Estate of origin

AUSTCS Queensland Ambassador Kym Cooper and owner of

The Steepery Tea Co on what's happening in the Brisbane tea scene.

Locally, as the spotlight shines on food systems and sourcing, driven by an adept group of foodies and the specialty coffee scene, I am really heartened to see that a similar interest in leaf tea is just starting to gain some momentum.

I see a growing demand for basic levels of tea knowledge that can be difficult to access for newcomers to leaf tea as the world of tea can be filled with myths and marketing spin. Tea education will continue to be important in the local market in providing consumers with a basic level of tea knowledge so they have the confidence to commence their own leaf tea journeys.

To demonstrate that it is possible to deliver a better and unique tea service we have also commenced a weekly tea service at Wandering Cooks. We are attempting to engage with consumers differently by showcasing a range of pure leaf tea and providing the skills to try a hand at different brewing styles (western versus eastern brewing) as well as being on hand to chat about all things tea.

The Brisbane Tea Meetup was created this year to build and connect the tea-loving community. It exists to celebrate all things tea and to promote a shared tea drinking experience and enjoyment of the leaf. The group is hungry for tea knowledge and is particularly fond of long gong fu cha sessions.

One of the upcoming events I am most excited to have brought to life is a visit to origin! We are so fortunate to have an incredible artisan tea maker, Arakai Estate, just north of Brisbane. This year we are taking the first group of Brisbane tea lovers to the estate to see how tea is grown and produced first hand.

As with all the tea events and community work that is happening in the southeast corner, my personal mission is to transfer factual knowledge and bring transparency to the tea industry. This will create better educated tea drinkers that have an appreciation for the origin, craft and culture that form the base for an exciting Australian tea culture.

All in a China Cup 

AUSTCS attendee Cheryl Teo reflects on the Tea Masters Cup

World Final held in China last month. 

Earlier this year, Flag & Spear Tea Hunter's Cheryl Teo won the Tea Preparation segment of the Tea Masters Cup Australia/New Zealand. (You can read more about how she prepared for the contest on her blog and in BeanScene magazine.) This meant she represented Australia at the Tea Masters Cup World Final, held over 25-30 September in China.

While her preparation was largely a matter of practice—"I ended up basing my finals performance on my Australian performance. I spent more time polishing my performance," she says—there were some new challenges along the way.

The first was the fact that although the Australian contest was held in her hometown of Melbourne, the finals were in Enshi, China, so luggage became a problem.

"It was difficult to plan what equipment I had to bring and how to pack it. There were a few pieces, for example a temperature controlled gooseneck kettle, that I didn't take with me which I ended up having to borrow," she explains. But it seems this was an issue encountered by many. "I also ended up loaning out equipment to other teams."

This collaborative effort was also evident in the contest itself, she says. "The participants all cheered each other on and helped each other out. The best moments were extended tea sessions that lasted until the wee hours of the morning. The greatest challenge was probably the lack of sleep!"

And while Cheryl didn't become a world champion (this time!), she did end up with something more precious: a full week with some of the "most passionate and knowledgeable tea people in the world", including, funnily enough, a good number of engineers.

"The main thing that surprised me was the number of participants and judges who are or were engineers, myself included," she reports. "I would estimate the ratio at about one to three. I would put it down to the combination of the creative and analytical/technical aspects of tea that draws in engineer types."

The weeklong jaunt also included visits to tea plantations and factories, as well as social events such as gala dinners, shows and a cruise down the Yangtze River.

FAQs for AUSTCS 2017

Q: How do I nominate a location for AUSTCS 2018?

A: While voting for the location of AUSTCS 2018 is limited to the delegates attending AUSTCS 2017, nominations are open to anyone. You can put forward a potential place and time for AUSTCS 2018 using this survey link.

Q: Is the seminar tax deductible?

A: If you run a business with strong ties to tea, whether as an educator, wholesaler, retailer, hospitality business, or consultancy, you are more than likely eligible for a tax deduction for all expenses related to AUSTCS, including seminar ticket, accommodation, and travel expenses.

When you paid for your ticket you will have received a Paypal invoice with our ABN details on it, which you can use to make your claim. If you are unable to locate this invoice we would be more than happy to reissue it.

Please take a look at the Australian Tax Office website and consult your accountant for details of eligible tax deductions.