Source data
U.S. passenger entry rules for selected pantry products
Sources checked
- 01Identify the product
Check whether it is roasted, raw, fresh or a commercially packaged blend. Source 1
- 02Check your route
Green coffee rules differ for the continental United States and transit through Hawaii or Puerto Rico. Source 1
- 03Declare on arrival
Report every agricultural product to U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Source 2
Keep the product label or ingredient list available. A product’s form and your route can change how it is treated.
U.S. passenger entry rules for selected pantry products
Selected APHIS passenger rules for products carried for personal use, checked 11 November 2026. Declare every item. The border inspection determines admission.
| Source | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Roasted coffee | Permitted | All U.S. ports of entry | Source 1 |
| Green coffee beans | Depends on port and transit | Allowed through continental ports. Prohibited in Hawaii or Puerto Rico, including transit. Quarantine pests can lead to seizure. | Source 1 |
| Whole fresh coffee cherries | Prohibited | All U.S. ports of entry | Source 1 |
| Plain tea leaves | Permitted | Applies to products composed only of Camellia sinensis tea leaves. | Source 1 |
| Ginseng or goldenseal herbal tea | Subject to conditions | Commercially packaged and ready to prepare. Inspection applies. | Source 1 |
| Herbal tea containing citrus leaves, flowers, bark, roots, peel or fruit | Subject to conditions | Commercially packaged and ready to prepare, or labelled for the required heat treatment. | Source 1 |
| Comb honey | Generally permitted | For personal consumption. Different rules apply to honey intended as feed for bees. | Source 1 |
| Roasted nuts | Permitted | APHIS includes roasted nuts among allowed processing methods. | Source 1 |
| Raw nuts or nuts in shells | Check with APHIS | Admission depends on the product and how it was prepared. | Source 1 |
| Dried citrus leaves or seeds as spices | Excluded from the general allowance | APHIS excludes citrus leaves and seeds from its general dried-spice allowance. | Source 1 |