Tea and Me

Many people ask me how I got into tea, and why the passion…well here’s my story.

Growing up in a small seaside village on the south coast of NSW I helped in my parents’ tea rooms. My other sisters did as well. It started out just as an idea. My mother was a fabulous cook, and my father was a keen gardener who loved growing home produce. That’s when he wasn’t working as a mechanical engineer in the big smoke. Someone, I can’t quite remember who, suggested my mother open a tea rooms, and offer light lunches and sweet treats to visitors to the area. The seed was planted, and Articles Tea Rooms opened in 1981.

This is how my love affair of tea all started.

At the ripe old age of nine I held a very important position in the tea rooms, and that was “Head of Drying Up”. I took my role seriously and I don’t recall ever complaining as I got pocket money for turning up each weekend. The worst part was when I was sent home if it was slow….only to receive a call on arriving back home (on the home phone then!) to say “turn around and come back… and run, we have a full house!”.

As I got a bit older, other duties were introduced such as serving meals, taking orders and wait for it…making tea! Back then I think my parents were quite progressive as they served “real” loose leaf tea in handmade pottery teapots with a tea strainer! No teabags! From memory I think it was only English Breakfast or Earl Grey (shortened as EB or Earl). Devonshire tea was shortened to Dev. The orders were hung on a string above the sink by pegs with acronyms.

I learnt a lot during those years about people. It really opened my eyes, and one thing I remember is that our customers kept coming back.

I think they loved the tradition of taking a Sunday drive to somewhere special that reminded them of yester year. Somewhere where they felt at home and could enjoy a nice cup of tea and something homecooked to eat with family, friends and loved ones. Or sometimes they would come on their own to enjoy some sweet solace.

In 1988 we moved across the road and opened Hargraves Tea Garden – a lovely turn of the century old post master’s residence with magnificent gardens. It was a very special property - you could feel it in its walls and the undulating garden.?My mum was given the owner’s blessing (the daughters of the former postmaster and his lovely wife) to continue to grow her tea rooms there. This was when interest rates soared to 22% so not the ideal time to be buying property or opening a business! But we managed. Dad continued to work seven days a week, and on weekends he served tea and coffee, scones, cakes and mum’s famous light lunches.

It wouldn’t happen that often as we used to sell out a lot, but sometimes we got to eat the leftovers. And cake for breakfast! That was my favourite. Inevitably there would be some bargaining between the daughters (I have two sisters) about who ended up with what. My childhood and later my teenage years, were filled with the comings and goings of running a tearoom until the business was sold.

After working in Holland for several years, I decided that I wanted to make a sea change and return back to the land of Oz to the village I grew up. That’s probably not that noteworthy, however the old post master’s residence was empty again after many iterations of restaurants and cafes in the same building…so I decided to have a go at running my own tea rooms. This time it was Tea by the Sea that was born.

With the help of Dad and my partner in crime, we transformed the tired little home into once again a thriving 80-seat tearoom, giftshop and garden. It was given a complete facelift and the Tea by the Sea brand grew from a tiny seed. I grew with it. It was a journey of self-discovery, of resilience, and creativity. There were many arguments, blood, sweat and tears to create that dream, and once again revive the spirit of the place. This was a huge achievement, one which I am very proud. But it wasn’t easy.

Running a small business comes with all sorts of challenges, I really had no idea when I opened my own tearooms. I pretty much learnt everything on the job. I am forever grateful as it gave me a new appreciation of what my parents achieved and sustained all those years ago. My tea rooms specialised in high tea and special events. It wasn’t all roses and sunshine but during my time managing Tea by the Sea, I met some incredible people and built a team from the ground up and established wonderful relationships with customers, suppliers, and other local businesses.

Today, I am one of Australia’s founding tea masters gaining my certification with Australian Tea Masters in 2012. I went on to become a certified tea blender and have made beautiful bespoke blends for some truly inspiring people. I have a wonderful tea mentor who I share amazing loose-leaf teas with. We talk about the stars, and how beautiful the leaves are as they unfurl in the cup and read the pictures they uniquely form. I have a collection of 96 teacups…(ok, maybe a few more). I wake up each day and take the time to drink a first flush Darjeeling from a teapot and a fine china teacup. Without it, the day doesn’t feel quite right.

So there you have it, my love affair with tea started when I was just a young girl. I guess tea is in my blood. Who would have known back then drying dishes what the future had in store for me.?

About Suzi Browne

Suzi Browne is a freelance writer, marketing communications consultant and tea sommelier.