How much Tea can I bring into Canada?
Allowed
You can bring Tea into Canada without a special limit.
What you need to know
- 20 kilogram (44.09 lb)
- Channels: Carried with the traveler
Important
This allowance applies per person, not per family or group.
Official sources
- Bringing food into Canada for personal use Canadian Food Inspection Agency
Questions about Tea in Canada
- How much tea can I bring into Canada?
- Canada allows 20 kilograms of tea per traveller without duty. The allowance is per traveller and cannot be pooled between people.
- Do I have to declare tea at Canada customs?
- No — within the allowance it passes without a declaration.
- What happens if I do not declare tea in Canada?
- Under Memorandum D2-3-1, Tariff item No. 9804.30.00, Note 1, if you declare the excess yourself: a flat-rate charge is applied to the excess; the normal duty becomes payable on the excess. Under Customs Act, section 124, if the goods are found without being declared: an administrative fine is imposed. Under Customs Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. 1: the goods are confiscated; an administrative fine is imposed.
- Do duty-free purchases count toward the Canada allowance for tea?
- Yes. What you buy in an arrival duty-free shop comes out of the same allowance, so the shop does not add to what you may already be carrying.
- Can I post or ship tea to Canada instead of carrying it?
- Not under this allowance. It covers goods a traveller carries; a parcel is an import and is assessed under the postal rules instead. Baggage sent before or after you travels under the same allowance.
- Can I take tea out of Canada?
- Canada publishes no separate rule for taking tea out; the destination's rules are what will apply.
- Does the Canada limit for tea apply per person or per family?
- Per person. Each traveller carries their own allowance and it cannot be pooled with anyone else's.
- Where does this rule come from?
- Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) states it in Bringing food into Canada for personal use. CarryRules last confirmed that sentence at the source on 2026-09-19. The sentence it rests on reads: “When travelling, you must declare all food products you bring with you into Canada.”
- How does Canada compare with other countries on tea?
- Of the 20 countries covered here, 0 prohibit tea, 7 limit it and 13 let it through. Canada is among the more permissive.
Source: Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) — Bringing food into Canada for personal use · verified 2026-09-19
Source: Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) — Bringing food into Canada for personal use · verified 2026-09-19
Source: Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) — Memorandum D2-3-1, Personal Exemptions for Residents Returning to Canada · verified 2026-09-20
Source: Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) — Postal Imports Remission Order (SI/85-181) · verified 2026-09-20
Source: Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) — Postal Imports Remission Order (SI/85-181) · verified 2026-09-20
Source: Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) — Bringing food into Canada for personal use · verified 2026-09-19
Source: Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) — Bringing food into Canada for personal use · verified 2026-09-19