Tasteport — Frequently Asked Questions

Your comprehensive guide to Tasteport — food journeys, kits, membership, delivery, Taste Points, community impact, and more.

How Tasteport Works

What exactly is Tasteport?

Tasteport is the premier online platform designed to connect you with thousands of authentic, specialty, and local grocery products from the best community grocery stores near you. We facilitate both same-day delivery and convenient pickup options. Whether your culinary needs are rooted in Indian, Persian, or Organic specialties, or you're simply looking for high-quality general groceries, our app features a diverse selection of stores with truly unique and expansive product selections.

How do I start using Tasteport?

Using Tasteport is simple: 1) Download our app from the App Store or Google Play, or shop right here on the Tasteport website. 2) Choose your store and browse thousands of authentic products. 3) Add items to your cart and select your preferred Pickup or Delivery time. After checkout, you'll receive real-time SMS updates on your order status.

Can I browse products without signing up?

Yes! Simply download the app and click "Don't Have an Account", then select "Continue As Guest". This gives you full visibility of all stores and complete product catalogs. When you're ready to order, you can sign up and add your delivery address and payment information.

What are the delivery and pickup hours?

Delivery hours are Monday to Friday, 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM in most regions. Pickup hours vary by store — check the store's info icon for details. Customer support is available weekdays 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM. We are closed on weekends for delivery and support services.

Which stores are on Tasteport?

We partner with specialty and local grocery stores across the Greater Toronto Area, including Bismillah Grocers (Richmond Hill), Indian Punjabi Bazaar (Brampton), Panchvati Supermarket (multiple Greater Toronto Area locations), and Atiyas Fresh Farms. Want to see your favourite store? Send us a request through the Feedback page.

Where does Tasteport deliver?

We currently deliver across the Greater Toronto Area including Richmond Hill, Markham, Vaughan, North York, Thornhill, Brampton, Ajax, Pickering, Oshawa, Oakville, Mississauga, Scarborough, Downtown Toronto, and Etobicoke. Outside the Greater Toronto Area? Email customercare@tasteport.com to inquire — non-perishable items can be shipped.

Delivery & Pickup

How do I order for pickup?

After adding items to your cart, proceed to checkout. Once your payment method is secured, select "Pickup" on the Choose Your Time screen. You'll see all available pickup slots for the current day up to one week in advance. You'll receive an SMS when your order is ready for collection.

How do I order for delivery?

The process is similar to pickup: add items to your cart, proceed to checkout, then select "Delivery" on the Choose Your Time screen. Choose your preferred delivery slot and confirm. Orders must be placed before noon for same-day delivery.

How much does delivery cost?

Standard delivery up to 15 km is $4.99. Between 15-20 km the fee is $8.99. For a limited time, all deliveries up to 15 km are FREE if your order is over $125. Orders over $150 have the delivery fee waived. Your first order always gets free delivery, plus a $15 discount on orders over $75.

Who delivers my groceries?

Tasteport partners with certified independent drivers who undergo rigorous background checks and receive thorough orientation. Each driver is provided with insulated grocery bags to ensure quality delivery. 100% of tips go directly to your driver.

How can I track my order?

You'll receive SMS updates throughout the process: order confirmation, preparation status, pickup-ready or driver-en-route notifications, and delivery confirmation with photos. You can also check status anytime in the app under My Orders > Upcoming Orders.

Pricing

How does item pricing work?

Prices are set by the stores on our platform. While they may vary slightly from in-store prices, the difference is minimal — for example, a $5.00 item will typically be $5.75 or less, not $7-$8. Exclusive deals on the platform often make items less expensive than in-store.

What is the minimum order value?

The minimum order value is $50.00. For long-distance orders, the minimum starts at $150 and up, reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

Are there any service fees?

We charge no service fees at this time. You only pay for your items and the delivery fee (if applicable).

Payments & Receipts

How can I pay for orders?

You can add any online credit or debit card. Multiple cards are supported. All payments are securely processed through Stripe — Tasteport never holds your card information. Digital wallets (Apple Pay, Google Pay, WeChat Pay) are coming soon.

When is my card charged?

When you place an order, a pre-authorized hold (slightly higher than your total) is placed on your card. Your card is only charged once your order is completed and the final amount is confirmed. Settlement takes 2-3 business days for North American cards.

Where can I see my receipts?

You'll receive a final receipt via email upon order completion. You can also view receipts in the app under My Orders > Previous Orders.

Returns & Policies

What is the return/exchange policy?

Return and exchange policies are set by individual partner stores. You can find each store's policy by clicking the Information Icon or the store's Logo in the app. If a store's policy doesn't cover your concern, contact Tasteport support and we'll step in to help.

What if my order has quality issues?

Contact us immediately. We follow the store's policy as a starting point, but if a legitimate quality concern isn't covered, our support team will work with the store to find a remedy. We prioritize your satisfaction.

What if there's a delivery issue?

If you experience late deliveries, missing items, or damaged products, contact us right away. We'll investigate and typically provide a credit or refund based on the situation. Please report non-delivery within 2 hours of receiving the delivery-completed SMS.

How do I cancel a grocery order or a kit order?

Grocery and Food Journey kit orders can't be cancelled in the app. To request a cancellation, email customercare@tasteport.com at least 24 hours before your scheduled delivery. Cancellation is a request only and is not guaranteed — once we've begun picking, packing, or preparing your order, or if the 24-hour window has passed, cancellation may not be possible, and a cancellation, restocking, or work-already-performed charge may apply.

Food Journeys & Kits

What are Food Journeys?

Food Journeys are Tasteport's culinary discovery program. Browse currently available South Asian kits, each with its own ingredients, recipes, and cultural story, and choose the kits you want to buy. A kit is never included automatically with membership.

What's inside a Food Journey kit?

Every kit page lists its current ingredients, recipe cards, cultural story, price, availability, and shipping profile. Contents vary by kit, so review that page before you buy; availability and substitutions are not promised by a membership tier.

Can I buy a kit without a membership?

Yes. Anyone can purchase a currently available kit at the displayed non-member price. Food Journeys membership is optional and does not reserve inventory or add a kit to your account.

How does member pricing work for kits?

An active Explorer membership or trial receives the current member price on eligible individual kit purchases. Adventurer and Legend are earned statuses, not kit plans. Checkout always shows the live price, availability, shipping, taxes, and total before you pay.

Where are kits delivered?

Food Journey kits are available only when a verified complete Canadian address matches a reviewed municipality and postal-code rule at checkout; they are not grocery delivery and are not Canada-wide by default. GTA kit delivery is CA$9.95 below a CA$150.00 merchandise subtotal and free at or above that subtotal. Approved non-GTA shipping is CA$24.99 for standard kits and CA$39.99 for oversized kits. Within three business days of payment, our Kit Fulfillment team will confirm handling and send tracking or a delivery reference when available. Carrier delivery dates are not guaranteed until confirmed.

Membership & Billing

What membership tiers are available?

Tasteport has three tiers, styled like an airline loyalty program: Explorer, Adventurer, and Legend. Explorer is the entry tier — every new account starts with a free 90-day Explorer trial, then it's CA$11/month or CA$81/year. Adventurer and Legend can't be bought: they're earned automatically as you shop and refer friends. Adventurer requires 2+ qualified referrals plus CA$1,000+ in spend within a rolling quarter; Legend requires 4+ qualified referrals within a rolling year plus CA$2,000+ in spend within a rolling quarter.

What's included in each tier?

Explorer includes 5% cashback in Taste Points, current member pricing on eligible individual kits, and access to specialty recipes. Adventurer adds 7% cashback, free grocery delivery in supported grocery areas, and invitations to special food events. Legend includes 9% cashback, free grocery delivery in supported grocery areas, and invitations to Michelin chef dinners. Kit shipping is separate and address-based: eligibility and the shown fee come from the reviewed kit-shipping policy at checkout, and the Kit Fulfillment team confirms handling within three business days of payment.

How does billing work?

Only the Explorer subscription is billed — CA$11/month or CA$81/year in Canadian Dollars (CAD), auto-renewing each period after your free 90-day trial ends. Adventurer and Legend are earned statuses and cost nothing extra. If you cancel, your benefits remain active until the end of your current billing period.

How do I cancel my Explorer membership?

You can cancel your Explorer subscription anytime from your dashboard. Cancellation stops the next renewal and takes effect at the end of your current billing period (monthly or annual, whichever applies) — you keep your benefits until then. No partial or prorated refunds are issued for the remainder of the current billing period. Cancelling your membership is separate from closing your account: cancelling stops billing but your account, Taste Points, and order history stay active.

How do I close my Tasteport account?

Closing your account is a separate, permanent action from cancelling your membership. Start it from tasteport.com/delete-account or the mobile app (Account → Manage Account → Close my account). For your security, we send a confirmation email and closure only proceeds once you confirm from that email. After you confirm, your access is suspended immediately and the request is reviewed by our team; your personal data is fully anonymized after 30 business days. You can't close your account while you have an active grocery order, kit order, or bundle — those must be delivered or resolved first. Cancelling any recurring membership won't automatically close your account, and closing your account won't refund the current billing period.

What happens after I start my journey?

After you sign up, you'll be guided through a quick onboarding — set your password, verify your phone number, and confirm your delivery address. Once complete, you'll land on your personal dashboard where you can see your tier status, Taste Points, referral code, and more. You can then browse currently available kits and decide whether to purchase one at the price shown.

How do I reach Adventurer or Legend status?

You earn them — just like airline status. Adventurer: refer 2+ friends (each signs up with your code and places a first order of CA$50+) and spend CA$1,000+ within a rolling quarter. Legend: 4+ qualified referrals within a rolling year plus CA$2,000+ in spend within a rolling quarter. Your status is reviewed automatically — you're promoted the moment you qualify, and your dashboard shows your progress toward the next tier. If activity drops, your status can adjust down at review time; an active Explorer subscription means you never fall below Explorer.

What is the Explorer tier about?

Explorer is discovery-focused — perfect for curious foodies starting their culinary journey. Every new account begins with a free 90-day Explorer trial; after that it's CA$11/month or CA$81/year. It includes 5% cashback in Taste Points, access to specialty recipes, and member pricing on eligible individual kits.

What is the Adventurer tier about?

Adventurer is frequency and knowledge-focused — and it's earned, not purchased. Reach 2+ qualified referrals and CA$1,000+ in spend within a rolling quarter and you're upgraded automatically. It includes everything in Explorer plus 7% Taste Points savings on every order, free delivery, and invites to special food events.

What is the Legend tier about?

Legend is access and mastery-focused — the ultimate earned status. Reach 4+ qualified referrals within a rolling year and CA$2,000+ in spend within a rolling quarter and you're promoted automatically. It includes all Adventurer benefits plus 9% Taste Points savings on every order, free delivery, and invites to Michelin chef dinners.

Can I change my delivery address?

Yes, you can update your delivery address anytime from your dashboard under the Delivery Address section. Changes apply to future grocery or kit orders; a complete verified Canadian address is checked again when you begin kit checkout.

I'm outside the Greater Toronto Area — can I still join?

You can join from anywhere in Canada, but a Food Journey kit can be purchased only when a verified complete address matches a reviewed kit-shipping municipality and postal-code rule at checkout. Same-day grocery delivery remains separate. Approved non-GTA kit shipping is CA$24.99 for standard kits and CA$39.99 for oversized kits; GTA kit delivery is CA$9.95 below a CA$150.00 merchandise subtotal and free at or above that subtotal. Checkout displays the current applicable fee before payment.

Community Impact

What was the Once in a New Moon 500x Meals Challenge?

The Once in a New Moon 500x Meals Challenge was Tasteport's community giving campaign that ran from February 17 to March 31, 2026. We contributed 10% of every order to the Daily Bread Food Bank through the Give 30 initiative. Every dollar donated was matched by Give 30's corporate matching program, doubling the impact. Together, we contributed CA$528.11 and 1,000+ meals to families across the Greater Toronto Area. Thank you to everyone who was part of it! Stay tuned for our next quarterly community initiative.

How did my purchases contribute?

During the campaign, 10% of every order — whether a Food Journey kit or a grocery order — was automatically set aside for the Daily Bread Food Bank. No extra steps were needed. Your contribution is displayed on our Community Impact page.

Who received the donations?

All donations were pledged to the Daily Bread Food Bank, one of the largest food banks in Canada, serving families across the Greater Toronto Area. Through the Give 30 initiative, their corporate matching program matched every dollar, so a $10 contribution became $20 worth of food support.

Can I see the final campaign results?

Yes! Visit the Community Impact page (accessible from the banner on any page) to see the final stats including total donations and estimated meals provided. We reached 1,000+ meals toward our 2,500-meal goal.

Taste Points

How do Taste Points work?

1 point equals $0.01 CAD (100 points = $1.00). You earn points on every purchase based on your tier: Explorer earns 5 pts per dollar (5%), Adventurer earns 7 pts per dollar (7%), and Legend earns 9 pts per dollar (9%).

How else can I earn points?

Complete your Taste Preferences profile to earn a one-time 500 Taste Points ($5) bonus. Your birth date is collected as day and month only — no birth year — as part of that profile, not as a separate bonus. Separately, Share & Earn gives you and your referred friend 1,000 Taste Points ($10) each after they sign up with your code and place their first $50+ order.

When do grocery Taste Points become available?

Grocery Taste Points are first estimated and normally become available after the store confirms the final receipt. If that confirmation is delayed, your guaranteed pending amount becomes available within 72 hours after the order is completed. A later final receipt will not reduce the amount already protected by that guarantee.

Can I send points to a friend as a gift?

Gift Points is a feature we are working on. Stay tuned — we plan to let members send points to friends and family as a gift in a future update.

How do I redeem points?

You can redeem points on any order, including delivery fees. Minimum redemption is 100 points ($1.00), and you can apply up to 100% of your order value in points. Points have no cash value and cannot be cashed out.

Do points expire?

Points remain active as long as your account is active. They expire after 12 months of account inactivity (no login or purchase). If you cancel your membership, your points stay in your account for 12 months in case you decide to return.

Can an AI assistant shop on my behalf and earn me points?

Tasteport's MCP (Model Context Protocol) interface lets AI assistants browse publicly available product and kit information. After browser member authorization, an agent may create an expiring, non-binding Food Journey kit proposal (and, where enabled, a grocery proposal) for review; it receives only allowlisted member identity data, not general account access. It cannot create checkout lines, start checkout, place an order, handle payment, or change account or payment details. You must open Tasteport, confirm the live price, availability, shipping, taxes and total, and explicitly complete checkout yourself.

Mina — Your Culinary Discovery Guide

Who is Mina?

Mina is Tasteport's culinary discovery guide, available on both the website and the mobile app. She can help you discover products, check what's on sale, build your cart, suggest recipes and ingredient substitutions, and answer questions about your orders, membership, Taste Points, and the referral program — by text or voice.

Do I need an account to chat with Mina?

No — guests can chat with Mina to browse products, check sales, and get shopping help. However, signing up for a free account unlocks Mina's best features: she remembers your preferences between visits, can manage your cart for checkout, and helps you earn Taste Points and referral rewards on everything you buy.

What does Mina remember about me?

If you're signed in, Mina learns your shopping preferences over time — like dietary restrictions, favourite cuisines, and brands you love — so her suggestions get more personal. You can also ask her directly to remember something ("remember that I'm vegetarian"). You can view and delete anything she's saved from your assistant settings, or simply tell her to forget something.

Is the information Mina gives always accurate?

Mina is an AI assistant, so her answers may occasionally be incomplete or inaccurate. Always check product labels for ingredients, allergens, and nutrition details before purchasing or consuming any product, and consult a qualified professional for medical or dietary advice. See the Tasteport Digital Assistants section of our Terms of Service for full details.

Can Mina help me earn rewards?

Yes! Mina knows all about Taste Points and the Share & Earn referral program. Ask her how many points you'd earn on your cart, how to redeem points at checkout, or how to get your referral code so you and a friend can each earn 1,000 Taste Points ($10).

Can Mina cancel my membership, close my account, or cancel an order?

No. Mina can explain how these work and point you to the right place, but she can't do them for you. Cancelling your Explorer membership, closing your account, or removing a saved payment method are done by you from your dashboard (account closure also needs email confirmation). To cancel a grocery or kit order, email customercare@tasteport.com at least 24 hours before delivery — Mina can't cancel orders or skip any confirmation step, and she'll never say something is done until the system confirms it.

Referral Program (Share & Earn)

How does the referral program work?

Every Tasteport member receives a unique referral code in the format TP-XXXXXX (e.g., TP-A3B7K2). Share your code or unique shareable link with friends. When your friend signs up and places their first order of $50 or more, both you and your friend each earn 1,000 Taste Points ($10.00 value).

Is a referral code required to sign up?

No, entering a referral code during sign-up is completely optional. Members can also add a referral code after registration.

Is there a limit to how many friends I can refer?

There is no limit to the number of friends you can refer. Share your code on social media, via text, or email to reach as many people as you like.

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