Where can you get decent, affordable tea leaves?

Question on 27/03/2016 - 07:50
Last edited 27/03/2016 - 08:03

I tried out Kinkara and Nerada leaf tea from the supermarkets. They just taste like slightly bitter water with zero flavour at all. Infact, they taste WORSE than teabags. I don't even know how that is possible.

I've tried T2. I made a small initial order, and then had to pay a crazy amount for shipping because they insisted on shipping my order in an expensive, heavy box complete with unnecessary items. I don't want to pay extra for fancy packaging.

Cheapest place i've found so far is www.tealeaves.com.au but their prices appear to have increased in the last few years…they used to have really cheap specials at 50% off, but that required you to buy a 500g bag which takes ages to finish. Their special now appears to be 30% off for a 500g bag…still a decent price, but I would like to get about 200g of tea which is a more manageable size for me. Unfortunatly their non-sale price seems to be about $10 per 100g…

Most online places I have seen are $10 per 100g as well.

I really liked the english breakfast tea that i got from tealeaves.com.au though, that had amazing flavour. Can't stand earl grey (it feels like i'm drinking some weird orange mixture) but i'm pretty open to trying stuff out.

Any suggestions?

Edit : Forgot to mention that I really hate paying $8-9 to deliver a 200g bag of tea that costs $10-20. So an instore alternative owuld be nice.

Food & Grocery

Comments

  • Elppa8 on 27/03/2016 - 09:38
    +1

    Adore tea

    Based in Canberra so you will still have to pay postage via AusPost unless your order is over $70

  • scrimshaw on 27/03/2016 - 10:10
    +1

    I still drink the Twinings brand English breakfast tea.

    There are probably better brands out there but I can't be arsed to pay shipping when I can waltz into a Woolies to buy a 40PK box for less than $4.50.

    • Question on 27/03/2016 - 17:35
      +9

      Those are not tea leaves dude.

      • scrimshaw on 27/03/2016 - 18:01
        +2

        Forgive my casual tea drinking habits, I'm one of those blue collar plebs who still brew tea by putting a teabag into a teacup.

      • gummibear on 27/03/2016 - 21:39

        What's it actually made of?

      • gimli on 28/03/2016 - 12:12
        +3

        twinning do sell loose leaf tea

        you can find loose leaf tea by madura and i think dilmah in you local supermarket.

        I haven't tried twinings loose leaf but madura and dilmah loose leaf were OK.

        Madura i think sells indian tea (Assam) where as Dilmah is sri lankan.

        Unless you are after flavoured loose leaf black tea I think you should be able to find something at your local colesworth.

      • Musing Outloud on 29/03/2016 - 19:56
        +2

        All depends on your own taste. My Mum likes very strong tea so drinks 'Billy Tea'. It comes in both bags and loose leaf. The bags and loose leaf are at some Woolworths and IGA/Foodworks. The way my Mum likes it, you could almost stand a spoon up in it. Very strongly flavoured. My Mum also has Bushells tea on hand too.

        Neither is my preference, but live with it when I visit. But if Madura, Nerada and Twinnings taste to you like someone waved some tea leaf dust over boiling water then it could be worth a try.

        When Twinnings was bought out some years back, the accountants took over and ruined it. Their tea is now made from the fannings of shredded paper from the accountants's adding machines. It's living on its old reputation now just like Cadbury is since Mondelez took them over. The new accountants from Mondelez have cheapened the processing so Cadbury chocolate is now gritty and dry.

        I guess the accountants in Mergers and Aquisitions get paid too much to worry about buying the product they cut costs on!?

  • KahluaKhan on 27/03/2016 - 11:08
    +1

    Not knowing where you are but McIvers in Melbourne's Queen Vic market sells good tea.
    http://www.mcivers.melbourne

    • Question on 27/03/2016 - 17:36

      Ahhh forgot to mention it but i am in sydney eastern suburbs.

      • youbeokay on 29/03/2016 - 15:13

        I like Kings Cross

  • froggym on 27/03/2016 - 12:54
    +2

    You could always take a look at Aliexpress. I know buying from China is a bit nerve racking but they have a rating system and you can always do your research first. My partner brought a lot of tea home from China and it is just so much better than what we have here.

    • Question on 27/03/2016 - 17:35

      Do they have any black teas though?

      • red-hot on 27/03/2016 - 18:12
        +1

        They're sure to have Oolong & Pu-erh tea from China.
        I have started drinking Peppermint tea from my own mint bush. The benefits are amazing!

        • Question on 27/03/2016 - 20:52

          Yea i know but im looking for black teas.

        • red-hot on 27/03/2016 - 20:55
          +1

          @Question: said "I'm pretty open to trying stuff out"

          Oolong tea is a product made from the leaves, buds, and stems of the Camellia sinensis plant.
          This is the same plant that is also used to make black tea and green tea.
          The difference is in the processing. Oolong tea is partially fermented, black tea is fully fermented, and green tea is unfermented.

        • bluesky on 27/03/2016 - 21:17
          +2

          That sounds really nice, to pluck fresh peppermint from your own plant, and make tea from it :-). I have a mint plant, but not sure if it is peppermint. Can any mint do for tea? or does it have to be peppermint?

        • Question on 27/03/2016 - 21:51
          +1

          @red-hot: Yea i meant that i was open to trying different types of black tea.

        • red-hot on 27/03/2016 - 23:00
          +1

          @bluesky:
          Yes, any mint will do. https://www.google.com.au/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=http…

        • bluesky on 27/03/2016 - 23:04

          @red-hot: Thanks! :-)

  • bluesky on 27/03/2016 - 20:29
    +2

    Can you get to a David Jones? Which will save you shipping costs.

    Some of the fairly nice teas are quite decently priced, e.g.

    Taylors of Harrogate Englist Breakfast 125g for $9.95

    Taylors of Harrogate Yorkshire Gold Loose Tea 250g for $11.95

    Fortnum and Mason Breakfast Tea Tin 250g for 29.95 - a bit more expensive at $12/100g - but comes in a nice tin.

    I have had some really nice Fortnum&Mason teas, although might not have tried this particular one.

    Here's a look at their entire range

    • Question on 27/03/2016 - 20:56

      The nearest david jones is a bus ride away but thats still OK. Didnt know they carried tea leaves…

      The 250g for $12 looks good. It seems to be much cheaper than the rest, any idea why?

      • bluesky on 27/03/2016 - 21:00

        I think it is considered your everyday drinking tea, esp in UK. I have tried it at a friend's, think it was OK. (Don't remember thinking it was not nice etc)

  • Question on 27/03/2016 - 22:33

    By the way does anyone have any opinions on other supermarket leaf teas?

    • bluesky on 27/03/2016 - 22:58

      I find the Twinning loose tea leaf which can be bought from supermarkets to be OK too.

      Of course taste differ from person to person. Have you tried them before? And if so, what do you think of them?

      • Question on 28/03/2016 - 00:49

        Only ones ive tried were kinkara and nerada leaf tea, which had no flavour whatsoever. I have no idea why though.

        • gimli on 28/03/2016 - 12:17

          Nerada had no flavour because it has no flavour. Its good if you like drinking hot water…

  • cmc on 27/03/2016 - 23:23
    +1

    If you join the T2 Tea Society you will receive frequent offers of free delivery. I find their range and depth of flavour to be brilliant and mix their tea with Twinings to cut costs.
    https://www.t2tea.com/tea-society/how-do-i-signup-for-tea-so…

    • Question on 28/03/2016 - 00:50

      Yes but i cant afford $10 per 100g teas.

      • cmc on 28/03/2016 - 01:32
        +1

        Try Madura from the supermarket. Australian producer and their English Breakfast is around $3 for 100g.
        Their chai is great if you'd like to try something different.

        • pennae on 28/03/2016 - 11:29
          +1

          Second Madura - it's not bad. There's black tea and green tea, both leaves and bags. I always buy it as a gift when visiting o/s because it's one of the few Aussie-made teas that's easy to get.

        • bluesky on 28/03/2016 - 15:41

          @pennae: Since they have a NSW plantation, at first, I thought the teas all come from their plantation. Which makes for attractive Aussie gift for overseas people.

          Upon careful reading, they mix imported tea into the blend. Since they do not disclose how much of their own tea is used, it is no longer that attractive as an Aussie gift. Still Aussie-made though.

        • pennae on 28/03/2016 - 15:57

          @bluesky: yeh, and it's all about the packaging ;)

  • OZB Al on 28/03/2016 - 08:01

    I buy this English Breakfast tea from Coffee Snobs and it is very good. They also sell Irish Breakfast, Orange Pekoe and of course coffee.

    Otherwise check out your local Asian supermarket.

    • red-hot on 28/03/2016 - 12:10
      +1

      I, too, thought of Asian grocery shop tea leaves, but on researching, they seem not that fresh.

      • gimli on 28/03/2016 - 12:18

        What tea do you drink? TBH if it is black it does not need to be super fresh. This is not coffee we are talking about.

      • Sweetnsour on 28/03/2016 - 23:12
        +1

        You can get loose leaf teas individual sealed in 25g packs in 250g lots (like a share pack). Open each one as needed to maintain freshness. Usually only available in oolong and puer varieties. May take searching around Chinese grocery stores.

  • adamvlad on 28/03/2016 - 08:37
    +3

    I am drinking my Madura leaf tea right now with honey and a slice of lemon - tea paradise! As cmc says it's an Ethical, Australian company and readily available in most supermarkets.

  • msmhw on 28/03/2016 - 09:16

    I like this from Woolworth https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRsQpS3…

    700g for $15.99, sometimes you find it in store for $12.99
    https://www.woolworths.com.au/Shop/Browse/pantry-internation…

    It's reasonable, try to add it to water when it get worm. Let it cook under heat for at least 7 minutes.

  • SammyOz on 28/03/2016 - 09:25
    +1

    I drink Barry's from Ireland, which my mother bulk buys direct and we split the shipping. Ends up about $10 per 250g box landed which is excellent value.

    I see you can buy from iHerb as well:

    http://au.iherb.com/Barry-s-Tea-Loose-Leaf-Tea-Gold-Blend-25…

    • bluesky on 28/03/2016 - 19:48
      +1

      Hi SammyOz,
      I am interested to try Barry's tea.

      Coles stock the Gold Blend, although in teabags - which is the easiest way for me to try it.

      Searching a bit, I find that they have different blends as well: Classic, Gold, Original. Trying to get a stronger tea, suitable for drinking with added milk.

      Would you characterize the Gold Blend one as rather strong and full-flavor?

      Thanks in advance.

      Edit: I found what draws me to this tea in the first place - your iherb link has a good review and says it is "the best cup of strong tea" ..

    • h0mbre on 29/03/2016 - 08:42
      +1

      Barry's tea is pretty good, I used to trade teas with a few of the Irish fellas at work and was quite impressed with Barry's.
      Ended up buying it myself a few times since.

  • pdperth on 28/03/2016 - 10:16

    You can get 2 kilo delivered for 20% off and free delivery. I buy, 2 kilos at a time from tealeaves.com.au, around $80, Cheap really given the enjoyment. You get another 10% off for enrolling in their email list I think.

    Phil d

  • airzone on 28/03/2016 - 10:40
    +1

    Cameron highlands in Malaysia… Affordable when you get a cheap air asia fare.

    • bluesky on 28/03/2016 - 16:11

      This is very true. One of my very favourite teas is this:

      BOH BUKIT CHEEDING NO.53 125G. It is a strong broken flowery orange pekoe, full-bodied and flavoursome.

      This description found at site, might be the same as on the tin:

      This garden tea is a full-flavoured Broken Orange Pekoe breakfast tea. Its strong, brisk character stimulates the mind making it perfect for starting the day. Embodied with robust flavours and an enduring taste, this Bukit Cheeding No. 53 gets its character from the exceptional conditions of our lowland plantation and is best served with milk and sugar.

      Bukit Cheeding No. 53 is one of of BOH’s "Garden Teas", each pure and unblended from a single tea garden, and selected for their superb and unique character.

      It works out to be only AUD 5 or 6 the last time I bought it.

      They can probably be bought at the KL/Langkawi airport during stopover(?) They are certainly sold at some supermarkets there.

      But nothing beats visiting one of the Boh Tea plantations in Cameron Highlands, enjoy a cuppa in the beautiful scenery/surroundings and then buying the teas back.

      But note, although packaging similar, some of their teas are very mild, delicate, and for drinking without milk, e.g.:
      BOH Palas Afternoon tea which does not suit me.

      Note: they are much cheaper than shown at these sites, if bought in Malaysia.

  • padman on 28/03/2016 - 10:49
    +1

    You can try getting them from ebay. These two stores seem popular among tea connoisseurs.

    http://stores.ebay.com.au/Dragon-Tea-House?_rdc=1
    http://stores.ebay.com.au/China-Tea-Herbal?_rdc=1

  • abm77 on 28/03/2016 - 11:15

    I feel your pain mate! I have the same problem since I moved in Australia, there's just no good tea in supermarkets or special stores for a reasonable price. I always thought that in Australia it shouldn't be a problem at all since English roots, can't find an explanation.
    I, personally, buy these
    dilmah premium quality loose leaf tea, 4.69$
    lipton quality tips loose leaf tea, 4.39$
    I wouldn't call them good, but at least they are not as awful as nerada, meldura etc. and available in supermarkets. In SA there's a Foodland supermarkets chain - they have a better selection of teas (and everything for that matter)

    And last but not least - try your local Asian store, they sometimes have a nice selection of Chinese teas and the do have a black tea (Yunnan black tea), it's not the same as your fav English breakfast, but it is black and has a very strong and reach taste. If you never tried I would really recommend to check it out, it's my fav now. Last time I bought it it was about 8$ for 250g bag

    And online I would recommend http://www.ahmadtea.com.au/shop/index.html
    Tea is very godd, price a bit more than I've used to pay for it. :(
    Good luck! and please let as know what You learn in the end!

    • cannedhams on 29/03/2016 - 10:31

      I like Lipton Quality Tips as well, tastes just like PG Tips to me, which I also like. I also like the Madura Premium Tea, which people have recommended upthread.

    • Question on 29/03/2016 - 10:32

      Yunann black tea…yea i guess i will try that if i can find it. Any idea how to tell if it will be fresh though?

  • Cluster on 28/03/2016 - 15:10
    +1

    Avoid expensive middlemen like T2, with fancy shops in shopping centers. Do you have a Chinatown or Asian grocery stores in your area? Try those. Loose leaf tea is standard in those shops with few teabags in sight.

    • Question on 29/03/2016 - 10:26

      There are asian supermarkets here, but the tea is all chinese brands in non-english packaging or the regular instant brands. Never seen any normal black teas there either.

  • Tony-Abbott on 28/03/2016 - 15:42
    -5

    There is a little company based in Vic. I think they have great tea products and taste fantastic.

    http://www.tealeaves.com.au/

    • Bren20 on 28/03/2016 - 17:11

      Decided not to read the OP before commenting? neg from me

  • loulou20 on 28/03/2016 - 18:20
    +1

    If you live near Botany there's the 'Taste of Ireland' shop its in an industrial unit on Stephens Road, and their teabags (Lyons tea) is really nice. I know you wanted tea leaves, but these are worth buying.

  • srr on 28/03/2016 - 20:30

    Dilmah works for me

  • denuto on 28/03/2016 - 22:31

    I make tea in a teapot with teabags - it tastes like tea, but it's a whole lot easier to clean out the teapot. And I'm with you on teas having no flavour, but I drink and enjoy Lan Choo, which you can buy in most supermarkets, as teabags or loose tea. Try it.

    • cmc on 29/03/2016 - 00:00
      +2

      I use a one-cup coffee plunger with tea leaves - much easier to rinse out than a teapot.

      • cardboardbox on 29/03/2016 - 08:06
        +2

        If you have local Daiso, pop in and buy a pack of $2.80 tea bags for loose leaf tea. They're just little sachets you fill yourself with loose leaf tea and makes teapot / one cup tea cleaning a whole lot easier.

        They also get a look in when making stews to hold the spices and those sneaky sneaky star anise.

        They look like this: http://www.amazon.com/Daiso-Japan-Filter-3-7x2-8inch-100pcs/…

    • lainey13 on 02/04/2016 - 12:38

      I use my teeth as a tea strainer

  • cardboardbox on 28/03/2016 - 23:17
    +1

    If you really like tea, go to the Tea Centre. They have amazing range and sell by the weight. Prices are not dissimilar to David Jones but you're not paying for packaging. There is one on Pitt St Mall in the Piccadilly Centre.

    https://www.theteacentre.com.au/

  • h0mbre on 29/03/2016 - 08:55
    +2

    The staple teas sold in our supermarkets are quite horrible.
    I've tried everything.
    When it comes to supermarket tea, you can sometimes get Barry's at Coles (mostly bags though not loose).
    Yorkshire Tea when on special is a very good deal (I think Taylors of Harrogate make a pretty good black tea blend for the price).
    My other pick is Mahmood Tea - Ceylon black from Arab ethnic stores.
    Usually around $5 and a very nice flavour for the price.

    Lipton Yellow Label from India/Pakistan is completely different (to me at least) to the Yellow Label sold here, very annoying because that would be a solid cost effective tea.

    Tea is quite subjective, so many variables to alter the experience.
    Lots of these tea bags are made for the waters of their target market, such as the UK teas.
    Type of milk if had with milk will alter the taste as well.
    Brewing methods etc etc etc

    I drink my tea with milk, cardamom, clove and sometimes a little ginger so my reviews are based on how the tea tastes in that combination.

  • IMFrugl on 29/03/2016 - 09:11
    +1

    My wife and I dring a lot of tea, and our taste leans toward strong, rich tea. The best source we found is the Indian shops which sells large bottles of loose leaf tea. The weight is typically 0.8kg to 1kg for the largest bottles I think. They are made of tea leaves grown in India and usually marked 'export quality'. I'm not sure of the brands, but we usually get one with an orange label or another with a dark green label. I think the orange one is called Madura.

    Our emergency resort is Lipton loose leaf tea from WW or Coles. As mentioned by others above, Malaysian Boh or Lipton is excellent too if you can find them.

    Gourmet Chinese teas are best from the Chinese shops, usually in very small tins. I find Oolong too strong, but those with roses, jasmine etc are great. The tins are small, but you only need about 1/8 - 1/2 teaspoon for a pot. Good for night or an evening meal.

  • garmibear on 29/03/2016 - 10:10

    Sorry, I don't know about price-wise but I remember contributing to a forum post where you might some more places to try https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/211523

  • [Deactivated] on 29/03/2016 - 10:49

    Coffee Club English Breakfast tea leaves. 500g bag costs $20. Stronger than T2 and works out cheaper than even Twinings. We are big tea drinkers (fussy too) and this is the only tea I drink. Sometimes you have to order it in but my local Coffee Club usually has it in stock.

  • hamwhisperer on 29/03/2016 - 11:10
    +1

    I think Fiji (?) brand red / yellow tin, jasmine tea. Have done for 4 or 5 years now, no sugar no milk. Same stuff that's free on tables at Vietnamese restaraunts, it's a very very drinkable tea, apparently good for you.
    1/5 the caffeine of coffee.

  • joshykins on 29/03/2016 - 14:00

    Madura Premium loose leaf. affordable, flavourful etc. Woolies, Coles

  • curlycee on 29/03/2016 - 17:48
    +1

    I briefly scanned through the comments, and I didn't see any mention of Teabox?
    Order from Teabox, it will change your life.

  • surm on 29/03/2016 - 19:07
    +1

    What about these loose leaf tea? They are sold in supermarkets so you don't have to pay shipping

    http://onlineshop.dilmah.com.au/teas-by-format/loose-leaf-te…

  • cycleri3 on 29/03/2016 - 19:36

    Try local Indian grocery stores. Most of them sell pretty high quality teas directly imported from India and are usually pretty cheap.

  • baybeans on 23/03/2017 - 15:01

    captain here.

    http://www.buytea.com.au has free delivery anywhere in Australia on all quality loose leaf tea and pyramid tea bags. I know cause I pack em!

    /flies away!

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