Chapter 09 covers coffee, tea, maté and spices, including natural or cultivated plant products mainly used for drinking, flavoring or extracting active ingredients. Products of this chapter are usually subjected to simple processing (such as roasting, fermentation, blending), but do not enter the scope of refined foods or chemical products of other chapters. As a worldwide beverage, tea is classified primarily by processing technology and degree of fermentation, with green tea, black tea, oolong tea, etc. all falling under this chapter. Heading 0902 refers specifically to all kinds of tea, including green tea, black tea, oolong tea, etc., whether or not flavored, whether or not packaged. This heading is subdivided by degree of fermentation and processing method, such as 0902.10 for unfermented green tea, 0902.20 for partially fermented tea, 0902.30 for black tea, etc. Green tea refers to tea leaves that have undergone fixing, rolling, drying and other processes without fermentation, retaining more natural components. Code 090210 has 6 digits: the first 2 digits "09" represent Chapter 9 (coffee, tea, maté and spices); digits 3-4 "02" represent heading 0902 (tea, whether or not flavored); digits 5-6 "10" represent subheading 090210, specifically unfermented green tea, including directly packaged or bulk. If partially fermented (such as oolong tea), it is classified under 090220; if fermented (black tea), under 090230. Therefore, digits 5-6 are the key to distinguishing tea types. Green tea is classified under 090210 because during processing it undergoes high-temperature fixing, enzyme activity is destroyed, and no fermentation occurs. If tea leaves undergo partial fermentation (such as oolong tea), they should be classified under 090220; fully fermented (black tea) under 090230. In addition, if green tea has other substances added (such as spices) and still retains the basic characteristics of tea, it can still be classified under 090210, but if made into tea beverages or medicines, it must be classified under other chapters.

Product Name: The specific name of the declared commodity, such as "green tea", "Longjing tea", "pan-fired green tea", etc., which must be consistent with the actual product. Processing Method: Explain the processing technology of the tea, such as fixing, rolling, drying, etc., emphasizing that it is unfermented. Degree of Fermentation: Clearly declare as "unfermented", which is the key to distinguishing green tea from other tea types. Packaging Specifications: Explain the inner and outer packaging forms, such as "25 kg/carton", "2 g/bag × 100 bags/box". Brand: Declare the brand name (such as "West Lake Longjing", "Zhuyeqing"); if no brand, fill in "none". Origin: The country or region of origin of the tea, such as "Zhejiang, China", "Shizuoka, Japan". Grade: Declare the grade of the tea, such as "Special Grade", "Grade I", "Grade II"; if no grade, fill in "none". Product Name: Pan-fired green tea; Processing Method: fresh leaves fixed, rolled, dried; Degree of Fermentation: unfermented; Packaging Specifications: inner packaging is aluminum foil bags, outer packaging is cartons, 20 kg per carton; Brand: none; Origin: Huangshan, Anhui, China; Grade: Grade I. Inaccurate filling of degree of fermentation, such as writing unfermented green tea as "semi-fermented", resulting in classification under 090220. Processing method description is too simple and does not reflect key processes such as fixing, making it impossible to prove unfermented. Packaging specifications only state "bulk", without specifying the specific weight or packaging form, affecting inspection.

The core basis for classification is the interpretation of heading 0902 in the Import and Export Tariff and the HS Explanatory Notes: green tea refers to tea leaves that have undergone fixing, rolling, drying and other processes without fermentation. When determining, attention should be paid to whether fermentation (enzymatic oxidation) occurs in the processing technology; if completely unfermented, it is classified under 090210. At the same time, note that if tea has other substances added (such as spices) but its basic characteristics are not changed, it is still classified under 090210; if made into tea beverages or medicines, it is classified under Chapter 22 or Chapter 30. 090220 Partially fermented tea (oolong tea): Oolong tea undergoes partial fermentation, with a degree of enzymatic oxidation between green tea and black tea, while green tea is completely unfermented, so it is classified under 090220 rather than 090210. 090230 Black tea (fermented tea): Black tea undergoes complete fermentation, with a large amount of tea polyphenols oxidized, while green tea is unfermented, so black tea is classified under 090230. 090240 Maté: Although maté is a tea beverage, it comes from the maté tree, has a different processing technology, and is listed separately in the HS code, so it is not classified under 0902. 210120 Tea concentrates and tea preparations: This code covers tea essences, concentrates and preparations based on tea, while 090210 is the directly packaged tea itself. 130219 Vegetable saps and extracts: If components such as tea polyphenols are extracted from tea leaves, they are plant extracts and are classified under Chapter 13, not 090210. Confirm whether the commodity has undergone fermentation? Does the processing method include fixing, rolling, drying? Have other substances been added? Do they change the basic characteristics of tea? Is the packaging form retail packaging or bulk packaging? Does it belong to tea beverages or medicines?

How to query the customs HS code for green tea? You can use the General Administration of Customs website, HS code query platforms, or consult a customs broker. Enter the keyword "green tea" or "unfermented tea", and the system will display 090210. Pay attention to distinguishing the degree of fermentation to ensure accurate classification. What is the difference between the HS codes for green tea and oolong tea? Green tea is unfermented and is classified under 090210; oolong tea is partially fermented and is classified under 090220. When declaring, the degree of fermentation must be clearly stated to avoid customs clearance delays caused by classification errors. Is a test report required when declaring green tea? Generally not required, but customs may require a processing technology description or component testing to prove that it is unfermented. It is recommended to keep relevant production records for inspection. If jasmine flowers are added to green tea, does the HS code change? If after adding jasmine flowers it still retains the basic characteristics of tea and its unfermented attribute is not changed, it is still classified under 090210. However, if it is made into a scented tea beverage, it must be classified under Chapter 22. How to declare cross-border e-commerce retail green tea? It must be declared under 090210, providing elements such as product name, processing method, degree of fermentation, and packaging specifications. Note that retail packaging must comply with cross-border e-commerce regulatory requirements, such as list-based release. What certifications are required for exporting green tea to the EU? The EU has pesticide residue limit requirements for tea, and test reports must be provided. HS code 090210 corresponds to 0902 10 00 in the EU, and declarations must comply with EU food regulations. Can green tea and black tea be classified under the same code? No. Unfermented green tea is classified under 090210, and fully fermented black tea under 090230. The two have different processing technologies and must be classified separately. How to determine the origin of green tea? The origin is determined based on where the tea is grown, picked and processed. If grown and processed in China, the origin is China. Relevant supporting documents such as a certificate of origin must be provided.