Tea drinkers will agree that the process of drinking tea — waiting for it to brew and sipping it leisurely (for tea cannot be gulped) — is intensely therapeutic. The ritual invites a moment of pause regardless of how busy life feels, and in a time where we’re constantly on deadline, adhering to manic schedules and rushing from one thing to the next, this ritual is as much a luxury as it is a necessity.  

That tea, in all its leisurely, restorative glory, is a ritual that ought to be respected and preserved is what inspired Becci Fowler to open her first tea boutique a decade ago in the beachside town of Newcastle. The Tea Collective began as Fowler’s way to bring high quality teas, many of which were difficult to find and source in Australia, to the masses — starting with her own coastal community.  

Creating more than 120 hand-blended teas from her brick-and-mortar store, The Tea Collective had won Best Tea Menu in Australia and Best Tea House in NSW within six months of opening. Word of Fowler’s exquisite blends spread, and the brand expanded their offerings to include bath soaks and candles. Now, 10 years after opening its first boutique, The Tea Collective has landed at the QVB.  

Inspired by old-fashioned apothecaries, The Tea Collective’s QVB outpost features walls lined with glossy black jars, filled with over 100 unique tea blends ranging from Japanese matchas to Australian botanical blends. While traditional teas like black, green and oolong are among the best sellers, The Tea Collective’s Gingerbread Chai has amassed plenty of fans, as has its Blueberry Sencha and Chocolate Coconut Chai. If you’re a tea traditionalist, there’s plenty there for you too. Take their organic English Breakfast — it’s crafted from a blend of Indian and Ceylon black tea and comes in both loose leaf and bag form (in fact, most of their teas do).  

Tea lover or brew curious, The Tea Collective’s charming QVB store is worth a visit just to see (and smell) it. Find The Tea Collective on Level 1. 

Image: @the.tea.collective