About Us

Hi, I'm Catherine, the person behind Tea Atelier. I started this space because Petone didn't have anywhere to actually sit down and taste tea, so I built the room I wished existed.

Here, tea is about curiosity. About slowing down long enough to notice the aroma, the colour, the way the leaves unfurl. It's about rediscovering the quiet joy in a simple ritual. At Tea Atelier, you are invited to taste, to ask questions, to learn. A space for discovery, discussion, and connection.

Visit our Petone Tea Room

Before Tea, there was fashion...

I spent over 15 years in the fashion retail industry, working across buying, product development, and analysis. It’s a world that moves quickly, driven by constant change and urgency. It taught me a lot, but over time, I began to feel the weight of its pace. The pressure, the noise, the lack of transparency… it became difficult to find meaning in it.

In 2019, an unexpected opportunity led me to work for a well-known tea company, known for its bold blends and expressive approach to retail. At first, it was simply a new chapter.

But what I found there stayed with me.

It wasn’t just the tea. It was the people.

I met a team deeply passionate about tea, who introduced me to its history, its origins, and the incredible depth behind something so simple at first glance. Through them, I discovered a different way of thinking about product. One rooted in respect for craft, for sourcing, and for the journey from leaf to cup.

It was a stark contrast to what I had known before.

Around that time, tea became something personal. A pause in the middle of fast-paced retail days. A way to step away from the rush, even briefly. To sit, breathe, and reconnect. What started as curiosity became a ritual. A small but meaningful act of self-care.

Tea revealed something unexpected. It can hold memory.

If you take the time to really taste it, to sit with its aromas and textures, it can bring back something vivid and almost tangible. I remember my first time trying Pu’erh tea.

With just a sip, I was transported back to my childhood, to my grandparents’ cottage by the lake.
I had been out near the pond, searching for frogs, before running back inside to the shed.
I could feel it all again, the humidity of the stone walls, the scent of damp earth and aged wood.
For a moment, it didn’t feel like a memory.
It felt like I was standing there again.

That stayed with me.

That’s how Tea Atelier began.

Tea Atelier is a space to discover carefully selected teas from local and international producers,
but also a place to sit, to pause, and to explore.
The focus is on traditional brewing methods, approached with openness
rather than rigidity. There is no single “right” way to enjoy tea here.

This is a space for curiosity. For connection. For people who want to explore the depth of tea, or simply take a moment for themselves.

At its heart, Tea Atelier is an invitation.
To slow down.
To taste more attentively.
To find your own way within this vast and quietly captivating world of tea.