Frequently Asked Questions

Where we are

Q: Where are you located?

A: We are a 100% Canadian owned and operated company located in Victoria, BC, Canada.

Q: Do you have a brick-and-mortar location?

A: Yes! We have Victoria's coziest tea shop located at 103 - 720 Station Ave., Langford BC, Canada. 

About the teas

Q: What is a tisane?

A: Also known as "herbal tea", tisanes are blends of herbs, spices, flowers, leaves, roots, etc. but contain no Camelia sinensis. The Camellia sinensis plant is a flowering evergreen shrub the leaves of which are used to make "true" teas (black, white, green, oolong, etc.).  

Q: What types of teas do you offer?

A: We currently offer a variety of tisanes (herbal teas), black tea blends, green tea blends, and yerba maté blends. In addition, we have a growing list of lovely single origin teas.

Q: Do you have plans to offer other teas?

A: Yes! We are working on introducing a series of carefully-selected, beautiful single origin teas from China, Taiwan, Japan, and Vietnam.  Stay tuned!

Q: Are your ingredients organic?

A: It depends. Where we can source local ingredients, and support a locavore economy, and we can confirm no use of harmful pesticides, then we recognize that a certification may be a huge cost that a small grower cannot justify and, in such cases, ingredients may not be certified organic. Similarly, an organic certification is not applicable where we source wild-harvested herb teas and herbs. For everything else, we aim for certified organic ingredients from trusted suppliers.

Q: How are your teas packaged?

A: We package teas in either wood-based compostable bags or curb-side recyclable tins. For more information, check out our packaging page.

Q: How should I store my teas?

A: To maintain the freshness and flavour of the teas, they should be stored in a cool, dry place away from sunlight and moisture. The bags we use provide good moisture barrier protection but oxygen will eventually get through so it's best to transfer the tea to a clean jar or tin with a lid. The label bands can be cut and wrapped around the jar so you can remember what you have.

Ordering and Shipping

Q: Does Island Elixir offer international shipping?

A: At this time we are only licensed to sell within Canada. 

Q: Can I purchase your teas in stores?

A: Yes! See our list of stockists for details. Know a store that you think would be a good fit? Let us know!

 Q: Do you offer wholesale orders?

A: Yes, wholesale ordering is available for retailers, restaurants, cafes, hotels and other bulk orders. Please contact us for more information or fill out the wholesale registration form.

Tea Accessories and Brewing Equipment

Q: Do you offer tea accessories or brewing equipment?

A: Please see our line of tea wares.

Contacting Us

Q: How can I contact customer service?

A: You can contact us through email (tea@islandelixirtea.ca) by direct message on Instagram (@islandelixir) or by using the form on our connect page.