BOERUM HILL — A high-end Australian tea company has opened its second U.S. shop on Smith Street in hopes of becoming a neighborhood go-to for local tea drinkers.
T2 opened a retail shop late last month at 140 Smith St. near Bergen Street.
While this isn’t a café, tastings are available of more than 200 kinds of tea, including some limited editions priced at nearly $50 for 100 grams.
T2 sells a range of varieties and flavors starting at $11. One of their most exclusive products is "Buddha Tears," a limited edition tea — "hand-rolled green tea pearls" — priced at $46 for 100 grams. And while the shop does not sell brewed tea, it offers tastings and any product can be tried before purchase.
The company, which has a flagship location in Soho, is based in Melbourne, Australia and also has stores in New Zealand and the United Kingdom.
Smith Street store manager Keith Edwards said they chose Boerum Hill because of its neighborhood feel — something that T2 founder Maryanne Shearer wanted for the new location.
"It's a very local neighborhood with mom and pop stores, restaurants and cafes," he said. "That's really the vision [Shearer] had for the store."
The store also sells accessories, books and crockery.
T2 on Smith Street is open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday to Saturday and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Sunday.
Other openings in the area include:
► Bao, a new hair salon for men and women, has opened its doors at 198 Court St.
