Ceremonial
SZ-C2Best 5 · No.1
SHIPS FROM OSAKA · 4–7 DAYS BY COURIERMatcha wholesale, United Kingdom
London's matcha scene moved from specialty to mainstream between 2023 and 2025, and halal cafés, coffee roasters and grocers across the UK now pour it daily. The UK is a straightforward destination for Japanese tea.
Shipping to the UK
5 kg by courier
$110–140
20 kg by courier
$245–340
Transit
4–7 days
Sea freight
Felixstowe / Southampton, 5–6 weeks port to port from ~100 kg
Duty and tax
Duty. Green tea (commodity code 0902) is duty-free under the UK Global Tariff.
Tax. Tea is zero-rated for UK VAT, so no import VAT is normally due on plain matcha; the courier may charge a small clearance fee. Confirm with your courier's brokerage.
OUR READING AS AN EXPORTER, CHECKED 2026-09-14. CONFIRM WITH YOUR BROKER BEFORE YOU QUOTE A CUSTOMER.Paperwork for the UK
- No import licence is needed for tea. Your business should be registered as a food business with the local authority, as any café is.
- The exporter's commercial invoice with the commodity code, a packing list and a per-lot COA travel with the shipment; we send the mill's certificates too.
- Organic lots need a UK Certificate of Inspection raised before arrival and an importer registered with a UK organic control body; we raise the certificate.
- Halal: five of our lots come from a Halal and Kosher certified mill; the certificate ships with the goods.
Worked example
What 5 kg of Hikari costs landed in the UK.
| Line | Amount | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Hikari, 5 × 1 kg foil | $1200 | $240 per kg FOB Osaka, Ceremonial, Shizuoka |
| Courier to the UK | $110–140 | 4–7 days, tracked, certificates attached |
| Duty and tax | See above | Itemised on a DDP quote |
| Matcha per 2 g latte | $0.48 | Before milk, cup and labour |
Samples first: three teas, 20 g each, at your door in about 4–7 days plus a day. Sample fee and shipping are credited to your first order of 5 kg or more.
What British buyers order
Start with these.
Hikari and Izumi for lattes, Wa from the Halal and Kosher certified line, Jun for organic.
Questions from the UK
Before you order
Is there duty or VAT on matcha imported into the UK?
Green tea is duty-free under the UK Global Tariff, and tea is zero-rated for VAT. A courier clearance fee may apply.
Do I need a licence to import matcha into the UK?
No import licence for tea. Organic claims need a Certificate of Inspection and a registered importer; we raise the certificate for organic lots.
Do you supply halal matcha to the UK?
Yes. Wa, Mai, Mine, Kaoru and Yame come from a mill holding Halal and Kosher certification, from 10 kg.
Read next
CERTIFICATION · 6 MIN
Halal matcha: what the certificate covers and how to source it from Japan
5 LIES SERIES · 6 MIN
5 lies about matcha, No. 5: "Uji is always the best"
MARKET · 8 MIN
The 2026 matcha shortage: what it means for your menu price