Box. Our packages are shipped via USPS, and they have access to your PO Box. 
            • Why is your shipping fee so low?
              At Japanese Green Tea Co., we are revolutionizing buying Japanese green tea by partnering directly with Arahataen Farms. Because they grow, process, and package their tea on site, we get shipments to you much faster- usually just one to five days!

              By cutting out the middle-men, you get your tea faster, fresher, and without fees.

              Your tea is shipped using USPS from Washington State, so you don't need to worry about the hassle of dealing with signing for your package or custom duty.

              You get your tea in 2-3 days in the USA.(Click here to check when you will get your tea if you order today.)

              Click on image below to visualize why

              Japanese Green Tea Export Process


              • How long does it take to get my green tea after ordering? 
                We ship the same day!

                After payment is verified, orders placed by 10 a.m. ET will be shipped from our warehouse daily, Monday-Friday. Orders placed after 10 a.m. ET will be shipped the next day.

                Our green tea is shipped from Japan to the USA every week to our warehouse in Washington so that we can ship fresh green tea to you quickly using USPS directly from our warehouse. With this processing, you receive your order within one week of ordering.
              • How do you pack your tea? 
                Each tea comes in a sealed pack to retain its quality.

                Sealed, packaged tea is shipped in a soft packed envelope or box, depending on the size of the order.
              • Do I need to pay sales tax?
                No. Unless you live in the state of Washington, you do not need to pay sales tax. And even if you live in the State of Washington, tea (unprepared food) is not taxable.

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                • Do I need to pay import tax?
                  No. Unlike other online sites selling from outside the USA, we take care of all custom taxes and import duties so that you do not have to worry about any of them. 
                  • What payment method do you accept?
                    We accept Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover, JCB, Diner’s Club. We also accept PayPal, Amazon payment, Google G-Pay, Apple Pay, Venmo and Shopify Pay (Shop Pay). 

                  • What is the Buy with Amazon option?
                    Buy with Amazon allow you to use your Amazon Prime account to get our products. See the video below:  
                  • How secure is your shopping cart?
                    Shopify Inc. provides our shopping cart with top security features, including Level 1 PCI CSS Compliant Secure Provider, Visa's Global Compliant Provider List, and Master Card's SDP List.
                  • Do I need to create an account to order from you?
                    No. You can check out as a guest by providing your name and shipping address. You are not required to create an account to order.  
                    • Does your website keep track of my account, so I can repeat my order?
                      If you enter an email address when you order, the order information is tracked with your email address.

                      At any time, you can register on our site with the same email address you used when ordering at https://www.japanesegreenteain.com/account/register . This will allow you to see your past orders so that you can easily make a purchase of the same item(s) again.

                      There is an option to auto-subscribe, which will provide you with 20% off of orders. You can check more detail about the subscription option here: https://www.japanesegreenteain.com/collections/japanese-green-tea-subscription
                      • How do I add a discount code? I cant find where to enter the discount code.
                        You can enter your coupon code at the checkout page.
                        If you cannot find it, don't worry, just email us with your order number and coupon code at Info@JapaneseGreenTeaIn.com and we will refund you the discount.
                        • Are there late fees?
                          No, there are no late fees if you miss a scheduled payment.
                          • What is the option to pay in installments?
                            When checking out with Shop Pay, you now have the option to pay now or later. Paying in installments on Shop Pay allows you to split your purchase amount into 4 equal, biweekly installment payments—with 0% interest, no hidden or late fees, and no impact on your credit score.* In some instances, your first payment is due when you make your purchase; otherwise, your first payment is due 2 weeks after your purchase.

                            Rates from 0% APR or 10-36% APR. Payment options through Shop Pay Installments are subject to an eligibility check and are provided by these lending partners: affirm.com/lenders. Options depend on your purchase amount, and a down payment may be required. State notices to consumers affirm.com/licenses.

                          • What if I make a return on a purchase made through Installments?
                            If your refund amount is less than the amount remaining on your Shop Pay Installments balance, then you can expect one or both of the following:

                            - A smaller payment balance on the final payment.

                            - Less future payments on the remaining loan balance.

                            If your refund amount is more than the amount remaining on your Shop Pay Installments balance, then you can expect to receive the difference as a refund to your original debit card or credit card payment method within 3 to 10 business days.
                            • Which payment methods are accepted if I use the option to pay Installments on Shop Pay?
                              The installments option on Shop Pay is available on debit and credit cards.

                              Subscription Program FAQ 

                              • How does my subscription work?
                                If you are a new customer, your first shipment consists of the tea you choose to order.
                                After that, you'll receive deliveries of the same tea every 15, 30, or 60 days depending on the cycle you choose.
                                Your credit card will be charged each time your tea is shipped, and you can cancel at any time.

                                On our product page, please follow the three simple steps described below.  

                                Subscription - How it worksStart Subscription
                                • What is the shipping charge on a subscription order?
                                  Whichever shipping method you choose on the first order will be retained for all future orders. If you choose free shipping today, it will lock in the free shipping for all the time until you unsubscribe.

                                  Start Subscription

                                • When I signed up for the subscription, the shipping was free.  Is shipping always going to be free for subscription items?
                                  Yes, when you subscribe during a free shipping promotion, the subscription items and the price will be locked in with the subscription.  

                                  Start Subscription
                                • I don't drink tea that often. Can I get shipments less frequently?
                                  Definitely. You can select a 60 days option. After you set up your automated subscription, you may change how frequently you receive shipments.

                                  Start Subscription

                                • Is the subscription price I see only for the first order?
                                  No. The price you see on the site is for the first order and the subscription's subsequent order. Therefore, the price will not change as long as you are subscribed.

                                • When will my first paid order be shipped?
                                  Your first paid order will be shipped immediately after you order. After that, we ship the same day.

                                  Orders placed by noon MT (2 pm Eastern / 11 am Pacific) will be shipped from our warehouse daily Monday-Friday after payment is verified.

                                  Our green tea is shipped from Japan to the USA weekly to our warehouse in Washington to ship fresh green tea to you quickly using USPS. With processing, you receive your order within one week of ordering.

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                                • What happens if I want to try different tea? May I change my subscription? How?
                                  You can alter the tea you subscribe to anytime without any additional fee for the next cycle.

                                  You may also make changes to your subscription, such as altering the frequency of shipments, from your user profile. Or, if you need help, just contact our team at 1-800-380-7030 or info@japaneseGreenTeaIn.com.

                                  Start Subscription

                                • How can I specify the day of shipment and which day to ship for the subscription? 
                                  Your subscription will be automatically shipped based on the date of your first order.
                                  For instance, if you order tea on September 1st and select a 30-day cycle, your next shipment will be shipped on October 1st (30 days from the first order).
                                  If you want to make changes to the day when the subscription ships, please contact our team at 1-800-380-7030 or info@japaneseGreenTeaIn.com.

                                  Start Subscription

                                      Green Tea Club Rewards Program

                                      • How Do I join? 
                                        Please join by creating an account for free here
                                      • How can I access my account?  How can I see how many points I have? 
                                        You can click on the "Login" on the top-right header, or simply click here



                                        To view your Reward Points, click the red button at the bottom right corner of the website.



                                        When you click the button, it will open the reward widget where you can see how many points you have.



                                      • How Do I Spend Points?
                                        You can spend your points by logging into your account, clicking the reward button on the bottom right corner of the website, and clicking “Ways to redeem” in the reward widget.



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                                        •  What are Birthday Points?
                                          Every year on your birthday, we'll give you bonus birthday points, just for being you! 
                                          • How much does it cost to join?
                                            Our loyalty program is totally free! We do it to say "thank you" to our awesome customers! 
                                            • Is there a limit to how many order points I can get?
                                              Of course not! We want to reward your loyal orders! 
                                              • Do points expire? 
                                                Points never expire!

                                              About Green Tea

                                              • Can I order a sample of tea?
                                                Yes! Each product we offer is available in a sample size.

                                                Simply select “Sample (10g)” under the size option and checkout as usual.
                                                Tea Sample Size

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                                                • What is so special about your green tea? 
                                                  Our green tea is the best-selling Japanese green tea in Japan online. The reason is simple: it tastes good, and most of our customers are repeat customers who come back for more.

                                                  Our tea is grown using the Chagusaba method. The Chagusaba Method is a traditional green tea farming method used for centuries in areas where plants such as the Japanese silver grass are cut and used as organic fertilizer between autumn and winter. Plants are cut into small pieces and are carefully placed on the ground of the farmland. This increases the ground temperature and moisture in the dirt, which fertilizes the soil better. Japanese silver grass also contains many silicic acids, which are excellent for making the dirt richer. This process is highly labor-intensive, but the tradition has been followed for centuries in the area to create the best green tea.

                                                  Read more about Chagusaba Method on our blog.


                                                  • Are your products vegan?
                                                    Yes. All our products are 100% Vegan and 100% natural. No artificial flavors are added. 
                                                    • Is your tea made in Japan?
                                                      Yes. All our products are 100% made in Japan. Within Japan, our tea farms are located in the area that is known for the best green tea production in Japan, Shizuoka by Mt. Fuji. Please see About Us Page for more information.





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                                                      • Is it Gluten Free? 
                                                        Yes. All our products are Gluten free.
                                                        • Is it GMO-Free? 
                                                          Yes. All our products are GMO free and cruelty-free.
                                                          • What is the cultivar of your tea? 
                                                            All our green tea are Yabukita  (やぶきた) cultivar except for Benifuuki which is Benifuuki cultivar. 
                                                            • Is there nutritional information regarding tea?  
                                                              When you go to the specific product you are interested in, scroll down and you will see the “Nutrition Facts” tab, and there you can see all the nutritional information. 



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                                                              • Are your tea blended, meaning blended with tea leaves from different plantations/cultivars, or do most come from a single plantation?
                                                                None of our Japanese green tea is blended. They all come from our farm in Shizuoka and single cultivar (Yabukita or Benifuuki for Benifuuki products). 
                                                                • Does your matcha have any filler?
                                                                  Absolutely not. Our matcha is 100% pure matcha and no filler is used.
                                                                  • What tea is the best to lose weight/mix in with smoothies? I saw you have a specific tea for weight loss, but it is tea leaves, and in bags, so I did not think that would work. Do you have any recommendations?
                                                                    For losing weight with a smoothie, we still suggest using Diet Puerh Tea.

                                                                    Since this is not in powdered form, you must steep them first and then mix them into a smoothie.

                                                                    Since this is not in a powdered form, you should steep them first and then mix them into a smoothie. You can follow the instructions under the “loose leaf tea” section of our article How to Make Green Tea Smoothies.

                                                                    The other option is our matcha. Although not as much as the diet tea above, matcha does have chemical properties for losing weight. You can find it here: Premium Matcha

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                                                                    • Can you tell me if any Japanese teas are made from all of the Camellia Sinensis leaves, not just the tips?
                                                                      Yes, we have Aracha, which not only consists of tips of the tea leaf but the entire tea component. Please read more about Aracha here.
                                                                      • I've heard that green tea is good for health. Is it true?
                                                                        Yes, it is. Since Japanese green tea is less processed than other types of tea, the health effects are known to be greater than different types of tea.  Please check our Japanese Green Tea and Health blog for all health-related articles related to Japanese Green Tea. 
                                                                        • What about the Expiration Date?
                                                                          We get all our freshly picked green tea from Japan every week. Most of our products have an expiration date of 1 year from manufacturing, so you will have enough time to enjoy your green tea! The date of Manufacturing and expiration are printed on each package.
                                                                          • How long is the tea good after opening?
                                                                            The tea is good for one year from manufacturing, even after you open the package.

                                                                            However, we strongly encourage you to seal the tea in an airtight container, such as multiple zip lock bags and store it in a dark, cool place or refrigerator for retaining good taste.

                                                                            Tea absorbs other odors quickly; therefore, please ensure your package is air-tight.  We also recommend Airscape, which is popular among coffee drinkers and works very well with tea as well. Here is a link to get Airscape products from Amazon.

                                                                            We have written an article for the best practice to store matcha and green tea.  Please refer to the article for more details. 
                                                                            • I've heard that Matcha can be consumed even years after production.
                                                                              We do not offer aged matcha.

                                                                              All our matcha products are freshly cropped and packaged with an expiration date of 1 year from manufacturing.

                                                                              Some companies indeed offer aged matcha; however, the environment to age tea has to be controlled and maintained carefully to retain the quality without the spread of bacteria for safely facilitating the aging of matcha; we do not sell this kind of matcha, and we do not recommend eating old matcha which is has not been aged safely.

                                                                            • What is the best water to use for Green Tea?
                                                                              Green tea is best prepared with soft water with fewer minerals. If you have a water softener filter system, use the water filtered by the softener. If you use bottled water, try avoiding ones with "Added Minerals," as they tend to distort the tea flavor.

                                                                              If you have access to Evian, it will taste better as Evian is known for soft water. We have written a comprehensive guide about Green Tea and Water. Click here to read the article.
                                                                              • I am worried about radioactive materials in products made in Japan. 
                                                                                Our tea is 100% safe from radioactive materials. Here is a link to an official test result of radioactive material, and it indicates that there are no radioactive elements found in our tea. (This is a link to an English Translation of the Report.)  Please note that this test was conducted in 2012, one year after the Fukushima accident in March of 2011. Even after many years of the incident, we keep testing and ensuring that no harmful materials are in our tea. 
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                                                                                • I'd like to know the different ways in which I can consume green tea. Is it good with honey, or should I just drink it plain?
                                                                                  In Japan, people usually consume green tea plain without adding sugar or honey.  However, in other countries such as in US and India, it is common to drink with honey which does pair very well. We have compiled some green tea recipes such as sparkling tea with lemon and fruit tea. Sign up to our newsletter to get the recipe for free.

                                                                                  We also have an extensive article on how to make a Japanese Green Tea Smoothie which might be of interest to you. 

                                                                                  We also have an entire blog dedicated to alternative ways to enjoy Japanese Green Tea.  Please see our blog here.

                                                                                • Is it really the best-selling Japanese Green Tea Online in Japan? 
                                                                                  Yes, in 2016 and 2017. Japanese green tea produced by Arahataen was the best-selling tea by volume on Rakuten online market, which is the largest e-commerce site in Japan. 

                                                                                    Others

                                                                                    • Do you do wholesale?
                                                                                      Japanese Green Tea Co. provides quality wholesale Japanese green tea to various Japanese Restaurants, Spas, and Gourmet Shops throughout the USA. If you are interested in our wholesale service, please contact us from the wholesale contact page.
                                                                                      • What is the relationship between www.japanesegreentea.org and www.japanesegreenteain.com?
                                                                                        We hold both of the domains and they are the same company.

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