Tea Drop Turns Twenty
Founder Ashok started Tea Drop after recognising the need for high-quality tea in Australia.
Tea Drop has established itself as a leading tea brand, aiming to introduce people to the diverse world of tea through unique and memorable blends. The company's artisanal team meticulously selects and sources tea leaves, ensuring they are hand-picked, ethically obtained, and treated with care. Every batch is tasted and approved by their master blender, who draws on decades of family traditions. Tea Drop prioritises small-batch and seasonal leaves to guarantee optimal freshness and flavour.
The company offers a comprehensive product range tailored for the food and beverage industry, including boutique and five-star hotels, specialty coffee roasters, and high-end restaurants and bars across Australia, Asia, and Europe. Their blends are exclusive to the hospitality sector and are crafted from the finest ingredients. Tea Drop also provides curated tea lists and service education to empower their partners to deliver the best tea experiences.
Tea Drop is committed to sustainability. Their pyramid tea bags, introduced in 2004, are made from plant-based materials and are free of microplastics. The company uses eco-friendly packaging and collaborates with partners to minimise plastic use. Tea Drop is also a member of the Ethical Tea Partnership, which aims to create a sustainable and equitable tea industry, benefiting workers, farmers, and the environment.
Founder Ashok Dias, with over 25 years of experience in hospitality, started Tea Drop after recognising the need for high-quality tea in Australia. Inspired by his heritage and the encouragement of a mentor, Ashok dedicated himself to learning everything about specialty tea, from sourcing to blending. His mission is to replicate the variety and quality enjoyed by specialty coffee drinkers in the tea world. Ashok remains actively involved in product development and maintains strong relationships with ethical tea suppliers.
Tea Drop's Brew Bar in the bustling South Melbourne Market offers a perfect spot to relax and people-watch while enjoying their unique tea blends. Smartly designed and staffed by tea enthusiasts, it provides an experimental space for tea preparation using new and unique brewing tools.
Launched to mark Tea Drop's 10th anniversary, the Brew Bar aligns with the market's focus on fresh produce, creating a haven for tea enthusiasts to explore and enjoy unique tea experiences.
Tea Drop's product range includes popular blends like Honeydew Green, English Breakfast, Chamomile Blossoms, and Jasmine Dragon Pearl Tea. They also innovate beyond traditional tea offerings with products like their Chai Concentrate, which provides an authentic chai experience for cafés, and their Artisan Drinking Chocolate, a rich, vegan, and gluten-free option that enhances the classic hot chocolate.
In celebrating its 20-year journey, Tea Drop remains dedicated to creating exceptional tea moments, prioritising quality, sustainability, and ethical practices in every cup they serve.
Come in for a cuppa!
The Tea Drop Brew Bar is located on the corner of Aisle B and the Deli Aisle, open Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 8am.