FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Do You Offer In-Store Pickup?

Not at this time. For safety reasons, Store Pickup is paused while we renovate. Once we reopen in late Summer 2025, you’ll be able to place your order online and pick it up at our Smithtown shop.

What If I Entered the Wrong Shipping Address?

Email us immediately at info@clippershipteaco.com.
We’ll do our best to catch it before your order ships, but we can’t guarantee address changes once processing has begun.

WHAT IF I PLACED MULTIPLE ORDERS?

If you’re shipping to multiple addresses, please place separate orders at checkout. Each shipment is processed individually, and shipping fees apply per address. Three $25 orders to three locations do not qualify for free shipping, even if the combined total exceeds the free shipping threshold.
If you placed multiple back to back orders shipping to the same address, email us right away at info@clippershipteaco.com. If we catch both orders before they ship and the combined total qualifies for free shipping, we’ll combine the boxes and happily refund any extra shipping charges.

How Can I Reach You During Renovations?

We’re surrounded by construction chaos—and we’re not near the phone. The best way to reach us is by email: info@clippershipteaco.com

We’ll respond as soon as possible. Thank you for your patience while we bring the new shop to life!

What Payment Methods Do You Accept?

We accept Visa, Mastercard, and Discover.
We do not currently accept American Express.
You can also check out quickly and securely using Apple Pay or Shop Pay.

REWARDS PROGRAM

We launched our Rewards Program in October 2024. Before then, we did not track or issue points.

To start earning points, sign up using the Rewards icon in the bottom right corner of our website. Our new Rewards Program is the best way to collect points for coupons and discount codes!

You must be logged into your account to earn or redeem points.

What Is Tea and Where Does It Come From?

All true tea comes from the same subtropical plant: Camellia Sinensis.

The differences in taste, color, and aroma come down to how the leaves are handled after harvest. The five main steps of tea processing are plucking, withering, rolling, oxidizing, and drying—but not all teas go through every step.

The most important step is oxidation, where the leaf reacts with air (like how a cut apple turns brown). This determines the tea’s category.

There are two main varieties of the Camellia Sinensis plant:

Camellia Sinensis Sinensis, grown in places like China and Japan, known for delicate flavor and smaller leaves
Camellia Sinensis Assamica, found in India and Sri Lanka, known for bold, hearty teas.

Here’s a quick overview of the main tea-growing regions featured in our catalog:

China
The birthplace of tea. China grows green, white, oolong, black, and pu'er teas across misty mountains and diverse climates. Flavor profiles vary widely—from soft and floral to smoky and earthy.

Japan
Specializes in green tea. Leaves are steamed rather than pan-fired, giving them that signature bright green color and fresh, vegetal taste.

India
Home to Assam, Darjeeling, and Nilgiri regions. Assam produces bold, full-bodied teas perfect for milk and sugar. Darjeeling offers delicate teas picked in spring and summer flushes (harvests). Nilgiri in the south is lesser known but makes smooth, fragrant black teas

Sri Lanka
Known for Ceylon teas—crisp, brisk, and grown at high elevations. They’re versatile and often used in breakfast blends or iced teas.

Taiwan
World-renowned for oolong teas. Taiwan’s tea artisans create layered, fragrant teas ranging from lightly floral to deeply roasted.

Korea
Produces a small amount of green tea, often hand-plucked and pan-fired. Korean teas are known for being clean, balanced, and mellow.

Rwanda
A rising origin for hearty, rich black teas. Grown at high elevations with vibrant character and strength.

Kenya
The classic Kenyan profile is a black tea with brisk flavor with delicate astringency. A light to medium-bodied black tea grown at high elevations.

MAJOR FIVE TEA CATEGORIES:

White Tea
Light and delicate. Simply picked and air dried with minimal handling. Soft, floral notes and a pale cup.

Green Tea
Heated quickly to prevent oxidation. Fresh, grassy, and vibrant—flavors vary from steamed greens to toasted nuts.

Oolong Tea
Partially oxidized and rolled in stages. Rich, smooth, and layered with floral, fruity, or roasted notes.

Black Tea
Fully oxidized for a bold, brisk flavor. Deep brown or red in the cup—classic and full-bodied.

Pu'er Tea
Aged and fermented tea from China. Earthy, mellow, and complex—some aged for years like wine.

What About Herbal Teas?

Herbal teas do not come from the Camellia sinensis plant and are naturally caffeine-free. We group all of these under the category of herbal teas, which includes:

Fruit Tisanes
Made from dried fruits and flowers. Bold, juicy, and vibrant. Great hot or iced.

Rooibos & Honeybush
Caffeine-free plants from South Africa.
• Rooibos is smooth and sweet with wellness benefits
• Honeybush is fuller-bodied with roasted honey notes

Botanical Herbal Teas
Includes ingredients like peppermint, chamomile, lavender, ginger, lemongrass, and more. Naturally soothing and aromatic.

What About Decaf Teas?

Our decaf teas are made using the CO₂ decaffeination method, which gently removes most of the caffeine without using chemicals. This clean process preserves flavor and avoids any chemical aftertaste.

A small amount of caffeine remains, which is why we label these teas decaf, not "no caffeine."

Looking for caffeine-free?
Explore our wide range of herbal teas, including rooibos, honeybush, and fruit tisanes—all naturally caffeine-free.

Does Tea Have Caffeine?

Yes. All true teas from the Camellia Sinensis plant—white, green, oolong, black, and pu’er—naturally contain caffeine. Herbal teas are naturally caffeine-free, while decaf teas contain trace amounts.

Caffeine content can vary based on:

The type of tea
How much tea you use
Water temperature
Steep time

Want to reduce caffeine?
Use less tea, shorten the steep time, and use below boiling water to brew.

For caffeine-free options, browse our wide selection of herbal teas, including rooibos, honeybush, and fruit tisanes.

Tea Size Guide

We offer four sizes of tea bags. Serving estimates are based on 1 heaping teaspoon per 8 oz cup of water. Actual yield may vary slightly depending on the type and density of the tea.

Small – 50 grams (1.8 oz)
Yields approximately 16–20 servings

Medium – 150 grams (5.3 oz)
Yields approximately 48–60 servings

Large – 300 grams (10.6 oz)
Yields approximately 96–120 servings

XLarge – 454 grams (16 oz)
Yields approximately 140–160 servings

Not sure what size to choose?
If you're trying a new tea, we recommend starting with a Small or Medium bag before committing to a larger size.

What’s the Difference Between Ceremonial and Culinary Matcha?

Ceremonial Matcha (Organic)

Harvested in early spring
Premium grade and ground to a finer texture
Smooth, vibrant, and naturally sweet
Delicate grassy notes
Best enjoyed traditionally—whisked into a bowl with warm water

Culinary Matcha (Organic)

Harvested in summer
Bolder, more robust flavor
Ideal for lattes (hot or iced), smoothies, baking, and confectionery
Holds up well when mixed with milk or sweeteners

Why Drink Matcha?
Matcha is rich in antioxidants and may support:

Heart health
Healthy circulation and cholesterol levels
Brain health and focus
Calm, sustained energy without the jitters

DO YOU INCLUDE FREE SAMPLES?

We generally include one free single-serving loose tea sample with full-price orders over $30, two samples for orders over $75, and three samples for orders over $100, based on availability. Samples are not typically included during sales.

Samples are selected by our team from a rotating selection. We’re not able to accommodate requests for specific teas, and we do not offer pyramid sachet teabag samples at this time.

Samples are not available for individual sale. If you’re looking to try a variety in single-serve portions, we suggest our popular Advent Calendar during the holiday season. For a specific tea you’re curious about, try a 50g Small Bag—or explore one of our Collection Boxes, which include five curated loose leaf teas.

Are Your Teas Organic?

About one-third of our teas are certified USDA Organic, and these are clearly marked on our website.

Many tea-growing regions—including Japan, China, India, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Korea, and Africa—already follow natural farming methods. However, many producers choose not to pay the annual USDA certification fee.

We work hard to source teas that are high quality and pesticide-free, whether certified or not.

Are Your Teas Flavored?

Our teas fall into a few categories:

Unflavored single-origin teas (pure from origin)
Unflavored blends like Breakfast Blends
Naturally scented teas like Jasmine, Rose, and Smoked
Flavored teas enhanced with plant-based natural flavors and ingredients like vanilla, fruit, and spice

We use a light hand with flavoring to complement the tea—never to overpower it.

Allergen & Gluten Information

We are not a nut-free facility.
Many teas may contain or come into contact with almonds, peanuts, hazelnuts, walnuts, and other tree nuts.

Our teas are inherently gluten-free, but we are not a certified gluten-free facility. Cross-contamination is possible.

Pregnancy & Wellness Disclaimer

If you are pregnant, nursing, or under medical care, please consult your doctor before consuming any tea.

While ingredients like raspberry leaf, valerian root, and licorice root are often discussed in relation to wellness, we do not offer medical advice or make health claims.

What Are Your Pyramid Sachets Made Of?

Our pyramid sachets contain whole leaf tea and are made from a biodegradable cornstarch-based material—not plastic.
Each sachet is portioned for an 8 oz cup.

Hot Tea Brewing Guide

Use 1 heaping teaspoon per 8 oz of water, unless otherwise noted. For a stronger cup, increase the amount of tea—not the steep time.

White Tea: 175–185°F for 3–5 minutes
Japanese Green Tea: 160–175°F for 45 sec–2 minutes
Chinese Green Tea: 175°F for 2–3 minutes
Flavored Green Tea: 175°F for 3 minutes
Oolong Tea: 195°F for 2–4 minutes
Black Tea: 205–212°F for 3–5 minutes
Pu Erh Tea: 205–212°F for 3–5 minutes
Herbal, Rooibos, Tisanes: 205–212°F for 7–10 minutes

Iced Tea Brewing

Cold Brew Method
• 1–2 teaspoons loose tea per 8 oz cold water
• For fluffy teas (white tea, mint, chamomile) or heavy teas (rooibos or fruit tisanes), increase to 2–4 teaspoons per 8 oz cold water
• Steep in the refrigerator for 6–10 hours, then strain

Flash Chill (Quick Iced Tea)
• Brew hot, double strength: 2–3 teaspoons per 8 oz hot water
• For fluffy teas: 4–5 teaspoons
• Steep as usual, strain, and pour over equal parts ice

How Should I Store My Tea?

Store tea in a cool, dark, dry place—away from light, heat, and moisture.

We recommend keeping it in the resealable pouch it comes in.
If you transfer it to another container, make sure it’s airtight and scent-free.

Teas are best consumed within one year of purchase
Fruit tisanes and teas with dried fruit should not be consumed after one year

RETURNS & EXCHANGES

Can I return or exchange tea or honey?
No. All sales of tea and honey are final due to health and safety regulations.

What if something is missing or damaged?
Email us at info@clippershipteaco.com and we’ll make it right.

Can I return an infuser or teaware item?
Select non-consumable items (infusers, filters, etc.) may be exchanged within 30 days if they are unused and in their original packaging.
Return shipping is the customer’s responsibility.

Gift Cards

Are gift cards digital or physical?
All gift cards are digital E-cards sent via email to the purchaser.

Can I send the gift card to someone else?
Yes. You can either forward the email or print it and gift it in person.

Can gift cards be used online and in-store?
Yes. They are valid for both online and in-store purchases once we reopen.

Can you mail me a physical gift card?
No, we do not mail physical gift cards. Once the store reopens, you can purchase physical cards in person only.