Australian Tea

Making and drinking "billy tea" is an Australian ritual going back to 1788 with the arrival of tea with the First Fleet. "Billy tea" is tea made in a can (that is, the "billy") over an open fire by campers (also known as "swagmen") in the bush. The addition of green gum leaves to the brew gives extra flavour. In today's supermarket, the famous iconic "Billy Tea" (without the gum leaves) is made by Tetley Australia Pty Ltd, a tea distributor to the Australian market formed in 1988 from its Yorkshire parent company which traded tea since 1837.

The "Billy Tea" brand name is credited to James Inglis & Co Tea and Coffee merchant who set up shop in Sydney in 1888. According to the story on the "Billy Tea" packaging:

"...Marie Cowan was the wife of the Sydney tea merchant James Inglis, and arranged the tune "Waltzing Maltida" for her husband to distribute in the late 1890's as an advertisement of his tea. The words used in the song copy differ significantly from those published by A B Paterson..."

Australia's oldest tea factory is in fact, Bushells, an Australian icon originating back to 1883. These Bushells herbal infusion teabags contain Australian wattleseed (nutty chocolate taste) and lemon myrtle. There are no longer on sale.



According to a discussion group,

".... Alfred Thomas Bushell set up a small family run tea company in Australia. More than a century of tradition later, that same company now houses the nation's number one choice in fine quality leaf tea. Today, Bushells continues the family tradition of flavor and quality that Australians have come to expect."

British company, Unilever acquired Bushells in 1990. According to the Tea Forum,

"Unilever is the worlds largest tea company and its famous brands are some of the oldest and most loved tea brands. In Australia these brands include Lipton, Bushells and Lanchoo tea. Unilever Australia also sells ready to drink ice tea under the Lipton brand. Through this range of brands Unilever meets the everyday needs of the Australian people in leaf tea, tea-bags, green tea, herbal infusions and speciality black teas. Unilever has world wide expertise in growing, marketing and packing tea. Lipton is the Global market leader in black tea and ready to drink ice tea. Lipton continues to be Australia's number one Tea Brand, enjoyed everywhere for its fun and implicit goodness."

Most brands of tea in Australia comprise blended tea leaves from overseas sources. Australian grown teas come from the Madura Tea Estate in New South Wales and the Nerada Valley in Queensland.

The following comes from the Tea Forum:

Madura Tea Estates

Madura Tea Estates comprises a 25 hectare tea plantation near Murwillumbah, NSW, where tea is grown in near-perfect subtropical conditions. Madura has been part of the Australian landscape since 1978. In 1992, the owners asked their accountants, Stephen Bright and Ron Ford, to find a buyer. After studying the figures, they decided to take on the task themselves. They were joined by tea maker and partner Larry Brown who has worked on plantations in India, Papua New Guinea and Sri Lanka. The estate now employs 57 staff and is 100% Australian owned.

Madura Tea Estates
PO Box 702
Murwillumbah NSW 2484
Ph 02 6677 7215
Fax 02 6677 7451
Email: info@maduratea.com.au

Nerada Tea Company

Nerada Tea came to be as a result of Dr Allan Maruff when he planted the first commercial tea plantation in 1959 in the Nerada Valley situated on the foothills of the Atherton Tablelands in Far North Queensland. Today, Nerada Tea is the largest supplier of Australian grown teas to the domestic market.

Nerada Tea Pty Ltd
PO Box 1420
Sunnybank Hills QLD 4109
Contact : Andrew Weavers / Peter Jeffery
Ph 07 3272 0444
Fax 07 3272 0243
Email: info@neradatea.com.au

It looks like few Australian grown teas exist, other than herbal infusions of Australian bush ingredients like wattleseeds and lemon myrtle.

Wattleseed is a traditional food for indigeneous Australians who grind the seeds into flour for damper. Although Australia's floral emblem is the "Golden Wattle" or acacia pycnantha with edible seeds, commercial wattleseeds are derived from acacia victoriae. The seeds are roasted and ground before use as flavouring to sweet and savoury dishes, as a coffee substitute, and as herbal tea infusions.



To experience the unique taste of Australian wattleseeds, try Chef Benjamin Christie's Wattleseed Caffee Latte or Wattlecino. In the absence of an expresso maker, boiling the wattleseed for 20 minutes enhances the flavour. Wattleseeds are found in Australian supermarkets, speciality tea, health or gift shops, or online like Chef Vic Cherikoff's shop.

To enjoy "billy tea", unlike Japanese green matcha tea ceremonies, all you need is a campfire, and some tea leaves to throw into water boiling in a suitable container, the "billy". Check this link for instructions. Serve "billy tea" with damper, in the midst rowdy singing of "Waltzing Maltida" .