Sending a few packs of pho spices, a bag of peppercorns or a jar of concentrated soup base to family in Canada seems simple, but they can easily be held at the border if you don’t know the rules. Canadian customs (CBSA) very strictly controls products of animal origin and plant products that haven’t been thoroughly processed. To get these tastes of home safely to the recipient, you need to know which items are allowed and how to declare them correctly.
Spices you can and can’t send to Canada
Not every spice packet clears customs smoothly. Here is a practical breakdown based on Canada’s import rules:
Spices that clear customs easily
- Dried whole spices: Star anise, cinnamon sticks, black cardamom, coriander seeds and cloves (the core ingredients of a pho spice pack). They must be completely sun-dried or dried by machine and sealed in clearly labelled packaging.
- Ground spices: Turmeric, chilli powder, garlic powder, ginger powder and five-spice powder. These are processed and finely ground, so they almost always clear.
- Vegetarian sauces and soup bases: Vegetarian concentrated soup bases, satay chilli oil, soy sauce and fish sauce in glass or rigid plastic bottles with a clear brand and expiry date.
Spices likely to be confiscated or destroyed
- Soup bases containing animal meat extracts: Beef or chicken stock cubes and beef pho bases containing beef fat, meat powder or bone broth extract. Canada prohibits importing meat products from countries with livestock or poultry disease outbreaks unless they pass strict quarantine checks.
- Live seeds: Seeds that aren’t fully dried and can still germinate. Customs is concerned they may carry pathogens or become invasive.
- Homemade shrimp salt or garlic salt: Home-mixed salts in unbranded plastic tubs are easily held because their contents can’t be verified.
Comparing costs and shipping options for spices to Canada
Depending on how much you want to send, costs and delivery times differ considerably. Here is a comparison of Soleil Transportation’s two most popular services:
| Criteria | Small parcel (ePacket) | Standard air cargo |
|---|---|---|
| Best weight | Small parcels under 2 kg (a few spice packs and some personal items) | 1 kg or more (ideal with other household items and food) |
| Starting price | From $8.50 CAD per parcel | From $16/kg |
| Transit time | 7–14 business days | 7–12 business days |
| Import duties | Included in the rate | Included in the rate |
| Packing | Basic carton included | Basic carton included |
| Tracking | Online with order or booking number | Online with order or booking number |
How to prepare and pack pho spices
To make sure the parcel doesn’t tear, leak oil or let out smells that affect other parcels during the 7–12 business day flight, follow this packing process:
Step 1: Check the product labels
- Only choose spices and soup bases with ingredients printed clearly in English or Vietnamese on the packaging. Avoid unlabelled products in self-sealed plastic bags.
- Check the expiry date carefully. It should be at least 3 months after the shipping date.
Step 2: Vacuum-seal and add cushioning
- For dried spices such as cinnamon, star anise and cardamom: Put them in thick zip bags or vacuum-seal them to stop their distinctive aroma escaping. A very strong smell can attract airport detector dogs, so the parcel gets opened for manual inspection and delivery is delayed.
- For jars of soup base, bottles of caramel sauce or satay chilli oil: Wrap the cap tightly with cling film to prevent leaks under cabin pressure. Then wrap 2–3 layers of bubble wrap around the bottle.
Step 3: Pack the carton
- Put heavy jars and glass bottles at the bottom and light spice packs and bags of dried spices on top.
- Fill the gaps with old newspaper or foam so bottles and jars don’t knock together in transit.
Key tips for customs declarations
The declaration on your shipping form decides about 90% of whether a spice parcel clears customs. Remember two core principles:
- Declare honestly and in detail: Instead of a vague “food” or “spices”, write “dry pho spices” or “vegetarian soup base”. This helps customs officers see that the product contains no prohibited animal ingredients.
- Never hide anything: Some people deliberately hide beef soup base under clothing at the bottom of the box. Airport scanners clearly show liquids and organic matter. Deliberate concealment can get the whole parcel confiscated, and the recipient in Canada may even be flagged for stricter checks on future parcels.
When you ship with Soleil Transportation, our warehouse staff help you check the ingredients of each spice pack, show you how to label them and complete the customs declaration to minimise the risk.
To start preparing your parcel for Canada, bring your goods to our warehouse at 2446 Cawthra Road, B1U8, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada L5A 3K6, or call +1 888-998-5199 or email info@soleiltransportation.com for advice on the fastest route and how to consolidate goods from Vietnam.
