Royal Mail Tracked 24 / Tracked 48
The default for most orders. Door to door tracking, signed for option available.
Tea Wiki
Delivery
Teas.co.uk delivers across mainland UK, with free delivery on orders over £35 and standard tracked shipping for everything else. Most UK addresses receive orders within 1-3 working days of dispatch.
This page covers delivery options, timings, areas, and what to do if something goes wrong.
£35
1-3
01
The delivery promise
Free
UK delivery on orders over £35. Current delivery timing is shown at checkout and in your order confirmation.
£3.95
Flat rate standard delivery on orders under £35. 1-3 working days.
Express
Express options are shown at checkout when available for the destination.
UK
Mainland coverage. Northern Ireland, Highlands and Islands, and Channel Islands have variable additional charges based on courier surcharges, calculated at checkout.
02
How quickly do orders dispatch?
Orders are prepared on working days. Current dispatch expectations are shown during checkout and in the order confirmation. Orders placed on weekends are handled from the next working day.
Bank holidays and the period between Christmas and New Year are exceptions, orders may take an extra 1-2 days to leave us.
03
Couriers we use
DPD
For larger or higher value orders. Hour window delivery slots, real time tracking.
Evri (formerly Hermes)
Backup option for some routes. Standard tracking.
You'll receive a tracking link by email when your order dispatches. Most UK customers prefer to track via the courier's app rather than emails.
04
Delivery areas and timings
England, Scotland (Lowlands), Wales
1-3 working days from dispatch. Express next day option available. Free shipping over £35.
Scottish Highlands and Islands
3-5 working days. Some islands (Outer Hebrides, Shetland, Orkney) may take 5-7 working days. Surcharges apply for some Highland postcodes due to courier supplements.
Northern Ireland
2-4 working days. Royal Mail standard delivery. £35 free shipping threshold applies.
Isle of Man, Channel Islands
3-7 working days. Customs declarations apply (we handle the paperwork). Some product restrictions apply for non mainland UK.
05
International shipping
We currently support UK delivery and selected European destinations at checkout. If your country is not shown, contact us before ordering and we will confirm whether we can send the parcel, what it will cost, and whether any product restrictions apply.
| Region | Estimated time | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Republic of Ireland | 3-5 working days | Tracked options, calculated at checkout |
| Selected European destinations | Usually 5-9 working days | Availability and price shown at checkout |
| Other countries | By request | Contact us first so we can confirm courier options |
Customs duty, local taxes, and import delays are outside our control and are the recipient's responsibility.
06
Order tracking
Once your order dispatches, you'll receive:
- A dispatch confirmation email with tracking number and link.
- Status updates from the courier (depending on courier, Royal Mail and DPD both provide good visibility).
- An estimated delivery window the day before delivery, where the courier supports it.
If you don't receive a dispatch email within 48 hours of placing your order (excluding weekends), check your spam folder, then contact us via the website.
07
If something goes wrong
What if delivery is delayed?
Royal Mail aims for 1-2 working days but doesn't guarantee. DPD's tracked next day service is more reliable. Express next day orders that don't arrive on time are eligible for a refund of the delivery surcharge (the £6.95 difference).
If your tracked order shows no movement for 5+ working days, get in touch, we'll investigate with the courier and either chase the package or send a replacement.
What if my order arrives damaged?
Tea is well protected in our packaging, most boxes survive UK courier handling intact. If your order arrives damaged:
- Photograph the damage (outer box, inner damage, individual products if affected).
- Contact us within 7 days of delivery via the website.
- We'll send a replacement or refund the affected items, no questions asked for genuine damage.
What if my order is missing items?
Mistakes happen rarely but they happen. If items are missing from your order:
- Check the packing list (every order ships with one).
- Check whether multiple parcels were dispatched (large orders sometimes split).
- Contact us within 14 days. We'll send the missing items at no charge.
08
Returns
If you're unhappy with an order or change your mind, you can return unopened products within 30 days for a refund (excluding original shipping cost). Opened tea cannot be returned for hygiene reasons.
Faulty products (defective bags, mouldy tea, expired stock that shouldn't have shipped) are refunded in full including shipping.
09
Subscription and repeat orders
Most regular drinkers reorder their staples (Yorkshire Tea, PG Tips Decaf, Pukka After Dinner) every 4-8 weeks. Repeat ordering is quick from your account page, where saved addresses and previous orders are available. Any subscription options shown on the site can be managed through your account.
10
Free shipping threshold strategy
£35 is the threshold. Orders that fall just under often benefit from adding one more product. Common pairings to push an order over £35:
- Add a packet of Pukka After Dinner (£3.50) to a £33 order
- Add a Border Biscuits sharing pack (£4.50) to a £31 order
- Add a single matcha sachet (£3) to a £33 order
The £3.95 saved on shipping usually justifies a £4-5 additional product, and most regular drinkers find something they wanted anyway.
11
Packaging and recycling
Outer packaging can include cardboard boxes and paper void fill. Product packaging is supplied by each brand and can combine paper, card, foil or plastic. Follow the current pack label and your local council guidance for every component rather than assuming all packaging is recyclable.
12
FAQ
How long does delivery take?
1-3 working days for standard mainland UK shipping after dispatch. Check checkout and your order confirmation for current dispatch expectations.
Is delivery free?
Free on orders over £35. £3.95 flat rate for orders below.
Do you ship to Northern Ireland?
Yes, 2-4 working days. Same £35 free shipping threshold.
Do you ship internationally?
Limited international shipping to selected European countries. Other countries by special request.
What if my order is late?
Most UK orders arrive 1-3 working days after dispatch. If yours is delayed beyond 5 working days, contact us, we'll investigate.
13
Delivery, at a glance
| Aspect | Detail |
|---|---|
| Free delivery | orders over £35, mainland UK |
| Standard shipping | flat rate below £35; tracked |
| Timing | 1 to 3 working days after dispatch, mainland UK |
| Northern Ireland | 2 to 4 working days, same £35 threshold |
| International | limited, selected European countries; others by request |
Curator's note: shipping tea reliably across the UK is one of those things that's invisible when it works and infuriating when it doesn't. We picked our couriers based on what actually arrives on time, not on the cheapest list price.
Delivery and storage companion reading
More from the tea wiki
From the curator
Spend less on prestige, more on freshness. A two month old supermarket bag still beats a three year old gift tin.
