Imagine a store filled floor to ceiling with teas. Different types, flavours and teaware, all for you to gaze at in wonder. Each type of tea has its own pot on a table for you to sniff at, and if you really want to, the people who work there will whip up a sample for you to try then and there.
Welcome to the T2 tea shop, just recently opened in London.
Originating in Australia, the creative director Maryanne Shearer realised there was a gap in the market for a 'true retail experience in the tea category'. The brand started just over 18 years ago, and since then has now branched out throughout Australia, New Zealand, the United States, and now the UK.
Recently, Liam and I travelled down to London to celebrate our anniversary. Heading down to the famous Oxford Street, we were wandering a bit aimlessly when we were approached by a couple of friendly people with pitchers of Strawberries and Cream Iced Tea. And boy oh boy was it yummy. After a while of browsing, we finally decided to head back to the store and have a mini splurge to treat ourselves to some Iced Tea for our new apartment.
Needless to say when we entered, we were a tad overwhelmed. Being used to generic tea bags, we had no idea where to start! Normally, I'm not the biggest tea fan - Liam loves it a heck of a lot more than I do, and both of us had no clue on what flavours to go for, what tools/instruments we'd need etc.
Thankfully, there's a huge, round table full of small dishes of each flavour for you to sniff your way through. If you're mad about tea, you could honestly spend hours working your way around the table and deciding what to go for. The staff are absolutely wonderful too - just think how friendly Lush staff are, right? The people in T2 are like the Lush staff of tea!
One of the ladies was kind enough to talk me and Liam through what equipment we would need for our new adventures with loose tea, and I honestly can't thank her enough. I think we would have been a little lost without her help!
From flavours such as 'New York Breakfast' to 'Choc Chip Chai', there's pretty much something to suit everyones taste. As of yet, it only seems like there are stores down South, but as a new convert to the ways of tea, I'm praying they will open more across the country soon. For now, it seems like I'll be risking it on their online store, and trusting my judgement when it comes to product names.
So far we've only recreated the Strawberries and Cream Iced Tea (still as delicious as ever by the way) and Liam has had a warm cup of 'Senca Peach'. It's a healthy alternative for us, considering we would usually go through a 2 litre bottle of coke a day. Now though, we have a nice cold pitcher of Iced Tea awaiting us in the fridge!
Are you a tea lover? Have you tried T2 teas before? Or what is the best tea you've ever had? Let me know in the comments below - I'm looking out for new flavours to try!
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