the berry tea shop @ albert st., berry

Hello there readers and Happy New Year! Hope everyone had a good Christmas, ate lots, and spent plenty of time with family and friends. I managed to do all that and picked up a slight stomach bug on the way, then passed it on to the boy but thankfully both he and I have entered the new year both well and kicking. 

So much seems to have happened over the last month; a fair few friends visiting from overseas, dinner outings and catchups, a failed attempt at macarons (very sad!), friends back from holidays, the beach (finally the weather warmed up!) organising and tidying, I don't know about you, I actually feel a bit exhausted. Thankfully, the boy and I managed to squeeze in a short trip to Berry for a few days prior to the new year and had a spout of R&R, sampled plenty of local produce and watched way too many DVDs.

Let me introduce you to The Berry Tea Shop; the one shop were I walked in, sat down for a cup of tea and circled around and around the shop looking at things and nearly pulled out my credit card and bought up the whole shop. I didn't actually but I was tempted.

Scones served with jam and cream, best eaten with a cup of tea. The boy sampled the Darjeeling First Flush and I went for a pot of Madame Earl Grey. Both very lovely!

The boy thinks I put way too much cream on my scones. I don't think I put enough. There's still plenty of cream in that little dish. Should've just put it all on.

My favourite wall in the shop!

Spoke briefly to the owner at the counter (who's from the UK originally) and what a lovely shop with a lovely owner who is madly in love with his shop too! I didn't end up buying any tea (as I have a crazy amount at home which I need to really get through) but couldn't help picking up a Robert Gordon Cup & Saucer set in a floral print, a set of lace coasters and a most adorable teapot tea infuser.

I was hoping to duck back in for another cup of tea on the trip but didn't get round to it. If by chance you happen to go before I head back, say hello to the owner for me and have a cup of tea on my behalf. Ooh and do let me know what things you buy there - I would like to know!

high tea @ t2 teahouse, mac centre

It's suiting and it makes sense; yay to the fact that T2 are serving up High Tea at their teahouse in Mac Centre! J&I had seen it whilst walking past the shop 2 weeks ago and finally got round to trying it last weekend. It's $30 for 2, you get 2 pots of tea (your choice from the range on their menu) and there's a 3 tiered cake stand (comprising scones with cream & jam; nougat, cupcake, lemon meringue tart, macaroons, finger sandwiches and mini quiches.)

J scowls at the flower tea cup he gets with his pot of Lemongrass & Ginger Tea.

J relaxing in their oversized armchairs (you end up getting so comfortable in them you don't want to move).

The cake stand devoured from the bottom plate (savouries), scones (top plate) and finally all the sweets (on the middle plate).I already have a T2 tin at home but I went for a pot of English Breakfast tea - just love it!

In summary: the tea is fantastic (I don't think you can go wrong), sandwiches/scones/quiches/macaroons have my thumbs up, the lemon meringue tart in my opinion is a bit too big as are the nougat pieces and well, the cupcake (whilst pretty) was quite terrible (dry and crumby). I'm still in love with the interior of the shop, love all the colours, the seating, the lighting (you forget that you're sitting inside a shopping centre until you look back out the door.) High tea is definitely one of my favourite pastimes for a weekend!

t2 teahouse @ mac centre (again)

Yesterday, I reluctantly admitted that I was becoming a bit of a grandma and staying at home and surprisingly, one of my workmates agreed with me and said that she was going to be too (we're onto monthly pay next month and for the next couple of weeks, most of us are going to be considerably broke and homebound). Anyway, what I was actually saying was how I was gonna have to stay home one day of the weekend to finish my flowers for my cake which I would've mentioned before, encourages people to start talking me about their grandmas and what great cake decorators they were - so it appears that I've picked up on an activity/hobby that is not so common for my generation!! So to add to my grandma like behaviour, I really do love the T2 Teahouse at Mac Centre for afternoon tea!!

J is a gem and always agrees to afternoon tea. Mostly he has the Ice Teas on their menu.

Grandma Me with a pot of Hojicha - hidden behind J's girly Peach Ice Tea (Hojicha is a more savoury blend of green tea.)

Scones with Jam & Cream (J's favourite and they ones at T2 are quite delish!! Fortunately we weren't too late to order this time - they had adequately stocked up with scones), Orange & Almond Cake toasted with butter (which was a little to dense for my liking).

Note that T2 Teahouse have changed from a 'Pay, Sit Down, Get Served' system to 'Sit Down, Get Served, Pay' arrangement which I always think is a bit nicer. They've also got menus laid out on the tables so you can take your time and pick out your favourite tea (would recommend them to laminate their menus as a handful were looking a little tatty). Hmmm...I wonder what happened to all their Ice Teas though (they use to have a list of about 20 selections and on the new menu they've cut back to about 5?)

Lol...who wants to join me for a cup of tea?

t2 teahouse @ mac centre

I remember getting so excited passing a t2 store when I was in Melbourne last year. Seeing all the colourful tea pots, tea cups, assorted tea cannisters and such a abundant range of tea leaves; I could stay in the store all day! And well, it looks like they've officially brought the t2 franchise over to Sydney and what's even better is that they've opened one up right close to home!

As you head up to the loft from the bus stop @ mac centre, you'll find t2 a few doors down from eb games and directly across from them is the t2 teahouse. For those who might not be as keen buying tea leaves for home use, this is where the teahouse becomes an excellent idea. In the comfort of big armchairs, high stools and/or communal sharing tables, you can explore and enjoy the full range on offer at t2. In addition to the loose leaf teas, they've also come up with a range of both cold and hot tea cocktails. And well, if tea is not really your thing, you've still got scones, macaroons, jam donuts, finger sandwiches, banana bread and many other delicacies to choose from.

Look at our table number in the form of a teapot.
My selection: Matcha Shake and a trio of macaroons (chocolate, pistachio and strawberry). Highly recommend the chocolate cause it tastes like a chocolate brownie and the strawberry is very, very tasty.
Photo of the counter and part of the menu.
Me and a big cheesy grin.The whole menu and a wall-full of colourful teapots. I like!

I'm really loving this place! Love the tea, the food, the staff, the decor (all save for the Chinese newspaper lining some of the walls - why oh why did someone decorate using Chinese newspapers?) Anyway, keen to come back here and try the scones; they looked so tasty (too bad someone in front of the queue had took the last three before we got to the counter). Lol...I really had to try so hard not to give them greasies!