With evocatively named teas such as 'arctic fire, cool change, snow dragon, power mix, blue lagoon and hair of the dog' on the menu, tea lovers are well provided for by
The Tea Centre.
This 100 per cent Australian owned company has outlets in Canberra, Perth, Melbourne and Brisbane, with over 180 distinctive blends and loose leaf tea varieties.
Purveyors and importers of fine quality teas, all are centrally blended in Germany and contain no artificial flavours or preservatives. Your chosen brew is carefully decanted from large black/gold/red caddies, weighed and placed into brightly coloured, take-home foil packets.
Senses are beset by faintly familiar bouquets...as the lid is lifted off a fresh tin of tea, a fragrant whiff elicits a hint of recognition as you try to place the scent - spicy, sweet, floral, sharp, fresh, fruity, herbal? Mmmm...vanilla, cinnamon, rooibos, cardamom, peppermint, rose, lemongrass or cloves?
Anytime is Tea Time
Choose from black, white, green, jasmine and flavoured teas or organic, herbal or fruit infusions; there are teas with health benefits, teas to calm, soothe and invigorate and teas to accompany Asian cuisine.
A vibrant array of kettles, tea pots, leaf samples, cups, saucers, cosies, teaspoons and all things tea-related vie for attention in the display window of the Brisbane Arcade shop.
The small store celebrates tea tradition and culture, stocking a variety of eye-catching accessories adorned with a range of designs. Beautiful floral-themed wares abound, sporting gorgeous roses, pansies, peonies, lilies and flowering herbs.
To create the perfect brew, try the novel infusion timers designed with colour-coded sands. There is 'Black' for regular tea, ready in five, 'Pink' for herbal which needs seven minutes, and 'Green' grains for green tea which time out in three.
Fragile, oversized breakfast cups with matching saucers nestle amongst mugs decorated with cheerful chooks, reclining cats, appealing dogs and exotic birds. Snugly nested teapot/cup duos styled as Russian Matryoshka (babushka) dolls sit alongside cheery, chunky red pots with white polka spots. There are old-fashioned, knitted and crocheted cosies, tea towels, boxed-tea gift sets and a stock of orderly, decorative tins.
Finely-meshed, trim leaf holders come with quirky, themed attachments. Find tea pots in diverse designs, shapes and materials; some in gently rounded clear glass, fine china, ceramic, stainless steel, retro-styled or delicately fashioned as flowers.
Just off Queen Street Mall is the Albert Lane outlet which has a cafe section - here, you can buy your tea and drink it surrounded by all things 'tea'. Check out The Tea Centre website for store locations - as they say
"Good Tea, Good Health, Good Friends, Good Life !!!!"
