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[2026 Lunar New Year Shipping Guide] Sending festive food gifts to family in the UK
- Apr 4
- 3 min read
Lunar New Year 2026 is approaching quickly. Many families are living apart and may miss celebrating together in person. You can still send warm festive wishes through international shipping. This guide summarizes common New Year food shipping rules so you can send gifts to family and friends in the UK with greater confidence.
Lunar New Year 2026 Timeline
Recommended posting window | Ship before early January | Avoid peak-season delays |
Lunar New Year Day 1 | February 17 | Tuesday |
Lunar New Year Day 2 | February 18 | Wednesday |
Lunar New Year Day 3 | February 19 | Thursday |
Can I ship Lunar New Year food to the UK?
When shipping festive food to the UK, you must follow international courier restrictions. Through PotatoShip, many common New Year food categories can be sent safely to the UK.
Popular Lunar New Year food categories
Festive cakes (turnip cake, rice cake, water chestnut cake, taro cake): usually allowed, but items containing meat or requiring refrigeration are not accepted.
Sauces (XO sauce, black truffle sauce): usually allowed.
Preserved meats (lap cheong, preserved duck): please check with customer support first.
Dried seafood (bird's nest, sea cucumber, fish maw, dried oysters): bird's nest is prohibited; other dried goods are generally allowed.
Snacks (egg rolls, palmiers, cookies, chocolate, candy, nuts): generally allowed.
Drinks (tea, coffee): tea bags and coffee beans are generally allowed.
*There are many product variations. If you are unsure, please ask customer support before shipping.
Transit time and cut-off notice
For most UK destinations, delivery usually takes around 7 to 14 days (actual timing depends on customs clearance and local operations). We recommend sending your parcels to our warehouse before early January so your recipients can receive your gift earlier. Final festive cut-off dates will be announced on PotatoShip Facebook.
How should I pack festive food for the UK?
Packaging is very important when shipping festive food to the UK. Parcels may be bumped during transport. Over-packaging can increase volume and shipping cost, while weak packaging may damage the goods. Vacuum sealing is recommended to help keep food fresh, improve waterproofing, and reduce impact damage.
Provide accurate parcel information
Parcels sent from Hong Kong to the UK may be inspected by customs. If recipient details are incomplete, the recipient cannot be contacted, or goods are suspected to be restricted/prohibited, the parcel may be held or confiscated. For higher-value items, consider shipping insurance. Insurance premium is 5% of declared item value, and a formal invoice is required for insured items.
Please also pay attention to prohibited and restricted goods. Prohibited items will be confiscated if found.
Why choose PotatoShip for shipping from Hong Kong to the UK?
✅ Duty-paid direct shipping with fewer tax worries: import duties and taxes are included, helping recipients avoid extra charges on delivery.
✅ Global delivery across major markets: we support UK, Europe, North America, Australia, and more.
✅ Simple process and easy shipping: just a few steps to send parcels overseas.
How to start using our shipping service?
How much does it cost?
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