Tool
Grade selector
Pick the destination. The table gives the grades that market actually buys, the alternates, the regulatory reference and the label language. Every combination is on this page in full — filtering only hides rows.
Which grade does each destination buy?
ODM Tea quotes against this matrix: eight destinations, each with its preparation, primary grades, alternates, regulatory reference and label language. Morocco and Senegal buy gunpowder for atay and attaya. Russia and the United States buy Fujian origin categories by name. Uzbekistan buys Chunmee on the green side and Fujian congou black on the growing side.
| Destination | How it is drunk | Primary grades | Alternates | Regulatory reference | Label language |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Morocco | Atay — mint and sugar, poured from height | Gunpowder 3505 (suffix fixed), Gunpowder 9375 | Chunmee 41022 for blending | ONSSA MRLs, Order 156-14 | Arabic (other languages optional) |
| Senegal | Attaya — three infusions, progressively sweeter | Gunpowder 3505, Gunpowder 9375 | Chunmee 41022 | National food safety control | French |
| Mauritania | Attaya — three infusions | Gunpowder 3505, Gunpowder 9375 | — | National food safety control | Arabic and French — confirm with the importer |
| Ghana | Retail and onward re-export to Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger | Gunpowder 3505, Chunmee 41022, Chunmee 9371 | Gunpowder 9575 for blending lots | Ghana Food and Drugs Authority registration, Public Health Act 851 | English |
| Russia | Loose leaf specialty and everyday retail | White Bai Mu Dan, Oolong Tie Guan Yin, Black Lapsang Souchong, Jasmine 5-round | Jasmine 3-round for volume retail | TR CU 021/2011, TR CU 022/2011, EAC mark | Russian |
| Uzbekistan | Everyday green and growing black | Chunmee 41022, Chunmee 9371, Black Tanyang Gongfu | Gunpowder 9375 | Uzbek national requirements — EAEU observer, so TR CU and the EAC mark do not apply | Russian and Uzbek |
| United States | Specialty loose leaf and packed retail | Organic white, Oolong, Jasmine 5-round and 7-round | Bai Hao Yin Zhen for top shelf | FDA import requirements; organic requires an NOP Import Certificate | English |
| Japan | Specialty and blending | Oolong, Jasmine, Organic green | — | Positive List System, administered by the Consumer Affairs Agency — among the strictest of any major buyer | Japanese |
What else belongs on the contract?
Four clauses beyond the grade code, in every market: moisture at or below the trade specification, the residue standard named by destination jurisdiction, the packing net weight, and the Incoterm. Grade fixes the make. These four fix the risk.
| Clause | Specification |
|---|---|
| Moisture | At or below 7.0% for green, white, oolong and black tea; at or below 8.5% for scented jasmine tea |
| Residue standard | Named by destination jurisdiction; laboratory, report timing and acceptance written into the contract |
| Packing | Multiwall paper sacks or cartons for bulk; net weight stated; retail packing of 3 kg or less changes the HS subheading |
| Incoterms | FOB, CFR, CIF |
| Documents | Commercial invoice and packing list; Bill of lading; Certificate of origin (in the form the destination requires); Phytosanitary certificate; Health certificate; Pesticide residue test report; Certificate of analysis (moisture, ash, fannings) |
Frequently asked
How do I choose a tea grade for an export market?
Start from the destination, not the product. The destination sets the preparation the tea has to survive, the residue standard the lot must clear, and the label language. Grade follows from those three. Choosing grade first and then looking for a market is how origin substitution complaints start.
Which grade does Morocco buy?
Gunpowder 3505 with the sub-grade suffix fixed and held across shipments, plus Gunpowder 9375 for volume. 99.85% of China's shipments to Morocco are green tea, and the market brews atay — gunpowder with fresh mint and sugar.
Which grade does Russia buy?
Russia's Chinese tea mix runs 68% green, 14% black, 14% specialty and 4% jasmine. The commercial opportunity is in the specialty and named-origin end: white Bai Mu Dan, oolong Tie Guan Yin, black Lapsang Souchong and 5-round jasmine.
Does the grade code alone define the contract?
No. A grade code fixes the make — pellet size, leaf shape, screen. The contract still has to fix moisture, the residue standard named by destination jurisdiction, packing net weight and the Incoterm. Those four are where disputes happen.
Last updated: 26 September 2026
Next step
Have the destination but not the specification?
Send the destination and the quantity. We answer with the grade, the residue plan and the packing brief.