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Category 6 of 25 · Hawaii

Coffee & Tea

Roasted Beans, Loose Leaf & Blends

Cottage Food Eligible + HDOA Labeling Law
None req'd
License
HI-grown % disclosure
Special rule
HDOA / HDOH
Agency
4.5%
GET

What's Covered / What Needs More

✓ What's Covered

  • Roasted whole-bean or ground coffee, and dried loose-leaf tea/tea bags, sold direct under the cottage exemption
  • Blended or flavored coffee/tea, as long as it stays non-TCS and shelf-stable
  • Marketing coffee as '100% Kona' or '100% Hawaiian' if every bean truly originates in that region
  • Selling blends labeled with the accurate minimum percentage of Hawaii-grown coffee if not 100%

✕ Needs More

  • Labeling a blend 'Kona' or a district name (e.g., Ka'u, Puna) without disclosing the actual minimum percentage grown there — Hawaii's coffee labeling law (HRS §486-120.6) sets minimum-percentage disclosure rules and is actively enforced
  • Refrigerated coffee drinks (cold brew concentrate meant to be kept cold) — treat as a beverage requiring a licensed kitchen, not cottage tea/coffee
  • Selling without the food-safety course and home-kitchen label disclaimer
  • Interstate shipping under the cottage exemption (in-state only)

How to Get Compliant

A

Confirm origin claims

If using a Hawaii place name (Kona, Ka'u, Puna, Maui, etc.), verify the actual percentage of beans from that district and disclose it on the label per HDOA coffee labeling rules.

B

Complete the cottage requirements

Food-safety course, then label with the home-kitchen disclaimer, ingredient list (for blends), allergens if applicable, and your contact info.

C

Sell broadly

Roasted coffee and dried tea can be sold direct, online, in-state shipped, and wholesaled to non-TCS retail channels under Act 195.

Quick Reference

Sales ChannelRequirementNotes
100% single-origin Hawaii coffeeCottage course + label + accurate origin claimNo blending percentage disclosure needed
Blend with imported beansCottage course + label + % disclosureMust state minimum % Hawaii-grown per district
Loose-leaf or bagged teaCottage course + labelStandard non-TCS cottage item
Cold brew / RTD coffee drinkHDOH food establishment permitRefrigerated beverage, not cottage-eligible

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I call my coffee '100% Kona' if I blend in a few Ka'u beans?
No — that would misstate origin. Hawaii's coffee labeling statute requires accurate disclosure of the minimum percentage of coffee grown in the named district.
Do I need a special roasting license?
No state roasting license exists; roasting is covered under the general cottage food exemption as long as the coffee stays non-TCS.
Can I sell flavored tea blends?
Yes, as long as all ingredients are shelf-stable and properly listed on the label.
Can I ship my coffee to the mainland?
In-state cottage sales/shipping only; mainland shipping of coffee itself faces no special agricultural restriction, but selling under the cottage exemption doesn't extend past Hawaii — check HDOH on commercial options for interstate sale.

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