Our Swiss co-founder Joakim in The Tea Centre’s first store in Paddington, Sydney! Circa 1993.
IT ALL BEGAN IN 1993…
Shoulder pads were in, coffee reigned supreme, but specialty tea stores? Virtually non-existent.
Enter a young, tea-loving Swiss living in Australia named Joakim Torstensson—better know as Kim to The Tea Centre family—who immediately saw this gap in the Australian retail market and pioneered to do something about it.
This saw Joakim team up with Australian entrepreneur-in-the-making Sharon Sansom (the first to reply to his spruiking with “what a great idea!”) and together they opened The Tea Centre’s very first store in Paddington, Sydney on September 1, 1993.
Fast forward 28 years and The Tea Centre has grown from a single boutique to nine gorgeous centres spread across Queensland, New South Wales, and the ACT (not to mention our online store as well)!
While Kim, Sharon, and their third business partner Kerry Torstensson said a heart-felt goodbye to The Tea Centre in 2016-18, their vision for the company remains the same.
At The Tea Centre’s core are tea-loving experts selling the finest, loose leaf, premium teas that are ethically sourced and consciously crafted for Australian taste buds.
Come experience the magic of our European-style tearooms by visiting your closest Tea Centre today!
Co-founder Sharon in front of The Tea Centre’s very first ‘tea wall’. Circa 1993.
Sourced Sustainably
We work closely with small farmers in tea-growing regions throughout the world to ensure our ethically-sourced leaves are compliant to the European Union’s certified organic provisions.
Quality tested
Our classic teas come from a German supplier that adheres to the European Union’s strict quality standards, while several of our herbal tisanes are 100% Australian grown. Find out more here.
Scooped by hand
“Automated machinery” is a dirty phrase at The Tea Centre! Every tin of tea and loose leaf bag is scooped by hand right here in Australia. This means your tea, from crop to cup, is handled with care.
