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T2 Tea: Melbourne Tea Chain Sourcing Shizuoka

T2 Tea sources ceremonial matcha from Shizuoka, where tea plants are shaded for three weeks before harvest and the leaves are stone-ground.
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Who is T2 Tea?

T2 Tea is a Melbourne-born tea brand that sources curated matcha from Shizuoka, Japan. Using whole leaves instead of dust or fannings, its range includes a grassy, umami-rich Ceremonial Grade Matcha and a vegetal Organic Matcha for sustained energy.

The Ceremonial Grade undergoes tana shading for three weeks, then slow stone-grinding to preserve leaf structure. Certified organic, T2 Tea’s matcha is sourced through direct supplier audits to SMETA and BSCI ethical standards.

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T2 Tea $113.3 / 100 g

T2 Ceremonial Grade Matcha

T2 ceremonial grade matcha is JAS certified organic, sourced from Shizuoka, and made for daily whisking neat or with warm milk.

$34
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Rated 2.3/5 by 100 reviews

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Melbourne-born tea revolutionaries crafting premium matcha experiences

Browse the gallery to see 26 videos about matcha.
Browse the matcha video gallery

T2 Tea in details

T2 Tea emerged from Melbourne in 1996 with a bold vision: to shake up conventional tea culture and make premium tea accessible, exciting, and visually stunning. Founded by Maryanne Shearer and Jan O’Connor, the brand transformed how people discover and experience tea, bringing vibrant energy to an age-old tradition. Today, T2 stands as a trusted source for premium matcha from Japan alongside an extensive collection of specialty teas.

A Heritage Rooted in Quality

What began as a single Melbourne storefront has grown into an international presence, yet T2’s commitment to sourcing exceptional tea remains unchanged. The brand works directly with tea gardens across Japan to bring authentic, ceremonial-grade matcha to tea enthusiasts worldwide. Each matcha variety undergoes rigorous quality checks to ensure the vibrant green color, smooth texture, and rich umami flavor that defines superior Japanese matcha.

Beyond Traditional Tea Retail

T2 reimagined the tea-buying experience through distinctive retail environments and thoughtful product presentation. Their matcha selection includes:

  • Ceremonial-grade matcha for traditional tea ceremonies and mindful drinking
  • Culinary matcha designed specifically for lattes, smoothies, and baking
  • Matcha accessories including bamboo whisks, ceramic bowls, and measuring spoons
  • Educational resources to help newcomers master matcha preparation

The brand’s modern packaging and detailed product descriptions make choosing the right matcha straightforward, whether you’re a seasoned practitioner or just beginning your matcha journey.

Commitment to the Complete Experience

T2 understands that great matcha requires more than just quality powder. Their curated selection of traditional tools ensures proper preparation, while their online resources guide customers through whisking techniques, water temperature, and serving suggestions. This holistic approach helps matcha drinkers achieve that perfect frothy consistency and balanced flavor profile.

With both physical stores and a robust online presence, T2 makes premium Japanese matcha available to customers across multiple countries. Their dedication to authenticity, quality, and education positions them as a reliable choice for anyone seeking genuine matcha experiences. Whether you’re preparing a traditional bowl of koicha or crafting a modern matcha latte, T2 provides the products and knowledge to do it right.

About the T2 Tea Matcha

T2 Tea offers a curated matcha range built on authentic Japanese tea traditions. The blends use whole leaves rather than the dust and fannings common in lower-quality teas, aiming for more nuanced and complex flavour, with blends refined through multiple rounds of sampling for consistency.

Ceremonial grade

The flagship Ceremonial Grade Matcha delivers fresh, grassy, umami flavours with a full-bodied profile. It is shaded for three weeks before picking, then stone-ground to achieve the finest powder consistency for a smooth, traditional preparation.

Organic matcha

Organic Matcha presents vegetal and sweet notes and provides sustained energy through the synergistic pairing of caffeine and L-theanine. This natural combination offers a balanced boost without the typical caffeine crash, making it well suited to daily drinking.

Harvest location

T2 Tea sources its Ceremonial Grade Matcha from the Shizuoka prefecture in Japan, one of the country's most significant tea-growing regions, known for a climate and traditional farming methods suited to high-quality green tea.

Shading and processing

Following traditional methods, the tea plants are shaded for three weeks before picking. This covering technique (tana) raises chlorophyll and amino-acid levels while lowering tannins, giving the vibrant green colour and sweet, umami-rich flavour. After harvest the leaves are stone-ground, a slow method that protects the leaf structure from heat damage and yields the fine, silky powder used for matcha.

Sourcing standards

T2's matcha is certified organic, and the company works directly with suppliers under SMETA and BSCI ethical-sourcing standards. Specific harvesting details, such as whether the leaves are hand- or machine-picked, are not disclosed.

T2 Tea History

T2 Tea was founded in Melbourne in 1996 by Maryanne Shearer and Jan O'Connor, whose first Fitzroy store launched a self-styled tea revolution.

Milestones

  • 2013: Acquired by Unilever for A$60 million after growing to over 40 stores.
  • 2022: Transferred to CVC Capital Partners under Lipton Teas and Infusions.
  • 2023: Closed all Northern Hemisphere operations to refocus on home markets.
January 1, 1996

T2 Tea Founded in Melbourne

Maryanne Shearer and Jan O'Connor established T2 Tea in Melbourne, Australia, with their first store in Fitzroy featuring distinctive pink ceilings and Chinese newspaper-adorned walls, marking the beginning of their 'tea revolution' concept.

January 1, 2013

Unilever Acquisition for A$60 Million

Global consumer goods giant Unilever acquired T2 Tea for A$60 million when the brand had expanded to over 40 stores worldwide across Australia, Singapore, and New Zealand, recognizing its potential for global expansion.

January 1, 2020

B Corp Certification Achievement

T2 Tea achieved B Corp certification, joining a global community of companies committed to putting people and planet first, demonstrating their dedication to ethical business practices and environmental responsibility.

January 1, 2022

Transfer to CVC Capital Partners

Unilever divested a significant portion of its tea business to CVC Capital Partners, placing T2 Tea under the umbrella of Lipton Teas and Infusions as part of a major corporate restructuring in the global tea industry.

January 1, 2023

Northern Hemisphere Operations Closure

T2 Tea announced the strategic closure of all Northern Hemisphere operations, choosing to refocus on core markets closer to home in Australia, Singapore, and New Zealand, marking a significant shift in their global expansion strategy.

Frequently asked questions

Here are some frequently asked questions and answers.

Where does T2 Tea source its ceremonial matcha?

T2 Tea sources its Ceremonial Grade Matcha from Shizuoka Prefecture in Japan. The record identifies Shizuoka as a significant Japanese tea-growing region whose climate and traditional farming methods suit high-quality green tea. T2 also works directly with suppliers under SMETA and BSCI ethical-sourcing standards.

How is T2 Tea’s Ceremonial Grade Matcha processed?

The tea plants used for T2’s Ceremonial Grade Matcha are shaded for three weeks before picking. After harvest, the leaves are slowly stone-ground. According to the record, this grinding method protects the leaf structure from heat damage and produces the fine, silky powder associated with matcha preparation.

What matcha products and accessories does T2 Tea offer?

T2 Tea’s selection includes ceremonial-grade matcha for traditional preparation and mindful drinking, along with culinary matcha intended for lattes, smoothies, and baking. The brand also offers preparation accessories, including bamboo whisks, ceramic bowls, and measuring spoons, as well as educational resources covering matcha preparation.

How do T2 Tea’s ceremonial and organic matcha differ?

T2’s Ceremonial Grade Matcha has a full-bodied profile described as fresh, grassy, and rich in umami. Its Organic Matcha is described as vegetal and sweet. Both belong to the brand’s Japanese matcha range, while the ceremonial option is specifically documented as being shaded for three weeks and stone-ground.

When and where was T2 Tea founded?

Maryanne Shearer and Jan O’Connor founded T2 Tea in Melbourne, Australia, in 1996. Its first store was located in Fitzroy and featured distinctive pink ceilings and walls decorated with Chinese newspapers. The company began with a stated ambition to change how customers discovered and experienced tea.