Sourcing coffee liqueurs from China
Coffee liqueurs from China in containers holding 2 litres or less carry 0% UK customs duty, with Alcohol Duty charged separately. Check the complete recipe before ordering: dairy-containing coffee liqueurs from China cannot be imported into Great Britain. Cambridge China Bridge sources coffee liqueurs.
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Coffee liqueur customs duty and import controls
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 7 October 2026, heading 2208 covers spirits, liqueurs and other spirituous beverages, alongside undenatured ethyl alcohol below 80% by volume. The supplied coffee-liqueur line is 2208 70 10 00, for liqueurs and cordials in containers holding 2 litres or less. The table shows recipe variants within this same line, rather than separate tariff classifications.
This line carries 0% customs duty for goods from China, with no recorded anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspension. The tariff attaches Veterinary control and Import control of organic products. Dairy-containing coffee liqueurs from China cannot be imported into Great Britain. For other animal ingredients, ask your customs broker to confirm the veterinary requirements. For organic products, confirm the inspection-certificate and release requirements with your customs broker and organic control body; the exporter’s control body issues the certificate.
Alcohol Duty is separate from customs duty. Ask HMRC or your customs broker to confirm the import VAT calculation, including the treatment of Alcohol Duty. Agree the excise route before shipping and check whether wholesale approval applies to your business. Confirm the recipe and container size using finding your commodity code. See the plum liqueurs guide for wider heading context and UK import duty and VAT for costing.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dairy-free coffee liqueur, containers holding 2 litres or less | 2208 70 10 00 | 0% | None |
Specify the coffee recipe and bottle
Specify the coffee extract or infusion, roast character, sweetness, colour, alcohol strength and base spirit. Record every ingredient, including flavour carriers and any plant-based cream component. Require the supplier to identify milk-derived ingredients rather than relying on a description such as creamy or non-dairy.
Agree a retained sample for flavour comparison, acceptable sediment and separation, unopened storage conditions and behaviour after opening. Specify bottle capacity, closure, seal, label artwork and carton dividers. Confirm the applicable labelling requirements with the relevant food authority, including the product name, net quantity, alcohol strength, UK business name and address, and allergen declarations. Arrange testing and certification around the actual recipe.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 3,000 bottles of 500 ml dairy-free coffee liqueur under 2208 70 10 00, invoiced at £12,000 free on board, with £1,500 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £13,500. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £13,500, so it is £2,700. With no duty, the only import tax is the VAT, which a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step. HMRC's VAT Notice 701/14 lists alcoholic beverages among the exceptions that are standard-rated even though most food is zero-rated, so the 20% VAT shown applies.
Inspection checklist
Recipe: compare the production ingredient declaration with the approved recipe, including flavour carriers and creamy ingredients.
Liquid: test alcohol strength against the label and compare coffee aroma, sweetness, colour and sediment with the retained sample.
Bottles: check fill levels, closure security, leaks, glass damage and carton dividers on arrival.
Labels and documents: check product name, alcohol strength, net quantity, UK business details and allergen declarations; match the batch analysis to the shipment and confirm any organic inspection certificate.
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What goes wrong
A creamy sample can conceal a milk-derived ingredient that makes the Chinese product inadmissible into Great Britain. Get the complete recipe before approving artwork or placing an order. A customs duty rate of 0% does not remove Alcohol Duty or establish that the recipe can be imported.
Coffee flavour can change between sample and production, while extract sediment, separation, leaking closures and broken glass undermine usable stock. Compare arrival samples with the retained sample and photograph damaged cases before opening them. Use quality inspection explained to prepare the inspection brief.
Cambridge China Bridge sources these products for UK businesses, checking the factory and the documents before shipment. See factory verification. For repeat volumes, see container programmes.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on coffee liqueurs from China?
The supplied tariff line 2208 70 10 00, for containers holding 2 litres or less, carries 0% customs duty. Alcohol Duty and import VAT are separate.
Can I import coffee cream liqueur from China?
A coffee liqueur containing dairy from China cannot be imported into Great Britain. Obtain the complete recipe, including flavour carriers, before ordering.
Do coffee liqueur labels need allergen information?
Confirm with the relevant food authority whether allergen declarations or an ingredients list are required for your product. Check the actual recipe and the finished label.
What should I check when coffee liqueur arrives?
Check alcohol strength, coffee flavour, sweetness, sediment, separation, fill levels, bottle damage and leaking closures. Match the batch analysis and labels to the approved recipe.