After a long hiatus, I’ve recently started drinking caffeinated tea again.
It began a few months ago when I was reading a fellow blogger’s In My Kitchen post about using Earl Grey for iced tea. From there, it’s evolved into a daily cup (or two) of hot Earl Grey, milk-free and sweetened with a little honey.
Last week, I was out and about with my foodie friend Allison. Our lunch dates often turn into road trips, as we drive our cars in convoy from one suburb to another, stopping to pick up goodies along the way. On our last adventure, we started at a new eatery in Marrickville, popped into Southern Cross supplies, then trekked out to the Portuguese shops in Petersham.
On the way, we stopped at Double Roasters in Marrickville. These guys take their coffee very seriously – apart from a selection of custom roasted beans for sale, they were also offering a rare single origin brew that Al was keen to try. It’s a testament to their graciousness that not a single eyebrow was raised when I sheepishly announced that I didn’t drink coffee. Instead, they sat us down and brought me a pot of the most amazing Earl Grey tea I’d ever tasted.
I discovered that the tea was blended locally by a Sydney based company called Tea Craft. The following morning, I hopped onto their website and placed an order – some Earl Grey for me, a bag of their signature Karavan blend to try, and Russian Caravan for Big Boy (my eldest son has strong opinions about tea). The order was placed at 9.23am, shipped at 9.38am, and delivered at 2pm. It’s hard not to be impressed with service like that!
Tea Craft products aren’t cheap, but the quality is superb. Their Earl Grey is aromatically flavoured with bergamot and blue cornflowers, and it’s a delicious, gentle brew (unlike the one I bought from T2 recently, which I found overly tannic and bitter). Big Boy loved the Russian Caravan. The Karavan blend is also very nice – it’s a mix of black and green teas flavoured with bergamot, peppermint and rose…
I was keen to try other teas from this company, but didn’t want to pay for a full bag of each, so I contacted them on Twitter and asked if they offered a sample pack. They replied instantly – they didn’t offer it as a standard product, but would be more than happy to put one together for me. I told them my budget and my drinking preferences (weak black teas or herbal teas, drunk without milk) and let them choose.
The next day, a silver bag of treasure arrived…
I don’t have any affiliation whatsoever with either of these companies, but I am biased – I like to support our homegrown, Sydney-based businesses as much as possible, particularly when they offer such great products and service!
. . . . .
Tea Craft
Tel: (+61) 1300 733 973
www.teacraft.com.au
. . . . .
Double Roasters / Wicks Park Cafe
199 Victoria Rd, Marrickville,
Sydney, NSW 2204
Tel: (02) 9572 7711
www.doubleroasters.com
. . . . .
Fig Jam and Lime Cordial 
Celia, you know that I love tea… but for some reason the caffeine in tea gives me a strong feeling of “rush” that I don’t care for, and doesn’t happen with coffee. So I drink one cappuccino early in the morning, and restrict myself to decaf tea, which seems to me is like dancing with a brother. Not that much fun… still, I love Earl Grey, love all sorts of tea, oolong, green tea, white green tea… but they are all virtual pleasures… I shall live vicariously through your posts about this new phase in your life
Sally, isn’t that interesting! I have a low caffeine threshold, so coffee (they way I used to consume it) is beyond what I can manage these days, and anything more than a couple of cups of tea is also too much. I have to drink my caffeinated teas quite weak as well!
What great service. I’m a fussy tea drinker but like mine strong :)
I’ll remember if I ever get the chance to make you a cup! :)
I’m more of a peppermint tea drinker but my hub’s Canadian family treats tea like a religion. These tea blends are truly craveworthy. Do they ship to the States? Nummers! Maz.
Maz, I’m not sure, but drop them a note on twitter and ask them – they’ll get right back to you. @teacraft_kt
Celia, it sounds like a lovely business. Like you say, if they have a quality product and quality service they should do well. I sure hope so.
Glenda, I hope so too! I could get quite addicted to that Earl Grey, so I need to have my supplier! :)
I love tea. and coffee. Especially Earl Grey. I’ve made Earl Grey apple jelly and Earl Grey shortbread…
Yesterday I had a really lovely Earl Grey ice cream and it was fabulous! It’s been a while since I made ice cream…
and I miss T2…I actually ordered some melbourne breakfast tea and got it shipped to Canada. Of course we have tea shops here but I like their concept the best.
I’m a recent convert to Earl Grey, but now I absolutely love it! You had tea shipped to Canada? That’s dedication! :)
yeah. tea and bonds underwear ;)
i’ve been adding twinings or madura earl grey to my tea mix for ever..i noticed a big difference in the flavour of the earl grey tea in the usa on a recent trip which has prompted me to look for an alternative brand..thanks for the serendipity celia..x
Jane, I drink my Earl Grey quite weak and without milk. The Tea Craft blend is a very gentle brew, and the tea leaves themselves have the most gorgeous aroma. Hope you like it as much as I do! :)
Thanks for sharing about the great service Celia. Another good Aussie site for herbal teas/infusions is Neo teas. I like the Brahmi memory tea. I don’t drink tea or coffee (shock horror!) but I brew Kombucha tea with black and green so I will have to try the Karavan blend.
Jo, the Karavan blend is very nice, but I keep going back to the Earl Grey – it’s delicious! :)
I just noticed this brand in the store today! I almost picked it up, but then I opted for Twinings’ Irish Breakfast Tea.
Big Boy and my brother-in-law really like the Twining’s Irish Breakfast as well! :)
We are away from home at the moment and getting a good coffee when I can’t drink dairy just now has been the challenge. Finally nailed it this morning! Tried tea and while I love tea throughout the day, it is coffee I crave first thing in the morning. Thank you for the contacts for good tea. I’ve also been less than impressed with a couple of T2 products.
Ardys, I saw, almond milk, how clever of you! Not sure what’s happening with T2 these days…
Double Roasters looks fab, I wish there were more places like that around here. And that tea looks beautiful – all those dried flowers are inspiring me to get on with planting my bergamot seeds!
Andrea, Sydney has a fabulous coffee culture – I do miss drinking it, but it did give me the shakes so badly!
Ooh, Earl Gray my favourite! How nice to find one you love Celia, I’d love to give it a try. I’ll have to check if they supply locally to any cafes? The karavan blend sounds lovely too, bergamot and rose – delicious!
Becca, give them a call or drop them a note on twitter – they’re quick to reply! :)
I’d just die without tea, honestly. I’m completely addicted and drink black tea in the morning and green tea in the afternoon.
Because it makes the difference between a happy me and a non-functioning me, I don’t skimp on quality these days, always buying from a local Adelaide source called T Bar who have a splendid range.
I was a fan of T2 in the early days, but they sold out last year to the multinational company, Unilever, so I’m not surprised that their quality is suffering now.
Amanda, how nice to have a local supplier of great tea! I know, because I feel like I’ve just found one too! :)
Sounds like a great company, Celia…. I enjoy tea but am still drinking my way through a pile of it… will look out for this one when I run out. : )
Liz, we all end up with so many teas, don’t we? Especially us herbal tea drinkers! I’ll have to do a sort through as well.. :)
I wish there were more places that shipped so fast! Lol. Nice coffee house.
Just so quick! I couldn’t believe it when the doorbell rang! :)
So nice of them to pack something for you. I agree with you, homegrown businesses must have our support. There are lovely teas all over :).
Julie
Gourmet Getways
Julie, it’s really nice to find something so local – always makes me happy! :)
Nice little sample pack. I am with you re home based products. And, you have the best road trips with your foody friends.
Francesca, I really do, it’s lovely that there are so many foodie enclaves to explore in Sydney!
I’m a complete and utter tea and coffee snob these days, or have a well developed palate for tea and coffee…one or the other. I would rather not drink it than, drink tea dust and poor coffee. The good stuff is so worth every cent :-)
Not a snob, you just have a discerning palate.. :)
I didn’t know you don’t drink coffee. I don’t drink coffee either! But then I also don’t drink tea. We have a T2 shop that’s just opened within about 100mtrs of my home. Every time I walk past I love the look of the shop but I have no reason to go in! I agree it’s good to support local businesses xx
I didn’t know you didn’t drink tea or coffee either! :D
What a great bunch of people to make a sample pack for you. The Karavan tea is a treat to look at and I like their packaging. Have you tried the Morrocan mint yet? I’d rather have quality rather than quantity and always make a point of really savouring whatever it is I have…..come to that I’ve only had one husband….but he’s quality all through:)
Jan, I haven’t tried that one yet, but I’m looking forward to it. So far I’ve had the Heal (lemongrass blend, gorgeous) and the Ceylon Orange Pekoe (used to be my favourite tea, and their version is very, very good). I do like a good Morrocan mint tea though, so I’ll get to it soon! Both our Peters are pretty fantastic, eh.. :D
Wonderful to learn about new teas and a company that cares :) After my essential 2 cups of morning coffee, I spend the rest of the day drinking a variety of tea… from various local boutique sources. Currently drinking green tea with dried lime peel from my friend Nancy Hunt Hip Herbal & Happening teas at Narrabri.
ED, dried lime peel sounds very appealing! I have to do a tea clean out of my pantry – lots of half open packet there that need sorting…
That’s me… I’m not buying more tea until I’ve drunk what’s there… it’ll be interesting by the end.
I am an equal opportunity hot beverage drinker… I enjoy both Tea and Coffee, however I can not stand Earl Grey… it tastes like dish water to me. I have tried so hard to like it but my taste buds just won’t conform :( I enjoy T2 teas, but I have to drive to Brisbane to buy them, however, I purchase a beautiful jasmine tea from my local Chinese restaurant…!
Liz, I’m a late Earl Grey adopter – I couldn’t drink it for ages because it was so perfumed. It wasn’t until I started drinking it black that I really understood what it was all about – for me, the milk confused all the flavours…
Celia this is perfect for me, thank you, I’ve always been a coffee drinker but have come to tea in (ahem) middle age. I’ve tried some really reputable teas but not been quite satisfied by them, perhaps this is the answer — your recommendations have never let me down.
Rose, that’s very kind of you to say that, I do worry sometimes when I recommend stuff that folks won’t like it. These guys really do make some very fine tea!
I love all kinds of tea, the herby healthy ones & green teas too! I also like the smoked tea Lapsang souchong !
That one’s a bit too smoky for me, Sophie! :)
I can drink one cup of caffeinated tea a day but more than that (as in several glasses of iced tea) ends up giving me breast pain which is quite common. I was sure I was dying of cancer a few years ago and the doctor said, “How much tea?” I said, “A lot.” She said, “Stop.” Pain went away.
I love Earl Grey tea and I don’t need milk with it.
Ooh, that’s interesting information, thanks Maureen!
With me now its one cup of coffee in the morning and a cup of tea in the afternoon. I also like my teas but as the doctor said one cup of each.
All these doctors bossing us around.. :) Glad you still get your cup of each every day! :)
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I’ve tried giving up a lot of things but tea (with caffeine) is on the ‘non negotiable’ list. I gave up for half a day once. Never again!
Pleased that you have discovered Tea Craft. I haven’t tried their Earl Grey but it sounds tempting. My favourites are Da Hong Pao ( Big Red Robe) and the Silver Needles, a white tea. I hope they take on your suggestion of samples.