Bee Lian

A generations-old Japanese family tea business with imperial connections opens in Sydney – and the offering extends beyond matcha.

When former Love Tilly sommelier Paddy Harrowsmith quit the industry, he dove headfirst into another drink with terroirs worth tasting.

The cosy shop peddles organic matcha and loose-leaf teas, plus teaware from Japan.

For some, tea is a caffeine fix, for others it’s a respite from the woes of the world. For the UN it’s instrumental in alleviating poverty and promoting gender equality, which is why it’s behind the May 21 event. Here’s why tea is important, and why you should throw (or go to) a tea party – and where those parties are.