FAQs

t leaf T is a 100% New Zealand-owned family business, founded in 2005 by John and Amanda van Gorp. We are based in our own building in Petone, Lower Hutt, and operate a retail store in Wellington's CBD. We source premium teas and infusions from quality suppliers around the world, and every tea is hand-processed and hand-packed by our small, committed team. Over 20 years of direct supplier relationships mean you get quality you can trust.

Yes. Every tea and infusion we sell is hand-processed and hand-packed at our Petone facility. We believe this attention to detail is part of what makes the t leaf T experience different — each order is packed with care by people who genuinely love tea.

Our warehouse and operations are based at 64 Victoria Street, Petone, Lower Hutt, 5012 — just north of Wellington. We also have a retail store in Wellington's CBD where you can explore, smell, and taste our range in person. Click and collect is available at both locations.

You can reach our team by phone on 0800 853 238 (or +64 4 589 0085 from outside NZ) during business hours, or by email at support@tleaft.co.nz. For order-specific queries, you can also email orders@tleaft.co.nz. We aim to respond promptly and knowledgeably — tea questions welcome.

Simply browse our range, add items to your cart, and proceed to checkout. You can check out as a guest or create a free account to save your details for future orders. If you need help choosing, our team is available by phone or email — we love helping customers find their perfect cup.

Available online only: Our Best Buy deal lets you buy three identical foil pouches and receive a fourth one free. It's a great way to stock up on a favourite or share with friends. The discount applies automatically at checkout when you add four of the same pouch to your cart.

Yes — we offer samples across over 160 teas and infusions. Samples let you explore new varieties without committing to a full pack. You can browse the sample range on our website, or visit our Wellington retail store to smell and taste teas in person before you buy.

Our sample packs contain enough tea for 4–6 cups. They're a great way to try a new variety before committing to a full pack, and with over 160 teas and infusions available as samples, there's plenty to explore.

Yes. Gift wrapping is available as an option at checkout. We also have a range of curated gift boxes — from single tea gift boxes to multi-pack gift cans — if you'd like a ready-to-give present. Gift cards are also available.

Yes. We supply cafes, restaurants, offices, and hospitality businesses throughout New Zealand. To enquire about wholesale pricing and terms, please visit our Wholesale Enquiry page or contact us directly. We'd love to talk tea.

We offer courier delivery New Zealand wide. Shipping is free on orders of $85 or over — otherwise a flat rate of $8.90 applies. Click and collect is also available at our Wellington City retail store or our Lower Hutt warehouse in Petone, and is selectable directly at checkout. Please note: we are no longer able to ship to PO Boxes.

Yes. Orders placed by 3pm on business days are dispatched the same day. We pride ourselves on getting your tea to you quickly — it's one of the reasons our customers keep coming back.

Yes — we ship to a wide range of countries including Australia, United Kingdom, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, Hong Kong SAR China, Ireland, Netherlands, Switzerland, and more. International orders are shipped tax-free, saving 15% off listed prices. Estimated delivery to Australia is 10–15 working days; UK and Europe are 20–25 working days. Please note: as of September 2025, shipping to the United States has been temporarily suspended due to changing complexities around delivery and costs. We will update this page when US shipping resumes. For countries not listed, please contact us to check availability.

Unfortunately, we are no longer able to deliver to PO Boxes due to the significant increase in shipping costs for that service. Please provide a physical delivery address when placing your order.

Importation rules vary by country. We recommend checking your government's importation guidelines before ordering. If a tea does not meet a destination country's border requirements, it may be subject to heat treatment at the importer's expense or destroyed. We cannot accept responsibility for delays or issues that occur after an order has left our facility. If you have concerns about a specific country, please contact us at orders@tleaft.co.nz and we'll advise on any known issues.

We stand behind the quality of everything we sell. If you receive a product that is damaged, faulty, or not as described, please contact us within a reasonable timeframe and we will arrange a replacement or refund. For full details, please see our Shipping and Returns page.

International shipping charges are non-refundable. If you have a concern about an international order, please contact us and we'll do our best to resolve the situation fairly.

Most of our teaware is not suitable for microwave use. Cast iron teapots should never be placed in a microwave. Ceramic, stoneware, and glass items vary — check the individual product page for microwave suitability before use. For brewing, we always recommend heating water separately in a kettle and pouring it over your leaves at the correct temperature. If you want to reheat a brewed cup, use a standard microwave-safe mug rather than your teapot. If you're unsure about a specific item, contact us at support@tleaft.co.nz.

Yes — cast iron teapots offer the best heat retention. Their thick walls absorb heat and release it slowly, keeping your tea noticeably warmer for longer than glass, ceramic, or stoneware options. If you regularly pour multiple cups from one pot or prefer a slow brew session, cast iron is the right choice. A tea cosy over a ceramic or stoneware pot also makes a meaningful difference if heat retention is important to you.

Our tumblers, cups, and mugs range in size from 100ml to 450ml. The exact volume for each item can be found by clicking into the product page. If you need help choosing the right size for your brewing style, contact us and we'll point you in the right direction.

Yes — we carry spare parts for most of the teapots we sell. Email us at support@tleaft.co.nz and let us know what you need. Please note that the following parts are not available: cast iron teapot lids; Duo teapot infusers and lids; Viva teapot infusers (check with us, as we occasionally have spares).

Our pyramid teabags — including the tag and string — are made from polylactic acid (PLA), a plant-based material derived from corn starch. They contain no polypropylene and are biodegradable. PLA breaks down into CO2 and water over time and is especially well suited to commercial composting facilities, where the heat levels required for breakdown are reliably achieved. For home composting, the temperature may not be sufficient to break them down quickly, so they are not ideally suited to most home compost environments. We recommend checking whether your local council provides commercial composting services as an alternative.

We carry over 160 teas and infusions, including black teas (blends and single-estate), flavoured black teas, green teas, white teas, oolong teas, rooibos, herbal teas, fruit teas, organic teas, matcha, and our NZ Botanicals range. We also have a dedicated Wellness Teas collection, including blends for immunity, sleep, gut health, energy, and stress. If you're not sure where to start, our sample range is the perfect way to explore.

Sencha is a popular style of green tea grown in both Japan and China. It is an excellent everyday green tea — the leaves brew to a golden liquor with a fresh, grassy aroma and a naturally sweet, clean aftertaste. Japanese Sencha tends to be steamed during processing, giving it a brighter, more vegetal character, while Chinese Sencha is typically pan-fired, producing a slightly softer, rounder flavour. Both are approachable and enjoyable whether you're new to green tea or a seasoned drinker.

All four come from the same plant — Camellia sinensis — but differ in how the leaf is processed. Black tea is fully oxidised, giving it a bold, robust flavour. Green tea is minimally processed, preserving a fresh, grassy or vegetal character. White tea uses the youngest buds and leaves with minimal processing, resulting in a delicate, subtly sweet cup. Oolong sits between green and black — partially oxidised, with a flavour range that spans floral and fruity to toasty and complex.

Herbal teas, fruit teas, and rooibos teas are naturally caffeine-free — they don't come from the Camellia sinensis plant. Our NZ Botanicals range is also caffeine-free. If you're sensitive to caffeine or looking for an evening option, these are great choices. For reference: black tea has the most caffeine, followed by oolong and green tea, with white tea generally the lowest of the true teas.

Pure loose leaf teas — black, green, white, oolong, herbal, and rooibos — contain no added sugar. Some flavoured teas and fruit blends include natural fruit pieces, flowers, or flavourings that contribute a naturally sweet character in the cup, but no sugar is added during processing. If you have specific dietary requirements, the full ingredient list is on each product page. If you're unsure about a particular tea, contact us and we'll advise.

We carry a range of certified organic teas, clearly labelled in our Organic Teas category. These teas hold BioGro or equivalent certification, sourced from farms committed to responsible growing practices. If organic certification is important to you, look for the organic label on product pages or browse the Organic Teas category directly.

Our NZ Botanicals range celebrates native New Zealand plants and ingredients. These blends incorporate botanicals like kawakawa and manuka alongside other carefully selected herbs and flavours, resulting in teas that are distinctly Kiwi. They are all caffeine-free and make a uniquely New Zealand gift.

Our Wellness Teas are blends formulated around botanicals traditionally associated with specific health benefits — including immunity, gut health, sleep, energy, stress relief, and anti-inflammatory support. These are herbal and botanical blends, not medicines. Any wellness benefits mentioned reflect traditional use only. Always consult a health professional if you have specific health concerns.

Decaffeination methods vary depending on the tea and its producer. The most common methods are CO2 extraction, water processing, and ethyl acetate — a naturally occurring solvent found in fruit. If you need to know the specific process used for a particular tea, contact us at support@tleaft.co.nz and we can advise. It's also worth noting that decaffeinated tea is not completely caffeine-free — a small residual amount typically remains. If you need to avoid caffeine entirely, our herbal, fruit, rooibos, and NZ Botanicals ranges are naturally caffeine-free.

A strong black tea blend — such as an English Breakfast or our NZ Breakfast varieties — is often the easiest transition from coffee. These teas have a full body and bold flavour that holds up well with milk, making them a satisfying morning alternative. If you're open to exploring further, a chai blend or a malty Assam estate tea can also hit that robust, warming note coffee drinkers are used to. Our sample packs are a low-risk way to find your match.

Use approximately one heaped teaspoon (2–3g) of loose leaf tea per 250ml cup. Place the leaves in an infuser, teapot, or strainer. Pour water at the correct temperature over the leaves and steep for the recommended time. Remove the leaves promptly to avoid over-steeping. Each product page lists specific brewing instructions for that tea — temperature and timing matter, especially for green and white teas. For a full walkthrough, visit our Brewing Guide.

Water temperature varies by tea type. As a general guide: black tea and herbal/fruit teas — 95–100°C (freshly boiled); oolong tea — 85–95°C; green tea — 70–80°C; white tea — 70–75°C; matcha — 70–80°C. Using water that's too hot for green or white tea can result in a bitter, astringent cup. If you don't have a temperature-controlled kettle, simply let boiling water cool for 2–3 minutes before pouring. For a full guide to brewing temperatures and steeping times, visit our Brewing Guide.

Steeping times vary by tea: black tea 3–5 minutes; green tea 2–3 minutes; white tea 3–4 minutes; oolong 3–5 minutes; herbal and fruit teas 5–7 minutes. Over-steeping — particularly with black and green teas — can introduce bitterness. If you prefer a stronger cup, use more leaf rather than steeping for longer. For detailed steeping guidance across all tea types, visit our Brewing Guide.

Yes — many loose leaf teas, particularly oolongs, white teas, and quality green teas, can be steeped two or three times. Each infusion will taste slightly different as different flavour compounds are released. For black teas and herbals, a second steep can work but will be noticeably lighter. It's one of the pleasures of loose leaf tea.

Store tea in an airtight container, away from light, heat, moisture, and strong odours. Tea absorbs odours easily, so avoid storing it near coffee, spices, or strong-smelling foods. A cool, dark cupboard is ideal — the fridge is generally not recommended as condensation can affect the leaf. Our foil pouches are resealable and provide good short-term storage, but decanting into a dedicated tea canister is ideal for long-term freshness.

Absolutely. Fruit teas, green teas, and many herbal blends make excellent iced teas. You can either brew hot and cool over ice, or cold-brew by steeping leaves in cold water for 6–8 hours in the fridge. Cold brewing produces a naturally sweeter, smoother flavour with less bitterness — well worth trying with our fruit tea range.

Log in to your account and go to your Account Settings to update your email address. If you have any trouble, contact us at support@tleaft.co.nz and we can update this for you directly.

Yes — your login email and your preferred contact email can be managed separately. If you'd like to set up a different contact email, get in touch at support@tleaft.co.nz and we'll help you get this sorted.

Log in to your account and go to the Addresses section. From here you can add a new address, edit an existing one, or set a default delivery address. If you have trouble locating this, contact us at support@tleaft.co.nz and we can update your details manually.

Log in to your account and go to Order History to view all past orders. From there you can check the status of recent orders, view order details, and easily reorder products you've purchased before.

If you've previously unsubscribed and would like to start receiving our updates again, simply enter your email address in the newsletter sign-up at the bottom of any page on our website. Alternatively, email us at support@tleaft.co.nz and we'll resubscribe you manually.

Our Wellington retail store is located in the CBD. Please visit our Retail Stores page for the exact address and current opening hours. In the store you can browse, smell, and taste teas before you buy — we encourage it.

Yes. Click and collect is available at both our Wellington City retail store and our Lower Hutt warehouse in Petone. Simply select the click and collect option at checkout and choose your preferred location. This is a great option if you'd like to save on shipping or pick up the same day.