Polly Put The Kettle On: Fine and Dandy Teahouse

As you may all know by now I am a avid lover of tea.

So whenever I find a new tea brand I do a little happy dance and my heart fills with all the warm and fuzzies. Those warm and fuzzies came rushing back to me several months ago when I rediscovered a fabulous tea brand- Fine and Dandy Teahouse.

I originally discovered these beautiful teas over a year ago at the Adelaide Farmers Market at the showgrounds. I was new to shift work, was desperate for a tea to assist in sleeping and I stumbled across Mandy Davis. She introduced me to her ‘Sleepy Head tea’, I left with a bag and the rest is history. I had finally found a way to drift off to sleep without medication and it didn’t cost the earth- I was one happy girl. One day she dissapeered, but a stroll through the Willunga Markets one weekend had me find her blissfull little stall, where she now calls home on Saturdays.

Mandy is a creative 23 year old from Port Willunga on the Fleurieu Peninsula. She’s originally a Riverland girl, from a long line of sultana and fruit farmers- so it seems rather fitting that she has a passion for fresh local food. Her business Fine and Dandy Teahouse was founded in 2013, and is a mix of her nick name Mandy and her partners name Dan- hence “Fine and Dandy”. She say’s it corny, but I’m a sucker for a cheeky play on words and love it to bits.

7 major surgeries, 3 in one year, were one of the main reasons that drove Mandy to create her own tea brand. She purchased store bought tea but her body couldn’t handle all the preservatives and alleged natural flavourings. This prompted her to create my own preservative, additive, sulphur free blend, which she has made over 30 of to date.

 The range caters for all tea lovers. We stock a range of certified organic traditional black, green, white, oolong and chai blends, as well as an extensive fruit & herbal range. These ones are inspired by local Australian produce and are designed for certain health benefits.  Teas with character

Blossoming Red– A combination of South Australian Rosella flowers and ginger, this tea is the dreamiest of colours and a little bit sweet. Excellent hot or cold- I love it over ice with some added ginger.

Sleepy Head– This baby will have your body feel well rested to you can get a solid nights sleep. It has flavours of jujube, cinnamon, sun muscat and lavender and tastes as dreamy as it sounds.

Poppa B’s Billy Tea Blend– A 100% Australian grown black tea, tailored for every tea drinker. It’s named after Fine and Dandy’s Pop and is a easy drinking tea, perfect for winding down after a hard days work.

So what’s next on the cards for Fine and Dandy Teahouse? Mandy has received a grant from the South Australian Food and Beverage Fund to travel to Las Vegas in June for the World Tea Expo, where she plans to broaden her knowledge on all things hot and cold tea. There is always new blends on the cards, as well as tea blending workshops that will be held in the whimsical Creative Blend Studio in Willunga.

If you can’t get down to see Mandy at the Willunga Farmers Market on Saturdays, then check the list below to pick up a packet, or even better sit down and enjoy a cup of this liquid perfection.

Retail Packets:
Home Grain Bakery Aldinga
Pizza Kneads, Willunga
Willunga Beaute, Willunga
The Artel, McLaren Vale
One Little Sister, Normanville
Renmark By Design, Renmark
Nuts About Fruit, Renmark
Natural Envy, Waikerie
Ultimate Hampers, Online
Fleurieu Market, Online
Johnei & Jo, Palm Beach, Queensland

Hot from the Pot:
Home Grain Bakery, Aldinga
Home Grain Bakery, McLaren Flat

Home Grain Bakery, Morphett Vale
Home Grain Bakery, Mount Compass

Pizza Kneads, Willunga
From Humble Grounds, Willunga
Willunga Beaute, Willunga
Ellen Street Resturant, Maxwell Wines, McLaren Vale

Woodstock Wines, McLaren Vale

The Artel, McLaren Vale

The Beach House at Maslins, Maslin Beach

Blessed Cheese, McLaren Vale

Leonard’s Mill, Second Valley

One Little Sister, Normanville

de Groot Coffee Co., Port Elliot
The Olfactory Inn, Strathalbyn
Clarendon Bakery, Clarendon
2KW, Adelaide
Casablabla, Adelaide

5 O’Clock Somewhere, Adelaide

Renmark by Design, Renmark

Natural Envy, Waikerie

**thanks to Mandy at Fine and Dandy Teahouse for supplying me with some delicious teas to try. Although supplied with tea, all views and opinions are always honest and my own**