What is worth shipping from India is what you genuinely cannot get where you are — and that list is shorter than it feels. Turmeric and cumin are in every supermarket now. Kasturi haldi, harsingar, tesu flower and PPD-free black mehndi are not, anywhere.
Ship the things that do not exist locally. Buy the rest at your Indian grocery.
Genuinely Worth Shipping
| Product | Why |
|---|---|
| Kasturi haldi | Almost never stocked abroad, and usually mislabelled when it is |
| Harsingar / parijat | Essentially unavailable outside India |
| Tesu flower | Same |
| Gokhru, babool phali | Rarely stocked |
| Findla / prickly pear | Regional even within India |
| PPD-free black mehndi | Most "black henna" abroad contains PPD |
| A2 Gir cow ghee | Available abroad, but rarely genuine bilona A2 |
| Organic Holi colours | Almost impossible to find abroad. Order well ahead. |
Buy Locally Instead
Being straight with you — we would rather you spent the shipping on things that justify it:
- Turmeric, cumin, coriander, chilli — every Indian grocery has them
- Chia seeds, generic spirulina — widely available and often cheaper locally
- Anything you want in 100 g — international shipping on a small packet makes no economic sense
- Anything you want tomorrow
The Shipping Arithmetic
Shipping is the dominant cost, not the powder. So:
- One large order beats four small ones by a wide margin
- Order 500 g or 1 kg, not 100 g — the per-gram saving on the goods is only around 9%, but the shipping saving is the real one
- Order with family or friends and split it. This works well and is common.
- Prices are in Indian Rupees. Your card converts at its own rate and may add a foreign transaction fee.
- Duties and taxes are your responsibility and are not included. Thresholds vary by country.
See the full cost-per-serving numbers.
Customs: What Catches People Out
Rules differ by country and do change, so check your own — but the recurring ones:
- Honey is restricted in some countries, notably Australia. This is the commonest surprise, and it applies to gift boxes too.
- Seeds may be restricted. Australia and New Zealand have strict biosecurity rules on anything that could germinate — relevant for chia, sabja and sunflower seeds.
- Ghee and dairy — restricted in some destinations.
- Quantity matters. Personal-use amounts clear far more easily than volumes that look commercial.
- Declare accurately. Under-declaring to dodge duty risks seizure of the whole parcel.
Check US CBP and FDA, UK Border Force, Canada CFIA, or Australia DAFF before ordering. We ship to 29 countries but cannot guarantee clearance into any of them, and it would be dishonest to imply otherwise.
When It Arrives
After two or three weeks in transit:
- Open and smell it. Fresh tulsi smells sharply herbal; fresh ginger is pungent. Aroma is the real freshness test, not the printed date.
- Decant into airtight jars immediately. Shipping pouches are not long-term storage.
- Label with the date received.
- Use the aromatic ones first — tulsi, ginger, lemongrass, curry leaf. Roots, seeds and clays keep far longer.
See How to Store Ayurvedic Powders.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does delivery take?
Typically 1–3 weeks depending on destination and customs.
Will I pay duty?
Possibly, depending on your country's threshold and order value. Not included in our prices.
Can I pay in dollars or pounds?
Prices are in INR; your card converts.
Is it cheaper than my local Indian shop?
Per gram, generally yes. After shipping, only on larger orders. For one small packet, buy locally.
Can I send a gift directly to family in India?
Yes — domestic delivery within India, which avoids customs entirely. This is often the best option for gifting.
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Read: Buying Ayurvedic Herbs From the USA
Food supplements, not medicines. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Import rules vary by country and change — check your own current regulations.
