FAQ

25% off iced teas and 30% off select seasonal iced teas applied automatically at checkout. The Summer Iced Tea Bundle is excluded from the sale. Discount applies to current in stock items only. No rainchecks. Offer will apply to first subscription order only. Offer is available exclusively at SmithTea.com starting Friday, September 20th ending Sunday, September 22nd PST. Offer excludes gift cards, select merchandise and select collaborations. Offer available on domestic orders only while supplies last and cannot be combined with any other offers, discounts or Rewards redemptions.

Are your new loose tea bags sustainable?

We are pleased to introduce our brand-new Eco Loose Tea packaging comprised of Post Consumer Recycled materials (PCR), or previously recycled materials, and is recyclable as well. For more information about the benefits of this packaging, click here.

How do I recycle the new Eco Loose Tea packaging after I’m done using it?

This is a simple process, outlined here.

Fill Weights and Pricing

Moving away from single use plastics is an important initiative for our business, our customers and our planet. To bring a more sustainable loose tea package to life, we needed to reimagine how we presented our loose program. This meant moving away from a standard 4 oz fill weight in multiple bag sizes to a variable fill weight in one bag size. Why? Streamlining the bag size allows us to reach higher minimum order quantities and invest in a bag that is not only better for the environment but is also resealable and tastefully designed - a design that, we believe, is worthy of any countertop.

Explore our fill weights and pricing here.

Are your new Eco Loose Tea Bags available for subscriptions?

Yes. Our Eco Loose Tea packaging is the new standard for all loose tea at Smith. This
means that when you sign up for a loose tea subscription, your tea will arrive in our new Eco Loose Tea packaging.

What is Smith Rewards?

Smith Rewards is a loyalty program that rewards registered members with points every time they shop Smithtea.com. Points can then be redeemed for products on the Rewards page, or for dollars toward a future order. All members have access to exclusive rewards including SMS points, birthday points and free gifts with purchase. In addition to shopping on Smithtea.com, members can earn points by performing other program actions such as writing a review for a verified purchase and referring a friend.

How do I earn points?

Rewards members earn one point for every $1 spent on Smith products at SmithTea.com. Excludes shipping and taxes. During point multiplier days and other promotions, this number may increase. You can also earn points through additional actions outlined HERE.

Note: Orders placed using a digital Smith gift card are NOT eligible for points.

Do my points expire?

Yes, points expire 12 months after your account is created. A reminder email and/or text will be sent 1 month before they expire. Any new orders or account actions after expiration will automatically start to accrue in the next rolling 12 months.

How do I enroll in the program?

Enrollment is completely free. Simply visit our rewards page and create an account to be automatically enrolled in the "Enthusiast" tier. If you have an existing account, you’re all set to start earning points. Exclusive to the United States and Canada. Please note, your Rewards account is your Smith website account. If you have already created an account with Smith before, please login here. We’ve already added loyalty point to existing accounts.

What are the free gifts I can earn with purchase?

Free gifts rotate seasonally and can be found on the Rewards page along with the points required for each product. Free gifts can only be redeemed by adding to orders greater than $50 and will qualify for free shipping in the United States. You cannot redeem more one free gift per order.

Are my free gifts refundable or exchangeable?

No, free gifts are not refundable or exchangeable.

Can I earn points by purchasing in the Tasting Room locations?

No, our Smith Rewards points are earned exclusively through purchases and activities through SmithTea.com.

I referred a friend but did not receive my reward. Why?

Your friend must use your referral code to create their Smith Loyalty account and place an order of over $49 or more. Once they redeem their gift from you, you’ll receive your discount code via email. If they have done so and you still haven’t received your unique discount code, please reach out to us at customersuccess@smithtea.com.

When do I see my point adjustments?

Points earned with each purchase are updated in your account once the order has been shipped. Points earned using other program benefits may be reflected immediately in your account. Points are removed once you click the ‘Redeem’ button. If you do not use your reward immediately, the coupon code can be copied from your ‘Rewards History’. If you have additional questions about points adjustments, please reach out to us at customersuccess@smithtea.com. If you make a return, those points will be removed from your account once the refund has been processed. If you used a dollar off coupon for returned items, you must return the entire order for the coupon to be added back to your account. Partial refunds do not apply.

What can I do if I have questions about my points, status or account?

If you have questions about your points, status or account, feel free to visit our Rewards page for more information. You are also welcome to reach out to our customer service team at customersuccess@SmithTea.com for additional assistance.

How do I get to the next rewards tier?

You are automatically enrolled in our “Enthusiast” tier when you sign up. To reach “Aficionado”, you must spend $150. To reach the “Spoonbender Club”, you must spend $500.

Is Smith Rewards available to customers outside the US?

Yes, it is also available to our Canadian customers.

Can I use other promotions with my rewards?

Reward offerings cannot be stacked with other discounts. Only one reward can be redeemed per order.

How can I earn points with my product reviews?

Approximately 2-4 weeks after your order ships, you will receive an email asking you to rate and review the product(s) you purchased. To ensure your account is credited with Smtih Rewards points (15 points per review), the review must be done through the Rate and Review email. Once you post your review, you will receive a confirmation requesting verification. Reviews made directly on the website instead of through the Rate and Review email will not earn points. Orders placed as a guest will not qualify for review points. (Reminder: Only 10 of your verified reviews will qualify for points throughout the year for a maximum of 150 points). These extra steps help us ensure that as many reviews as possible come from verified purchases—making shopping for products better for everyone.

Do I receive extra points if I’m subscription customer?

Yes, 100 points will be added to your account after the 3rd subscription order of the same product. 50 points will be added after the 5th subscription order and 150 points after your 10th.

30-Day Guarantee

If your order is not quite your cup of tea, we're happy to ensure you have something that is. Our 30-day guarantee is extended to all purchases made on SmithTea.com. Please contact us at customersuccess@smithtea.com for assistance, and we'd glad to either replace or refund any items you're not pleased with.

What are the sachets made from?

Our sachets are created from a plant-based material called Soilon. More specifically, they are made using a Polylactic Acid (PLA) derived from plant materials that is 100% commercially compostable, certified safe by the FDA and are free of microplastics. Additionally, our sachets are sealed with sound wave technology, meaning there is no glue or staples present anywhere in our process. Our sachets are NOT comprised of PET plastic or nylon and we have tested our sachet material through a 3rd party to ensure there are no microplastics.

Is sachet material biodegradable?

Yes, our sachet material is biodegradable. The sachets are made from the starch of plant-based material, primarily corn. The string, tag and sachets are all biodegradable in active compost with the proper amount of heat and moisture over a one-year period. Sachets will fully biodegrade in 90 days when in perfect compost conditions - 125 degrees F and 85% moisture. The speed with which it decomposes depends on the level of microbes in the active compost. Of course few of us have "perfect" compost conditions. In the natural condition it takes about three years for the sachets to fully decompose. In the case of very cold climates the sachets will not decompose.

Do your sachets contain microplastics?

No, our sachets are plant based and we are pleased to assure you that they do not contain microplastics.

Are GMOs in sachet material?

There are no GMOs present in the final product. Some genetically modified plant material (corn starch) may be used during the processing of the sachet material, but the act of processing of the material removes them.

Is glue used to attach the string to the tag or sachet?

No. The sachet, tag, and string are attached using an ultrasonic process.

What is the overwrap or envelope for the sachet?

The envelope material we use is similar to that used by Clif Bar and other energy bars and is a foil laminated film. Technically, it’s a “polymer,” a broad term that encompasses many kinds of natural and synthetic plastics.

This overwrap is important to keep the product from deterioration or cross contamination from moisture and aroma contaminated with other fresh for service items in restaurants, and to make the sachet portable so you can have the freshest tea possible at home or in the office.

We are searching for a material that has similar barrier properties and is biodegradable and will make the switch to that material as it becomes available.

Why is my Blackberry Jasmine not blue?

Our Blackberry Jasmine Iced Tea is made with an ingredient from Thailand called butterfly pea flower. Upon steeping, the delicate petals of this flower naturally impart a vibrant blue to your glass of iced tea. The pigment in butterfly pea flower acts as a pH indicator, which means it will change color as the pH level changes. Brewing this tea with the right water will make all the difference. Butterfly pea flower will brew up a brilliant blue when prepared with water that has a neutral pH. It will change to violet as it becomes more acidic. (Try squeezing lemon in your blue tea to observe the change!) Hard water or alkaline water will cause the butterfly pea flower to turn a greenish/teal color and will turn yellow the more alkaline it becomes. We are based in Portland where the ph balance is neutral and doesn’t impact the color. In situations where we have used hard water or well water, we too have noticed a green hue but that is mitigated by using spring water. We recommend using freshly drawn filtered water with a neutral pH or store-bought spring water to reach the desired blue hue. Distilled water can make a very flat tasting cup of tea and is not recommended for tea brewing.

Why is my Iced Tea cloudy?

We recommend keeping iced tea out at room temperature and covered until ready to serve and then pouring over ice to keep a consistent strength. We do not recommend storing your black iced tea in the refrigerator, as it can become a bit cloudy. This, however, is an aesthetic preference, so if you don't mind your black tea becoming a bit cloudy in the fridge then you can store it in there. If stored in the refrigerator, the tea can be good for 2-3 days.  Otherwise discard at the end of the day.

Some black teas, when left to cool at room temperature or when refrigerated, can undergo a change in which the compounds in the tea will cloud up a bit. This is perfectly normal, should not affect the taste, and can even be a sign of quality in the tea. It is something we see especially with Assam and has to do with the compounds found in the tea leaves, namely Theaflavins, Thearubigins, Catechins and Caffeine.

Useful Tip: Adding a little hot water to a cloudy glass can help to clear it up.

Shelf Life

We recommend consuming most of our teas within 1-2 years for peak freshness. Since they are dried, shelf stable ingredients, they are safe to drink long after that point as well.

Does tea go bad?

Dry tea leaves that are kept dry will not spoil or go bad but will simply lose flavor and aroma after the best by date.

How should I store my tea?

Most tea leaves are best kept away from light, air, and moisture. A note on pu-erh storage: unlike most tea, pu-erh improves with age and may be enjoyed for years. For best results, we recommend storing pu-erh in a cool, dry place that is temperature controlled. Read more about pu-erh here.

Light

Exposure to light has been shown to decrease the intensity of aromatic compounds in stored tea. Using a storage vessel that will not allow light in, such as ceramic or stainless steel is preferred.

Air

To keep tea fresh, store it in an airtight container to prevent further oxidation. Tea can also absorb strong flavors from other things stored nearby, so be sure to store it away from coffee, spices, onions, etc.

Moisture

The relative humidity of the environment where the tea is stored is also a key factor in determining how long tea will stay fresh. If you live in a dry climate, your tea will likely hold up longer than it would be in a humid environment.

Where are your teas from?

At Smith we buy our tea from friends in north and south India, Sri Lanka, China, Taiwan, and Japan. Herbal ingredients are sourced from all over the world, depending on where they grow and taste best. Visit our Provenance page for more information.

We have been working with many of our partners since the inception of Steven Smith Teamaker. Steve’s relationships were developed over decades in the industry and have allowed us to carry on his legacy through the work of his friends and partners around the world. When we look for new partners, we base our assessment on quality of ingredients and relationships – both with their communities and with our team.

Is your tea organically grown?

Some of the teas that we source are organic, but are purchased without a certificate. We do not use organic as our primary filter for purchasing teas because it limits our ability to have access to the best possible range of teas. Being on the ground in the countries of origin where we purchase tea allows us to review the production process from the plucking of the leaves and flowers and the harvest of the barks and roots that are used in producing our blends, as well as seeing how the workers are treated.  All sources that we purchase from operate their farms and their collection of botanicals in a sustainable manner, recognizing that nurturing the soil and the plant is the only way to create a sustainable crop.

Are pesticides used in the growing process?

We ensure the farmers we work with use pesticides in a responsible manner that is in line with US laws and regulations. Our suppliers provide us with Certificates of Analysis for the teas and botanicals we buy and we periodically test for pesticides through 3rd party FDA certified labs.

How much caffeine is in a cup of Smith tea?

Caffeine is naturally occurring in all tea: white, green, oolong, black & fermented. Caffeine content in tea will vary from plant to plant and from season to season. Caffeine and its associated compounds are used as the tea plant's natural defense against insects. Here are some factors that will affect the amount of caffeine in your cup of tea:

- age of plant
- type of plant
- part of plant
- elevation or area where plant is grown
- water temp
- time in water
- tea to water ratio
- most importantly, caffeine affects everyone's metabolism differently

We currently do not source any decaffeinated teas, as the flavor of these teas is generally not up to our standards.

Does your tea contain sugars?

While some of our teas will have the perception of being “sweet” this may come from certain ingredients like licorice root, stevia leaf, etc. Our teas are generally free of calories and added sugar.* Pure tea brewed on its own is essentially a calorie free beverage. This is also true for herbal infusions.

*At times we’ve been known to use fun ingredients like homemade rock sugar, cacao nibs, and shredded coconut in some of our custom blends. These are the exceptions, however, as the vast majority of our blends are calorie-free.

Do your cocktail Series Tea contains alcohol?

We carefully infuse Coconut Swizzle and Agave Sunshine with top-shelf spirits, resulting in complex but subtle accents of dark rum and añejo tequila without the ABV. While each serving has a small amount of alcohol in it, it is comparable to the amount found in an average kombucha at your local grocery store.

What is natural flavor?

At Smith Teamaker, we are committed to using natural sourced ingredients for our flavorings and use only compounds that are derived through non-gmo natural fermentation.  Much like in the production of cheese and wine, these “natural flavors” are derived naturally and provide unique flavor attributes that help our teas maintain their taste profiles and aromas.

Can you provide the nutritional facts for your iced teas?

You can find the nutritional facts for our iced teas here: Exceptional, Ginger Peach, Hibiscus Mango, Pineapple Green, Blackberry Jasmine.

Save up to 25% annually.

Savings is based on the average cost of a single product subscription at a 4 week cadence with free shipping over a 12 month period.

What is your policy for subscriptions?

Applies to select products. Discounts codes apply to first orders of subscriptions only. All future subscription orders will receive 5% savings. If multiple discounts apply to an order, discounts may be applied consecutively. Subscriptions ship only to US domestic addresses. Subscriptions cannot be modified, canceled, or refunded after payment has been processed.

Manage your subscription via text:

To receive updates, manage and make changes to your subscription via text, opt in HERE.

How do I modify/cancel my subscription?

1. Click the profile icon in the upper right corner of the navigation bar (immediately to the left of the cart icon).  

2. Login if you have an account. If not, create an account then login. 

3. Click “Manage Subscriptions” and go to the “Subscriptions” tab. 

4. From here you can add a one-time purchase to your next subscription shipment, modify your current subscription, add another subscription, cancel your subscription, update your credit card and/or update your mailing address. 

5. Click on the subscription that you want to modify and update accordingly. 

If you’ve already been billed for your most recent tea shipment, your cancellation will take effect in the next billing cycle. If you need additional assistance, please email us hello@smithtea.com. 

What is your policy for Amazon purchases?

Steven Smith Teamaker works hard to ensure that its high quality products reach consumers in the condition we intend. As such, for sales on the Amazon platform, the Steven Smith Teamaker’s 45 day product quality guarantee will not apply without valid proof of purchase from Steven Smith Teamaker.