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Bulk Herbs & Spices:
shop all:
  • Bulk Herbs & Spices (296)
  • Organic Bulk Herbs & Spices (77)
Bulk Herbs & Spices:
shop bestselling:
Lavender Lavender
Chamomile Chamomile
Juniper Berries Juniper Berries
Rose Petals Rose Petals
Bulk Spice Blends:
shop all:
  • Bulk Spice Blends (18)
  • DIY Pumpkin Pie Spice Set (N/A)
Bulk Spice Blends:
shop bestselling:
Curry Powder Curry Powder
Herbs De Provence Herbs De Provence
Chili Powder Chili Powder
Garam Masala Garam Masala
Bulk Loose Leaf Tea:
shop all:
  • Black Loose Leaf Tea (29)
  • Oolong Loose Leaf Tea (1)
  • Green Loose Leaf Tea (15)
  • White Loose Leaf Tea (2)
  • Chai (7)
  • Herbals (38)
  • Rooibos (9)
  • Q-Leaf Teas (0)
  • Tea Bags (23)
Bulk Loose Leaf Teas:
shop bestselling:
English Breakfast Black Tea English Breakfast
Black Tea
Earl Grey Black Tea Earl Grey
Black Tea
Jasmine Pearls Green Tea Jasmine Pearls
Green Tea
Sencha Green Tea Sencha
Green Tea
Genmai Cha Green Tea Genmai Cha
Green Tea
Herbal Chocolate Chai Tea Herbal Chocolate Chai Tea
Chai Tea Chai Tea
Cranberry Orange Rooibos Tea Cranberry Orange
Rooibos Tea
Bulk Oils:
shop all:
  • Essential Oils (49)
  • Carrier Oils (9)
Bulk Oils:
shop bestselling:
Lavender Essential Oil Lavender Essential Oil
Peppermint Essential Oil Peppermint Essential Oil
Sweet Almond carrier Oil Sweet Almond Carrier Oil
Grapeseed Carrier Oil Grapeseed Carrier Oil
Bulk Supplies:
shop all:
  • Glassware (23)
  • Herbal Supplies (44)
Bulk Supplies:
shop bestsellers:
Muslin Herb Bags Muslin Herb Bags
Tea Strainer Mesh Tea Ball Tea Strainer Mesh Tea Ball
Press n Brew DIY Tea Bags Press 'n Brew DIY Tea Bags
Amber Bottle with Dropper Amber Bottle with Dropper

HERBCo | Monterey Bay Spice Co

Bulk Herbs & Spices

Customer Service

customer service

@HERBCo.com

  • Product Information
  • Allergen Information
  • Ordering Information
  • Shipping Information
  • Bulk Discounts
  • Proposition 65
  • FAQs

Packaging Overview

@HERBCo.com

Herbs and Spices (Not Powdered) — are packaged in a CLEAR BAG
Most of our herbs, spices, and teas are sealed in a clear FDA-approved non-gas-permeable 3 mm poly structure bag (of various dimensions) to preserve freshness, aroma, and potency. The bag has excellent barrier properties and is ideal for storing herbs and teas. It is not re-sealable. This bag is used to pack most all of our herbs and spices that are not powders. Please note that some herbs are so voluminous that they require a large bag with a twist tie.
(example)

Powdered Materials and Teas — are packaged in a FOIL BAG
Most of our powdered materials are in a 3 mm sealed FDA-approved foil bag (measuring 8x12 inches). The bag has excellent barrier properties as well as a Ziplock top for easy re-sealing and is therefore ideal for storing herbs and teas. Please note that some teas are so voluminous that they will not fit in our foil bag and are packed in our clear bags mentioned above (not re-sealable).
(example)

OILS — are packaged in PLASTIC or GLASS BOTTLES

  • Carrier Oils are shipped in plastic bottles with twist off tops.  (example)
  • Essential Oils are shipped in cobalt blue Boston round glass bottles with a black phenolic tamper evident cap.  (example)
  • For 16oz sizes of our Essential Oils — an amber Boston Round glass bottle is used for shipping.  (example)

Quantities ordered as 25 pounds or MORE of any one item may be packed into a single 25-pound unit.

Monterey Bay Spice Company - Packaging Video
To learn more about our packaging you can watch this video:

Video Transcript

At the Monterey Bay Spice Company we mill, sift, and blend our bulk herbs and spices, as well as our black, green, and herbal teas. Utilizing stringent quality control in our material handling procedures, we ensure that any impurities are removed.

By processing and packing our herbs, teas, and spices in-house, according to good manufacturing practices, we are able to provide the highest quality product for our customers.

Packaging is an important part of the quality equation. For example, all herbal powders and about half of our bulk teas and herbs are packaged using a re-closeable zip lock foil bag with excellent barrier properties to seal in freshness and allow easy access.

Larger bulk herbs are packaged in FDA Approved, clear poly-sealed bags with no zip lock. The bags are clearly labeled with the products' common name, Latin name, net weight, and bar code for tracking and shipping, as well as a Lot number used by Monterey Bay Spice Company as part of our audit trails and good manufacturing practices. The numbers after the dash on the Lot number is the number of the actual product.

For fragrance oils such as Sandalwood and Rose garden, brown bottles with a tamper-evident cap and plastic pourers are used.  [Please note: fragrance oils are no longer available.] Blue bottles are used for essential oils.

To experience the quality of our fine herbs, teas, and spices, as well as our essential and fragrance oils, visit herbco.com. You can also discover our various herbal supplies, spice racks, glassware, and tea bags to help you further enjoy your teas, herbs and spices.


Please note: Monterey Bay Spice company has since discontinued our fragrance oil line.

packaging

Oils Overview

@HERBCo.com

ESSENTIAL OILS – All our essential oils are pure and 100% natural, undiluted with alcohol or any other substance. Essential oils are obtained through an expression, extraction, and/or a distillation of the plant’s volatile oils. Please use oils with caution, they are extremely concentrated.

extraction methods

Steam Distillation – regular steam or super heated steam is passed through the chopped or whole plant material, carrying over volatile substances. The steam is condensed by cooling and the Essential Oil is separated in a gravity funnel and filtered. Used for most Essential Oils like Lavender, Lavandin, Geranium, Cedarwood, Sandalwood, Citronella, Eucalyptus, Lemongrass, etc.

Cold Expression, Cold Pressed, By expression of the ripe peel of the fruit – used for Citrus Oils. The fruit peel is mechanically pressed to squeeze the Essential Oil out of the peel and is collected, centrifuged to remove water and juice and filtered. Used for most citrus oils such as Orange, Lemon, Grapefruit, Mandarin, Tangerine, etc.

Fractional Distillation – Distillation by heat in a distillation column in which rectification is used to obtain as pure a product as possible. A part of the vapor is captured and condensed based on boiling point usually in a distillation column with plates or packing material to help separate the components with similar boiling points. Also called Redistilled or Rectified

Solvent Extraction, Non-Aqueous Solvent Extraction – Volatile oils extracted from the plant material by volatile solvents such as Ethyl alcohol, Diethyl ether, Isobutane, Hexane, Cyclohexane, Methyl acetate, Butan-1-ol, etc., then the solvent is gently distilled off by heat and/or vacuum leaving the Oil behind. Used primarily for flower oils where heat from Steam distillation destroys the oil. Used for Cassie, Jasmine, Mimosa, Orange Flower, Rose, Violet Leaf etc.

Water Distillation, Hydrodistillation – the plant material is in direct contact with boiling water. The vapor is condensed by cooling and the Essential Oil is separated by gravity funnel. Examples are Cananga Oil, Clove Bud, Clove Leaf and Wintergreen Oil.

Solvents – Volatile solvents used to extract Flower Oils such as those listed under Solvent Extraction.

CARRIER OILS – These replenishing, plant-derived oils can be externally applied to the body to moisturize skin and improve overall tone and texture. They are NOT designed for consumption.


Teas Overview

@HERBCo.com

Black Tea: Black tea is the most oxidized of all the teas, providing its deep color, rich flavor and high caffeine content.

Oolong Tea: A traditional Chinese tea with medium oxidation, Oolong’s color and flavor fall between those of black and green tea.

Green Tea: Green tea is processed just after plucking, which minimizes oxidation and delivers a pale green color and distinct earthy flavor.

White Tea: Derived from the young tea plant buds, white tea is the least processed giving it light color, sweet flavor and plenty of antioxidants.

Herbals: These soothing caffeine-free teas are made from various blends of flowers, roots, fruits, leaves or seeds, and are often used for wellness purposes.

Decaffeinated Tea Processes: Our decaffeinated teas are processed using a hot water method. This initial soak allows the some of the water-soluable caffeine molecules to be drawn out of the tea before the tea is again dried and packaged for sale.

Please note that there is no type of decaffeination that removes ALL of the caffeine in tea. Additionally decaffeination processes also remove some of the antioxidants and other benefits of the tea along with the its caffeine. If you require a fully caffeine free beverage, it is our recommendation you switch to a rooibos or an herbal “tea,” more accurately called a “tisane” since herbals contain none of the Camellia sinensis tea plant. If however you enjoy the full-bodied flavor of Camellia sinensis tea but want less of a stimulant, our decaffeinated teas will have the reduced amount of caffeine that might serve your purpose.

Read more about tea types and caffeine in our newsletter archive article Caffeine in Tea: A Tale of More or Less


Mini-Glossary

@HERBCo.com

common descriptive terms

Cut & Sifted (c/s): Cut and sifted means that the herb has been chopped up and the very small particles are sifted out. The end result is a product that is approximately ¼ to ½ inch in size with little to no powder. This process retains only the desired part of the plant and produces a relatively fine consistency that is ready for use.

Wild Crafted: Wild crafted herbs are collected in their wild habitat, while leaving enough plant material so as to not compromise the abundance of the mother plant.

Organically Grown: Organic is the method of growing and processing that helps protect—not deplete—our natural resources. Organic foods are grown on land that has been free from the use of synthetic fertilizers, growth regulators, insecticides or herbicides for at least three years. By composting, crop rotation, and interplanting to control weeds and pests, organic farming replenishes the soil, and sustains the health of our planet.

Please be sure to browse all of Monterey Bay Spice Company's Organic Herbs & Spices.

Kosher: Kosher Certification is when approval has been given by a Rabbi that an item has conformed to the requirements of Jewish law thus making it "fit” for consumption. The symbol used designating the item as Kosher usually indicates the Rabbinical court that has issued the certification.

Monterey Bay Spice Company's Kosher products are so indicated with a small Kosher symbol.

Irradiation: is the process by which a product is exposed to radiation for sterilization purposes.


Certifications

@HERBCo.com

CERTIFIED ORGANIC: Certification is your guarantee that the product has been grown and processed according to strict guidelines established in the Organic Foods Production Act of 1990. Before a product can be labeled Certified Organic, farmers and processors must meet the following requirements:

  • No harmful chemicals have been applied to the land for at least three years.
  • Farmers and processors pass yearly inspections by an independent certifying agency.
  • Farmers and processors keep detailed records of operations.
  • Farmers maintain a written organic management plan.

Please be sure to browse all of HERBCo / Monterey Bay Spice Company's Organic Herbs & Spices.

HERBCo / Monterey Bay Spice Company's Organic Certification is by Quality Assurance International (QAI). We will provide a copy of certification papers upon your request.



Kosher Certified: This certification is to ensure that the product being sold is fit or proper for consumption by observant Jews. A food is given the designation Kosher if it conforms to the dietary laws concerning both the kinds of food and its prepartion as observed in Jewish tradition.

HERBCo / Monterey Bay Spice Company's Kosher Certification is by STAR-K. If you are interested in receiving a list of the products currently certified, please contact us.



Good Manufacturing Practices - GMP Certified: HERBCo ensures the highest quality and safety standards at our facility. Our rigorous standards and operations have been reviewed and certified from Silliker Labs, a leading international consulting and testing laboratory. Silliker provides ongoing analysis of our operations and quality systems.

We also constantly strive to raise standards from our suppliers as well so that we can be sure to deliver the best possible products to our customers. Our best practices often exceed accreditation requirements, and we are proud to have such a well managed and maintained warehouse facility.

HERBCo / Monterey Bay Spice Company's Good Manufacturing Practices are ensured by Certification is by Silliker Labs.



Good Manufacturing Practices - ALLERGEN and SENSITIZING STANDARD: HERBCo has added an allergen program to its Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) procedures. Packaging and product pages for allergens recognized in the United States and Canada are labeled with contents highlighting these known allergens. You can read our formal statements below as well as review a list of the allergens recognized, and the products that contain these allergens offered for sale by our company.

Read more about the products HERBCo has that have known allergens (as identified by United States and Canada) and also what practices HERBCo has put in place to help inform customers: HERBCo's Allergen and Sensitizing Standard Statement.



Gluten

@HERBCo.com

The majority of our products don’t contain gluten.

However, our facility is not certified as a gluten-free facility. We don't make gluten-free claims for any of our products because even tiny amounts of gluten can be a problem for some people, and these may be present in the facilities of our suppliers of ingredients.

If you have further questions, or want to inquire about a specific product please contact us, but please remember, we will not be able to guarantee any of our products as gluten-free.


Product Safety

@HERBCo.com

Irradiation: All of our products are free from irradiation.

California Propostion 65: Please refer to the information provided in the navigation at the left of this page, the section is called "Proposition 65".


Storage

@HERBCo.com

Herbs, Spices & Teas: A cool, dry, dark place is the best way to store herbs, spices and teas. A well sealed glass jar in your kitchen cabinet will work fine.


Allergen and Sensitizing Standard

@HERBCo.com

Overview — HERBCo has added an allergen program to its Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) procedures. Packaging and product pages for allergens recognized in the United States and Canada are labeled with contents highlighting these known allergens. You can read our formal statements below as well as review a list of the allergens recognized, and the products that contain these allergens offered for sale by our company.

Objective — The management of ingredients that are identified as allergens is the responsibility of Senior Management at HERBCo. Allergen shall be considered in the development, storage, manufacture, and labeling of products. HERBCo will conduct an allergen assessment to determine its risk of potential issues. The facility shall practice the management of allergen through training, receiving, storage, manufacturing practices, sanitation and labeling control.

Standard — The list below represents the BIG 8 allergens recognized in the United States as well as those in Canada. (Note that all allergens may not currently be present in any of the facilities.) By-products or derivatives of this list are also typically considered as allergens. Products that are intended for export from the United States shall conform to the allergen regulations of the country or countries where it is to be sold.

    Allergen List (Big 8):
  • Peanuts
  • Tree Nuts
  • Eggs
  • Milk
  • Wheat
  • Soy
  • Fish
  • Crustacean
  • Sesame Seeds (Canada)
  • Mustard (Canada)


    HERBCo receives, stores and processes:
  • Wheat: Wheat Grass
  • Tree Nuts: Black Walnut Shells
  • Horse Chestnuts
  • Mustard (Canada)
  • Sesame Seed Oil (Canada)
  • Almond Oil: Almond Oil not RBD

Discount Pricing

@HERBCo.com

bulk ordering info

We offer discounts off our prices for bulk purchases. Please see our our Bulk Discount breakdowns below:

BULK DISCOUNTS on single-items (starting 5lbs)
PURCHASE
5lb = 10% OFF the 1 lb price
25lb = 15% OFF the 1 lb price

Please note: Bulk Discount pricing above is applied only to the bulk purchase of a single item (SKU).

FREE SHIPPING on large orders (over $500)
PURCHASE
$500+ order = FREE shipping plus 5% OFF on your order*

Please note: *FREE SHIPPING offer is valid for contiguous US only (excludes Alaska & Hawaii). Shipping is via UPS.

Please visit our specials page for more information.


Additional Pricing Information

@HERBCo.com

website and our printed catalog

website pricing—discounts calculated in checkout
The prices shown on the website are not the discounted prices. The 10% and 15% discounts ARE calculated at the time you add the items to your shopping cart. As mentioned in our discounted pricing section above; this type of discount is applied only to a bulk purchase of a single item.

catalog pricing—updated once per year
In the rare event that our catalog pricing differs from our online pricing—please consider our website the definitive price.

price changes—website updated as necessary
We make every effort to keep our prices stabilized. However, due to market fluctuations some prices are subject to change. The website will therefore differ from our yearly printed catalog on occasion. Please refer to our website for the most up-to-date pricing.


Minimum Order

@HERBCo.com

order what you'd like

Although we are a bulk supplier, we have NO MINIMUM ORDER requirement.


Payment Methods Accepted

@HERBCo.com

for online and call-in ordering

ONLINE:
Our website accepts Visa, MasterCard, and Discover.

CALL-IN:
Customers making call in orders may pay with Visa, MasterCard and Discover or by check. However, please note that checks drawn upon insufficient funds will incur a charge of $22. For terms of 30 days net, please request a credit application.

For call in orders business hours are 8:30 AM–5:00 PM Monday through Friday Pacific Time. Orders can be placed at anytime by fax or with our online shopping cart. Orders will be shipped by UPS ground within 2 business days.

LOCAL ORDERS:
If you are local or you are visiting Watsonville you are welcome to pick up your orders at our warehouse. If you would like to make a local pickup you must place your order over the phone (831-722-3400). Your order will then be available for a "will call" pickup the second business day after you placed your order. Pickup hours are between 9:00AM–3:00 PM Monday Through Friday. We are closed Saturday and Sunday.

Please note that although we are able to accommodate a customer picking up an order that has been called in—we do not have a storefront at our warehouse facility in Watsonville and we do not have regular staff available to assist customers here.

COD:
We do not accept COD charges at this time.

DROP SHIPPING:
We do not have a DROP SHIPPING program at this time.


Our Guarantee and Returns

@HERBCo.com

monterey bay spice company's quality assurance GUARANTEE

We believe all our products to be of the highest quality. If for any reason you are not satisfied with any item, simply return it for an exchange, refund, or credit.

2-week claim period for RETURNS

All claims must be made within two weeks of receiving your order.

Please call us to obtain a RMA (Return Merchandise Authorization) number which must be on the outside of your return shipment. Please call 831-722-3400 to obtain your RMA number.

Sorry, but we are UNABLE TO REFUND SHIPPING CHARGES.


Creating an Account

@HERBCo.com

easy-shopping advantage

When you create an account with Monterey Bay Spice Company you will have easy access to your shipping and billing addresses for easy re-ordering. Without an account we can not provide you with tracking information. If in your account profile you provide us with an email address you will receive an email notifying you the day your package ships.


Privacy Policy

@HERBCo.com

we value your privacy

We absolutely do not sell any information to anyone. Monterey Bay Spice Company is committed to protecting your privacy. We only use the information we collect about you to process orders and to provide support and upgrades for our products. Please read on for more details about our privacy policy.

What information do we collect? How do we use it?
When you order, we need to know your name, e-mail address, mailing address, credit card number, and expiration date. This allows us to process and fulfill your order and to notify you of your order status. When you enter a request for our catalog or other promotional feature, we may ask for your name, address, and e-mail address so we can send the requested item to you.

How does Monterey Bay Spice Company protect customer information?
We use a Secure Server for collecting personal and credit card information. The secure server layer (SSL) encrypts (scrambles) all of the information you enter before it is transmitted over the internet and sent to us. Furthermore, all of the customer data we collect is protected against unauthorized access.

What about "cookies"?
"Cookies" are small pieces of information that are stored by your browser on your computer's hard drive. We do not use cookies to collect or store any information about visitors or customers.

Will Monterey Bay Spice Company disclose the information it collects to outside parties?
Monterey Bay Spice Company does not sell, trade, or rent your personal information to others. Never, None, Zero, Nada!

Monterey Bay Spice Company may release account information when we believe, in good faith, that such release is reasonably necessary to (i) comply with law, (ii) enforce or apply the terms of any of our user agreements or (iii) protect the rights, property or safety of Monterey Bay Spice Company, our users, or others.

Links Outside Herbco.com
On occasion Monterey Bay Spice Company will provide links to affiliated sites. The privacy policies of these linked sites are the responsibility of the linked site and Monterey Bay Spice Company has no control or influence over their policies. Please check the policies of each site you visit for specific information. Monterey Bay Spice Company cannot be held liable for damage or misdoings of other sites linked or otherwise.

In Summary
Monterey Bay Spice Company is committed to protecting your privacy. We use the information we collect on the site to make shopping at herbco.com as simple as possible and to enhance your overall shopping experience. We do not sell, trade, or rent your personal information to others.

Your Consent
By using our Web site, you consent to the collection and use of this information by Monterey Bay Spice Company, Inc. If we decide to change our privacy policy, we will post those changes on this page so that you are always aware of what information we collect, how we use it, and under what circumstances we disclose it.

Questions & Feedback
If you have any questions or feedback related to our Privacy Policy, please email us at [email protected].


Changing Your Order

@HERBCo.com

orders are final

Unfortunately we are unable to change your order after it has been completed. In order to maintain our expedited services your credit card is processed immediately and the order is submitted directly to fulfillment for packing and shipping. Cancelling and resubmitting a new order incurs extra costs from the credit card vendors. Please be sure that your order is correct before you complete it. Thank you.


Additional Charges

@HERBCo.com

having issues?

This is usually a result of what is called an "AVS Mismatch". AVS is the Address Verification System used by most online credit card processing systems. When an AVS mismatch occurs (a mismatch between the customer billing address on the order and the billing address on file in the AVS system) the customer's transaction will be declined. This decline will result in a hold on the funds which will actually look like a charge. It is not a charge and this will be removed by the banks within 48 hours. We often receive requests to call the bank to ask that this be removed immediately. Unfortunately there is nothing we can do. This problem can be avoided by making sure that your billing address is exactly as it is on your credit card statement.


Shipping - General Overview

@HERBCo.com

orders leave our warehouse in 48 business-day hours or less

We ship orders out within 48 business-day hours (does not include Saturday or Sunday) from our Watsonville warehouse in the Monterey Bay area of California.

Our shipping rates depend on the carrier used, the destination zip code and the total weight of your shipment. One easy way to get an estimate is to use our online shopping cart. Add the items you want, checkout, select the shipping method and you will then see the shipping rate. This can be done without actually placing the order. See these instructions.

shipping pricing policy

Over the years we have resisted the vogue practice of raising our product prices to subsidize our shipping rates so as to make them more attractive. We are however continually working to find new ways to ship items to our customers as cost-effectively as possible without affecting our low product prices.

out-of-stock items

We cannot back-order items for shipping at a later date. On our website you will notice a notify me button (letter icon) next to the out-of-stock item. Clicking this and filling out your email address will enable an auto notification to be sent to you when the product is back in stock and available for purchase.

Occasionally popular items sell out before we can update their status on the pages of our website. In the event you have placed an order with us and an ordered item is out-of-stock, we will call you to inform you that we will be unable to ship that item. We then request that you make a new order for the out-of-stock item when it returns to inventory. Since the item will be shipped to separately from your original order, we ask you to please be aware that each shipment will incur separate shipping costs as are applicable to the volume of product being sent.


Shipping Options

@HERBCo.com

a general guide

We have a variety of shipping options available depending on how large (by volume and/or weight) your order is and where it is being shipped. You can obtain a more relevant list of what is available for your order—as well as shipping cost estimates—in the shopping cart before you make your purchase.

Please see the General Overview above in this Shipping Information area of our Customer Service section.

USPS (Domestic & International)

  • PRIORITY MAIL (Flat Rate Box – SMALL)
  • PRIORITY MAIL (Flat Rate Box – MEDIUM)
  • PRIORITY MAIL 2-DAY™
  • PRIORITY MAIL 3-DAY™
  • PRIORITY MAIL INTERNATIONAL

IMPORTANT NOTES about 2- and 3- day USPS delivery
You cannot choose 1-, 2-, or 3-day Priority Mail delivery. The scheduled delivery day is determined by USPS and considers your package’s origin and destination. Additionally The USPS Priority Mail Service delivery day is still not guaranteed. Please visit USPS for more information on their shipping service.

IMPORTANT NOTES about USPS Flat Rate boxes
Monterey Bay Spice Company has been excited to be able to offer this service for qualifying orders since Spring of 2011. Please note that unfortunately this option IS NOT available on all orders. Many of our products are too voluminous to fit into these Flat Rate boxes. If available you will see the Flat Rate boxes as options for your order during the checkout and in the shipping estimation calculator.

UPS

  • UPS Ground
  • UPS Standard
  • UPS Expedited Options:
    • UPS NEXT DAY
    • UPS 2 DAY
    • UPS 3 DAY

IMPORTANT NOTES about UPS Shipping Days
UPS expedited orders received before 1PM PST are shipped the same day. Any express shipment received after 1 PM Pacific Time will ship the following day. Additionally UPS does not count either Saturday or Sunday as shipping days. It also does not count THE DAY THE PACKAGE SHIPPED as a "shipping day".

IMPORTANT NOTES about Canada via UPS (Extra Fees)
If you are having an order shipped to Canada via UPS be aware of the fact that UPS will be collecting fees above and beyond the total of the order you placed with Monterey Bay Spice Company. They will collect taxes, duties and a UPS brokerage fee. These fees must be paid directly to UPS before they will deliver the package to you. These fees will be large. As a rough estimate expect to pay about 40% of the total order that you placed with Monterey Bay Spice Company.

Please visit UPS for more information on their shipping service.



International Shipping

@HERBCo.com

international considerations to note

Please note that Monterey Bay Spice Company only ships products to the United States and Canada.

Restrictions: If shipping to Canada, please check with Canadian customs agencies to ensure that the product you are purchasing is allowed to be imported. PLEASE NOTE: Monterey Bay Spice Company is not responsible for items rejected from import.

Additional Fees: Please be aware that there are often brokerage, duty fees, or surcharges on items passing through customs of certain countries. These fees have not been included in our shipping charges. PLEASE NOTE: Monterey Bay Spice Company is not responsible for any fees your package occurs on entry to your country.


Shipping Charges

@HERBCo.com

a general guide

Our shipping rates depend on the carrier used, the destination zip code and the total weight of your shipment. One easy way to get an estimate is to use our online shopping cart. Add the items you want, checkout, select the shipping method and you will then see the shipping rate. This can be done without actually placing the order.


Free Shipping

@HERBCo.com

for $600+ orders

Happily, orders of $600 or more that are addressed to a physical location (sorry, no PO Boxes) and that are being sent within the contiguous United States qualify for FREE UPS Ground shipping.

Please understand that if you are using a coupon and it drops your order total below the $600 amount you will be disqualified for free shipping. You can however increase your order total by adding more items to your cart until the total with coupon discount is $600.00 or more.



Shipping Time in Transit

@HERBCo.com

based on carrier

UPS Ground: UPS transit time to can be 1-6 working days or more depending on location. East Coast delivery destinations are a minimum of 5 days. (Please refer to the UPS Ground transit map below.) We ship your UPS Ground order from our warehouse in California within 48 business-day hours (does not include Saturday or Sunday). Expedited shipping is available.

Express Delivery Options: UPS 3 Day Select, UPS Next Day Air, and UPS 2nd Day Air.

PO Boxes & APO/FPO Shipping: We happily ship to PO boxes, as well as APO/FPO addresses via USPS Priority Mail service. The transit time for priority mail is generally 3 business days. Keep in mind that your order will take 48 business-day hours to process before we ship (not including Saturday or Sunday).

Alaska and Hawaii: Standard method to AK and HI is US Postal Service Priority Mail.

International: We ship to Canada in addition to the United States. For our Canadian shipping we use either USPS or UPS to ship orders—customer choice. The service chosen and the destination desired will affect the length of time it takes to receive your package.

Also visit Shipping Options in the Shipping Information area of this Customer Service section for more information and other considerations about shipping to Canada.

transit time

Order Tracking

@HERBCo.com

check your account

Please log into your Monterey Bay Spice Company account to look up your order and your UPS tracking number (sadly, if you have not created an account with us, you will not be able to do this).

1. Click Log In at the top of your screen to log in with email and password information.
2. Click My Profile in the My Account drop down menu.
3. Scroll down to the bottom of the profile page to view your Order/Billing History. (Please note clicking on My Orders in the same My Account pulldown menu that will bring you to this section as well.)
4. In the Order/Billing History you will find: Your Order Number, Order Date, Payment Status, Shipping Status, and Order Total.
5. Clicking on the Tracking Number under Shipping Status will direct you to the UPS or USPS website.

If you have an email address saved in your Account Profile you will receive an email notifying you the day that your package ships.

You can also view this video showing how to track your package from Monterey Bay Spice Company. Though this video shows our old website interface the content is very much the same.


Single-Item Discounts

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starting at 5lbs

PURCHASE
5 lbs GET 10% OFF the 1lb price
25 lbs GET 15% OFF the 1lb price

details: The prices shown on the website are not the discounted prices. The 10% and 15% discounts ARE calculated at the time you add the items to your shopping basket. Discounts are applied only to a bulk purchase of a single item.
example discount: For example a purchase of 5 pounds or more of cinnamon powder will receive a 10% discount. However a purchase of 5 different spices of one pound each will NOT result in a discount.



FREE FREIGHT Shipping

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for orders over $600

PURCHASE
$600+ order GET FREE FREIGHT*

details: valid for contiguous US only, *excludes ALASKA & HAWAII
please note: If you are using a coupon and it drops your order total below the $600 amount you will be disqualified for free shipping. You can however increase your order total by adding more items to your cart until the total is $600.00 or more.



Pallet Quantity Discounts

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for pallet quantities

Because we are a direct importer we can offer significant price breaks on pallet quantities.
Please call us for pricing: 800 500-6148



About proposition 65

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California Residents - California Proposition 65

What is California Proposition 65?
“Prop 65” is a piece of legislation approved by ballot initiative by California voters in November of 1986. Also known as the Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act, the original purpose of the law was to prevent the dumping of toxic chemicals in waterways. At the time, the list of known or suspected carcinogenic (cancer-causing) and reproductive toxins identified by the State of California numbered about three dozen. Today, however, this list, which is updated annually by the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA), contains more than 800 chemical substances.

Why did my purchase arrive with a warning label?
While all of our products meet or exceed federal and international safety standards, this law requires that many kinds of consumer goods sold in California, including herbs and other dietary supplements, must contain a label with language similar to the following: Warning: This product contains chemicals known to the State of California to cause cancer and birth defects or reproductive harm. In California, this label is typically found on electrical components (especially wiring), luggage, flashlights, jewelry and glassware, to name just a few items — it’s even found on fresh fruits, vegetables and nuts. This warning is also required to be posted in a conspicuous place at hotels, restaurants, gas stations and other public places. We include the warning label on our products to remain fully compliant with this law.

Does this mean that the product is dangerous?
No, it does not. However, although the intent of the warning label is to protect consumers, it does little to inform them. In other words, the law requires the inclusion of this label even though it says nothing about the actual safety of the product itself or what, if any, harmful substance is present and in what amount. In addition, the “safe harbor” of acceptable levels for certain substances set forth in Proposition 65 are often significantly lower than federal or international standards. Not only are these levels nearly impossible to detect with routine testing, but their inclusion is usually the result of naturally occurring processes.

What kinds of substances are we talking about?
While the list of offending chemicals is extensive, the majority are understandable. Some, however, are naturally occurring substances that have increased in volume due to human activities. For example, arsenic is a deadly poison, but is also a trace element found in low concentrations in soil, air and water. Some comes from volcanic ash, but most environmental arsenic persists as the direct result of burning fossil fuels.

Another example is lead. In the U.S., lead exists in virtually all soil at an average of 16 parts per million (ppm). Due to the extensive use of lead-containing paints, fuels and other products in previous decades, low-level lead concentration in soil is now considered to be 500 ppm and 1,000 ppm at the high end. A small amount of this lead is absorbed by plants. For dietary supplements, including herbs, the safety standard set by the U.S. Food and Safety Administration (FDA) for lead is 10 ppm. The Proposition 65 standard is 0.5 micrograms per day – almost 1,000 times lower than the level at which the FDA deems a potential health risk. To put this into perspective, spinach and carrots, whether organically grown or not, contain between 3 ppm and 6 ppm of lead.

Here’s the thing… Although the spirit of the law is intended to ensure public safety, the way it is currently implemented undermines consumer confidence and makes companies in the natural products industry—even farmers and wild crafters—responsible for environmental pollutants caused by other, less regulated industries. It also places the burden of proof relating to the safety of any product on companies who are forced to demonstrate that a warning label is not necessary. Finally, because enforcement of Prop 65 is conducted via civil litigation, the law, as written, triggers frivolous lawsuits that are difficult, if not impossible, to defend against.

If you’re a resident of California, tell your legislators that the FDA already has a handle on regulating your dietary supplements and that Prop 65 is more harmful than helpful. Find your legislator on the California State Legislation Directory.

If you live in a different state, communicate your concerns about Prop 65 to your Congressional Representative. Find yours by state and district on the House of Representatives Directory.

Product and Packaging

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product/packaging questions

What does "c/s" mean?
To cut and sift (c/s) ah herb means that the material has been chopped up and the very small particles are sifted out. The end result is a product that is approximately ¼” to ½” inch in size with little to no powder. This process helps to retain only the desired part of the plant while still allowing for a relatively fine consistency that is ready for use.

Please visit our mini-glossary in the Product Information area of this Customer Service section for more information.

How do you pack your herbs and spices?
We use FDA-approved clear bags; foil bags (with re-sealable ziplock closures); and clear bags with twist ties (when very voluminous) for our herbs, spices and teas. We use cobalt blue Boston round glass bottles for our essential oils; and amber Boston round glass bottles for our essential oils of 16oz or more. All glass bottles have tamper-evident screw caps. For carrier oils we use semi-opaque white plastic bottles.

Please visit our packaging overview in the Product Information area of this Customer Service section for more information.

How should I store my herbs and spices?
A cool, dry, dark place is the best way to store herbs, spices and teas. A well-sealed glass jar in your kitchen cabinet will work fine.

Do you offer information on how to take herbs?
We are prohibited by law from dispensing any advice on taking herbs as supplements or to help with any ailments. Please remember that although natural herbs can be very powerful and we always suggest that you consult with a professional.

Please see our quick list of Herbal Safety Guidelines. This list is not comprehensive, nor should it be taken as final authority. Please consult your health care practitioner before taking any botanicals.

Why aren't all of your products organic?
Quality and consistency are of utmost importance to us. Many of our customers craft new products from our raw ingredients and we strive to be able to provide them with as reliable a source for quality botanicals as possible so they can do so.

We are constantly looking for new organic farms that can meet this standard, and are happy that many very professional operations are moving toward more sustainable methods. This allows us to expand our organic offerings with confidence in being able to maintain quality inventory.


Ordering

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ordering

Do you offer bulk pricing?
We offer discounts when you purchase over 5lbs of an item; when you purchase over 25lbs of an item; and FREE Shipping when your order total exceeds $500.

Please visit our Pricing Overview in the Ordering Information area of this Customer Service section for more information.

Additionally we do offer significant price breaks on 100 pounds or more of a single item. Our bulk prices exclude all free shipping programs.

Please call for quotes.

What payment methods do you accept?
Online payments can be made by Visa, Mastercard, or Discover.

Please visit our Payment Methods Accepted in the Ordering Information area of this Customer Service section for more information.


Shipping and Tracking

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shipping and tracking

How much do you charge for shipping?
Our shipping rates depend on the carrier used, the destination zip code and the total weight of your shipment. One easy way to get an estimate is to use our online shopping cart. Add the items you want, checkout, select the shipping method and you will then see the shipping rate. This can be done without actually placing the order.

Please visit Shipping Options in the Shipping Information area of this Customer Service section for more information.

How long will it take to get my order?
We ship all orders within 48 hours. After we ship the order it can take one to seven business days to reach your location. Priority mail shipments generally take 2-3 days. Ups shipments take 1-7 days. Please refer to our shipping policy page for more detailed information.

Please visit Shipping Time in Transit in the Shipping Information area of this Customer Service section for more information.

How can I track my order once it has shipped?
You can login to your online account at www.herbco.com to look up your order and UPS tracking number. If you have not created an account with us you will not be able to look this up. You will also receive a shipment notification with tracking number by email, but ONLY if you provided an email when you placed the order. If you do not create an online account and you do not provide an email address you will not be able to get any tracking information at all. Tracking numbers are available for UPS shipments only.

Please visit Tracking in the Shipping Information area of this Customer Service section for more information.

MY USPS tracking number says there has been no activity or that the package has not been picked up.
The tracking system that USPS offers is often horrible and misleading. They often will not update tracking information until after the package has been delivered essentially rendering the tracking system as useless. If tracking is important to you we suggest that you use a UPS shipping method.

Please visit Tracking in the Shipping Information area of this Customer Service section for more information.

Do you offer a drop shipping program?
Unfortunately we do not offer drop shipping.

What if one of my items is out-of-stock?
Though we make every attempt to keep our website current, occasionally a popular item will sell out before we can update our pages. If you have placed an order and an item is out-of-stock, we will call you to inform you that we will be unable to ship that item. We will then request that you make a new order for the out-of-stock item when it returns to inventory. Since the item will be shipped to separately from your original order, we ask you to please be aware that each shipment will incur separate shipping costs as are applicable to the volume of product being sent.

Please visit General Overview in the Shipping Information area of this Customer Service section for more information.


Account and Privacy

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account and privacy

Why should I create an online account with Monterey Bay Spice Company?
If you create an account you will be able to look up all of your past orders. You will also be able to look up your tracking numbers to track your most recent shipment. If you do not create an online account you will not be able to track your package. Additionally if you provide an email address you will receive a shipment email notification the day your order ships. The next time you return to place a new order you will not have to re-enter all of your information.

Please visit Creating an Account and Privacy Policy in the Ordering Information area of this Customer Service section for more information.

What is your privacy policy?
We absolutely do not sell any information to anyone.

For a more detailed explanation please visit Privacy Policy in the Ordering Information area of this Customer Service section for more information.


Miscellaneous Issues

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miscellaneous issues

Why has my credit card been charged so many times?
This is usually a result of what is called an "AVS Mismatch". AVS is the Address Verification System used by most online credit card processing systems. When an AVS mismatch occurs (a mismatch between the customer billing address on the order and the billing address on file in the AVS system) the customer's transaction will be declined.

This decline will result in a hold on the funds which will actually look like a charge. It is not a charge and this will be removed by the banks within 48 hours. We often receive requests to call the bank to ask that this be removed immediately. Unfortunately there is nothing we can do. This problem can be avoided by making sure that your billing address is exactly as it is on your credit card statement.

I forgot to add something to my order, can I change it?
Unfortunately we are unable to change an order after it has been completed. When you hit the submit button your credit card is billed at that time. Adding or changing your order in any way will result in a different order total. This will require us to refund the original charge and re-bill the credit card resulting in extra fees that Visa and Mastercard charge. Also as soon as your order is placed it is submitted directly to our fulfillment center for packing and shipping. Please make sure before you complete your order it is exactly as you want it. Thank you.


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WELCOME to
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MONTEREY BAY
SPICE COMPANY
Buy Bulk Herbs & Spices

HERBCO.com has been delivering premium bulk herb botanicals, spices, teas, seasonings and much more for twenty years.

Farm Fresh botanicals

Most of the botanicals at HERBCO.com are sourced directly from the farmers and growers — this allows us to provide you with premium products at competitive prices.

Bulk Discounts / Wholesale

HERBCO.com brings you its wholesale offerings with no minimums. Quantity discounts available (shown in cart).

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