Bringing coffee home?

Sunny44

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Jul 24, 2002
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Hi everyone!
Am finally going on vacation in Februrary! Cant wait! Does anyone know if there is a limit to how much coffee one can bring back to the US? Can I bring a suitcase full????? What about cinnamon and vanilla?
Thanks for your input!
Sunny
 

juanita

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Apr 22, 2004
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I can only answer your vanilla question. I always bring back 3 big gallons for my brother who has a chocolate store in Canada. Never was asked about it! ;)
 

Sunny44

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Jul 24, 2002
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juanita said:
I can only answer your vanilla question. I always bring back 3 big gallons for my brother who has a chocolate store in Canada. Never was asked about it! ;)
Do you declare (sp?) it? Or smuggle it?
 

A.J.

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Jan 2, 2002
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In the US you can bring back as much coffee as you want. In other countries there are limits to coffee.

I have brought back a whole suitcase full, the only problem is coffee is used to sover the scent of cocaine so I was checked in Miami - that was a pleasent experience.
 

ricktoronto

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Jan 9, 2002
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Expect Customs or the USDA to open and dump every single bag of it so have a plastic bag available or better yet, buy 20 pounds and put it all in a big bag before you go - my friend brings back 10# or so and does this after having the authorities every time open them all. The dogs scent on coffee as a mask for drugs.
 

juanita

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Apr 22, 2004
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Sunny44 said:
Do you declare (sp?) it? Or smuggle it?

I just innocently say, I'm bringing back ?some? vanilla in my bags. I always carry the bill with me just in case they want to check the value. :bandit:
I have been doing it for 10 years and never had a problem!
 

johnsr

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Apr 13, 2002
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Each trip I bring back (10) one lb. bags of coffee. In the past 15 or more trips I have never experienced any problems with customs at JFK airport. I have also never seen a dog in the customs area!
John
 
Coffee

ricktoronto said:
Expect Customs or the USDA to open and dump every single bag of it so have a plastic bag available or better yet, buy 20 pounds and put it all in a big bag before you go - my friend brings back 10# or so and does this after having the authorities every time open them all. The dogs scent on coffee as a mask for drugs.

I bring back 5 or 6 pounds every trip and have never had the bags searched, and the dogs were present on the last 2 occasions.
 

drtampa

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Oct 1, 2004
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Coffee through Miami

We bring back 15-20 bags each year through Miami and we have never been stopped. I show coffee on the customs form. We take large Zip-lock bags and put the bagged coffee in them.
 

Escott

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Jan 14, 2002
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johnsr said:
Each trip I bring back (10) one lb. bags of coffee. In the past 15 or more trips I have never experienced any problems with customs at JFK airport. I have also never seen a dog in the customs area!
John
I once got busted by the food doggie. He made a mistake and I told the guy to retire the dog. Went through luggage to find FOOD of all things.
 

Rocky

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Apr 4, 2002
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Coffee, vanilla and cinnamon.

A lot of people brung these items home without trouble.
May I suggest a few precautions?
Have baggies ready, as was suggested above, in case they do dump it at customs, and buy it in grain form and freeze it upon your arrival, so as to keep it fresh.
Make double sure that the vanilla bottles are well sealed, as a vanilla accident in your suitcase is a heck of a mess.
Buy cinnamon in packages, as customs may have a problem with it, unless it comes in a sealed envelope.
 

Sunny44

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Jul 24, 2002
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Rocky said:
A lot of people brung these items home without trouble.
May I suggest a few precautions?
Have baggies ready, as was suggested above, in case they do dump it at customs, and buy it in grain form and freeze it upon your arrival, so as to keep it fresh.
Make double sure that the vanilla bottles are well sealed, as a vanilla accident in your suitcase is a heck of a mess.
Buy cinnamon in packages, as customs may have a problem with it, unless it comes in a sealed envelope.
Thank you for the tips! I used to live in the DR and have become an "expert" packer! I was already planning on bringing lots of ziploc bags for my "loot"! We used to bring all kinds of stuff down there from buying trips to Miami. My partner was not as diligent as I when packing his suitcase and ended up with motor oil all over his clothes! What a mess! Even the chloro didnt get that out! LOL
Might be an idea for a new thread? What;s the stangest thing you have packed in a suitcase to bring home or to bring to the DR?