A well-designed tea carton sells the product on the shelf; a well-labelled one keeps it there. For private label brands the second part is often the more stressful, because the factory prints what the brand supplies, and the brand carries the responsibility. This guide covers the elements that commonly appear on tea labels across the EU, the UK, the US and comparable markets, and where each tends to go wrong. It is general guidance, not legal advice: mandatory particulars vary by country, so confirm final artwork with the competent authority or a regulatory adviser for the market you sell into.
The core particulars most markets expect
Whatever the format — pyramid, string-and-tag bag in an envelope, or loose leaf in a tin — the same core information appears on most retail tea packs. Missing one item is the most common reason a retailer's compliance team rejects a private label consignment.
| Element | What it usually covers | Typical pitfalls |
|---|---|---|
| Product name | A name that describes what the food is, e.g. Chamomile Herbal Infusion | Fantasy names with no descriptive name beside them |
| Ingredient list | Descending order by weight, plant parts named clearly | Omitting flavourings, missing botanical names |
| Net quantity | Weight of the tea, not the packaging | Stating bag count only, mixed metric and imperial |
| Business name and address | The operator responsible for the product | Using the factory address when the brand is the seller |
| Lot / batch code | Traceability back to a production run | Printed where it rubs off or hides under a seal |
| Best-before date | Date of minimum durability | Vague dating formats, no storage advice next to it |
| Country of origin | Where the tea was grown or, if required, processed | Implying a single origin on a multi-source blend |
Storage guidance ("store in a cool, dry place away from strong odours") is not always mandatory but is nearly always sensible for tea, which absorbs moisture and aroma faster than most dry goods.
Naming the product without misleading the buyer
The product name has to tell a shopper what they are buying, even if a brand name dominates the front panel. "Sunset Garden" on its own is not a food name; "Sunset Garden Rosehip and Hibiscus Fruit Infusion" is. Be careful with the word "tea" itself: in several markets it strictly means Camellia sinensis, so herbal and fruit products are more safely described as infusions or herbal teas depending on local convention. Names that reference a place, a grade or a plant that is not the main ingredient invite challenge.
Ingredients, allergens and flavourings
List every ingredient in descending order of weight as it went into the blend, using names a consumer would recognise. For single-plant herbal products, giving the common name plus the botanical name (sage, Salvia officinalis) removes ambiguity between species. Added flavourings must appear as ingredients, and any nut, cereal or other allergenic material in a blend needs to be identified the way the target market requires, usually by emphasis within the list. Plain black, green or herbal teas rarely carry declared allergens, but blends with nut or cereal inclusions do, and cross-contact statements should reflect what actually happens on the packing line rather than a generic "may contain".
