Can I Sell Tea On Shopify?

The short answer is yes, you can sell tea on Shopify. Shopify is a versatile e-commerce platform that allows entrepreneurs to sell almost any legal product, and tea—whether loose-leaf, bagged, herbal, or specialty blends—falls well within its capabilities. However, the real question isn’t just can you, but how do you do it successfully? Selling tea online involves more than slapping a product listing on a website. It requires understanding Shopify’s features, navigating legal requirements, sourcing quality products, and building a brand that stands out in a competitive market. In this article, we’ll explore every angle of selling tea on Shopify, from setup to scaling, so you can decide if it’s the right venture for you.

Why Tea? Understanding the Market

Tea is one of the world’s most beloved beverages, with a global market valued at over $50 billion in 2023 and projected to grow steadily through the decade. From green tea enthusiasts in Japan to chai lovers in India and herbal tea drinkers in the West, tea appeals to a broad audience. It’s not just a drink; it’s a lifestyle, a ritual, and, for many, a health choice. This diversity makes tea an attractive product for online sellers. Whether you’re passionate about organic blends, rare single-origin teas, or trendy matcha powders, there’s a niche waiting to be tapped.

Shopify, with its user-friendly interface and robust tools, is an ideal platform for entering this market. It powers millions of businesses worldwide, from small startups to major brands, and offers everything you need to create a professional online store. But before you start dreaming of tea-scented profits, let’s break down the process step by step.

Step 1: Is Selling Tea Legal on Shopify?

Shopify itself doesn’t restrict the sale of tea—it’s a food product, not a prohibited item like weapons or illicit substances. However, legality depends on where you’re based and where you’re selling. Tea is classified as a food product in most countries, which means it’s subject to food safety regulations. Here’s what you need to consider:

United States: If you’re in the U.S., the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) oversees tea sales. You’ll need to ensure your tea is safe for consumption, properly labeled (e.g., ingredients, allergens, net weight), and sourced from reputable suppliers. If you’re blending or packaging tea yourself, you may need a food handler’s permit or a license from your local health department. Selling across state lines might also require compliance with interstate commerce rules.
European Union: In the EU, tea falls under strict food safety laws governed by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). You’ll need to register as a food business, follow hygiene standards, and ensure accurate labeling (including nutritional info and origin).

Other Regions: Countries like Canada, Australia, and India have their own regulations. For example, Canada requires a Safe Food for Canadians (SFC) license for importing or selling food products across provinces.
Importing Tea: If you’re sourcing tea from abroad (e.g., Darjeeling from India or matcha from Japan), you’ll need to clear customs and comply with import regulations. This might include tariffs, quality certifications, or organic labeling if applicable.

Before launching your Shopify store, research your local laws and consult a legal expert if needed. Shopify won’t police your compliance, but failing to meet regulations could lead to fines, shutdowns, or customer lawsuits.

Step 2: Setting Up Your Shopify Store

Assuming you’ve sorted out the legalities, setting up a tea store on Shopify is straightforward. Here’s how to get started:

Sign Up for Shopify: Visit Shopify.com and choose a plan. The Basic plan ($39/month as of March 2025) is fine for beginners, offering a fully functional store with unlimited products.
Choose a Domain Name: Pick something catchy and relevant, like “PureLeafBliss.com” or “TeaHavenShop.com.” Shopify lets you buy a domain directly or connect an existing one.

Select a Theme: Shopify offers free and paid themes. Look for one with a clean, food-focused design—something that highlights your tea’s colors and textures. Customize it with your logo, brand colors, and high-quality images.
Add Products: Create listings for your teas. Include detailed descriptions (e.g., “Organic Assam Black Tea, bold and malty, sourced from small farms”), pricing, and variants (e.g., 50g or 100g bags). Upload professional photos—tea leaves in a cup or a steaming brew work wonders.
Set Up Payments: Shopify supports multiple payment gateways like Shopify Payments, PayPal, and Stripe. Enable options your customers prefer.

Shipping Settings: Decide how you’ll ship your tea. Lightweight packages (tea is typically sold in small quantities) keep costs low, but factor in freshness—tea degrades over time, so expedited shipping might be worth offering.
Launch: Once everything’s polished, hit “launch” and your store is live!

Shopify’s drag-and-drop interface makes this process beginner-friendly, and its app store offers tools like inventory management or subscription plugins—perfect if you want to sell tea on a recurring basis.

Step 3: Sourcing Your Tea

Your tea’s quality will make or break your business. You have a few options:

Wholesale Suppliers: Partner with established tea wholesalers like Teabox, Harney & Sons, or local distributors. They offer bulk tea at lower costs, often pre-packaged or loose.
Direct from Farms: For a unique selling point, source directly from tea estates in regions like Assam, Fujian, or Kenya. This requires more effort (and possibly travel), but it builds authenticity and storytelling for your brand.

Blending Your Own: If you’re creative, buy base teas and blend them with spices, fruits, or herbs. This lets you offer exclusive flavors, though you’ll need to ensure consistency and safety.

Test samples before committing—bad tea won’t sell, no matter how pretty your Shopify store looks. Look for suppliers with certifications (e.g., USDA Organic, Fair Trade) if that aligns with your brand.

Step 4: Pricing and Profit Margins

Tea’s lightweight nature and long shelf life (if stored properly) make it a profitable product. Here’s a rough breakdown:

Cost: Wholesale loose-leaf tea might cost $5–$15 per pound, depending on quality. Packaging (bags, labels) adds another $0.50–$2 per unit.
Retail Price: You could sell 50g (1.76 oz) of tea for $8–$20, depending on rarity and branding. Specialty teas like rare oolongs or ceremonial matcha can fetch $30+.
Shipping: A 50g package might cost $3–$7 to ship domestically, more internationally.

Profit: After Shopify fees (2.9% + $0.30 per transaction on the Basic plan), you could net $5–$15 per sale.

Subscriptions or bulk deals can boost margins further. Price competitively—check rivals on Shopify, Amazon, or Etsy—but don’t undersell your value.

Step 5: Marketing Your Tea Store

A beautiful Shopify store won’t sell itself. Here’s how to attract tea lovers:

SEO and Content: Optimize product pages with keywords like “buy organic green tea online” or “best chai tea blends.” Start a blog on your Shopify site with posts like “How to Brew the Perfect Cup” or “The History of Earl Grey” to draw organic traffic.
Social Media: Instagram and Pinterest are goldmines for tea. Post aesthetic shots of your tea—think steaming mugs, vibrant leaves, or cozy vibes. X (Twitter) can work for engaging tea enthusiasts with quick tips or polls (e.g., “Black tea or herbal—what’s your pick?”).
Email Marketing: Shopify integrates with tools like Klaviyo. Offer a discount (e.g., 10% off first orders) for email signups, then nurture subscribers with recipes, tea facts, or restock alerts.

Influencers: Partner with food bloggers or tea-focused influencers. Send them free samples for reviews or unboxings.
Paid Ads: Run Shopify’s built-in ad tools or use Google Ads to target “tea gift ideas” or “loose-leaf tea near me.” Keep budgets tight until you see what works.

Step 6: Challenges to Anticipate

Selling tea on Shopify isn’t all smooth sipping. Watch out for:

Competition: Big players like David’s Tea and niche Etsy sellers are already in the game. Differentiate with unique blends, stellar branding, or a cause (e.g., sustainable sourcing).
Freshness: Tea loses flavor over time. Store it in airtight, opaque containers and ship quickly.
Seasonality: Tea sales might spike in winter (cozy vibes) or around holidays (gift sets). Plan inventory accordingly.

Customer Education: Newbies might not know how to brew loose-leaf tea. Include instructions or sell brewing accessories to upsell.

Step 7: Scaling Your Tea Business

Once your store’s humming, think bigger:

Subscriptions: Offer monthly tea boxes—curated blends delivered to doorsteps.

Wholesale: Sell to cafes or offices via Shopify’s wholesale channel.
Physical Products: Add teapots, infusers, or branded mugs to your lineup.
International Expansion: Shopify handles multi-currency sales—test markets like the UK or Australia, where tea culture thrives.

Real-World Examples

Take inspiration from existing Shopify tea stores:

Cup & Kettle Tea uses Shopify for a sleek, minimalist site selling organic blends with a focus on sustainability.
Matchaful targets health nuts with premium matcha, leveraging Shopify’s subscription feature.

Both prove tea can thrive online with the right approach.

Final Thoughts: Should You Sell Tea on Shopify?

Yes, you absolutely can sell tea on Shopify—and it could be a rewarding venture. The platform’s flexibility, paired with tea’s universal appeal, makes it a viable business idea. But success hinges on preparation: comply with laws, source great tea, build a standout store, and market smartly. If you’re passionate about tea and willing to hustle, Shopify could be your ticket to turning leaves into profits.

Ready to steep into the tea game? Start small, test your niche, and let your Shopify store brew something special.