IT ALL BEGAN IN 1993…
Shoulder pads were in, coffee reigned supreme, but specialty tea stores? Virtually non-existent.
Enter a young, tea-loving Swede living in Australia named Joakim—better known as Kim to The Tea Centre—who immediately saw this gap in the Australian retail market and decided to do something about it.
This saw Kim team up with Australian entrepreneur Sharon (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.
Co-founder Joakim in The Tea Centre’s first store in Paddington, Sydney! Circa 1993.
Co-founder Sharon in front of The Tea Centre’s very first ‘tea wall’. Circa 1993.
Fast forward thirty years and The Tea Centre has grown from a single boutique to ten 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 said a heart-felt goodbye to The Tea Centre in 2016-18, the business continues to be 100% Australian-owned and operated by a small team across Brisbane and Sydney. Moreover, our vision for The Tea Centre 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 tea walls by visiting your closest Tea Centre today!
FROM CROP TO CUP
SOURCED SUSTAINABLY
We work closely with small farmers in tea-growing regions throughout the world to ensure our loose leaf comes from regenerative gardens subscribing to ethical practices.
QUALITY TESTED
Our main German supplier adheres to the European Union’s strict quality standards, and most of our herbal tisanes are 100% Australian grown. Find out more here.
SCOOPED BY HAND
“Automated machinery” is not a phrase we use at The Tea Centre! Every tin of tea and tea bag is scooped by hand right here in Australia. This means your tea, from crop to cup, is handled with care.
BECOME A LEAF LOVER
Sign up to join our Leaf Lovers program!
Receive exclusive access to new offers, discounts, and events every month.
PRODUCT FAQS
How does The Tea Centre’s menu work?
To make The Tea Centre’s large menu easier to navigate, we have divided it into four different, easy-to-understand categories. We have classic teas (think your black, green, oolong, white and pu-erh teas), fusion teas (classic teas blended with other ingredients), wellbeing teas (herbal tisanes), and our premium tea range!
Where does The Tea Centre source its tea from?
The Tea Centre works with specialist German/European suppliers to source our tea from the most sustainable tea-growing regions from around the world—find out more here! The exception is our Australian-grown teas, which we source locally either directly from Aussie gardens or from the celebrated naturopath Mim Beim.
Are The Tea Centre’s teas quality tested?
You can rest assured that all our German-supplied teas are quality tested against the European Union’s strictest standards (the foremost leader in certified organic food testing). You can find out more here.
Do The Tea Centre’s teas contain allergens?
Some of our teas contain allergens such as nuts, milk, and dairy. Please be sure to check the ingredients listed on the back of our tins/bags/gift boxes (also listed on every tea’s product description webpage on our website).
In the unlikely event you suffer an allergic reaction from a tea where the allergen is not listed, please get in contact with our customer service team on [email protected].
Is The Tea Centre’s tea packaging eCO-friendly?
Yes, and we’re always looking for more way to improve! The Tea Centre packages our loose leaf orders in biodegradable, food-safe paper pouches of various sizes (100g, 250g, and 500g). Our range of wooden gift boxes are reusable and our signature tea tins are also refillable in stores. Moreover, our tea bags are biodegradable, GMO-free, and made from 100% natural sugar cane while the refill carton packaging is recycable.
I have a problem with my Tea Centre tea!
Let’s fix your problem straight away! Please send an email to our customer service team at [email protected].
Can I refill my Tea Centre tea tin in-store?
Yes, you can! Simply take your empty tea tin to your nearest store next time you need to purchase tea, and our friendly staff will fill it at no extra cost.
How do I store my tea?
We recommend storing your tea in airtight tins or glass containers that are hidden away from direct sunlight. Our gorgeous range of signature tea tins makes storing your tea even easier!
How do I take care of my teawares?
That depends on the teaware you are talking about! Luckily, each of our teaware packaging carries detailed care instructions. You can also find the care instructions within each product description on the website.
What flavours are used in The Tea Centre teas?
The Tea Centre uses a minimal amount of nature-identical flavour in some of its black and green tea fusions. Nature-identical flavour is essence that we synthesise in a lab so that it’s identical to those found in nature. A common misconception is that nature-identical flavour is used to mask a poorly blended tea. The opposite is the case at The Tea Centre!
There exists some natural essences in the world that are simply impossible to collect on a commercial scale or can only be extracted at the detriment of wildlife and their environment. When this is the case, The Tea Centre will use nature-identical flavour to ensure that the tea you drink has optimal flavour, is eco-friendly, has no contaminates, and comes at an affordable price point. Using nature-identical flavour also creates consistency in the taste of our tea across different seasons.
Are The Tea Centre’s teas vegan?
The majority of The Tea Centre’s tea is vegan and are labelled so in the product description of each relevant tea. The majority of our teaware is also vegan, with the main exception being our bone China tea sets and teapots.
Can I consume The Tea Centre’s teas while pregnant?
The Tea Centre’s pregnancy tea is suitable for most expectant mothers to consume during both pregnancy and breastfeeding. However, please seek recommendations from your personal medical practitioner before purchasing any of our teas.
Does The Tea Centre stock decaf teas?
Yes, The Tea Centre has a whole range of decaffeinated teas! You can explore and find the perfect decaffeinated tea for you here.
How do I brew my tea?
That depends on the tea type you purchase, the teaware you’re using, and whether we’re talking tea bags or loose leaf! Luckily, a brewing guide can be found on the back of every tea tin/box/bag and each tea’s product description on our website. We also have an all-round brewing guide here.
BRAND FAQS
Is The Tea Centre Australian-owned?
Yes, we are! The Tea Centre is proudly Australian-owned and operated, and delivers Australia wide. Our current head office and warehouse is located in Brisbane, Queensland.
Where is The Tea Centre located?
The Tea Centre has ten stores across Queensland, New South Wales, and the ACT, which you can find out more about here. Our warehouse and head office is located in Brisbane, Queensland.
I want to work for The Tea Centre!
We love to hear it! Current vacancies in The Tea Centre’s store, warehouse, and head office are posted on our employment page and LinkedIn profile.
How do I contact The Tea Centre?
Head to our contact page here to fill out a form and find the details for your local store, or get in touch with our warehouse and head office team at [email protected]. We are most responsive on Mondays to Friday between 8 am and 4 pm.
Why should I become a Leaf Lover?
Because who doesn’t want exclusive access to new events, nifty discounts, and monthly free samples of all things tea?! Be part of something special and become a Leaf Lover here.
What are the differences between being a Leaf Lover in-store versus online?
There are a few small differences in your Leaf Lover benefits depending on whether you sign up in-store or online. If you would like to change your Leaf Lover status or become a member both online and in-store, please notify our customer service team at [email protected]
IN-STORE
Exclusive invites to your local store’s VIP Nights.
Monthly free samples.
10% off when you purchase at least 250g of an individual loose leaf tea.
SHIPPING & RETURNS FAQS
How long does delivery take?
We use Australia Post for deliveries. The following table provides a general estimate of standard service delivery times.
|
Your Location |
|
Delivery time |
|
Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne or Canberra |
|
1 – 3 business days |
|
Regional QLD, NSW, VIC |
|
3 – 10 business days |
|
Adelaide, Perth, Darwin, Hobart |
|
4 – 8 business days |
|
Rural WA, NT, SA, TAS |
|
4 – 14 business days |
Orders will be dispatched Monday to Friday (excluding public holidays). Orders are generally dispatched within 1-3 business days.
When will the tea I want be back in stock?
Due to COVID-19 pandemic and international shipping delays, we are unable to guarantee when certain teas will be back in stock. However, head to our out-of-stock item’s webpage and you can sign up to receive an email notification when your tea is available to reorder.
Help! I’m having trouble ordering my Tea Centre tea.
Our customer service team is here to help! Shoot us an email on [email protected] and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible.
Can I opt-in for delivery tracking?
There is no need, as all Tea Centre orders come with delivery tracking courtesy of Shippit! Expect to receive an email with tracking information soon after completing your order.
How much does shipping cost?
For orders totalling $70 or more, standard delivery is FREE and express delivery is an additional $9.99. For orders less than $70, we charge $9.99 for standard or $19.99 for express.
Help! My Tea Centre gift card/coupon is not working.
Our customer service team can look into that! Shoot us an email at [email protected] and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible.
Do you deliver to PO boxes, military addresses, and parcel lockers?
Yes, Australia Post is able to deliver to the above addresses.
Do you ship outside of Australia?
Unfortunately, The Tea Centre is unable to ship outside of Australia! This is because tea is classified as plant matter and therefore difficult to ship internationally. In maintaining consistency, we have chosen to not ship teaware internationally either.
Do I need to sign for delivery?
Orders are automatically set to ‘Authority to Leave’ unless you specify otherwise in the delivery instructions field. Be sure to add special delivery instructions in the ‘Order Notes’ box provided at checkout if required.
Does The Tea Centre offer refunds on tea?
If you are unhappy with your purchase for any reason, send our customer service team an email on [email protected] and we will resolve the issue as soon as possible. While The Tea Centre is 100% committed to ensuring customer satisfaction, we, unfortunately, can not offer exchanges or accept tea returns due to Australian health regulations.
Does The Tea Centre offer refunds on broken or faulty teaware?
Refunds are offered on all faulty teaware products. If you have a faulty or broken product, please notify us via our contact form as soon as you are aware of the problem and organise for a repair, replacement or refund. The standard warranty across most products is twelve (12) months. Please note that repairs are carried out by the manufacturer and not by The Tea Centre. In some cases, repairs cannot be made and in such an event we will endeavour to have the item replaced or will be happy to offer a refund.
What if I’m not satisfied with my teaware purchase?
Please contact us within thirty (30) days of purchase via our contact form. Exchanges can be made in person at one of our stores (proof of purchase must be provided and the item still in its original condition) or the product can be returned by post and we will be happy to offer an exchange or an online store credit within five business days of receiving the returned product.
Who pays for return shipping?
If a product is faulty, we will provide a “Reply Paid” address so that the item can be returned at zero cost to you. However, if the item is not faulty and you simply want to exchange it, then postage costs will be incurred by the customer.
How long do I have to make a return?
Warranty claims must be made within twelve (12) months of purchase. However, if you have changed your mind and would like to exchange a product please advise us within thirty (30) days from the date of purchase.
Can I exchange teaware?
Yes, exchanges are offered on all faulty items. If a product is not faulty and you simply want to exchange it we will happily do so but postage costs will then be incurred by the customer.
What payment methods does The Tea Centre online store accept?
We take VISA, Mastercard and Paypal payments! We unfortunately do not accept American Express unless it’s through a PayPal account.
