Avataa Tea brought a taste of India’s Nilgiri Hills to Sydney, celebrating its Australian launch at The Tea Room in the historic Queen Victoria Building.
Desi Australia attended the occasion, which combined an interactive high tea, tea tastings and creative tea cocktails with the story of a family bringing its heritage to a new audience.
At the heart of the event was Aarthi, who spoke about carrying forward the tea legacy built by her father and family in India. Her introduction offered guests a connection to the people behind Avataa and the generations of work that underpin the brand.
Avataa’s single-origin teas come from the century-old Billimalai Tea Estate, situated approximately 6,400 feet above sea level in the Nilgiri Hills of southern India. Also known as the Blue Mountains, the region provided the starting point for a journey that has now reached Australian shores.
The tasting encouraged guests to explore the variety within tea, including white tea and a range of fragrant, floral, roasted and warming flavours. It offered an opportunity to consider how a familiar daily ritual can take on different forms through preparation and presentation.
Adding another dimension to the experience, mixologist Gaurang Gahoi introduced guests to tea cocktails, demonstrating creative ways to incorporate tea into mixed drinks.
In her Facebook reflection on the launch, attendee Poornima Menon described discovering a world of tea beyond the strong and spiced chai familiar to many Indian households. She praised the cocktails’ aromatic flavours and noted that one of the tea blends reminded her of South Indian rasam—a personal connection between an unexpected tasting experience and a familiar flavour.
The event also included an acknowledgement of the First Peoples of this land, recognising the Australian setting in which Avataa’s family story was entering its next chapter.
In a message shared following the launch, Udayakumar G of Billimalai Estate thanked guests for attending and supporting the family’s Australian event. Although unable to be there in person, he said hearing about the turnout and encouragement “means the world to our family”.
His message echoed the family connection at the centre of the occasion, linking the estate in India with Aarthi’s efforts to introduce Avataa to Australia.
Within the elegant surroundings of The Tea Room, the launch brought together heritage, hospitality and experimentation. From traditional tea appreciation to contemporary cocktails, guests were invited to discover new possibilities in the cup while learning about the family and place behind it.
