The city guide · New Zealand
The city guide · New ZealandTea shops inChristchurch.
Christchurch has no tea house of the Auckland kind, so its leaf is spread across four counters: a local blender of New Zealand herbs and single origins with a stall in the Riverside Market, a specialty coffee roaster on Fitzgerald Ave that pouches its own loose leaf, a New Brighton health shop, and the Cashel Street department store that carries the imported tins. Prices below are in New Zealand dollars, read on each shop's own site; the blender sells in 20 g, 30 g and 50 g cubes with 100 g and 200 g pouches behind them, and the roaster in 125 g pouches.
Illustrative tea photograph
4 places we’d send a friend to.
Our Christchurch shortlist
Good tea is worth knowing where to look.
Places to explore, each with a different reason to stop by. See what to bring home before you go.
Showing 4 of 4 places
- 01Loose-leaf specialist
Tī Ani
Riverside Pantry, inside Riverside Market
9 prices listedTī Ani
96 Oxford Terrace, Christchurch 8011
A Christchurch blender of wild-harvested New Zealand leaf and organic single origins, sold from a counter inside the Riverside Market.
In storeShips onlineRiverside Pantry: Mon–Sat 9:00–18:00 · Sun 10:00–18:00
Read the full shop note
A Christchurch blender of wild-harvested New Zealand plants and organic single origins, sold from the Riverside Pantry inside the Riverside Market on Oxford Terrace. The 50 g cube is the house format at 17,99 NZ$ — Black Assam, rooibos and a turmeric chai all sit there — with hibiscus flower at 15,99 NZ$, rose petal in 20 g at 11,99 NZ$, butterfly pea flower in 30 g at 24,00 NZ$, a Silver Needle white in 30 g at 23,00 NZ$ and wild mānuka leaf in 20 g at 24,00 NZ$. A Moutere breakfast blend comes in a 200 g pouch at 54,99 NZ$.
What to bring home
Website: tiani.co.nz The everyday option
8 prices listedC4 Coffee
113 Fitzgerald Ave, Christchurch Central 8011
The roastery and espresso bar at 113 Fitzgerald Ave packs its own loose leaf in 125 g pouches at a flat 19,00 NZ$ — Assam, a Darjeeling second flush, a jasmine green and a masala chai — and keeps boxes of 25 tea bags at 6,00 NZ$ in Earl Grey, English Breakfast, green, chamomile and peppermint. Open from seven on weekdays and Saturdays, from eight on Sundays, with a kitchen until half past two.
In storeShips onlineMon–Sat 7:00–15:00 · Sun 8:00–15:00
The everyday option
3 prices listedBallantynes
142 Cashel Street, Christchurch 8011
The Cashel Street department store is where the imported names land in Christchurch: a Harney & Sons Earl Grey refill in 450 g at 70,00 NZ$, the same house's Dorchester Breakfast at 76,00 NZ$, plus Basilur tins, Dilmah and a 25-bag Planet Organic peppermint at 8,50 NZ$. Open seven days, late morning on Sundays.
In storeShips onlineMon–Fri 9:30–17:30 · Sat 9:30–17:00 · Sun 10:00–17:00
What to bring home
Website: ballantynes.co.nzThe everyday option
3 prices listedMarshall's Health Shop
101 Seaview Road, New Brighton, Christchurch 8061
A New Brighton health shop on Seaview Road with a short but real tea shelf: a TANG organic oolong in 200 g at 31,90 NZ$, and MagicT pure green tea and green tea with ginger in 50 g pouches at 15,50 NZ$ and 17,90 NZ$. Closed Sundays and public holidays.
In storeShips onlineMon–Fri 9:30–17:30 · Sat 9:30–17:00 · Sun closed
What to bring home
Website: marshallshealthshop.co.nz- Oolong teaTANG Organic Oolong Tea 200gNZ$ 31.90 · 200 g
- Green teaMagicT Pure Green Tea 50gNZ$ 15.50 · 50 g
Prices keep each product’s listed currency and pack size. Check current prices and hours with the shop.
A good cup, closer than you think
Find your tea in Christchurch.
These teas have an exact or close match in the local catalogue. Open a tea to see who sells it and at what price.
Herbal infusion
Chamomile
See local availability
Black tea
Assam
See local availability
Black tea
Earl Grey
See local availability
Rooibos
Rooibos
See local availability
Browse 12 teas you can find in Christchurch
Also worth a visit
The Apothecary
The Tannery, Woolston · The Tannery, Shop 3, 3 Garlands Road, Woolston, Christchurch 8023
Website: the-apothecary.co.nzThe city's herb dispensary and organic tea counter at the front entrance of The Tannery, selling leaf and dried herbs by 50 g, 100 g and 200 g.
Ask for prices in storePiko Wholefoods
Kilmore Street, corner of Barbadoes · 229 Kilmore Street, Christchurch
Website: pikowholefoods.co.nzAn organic wholefoods co-operative set up in 1979, open Monday to Saturday, with bulk bins and an email-and-collect order service.
Ask for prices in storePenny Black
The Tannery, Woolston · Shop 37, The Tannery, 3 Garlands Road, Woolston, Christchurch
Website: pennyblack.nzA Victorian tearoom in The Tannery atrium, open every day, which says it will stock Harney & Sons and Zealong teas when its online shop opens.
Ask for prices in storeTeasme
Christchurch, with branches in Rolleston and Rangiora
Website: teasme.co.nzA Canterbury chain that sells loose leaf alongside its bubble-tea bar.
Ask for prices in storeA little local knowledge
Before you head out.
Currency, grams & tea bags
Each price keeps its original pack size. A box of bags and a pouch of loose leaf aren’t a like-for-like comparison.
Check the right location
Hours and visiting conditions can differ between branches. Use the address and details for the location you plan to visit.
Pickup and appointments
Some sellers operate pickup offices or showrooms. Read the shop note and check its visiting conditions before setting out.
A guide with a point of view
Tea specialists lead the discovery. Other retailers keep their own category, for familiar blends and everyday essentials.
Keep following the tea
Where to next?
More in New Zealand
Singapore
Hong Kong
Mexico
Uruguay
Australia
Canada
United StatesAdd my tea house to the list
Run a tea shop or tea house? Send us your details and we will take a look.
Photography & credits
Tea photographs are illustrative unless identified as a photograph of the shop. Images are cropped or framed to fit the layout.
- 五玄土 ORIENTO · Original photograph · Unsplash License