2101.11.21.26 - Packaged for retail sale

This HTS subcategory, 2101.11.21.26, specifically covers instant coffee that is not decaffeinated and is packaged for retail sale. This means the classification applies to granulated or powdered coffee that has undergone a process to remove its water content, making it easily reconstitutable with hot water, and is presented in consumer-ready packaging such as jars, bags, or sachets. The key defining features are the instant preparation method, the absence of decaffeination, and its direct offering to end consumers.

This classification is distinct from its sibling category, 2101.11.21.29 ("Other"), which would encompass instant, non-decaffeinated coffee that is not packaged for retail sale. Such "other" products might include bulk shipments intended for further processing or commercial use, or instant coffee that, while not decaffeinated, does not meet the retail packaging criteria. Therefore, the primary differentiator lies in the end-use packaging and intended market.

As this is a leaf node in the HTS structure, there are no further subcategories. The classification is definitive at this level, focusing on the precise characteristics of instant, non-decaffeinated coffee presented in a retail-ready format. Any variations in flavoring or decaffeination status would place the product into a different HTS classification.