Ordering and Shipping
FAQ
Can I change my order?
Regrettably, we are unable to add or remove items to confirmed orders. Please make sure your order details are correct before placing your order.
What's your refund policy?
You can view our refund policy here.
How long will my order take to ship?
Most orders ship in 2-3 business days. You'll receive an email when your order ships. Our orders ship from Southern California. Please write to us at hello@august.la for questions about your order.
I accidentally put in the wrong shipping address! Can I edit it?
We are unable to change the shipping address to confirmed orders. Please make sure your shipping details are correct before placing your order.
My favorite tea is sold out. What happened?
New stock comes in on a regular basis. If the item you want is sold out, the best thing to do is sign up for the stock available notification.
All you need to do is click on the item you'd like and then click the button that says "Email Me When Available." That way, you don't have to keep checking the site.
Do you offer a military discount?
What is the best way to reach customer support?
You can reach our Customer Support team via Facebook messenger or hello@august.la Monday - Friday, 9am-4pm PST. We will respond within 24 hours.
Our Tea
How do I brew loose leaf tea?
We recommend our One Cup Infuser, it makes brewing loose leaf tea easy and convenient. To learn how to make your perfect cup, click here.
Where does your tea come from?
Our tea is ethically sourced from tea-producing countries all over Asia and Africa. It’s blended to our specifications in Germany by a company that has been producing and sourcing tea for over a hundred and fifty years and follows the most stringent quality standards available. All our blends are original and available nowhere else.
Ingredient origins are specified in the ingredients list for each blend.
Why don’t you offer traditional blends like English Breakfast and Earl Grey?
There are already so many great versions of classic tea blends available everywhere. We want to surprise and stimulate our customers' senses with new flavor experiences. We want to create new taste sensations, not something you’ve tasted before.
Do you have decaf?
There is a difference between decaf tea and naturally caffeine-free herbal teas. We do not offer decaf black or green tea. The decaffeination process has byproducts that we don’t want our customers to ingest. That’s why we created our Herbal Teas, which are naturally caffeine free because they contain no tea plant (camellia sinensis).
How much caffeine is in tea?
There is roughly one third the amount of caffeine in a cup of tea as the same size cup of drip coffee. It’s hard to know exact quantities of caffeine cup per cup because it depends on how much tea is used and how it’s prepared. Tea also has an additional chemical compound (L-theanine) which slows the absorption of caffeine. That means you experience more gradual stimulation than the sudden ups and downs of coffee.
Are your teas organic?
Yes, some of them are. You can find them here.
Our priority is to make the most naturally delicious tea blends. When one of our blends can be produced with 100% organic ingredients, we do it.
Are your teas ethically sourced, fair trade and non-GMO?
Yes! Our tea is sourced by a supplier in Germany that adheres to the International Labor Organization regulations. These include:
- adherence to national laws
- discrimination ban
- wages customary in the state/trade
- working hours
- health and safety at workplace
- prohibition of child work
- prohibition of forced labour
- careful and responsible handling of resources
This means that all of our tea is non-GMO, ethically sourced and fair trade as part of the German Tea Association and International Labor Organization terms.
What does "Best By" date mean?
Our tea is most flavorful before this date. But because tea is non-perishable, it does not go bad or expire.
How do I keep my tea fresh?
When stored properly in a dark, cool place and inside an airtight container, tea can taste good for up to two years after purchase.
Ingredients
What is the ‘flavoring’ I see in your ingredients and why do you use it?
Most of the flavor in our blends comes from flavorful tea and whole natural ingredients. We use beautiful, whole leaf tea and natural ingredients you can see, touch, smell and taste. We add flavoring to achieve the perfect balance of aroma and flavor. Think of how a chef starts with great ingredients and adds seasoning to bring everything together perfectly.
How much flavoring is in each cup of tea?
In our tea, flavoring constitutes less than 5% by weight. So, in 100g of tea, there is 5g or less of flavoring. Flavoring constitutes less than .001% of a finished cup of tea.
Do you offer unflavored tea?
Yes. Flavored teas are our specialty, but we do have several unflavored options. Shop our Single Origin category and also check out our unflavored blend Cult of Demeter.
Are your flavorings natural or artificial?
We use both natural and artificial flavorings in our teas. Artificial flavoring is as safe to drink as natural flavoring. Nearly half of our blends are naturally flavored. If a blend is labeled as organic or all natural, then it uses only natural flavoring. If it is not labeled all natural, it either contains a mix of natural and artificial flavoring, or only artificial flavoring.
You can find our all-natural teas with only natural flavorings here
What’s the difference between natural and artificial flavoring?
There’s less difference than you might think. The difference between artificial and natural flavoring is source material. Both are chemically identical. Natural flavoring is regulated and defined by the FDA as “flavoring extracted or fermented from a spice, fruit, vegetable, edible yeast, herb, bark, bud, root, leaf or similar plant material, or dairy products.”
Artificial flavoring starts with a purified chemical source, but arrives at the same end product: A concentrated, purified flavor extract.
For people with food allergies, synthetic flavoring allows them to enjoy flavors they would not tolerate in their natural form. For instance, someone with an almond allergy would be able to drink tea with synthetic almond flavoring.
Are there hidden toxins, allergens, carbs, preservatives or sweeteners in flavoring?
No. Flavorings contain no toxins, preservatives or sweeteners. All of our flavorings adhere to FDA standards and EU regulation 1333/2008/EC which are stricter than the US regulations. Our allergen labeling exceeds the standards of the Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act of 2004. If you have serious allergies, always consult with a health care professional before consuming a product that may pose a risk.
Can you tell me the specific ingredients of your flavorings are made of?
No. We’re not about to give away our secret recipes! The specific combination of flavoring in our teas is a proprietary trade secret. This policy exists to prevent other tea brands from copying our unique blends.
Are your teas pesticide-free?
Because our tea is produced in Germany, it complies with strict European Union standards of agricultural toxins, including pesticides. In most cases, the EU is less tolerant of pesticides. The American FDA allows for higher levels of pesticide and for more than half of pesticides, there are no FDA restrictions whatsoever. Here's a link to detailed information about the differences between US and EU pesticide control.
Where can I find information about allergens?
Each tea package and respective web page clearly displays all ingredients and allergen information. Some of our teas are not gluten free, and some contain nuts and dairy. We clearly label all ingredients in our tea. Our tea is packed in a facility that processes nuts, tree fruit, dairy and gluten.
If you have an allergy to a specific ingredient and have questions, contact our customer support team at hello@august.la
About us
What is special about August?
August is designed to please all five senses. Our tea has wild and intense flavors you might not expect in tea. They are inspired by cocktails, pastry, perfume, and modern cuisine. We use beautiful, whole leaf tea and natural ingredients you can see, touch, smell and taste. Alongside tasting notes, you'll find mood notes inspired by art, music, cinema and natural landscapes. Our brewing method is designed to maximize flavor and help you create your own modern ritual for every tea.
Who is August?
August is a small, family-run company. We are committed to making better tea, and to making things better in our world, as a product, a brand, and a business. Our team is proudly comprised of individuals of all colors, identities, and needs. While we are a small company, an important part of August's growth is finding opportunities to improve quality of life for our team and in our large and diverse Los Angeles community.
How does August compare to other tea brands?
We’re one of the only companies in the US to focus on super-premium blended flavored teas. Flavored tea has a bad image among tea aficionados because they're often made with terrible ingredients. But when done right, flavored tea is like a wonderful cocktail of complex, layered flavors. All our blends are original, so whenever you drink August you always drink something unique.