Where to buy loose tea leaves?

[Deactivated] on 12/01/2014 - 12:08
Last edited 13/01/2014 - 10:59

Hi ,
I've just recently switched from tea bags to loose tea leaves and I'm quite disappointed by the limited range they have at my local woolies and buying online seems quite expensive, once you factor in P&H.So, I was wondering where you, beautiful people, buy your tea leaves.
Cheers,
Wiki
Btw I'm in Mentone/Parkdale (VIC) area.

Edit: Thanks everyone for your suggestions. Much appreciated:)
Didn't realise there was that many tea drinkers around…and connoisseur ones at that. I ended up going to T2 just cause so many of you suggested it and its only a 5 min drive from where I live.
It was quite an experience: the smell, the taste…I was like a child in a candy store :) I just wanted to try everything and I loved almost everything that I tried.I spent way more than I was planning to. So not going back for a while.
I'll keep an eye out for asian shops.Can anyone recommend any asian shop that sell nice teas close to where I live pls? cheltenham? clayton? Dandenong?
I'm officially a tea junkie :)

Home & Garden

Comments

  • Paul Atreides on 12/01/2014 - 13:01
    +4

    http://www.t2tea.com/

    • [Deactivated] on 12/01/2014 - 15:36

      Thanks madmouse58:) Will check them out next time I'm at Southland.

      • [Deactivated] on 12/01/2014 - 15:43

        $13.50 for a 100g of chai? My tea addiction is going to cost me dearly:(

        • DrStinge on 12/01/2014 - 19:01
          +1

          T2 is a premium loose leaf seller; they're very boutique and do make some beautiful teas but there is definitely cheaper around. If you do like green tea you really can't go past their Green Rose, it's wonderful!

          Asian supermarkets are a great place to start, they usually stock a decent range. With a little bit of craft you can also make your own by taking the basics (green, black, etc) and adding the dried ingredients. Chai is pretty easy to make with a little help from my favourite spice cinnamon ;)

        • antzz on 12/01/2014 - 23:02
          +2

          You might want to check who own t2. Hint, it is not very boutique, just expensive

        • DrStinge on 13/01/2014 - 00:17

          Yes you're right :)
          I didn't mean the ownership but boutique in the sense they only sell tea related product

        • CMI on 13/01/2014 - 13:49
          +1

          Get Pumping Pomegranate leaves from T2. Yuuuuuuuuum.

        • DrStinge on 13/01/2014 - 14:48

          Yes, this is such a beautiful tea! It works really well as an iced tea, one standard tea amount in a jug of 2L water in the fridge, wonderful.

  • Marnie2c90 on 12/01/2014 - 13:25
    +2

    Hi I used to be state rep for Ceylon tea so I know a fair bit about tea.i agree a lot of leaf tea seems very expensive , it's because they can't put fine like dust in with leaf tea as they do in tea bag?i find DilmarCeylon tea it's great for a very reasonable price,I get mine from Coles
    I am happy to help if you need any further help,good luck,you are so right to transfer to leaf tea
    Regards Marnie

    • [Deactivated] on 12/01/2014 - 15:50

      Hi Marnie.I've had Dilmah tea bags before and I liked it. But I was browsing their selection of loose tea leaves the other day and noticed that they only had black tea and premium black tea. I like chai. Maybe I could buy the premium black tea leaves and add chai spices to it.You wouldn't happen to know what kind of spices I should add,would you?
      Thanks,
      Wiki

      • kiitos on 13/01/2014 - 22:27
        +1

        No hard and fast rule for ingredients for Masala chai. Apart from black tea, you can add any or all of the following:

        • Cinnamon (quills, not powder)
        • Cardamom pods
        • Ginger (fresh is best)
        • Peppercorns
        • Cloves
        • Allspice berries
        • Star anise
  • [Deactivated] on 12/01/2014 - 13:28
    +2

    Guy at the park with a backpack

    • StewBalls on 12/01/2014 - 13:30

      Yup, it's a pricey cuppa but damn it's refreshing. ;)

    • [Deactivated] on 12/01/2014 - 15:52

      Tried that but he said he was an undercover cop and threatened to arrest me :(

  • I-like-cheap on 12/01/2014 - 14:04
    +1

    I buy my tea off iHerb, I love the Just a Leaf Organic Tea (esp. Golden Assam Black Tea).

    http://www.iherb.com/search?sug=just+a+leaf+organic+tea&kw=j…

    Shipping is $4 for a orders up to $80.00, and 4 pounds (1814 grams)

    Mod: Referrals in comments not permitted

    Good luck on your quest to find some good tea!

  • mskeggs on 12/01/2014 - 15:54
    +3

    The asian supermarkets carry various loose leaf teas. Not sure where in VIC but at one of the citisuper stores in the Sydney CBD I got an assortment of 6x50g teas for $7. They also have 100g and 200g tins and blocks of pu-er (sp?) black tea. As well as black tea they had Jasmine and Green.

  • scrimshaw on 12/01/2014 - 18:32
    +1

    Yeap, Chinese herb stores and grocery stores, especially in the more densely populated suburbs will sell tea in loose leaf form.

    I especially like Chrysenthemum tea — tastes kind of like chamomile tea. Throw in a bit of rock sugar and some wolfberries for better flavour.

    • [Deactivated] on 13/01/2014 - 21:45

      wolfberries? O.o

      • abc on 14/01/2014 - 13:01
        +1

        Goji berries

        • [Deactivated] on 14/01/2014 - 15:50

          Thanks :)

  • cannedhams on 12/01/2014 - 19:56

    I like the madura premium tea at coles and woolies myself. As one poster above has noted the only real difference is that they can put finings (broken leaves and powder) in tea bags.

    Almost all blends of tea are based on Assam and Ceylon teas with perhaps bits and other pieces thrown in.

    • [Deactivated] on 14/01/2014 - 15:50

      I've never tried madura. Will give it a go sometime.Thanks :)

  • [Deactivated] on 12/01/2014 - 20:40
    +1

    Definitely try out T2. Yes, they're expensive, but umm…. ok, I can't really justify it since I know it's an addiction and I spend way too much there. However, their teas are amazing, and you can usually sample some of their blends instore before purchasing.

    I've found loose green tea, and loose (twinings) earl grey in Coles. Asian grocers generally have quite inexpensive loose teas as well, but I personally prefer the taste of the T2 blends.

    • [Deactivated] on 12/01/2014 - 22:15

      I'm thinking of getting the T2 chai spice blend and then mix it to my favourite premium black tea. Would end up being cheaper and I can control how spicy I want my chai to be :)

      • [Deactivated] on 13/01/2014 - 11:27
        +1

        If you're into chai (which I'm not, so ymmv) there are some recipes online for making it. Usually it's some spices that you can buy individually. Or maybe try your local Indian grocery? They have heaps of different spice blends and they might have a chai blend, just ask the person at the counter, they're usually pretty helpful.
        Also, I think if you're mixing in spices, the spice aroma will be pretty overpowering, so you can get away with not shelling out the big bucks for the tea leaves.

        Edit: Oops, just saw you went into T2! Yay! :) Join the addicts' club of "I spent way more than I planned to in there" :)

        I know there are heaps of Indian stores in the suburbs you mentioned (that might have chai blends), but don't know the exact addresses. Personally, I go to the one in Chaddy (just after the entrance, near Wheel&Barrow, Fisch, and the fruits/veggie store) since it's so convenient. There's also a T2 in Chaddy ;)

        • [Deactivated] on 13/01/2014 - 21:46

          :)

  • tonester on 12/01/2014 - 21:27
    +1

    free delivery @ http://www.farmhousedirect.com.au/australianteahouse - ends 11.59pm AEDT tonight :)

    • [Deactivated] on 12/01/2014 - 22:00

      Thanks @tonester :)

  • Amaris on 12/01/2014 - 21:48

    Try http://www.mlesnateas.com . Some of the best tea you can get from Sri Lanka. Mostly single origin tea. They have many varieties. Haven't personally used their website though I drunk their loose tea every day

    • [Deactivated] on 12/01/2014 - 22:17

      Hi @lahiruwan,doesn't look like you can order online.

      • Amaris on 12/01/2014 - 22:36
        +1

        I think you can write to them and ask about their agents in your area. Alternatively they may be able to take an order by email and send it to you.

  • modsec802 on 12/01/2014 - 22:59
    +1

    Elmstock loose leaf teas are fantastic and reasonably priced. I find t2 overpriced.
    http://www.elmstocktea.com.au/advancedsearch/result/?q=Chai

    • [Deactivated] on 14/01/2014 - 15:51

      Do they ever have free delivery?

  • antzz on 12/01/2014 - 23:07
    +1

    Cant go pass this tea If you love tea.http://www.orientalteastore.com/oolong-tea-c-5/da-hong-pao-tea-top-grade-p-65.html?gclid=CMnp4KbM-LsCFY1fpQodoQ4AuA.

    The mother bush product can fetch thousand of dollar per 10 grams. You need 1 or 2 leave to make 1 pot that is how fragrant they are.

    • [Deactivated] on 14/01/2014 - 15:58

      Added to my shopping list :) thanks

  • stralya on 12/01/2014 - 23:10
    +2

    Any Indian grocery store will usually stock a range of leaf teas. And they are usually quite reasonably priced.

  • Lucky13 on 13/01/2014 - 03:14
    +1

    T2 Ayurvedic Chai is to die for. Followed their directions on the T2 website on how to make it eg. stovetop with milk tablespoon of honey etc and was heavenly. Definitely recommend that one if your after Chai and it lasts for ages too

  • superpomman on 13/01/2014 - 09:37
    +1

    Wedgewood tea at Royal Doulton DFO outlets are also not bad =)

  • daptal on 13/01/2014 - 09:52
    +1

    If you have any Indian grocery store check them out. They sell loose tea powder

  • Qlander on 13/01/2014 - 10:17
    +1

    Dilmah and 3Roses are the best, not a great fan of lipton. You can get Dilmah from woollies/Coles, for 3Roses try any Indian/SriLankan grocery stores.

  • daveted on 13/01/2014 - 12:26
    +1

    I'm not a tea junkie, I prefer Coffee, but I have tried
    - Teabags….just doesn't do it for me
    - T2 - it's ok, but expensive
    - Adore Tea - prices are cheaper than T2, and the taste of the ones I've bought so far are excellent.
    And you can buy sample 2 cup testers for $1. Problem with that is it's pretty easy to spend up big, but you get to taste a whole bunch of teas without committing to a big bag of Tea that you end up not loving.
    http://www.adoretea.com.au/cart.html

  • karteej on 13/01/2014 - 14:24
    +1

    Your local Indian grocery store will have plenty of variety of Chai teas. Ask them to reccomend one which suits your taste (Strong, spiced OR mild). Usually it should be about 8-10 bucks a kilo.

  • Jasmine2323 on 13/01/2014 - 23:27

    I was not aware that, this much options are available. Thanks everyone for sharing.

  • hangdog on 14/01/2014 - 00:42
    +1

    Despite the name, check out the tea range at CoffeeSnobs: http://beanbay.coffeesnobs.com.au/ViewCategory.aspx/tea-tisa…

  • y on 14/01/2014 - 00:44
    +1

    Evertea loose leaf English Breakfast Tea at Aldi is very decent and not expensive.

    Comes in a red and black square tin.

    Much better tasting than Dilmah loose leaf tea I bought at Coles.

  • Cluster on 14/01/2014 - 00:55

    I buy Nerada loose leaf tea (most supermarkets). It's predominantly Australian grown and claimed to be free of pesticides.

  • Momoni on 14/01/2014 - 01:30
    +1

    I prefer the teas from The Tea Centre to T2. The quality and range is better for the teas I like. Don't see shops in Victoria but they do sell online http://www.theteacentre.com.au.

    The DJs in Sydney especially Market St sell a good selection of teas. Not sure if it's available online. It also seems to be the only other place to get Taylors of Harrowgate Yorkshire Gold blend besides Miss Marple's Tea Room in Sassafras. That's near you I take it. Highly recommended (both tea and tea room).

  • sybones on 14/01/2014 - 01:49

    Check out http://www.tealeaves.com.au/ when you are at Dandenong. I love the shop :)

    • [Deactivated] on 14/01/2014 - 16:04

      I'll check it out next time I go to Mt Dandenong. ..or do they also have a shop in Dandenong,vic 3197 , which is a lot closer to home?

  • Moots on 14/01/2014 - 23:45

    Does anyone know where to get traditional Chinese tea pots with the candle underneath to keep warm. There are some on eBay but in China not here.

    It must have the filter for the tea leaf

  • crazyj on 15/01/2014 - 15:40
    +1

    My wife buys her tea from http://www.manlyteacompany.com.au/ - a local company that offers what seems to be a good range of locally produced (if not grown?) tea.

    YMMV

  • JetBombat on 15/01/2014 - 19:13
    +1

    direct from growers, can't be any better
    http://tealet.com/

  • TWASUS on 16/01/2014 - 00:53
    +1

    From Taiwan, Ten Ren Tea (http://www.tenrentea.com.au/), not really like their Melbourne shops but the tea is all right.

  • rko on 16/01/2014 - 01:34
    +1

    I highly recommend Tea Blossoms, teablossoms.com.au. The tea is exceptional and second to none. You won't be disappointed.

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