Gift Tins: Premium Unboxing and Protection
Baklava Academy • Article 38 • Updated guide for importers, retailers, and hospitality brands.
Key takeaways
- Tins protect shape (crush resistance), but freshness still depends on barrier + sealing.
- Inserts matter: movement causes broken corners and smeared pistachio.
- Export reality: the tin is the “gift pack”—the outer carton is what survives logistics.
1) When gift tins make sense
- Premium retail / corporate gifting where shelf impact and unboxing justify higher packaging cost.
- E-commerce when paired with a protective shipper carton and movement control.
- Seasonal spikes (holidays, gifting campaigns) where presentation lifts conversion.
2) Tin specs you should define (so you don’t get “any tin”)
- Food-safe internal coating (prevents metal interaction and staining).
- Lid fit: snug closure (too loose = humidity ingress; too tight = dent risk and poor opening experience).
- Finish quality: print durability and scratch resistance for retail display.
- Dimensions + net weight: confirm headspace so product doesn’t press into the lid.
3) The “inside the tin” system: barrier + structure
Tins protect against crushing, but baklava’s enemies are humidity, oil migration, and movement. A good tin pack uses a simple layered system:
- Base liner (grease-resistant sheet) to keep syrup/oil from staining.
- Rigid tray or dividers to reduce shifting and edge breakage.
- Optional sealed film (freshness seal) for better barrier performance and cleaner unboxing.
- Tamper evidence (shrink band or seal label) for retail confidence.
4) Outer packaging (this is where export succeeds or fails)
- Ship in cartons sized to prevent tin movement (void fill if needed).
- Carton strength matters for stacking and corner drops—don’t rely on the tin.
- Pallet plan: stable layers, no overhang, corner protection where required.
- Humidity protection for sea routes: consider liners/desiccants depending on destination climate.
5) Labeling & compliance (don’t ruin premium with messy labels)
- Place mandatory info (ingredients, allergens, net weight, origin, best before, storage) on a clean back/side panel.
- Ensure lot code and production date (or traceable coding) are readable and consistent across docs.
- Request documentation (COA where applicable) and keep it tied to lot numbers.
Copy/paste: tin packaging checklist (fast)
- Tin internal coating: ___
- Lid fit + tamper evidence: ___
- Inner liner + tray/dividers: ___
- Freshness seal film (Y/N): ___
- Carton size/strength + drop/crush protection: ___
- Palletization plan + corner protection: ___
- Lot/date coding + label approval step: ___
Related reads: Export Packaging • Shipping by Air vs. Sea