About terroir
Terroir is a French term that loosely translates to “a sense of place.” It’s best described as the relationship between a growing region and its end product. Latitude, water, weather systems, soil, choice of cultivar, garden practice, topography, altitude, plant environment and insects are all part of terroir.
Visit About terroir for more information about how this relates to our teas.
That depends on which country the tea comes from, but the two main countries which classify their tea in this way are Sri Lanka and Taiwan.
Ceylon is the former name of Sri Lanka and has become synonymous with the black tea produced in this country. The types of Ceylon (black) tea are specific to the elevation at which they’re grown:
High Grown Ceylon is at elevations from 1,200 – 2,286 metres (4,000 – 7,500 feet)- Medium Grown Ceylon covers tea grown between 548 metres – 1,200 metres (1,800 – 4,000 feet)
- Low Grown Ceylon is grown from 457 – 548 metres (1,500 – 1,800 feet)
In Taiwan, the elevations for the tea growing regions are:
- High Altitude (High Mountain) teas are grown from 1,000 - 2600 metres (3,000 – 8,530 feet)
- Low Altitude teas are grown below 800 metres (2,624 feet)
Tea quality, packaging and storage
The simple answer is no. The tea farmers pride themselves on the craftsmanship of each of their unique teas and the flavour they provide. We do not add anything to get in the way of these great flavours, meaning everything you taste is based solely on the tea and the processing method of the farmer.
We spend hours tasting many teas each season to ensure you have only the most unique and freshest tasting tea in your order.
In the case of a blended tea like our Ceylon Chai, we blend using only pure spices. Our teas are never accentuated with any flavourings of any kind – natural or artificial.
The teas are packaged in foil lined, heat sealed, stand-up pouches with resealable zipper tops to ensure you receive the best possible flavour in each and every tea.
Tea should always be stored out of direct sunlight in a cool, dry place. The stand-up pouches have a zipper enclosure, so they stay well sealed and protect your teas from oxygen and moisture.
Alternatively, you can store your teas in a metal or ceramic canister with a tight fitting lid. Exceptions to the basic storage rule would be any aged teas like our Alishan High Mtn Aged Eco Red, which will continue to age best in their original wrapping or a lidded ceramic urn.
Shipping costs and delivery details
Based on the parcel box size and Australia Post rates, we charge the following shipping fees for domestic and international orders:
- Free shipping within Australia for orders $50+ and international orders $75+.
- Australian domestic orders up to 250 grams is $10.60 AUD for a Small Parcel box that measures 22cm x 16cm x 7cm. Suitable for several pouches of semi-ball rolled oolongs that lay flat or 2-3 small (25g or 50g) pouches of other teas.
- Australian domestic orders up to 500 grams is $10.60 AUD for a Medium Parcel box that measures 43cm x 31cm x 13cm. Suitable for all teas including large pouches (50g and 100g).
- International orders are up to 500 grams for a Small or Medium Parcel box. The rate depends on the region and the shipping method selected:
- New Zealand: Australia Post Standard is $16 up to 250 grams and $20 for up to 500 grams.
- USA: we use Australia Post to ship to the USA and it's $18 for up to 250 grams and $23 for up to 500 grams. Deliveries can take 10 to 20 business days and longer during the holidays.
- Canada: we use Australia Post to ship to Canada and it's $18 for up to 250 grams and $23 for up to 500 grams. Deliveries can take 10 to 20 business days and longer during the holidays.
- Europe & UK: International Economy Air is $26 and International Post Standard is $30.
- Asia: due to extreme postal delays, we are currently not shipping to Asia.
As most teas are delicate, they are always shipped in a box to ensure the leaves are not damaged during transit. Please note: each pouch used to package the tea weighs 10 grams and the box weighs 100 - 180 grams, so this is considered when calculating the shipping cost.
We are not responsible for Customs duties and taxes that may be charged by other countries.
Please contact us if your order exceeds 500 grams and we will provide an estimated shipping cost.
Your order will be dispatched as soon as your payment is processed and your address has been verified. Orders received after 5pm AEDT Monday to Friday and on the weekend will be sent on the next business day.
Please note: we are on a break from Oct 23 to Nov 23. Orders placed during this time will be dispatched from Nov 24.
Orders within Australia usually take 4 to 5 business days, but can take up to 10 business days. If your shipping address is in a rural area, please allow longer to receive your order.
Absolutely! After you add items to your shopping cart, check out and make a payment using Visa or Mastercard. All transactions will be charged in Australian Dollars (AUD). Any foreign currency exchange rates or fees are at the discretion of your credit card company.
The shipping charge will depend on your country. Orders $75+ are shipped for free.
- International orders are up to 500 grams for a Small or Medium Parcel box. The rate depends on the region and the shipping method selected:
- New Zealand: Australia Post Standard is $16 up to 250 grams and $20 for up to 500 grams.
- USA: we use Australia Post to ship to the USA and it's $18 for up to 250 grams and $23 for up to 500 grams. Deliveries can take 10 to 20 business days and longer during the holidays.
- Canada: we use Australia Post to ship to Canada and it's $18 for up to 250 grams and $23 for up to 500 grams. Deliveries can take 10 to 20 business days and longer during the holidays.
- Europe & UK: International Economy Air is $26 and International Post Standard is $30.
- Asia: due to extreme postal delays, we are currently not shipping to Asia.
Please note: each pouch used to package the tea weighs 10 grams and the box weighs 100 - 180 grams, so this is considered when calculating the shipping cost.
Overseas restrictions and Customs delays may affect delivery times. We are not responsible for Customs duties and taxes that may be charged by other countries.