Japanese tea specialist Harvest Index opens in Collingwood

Do you know your matcha from your genmaicha? You're about to learn. Harvest Index, which opened in a sleek, minimalist shopfront in Collingwood on March 1, is Melbourne's new Japanese tea retail space.

The venture works in a similar manner to a cellar door. The store sells six types of organic teas (in different grades) from Kyoto's Uji region, hand-crafted ceramics and tea brewing equipment from Hario (the same company that makes siphon equipment for coffee). But owners Benjamin Wright and Lachlan Sinclair are also on a mission to educate drinkers on how to use the wares.

Bookings can be made with in-house tea ceremony expert Rie Ohnuki, who creates custom sessions based on which teas you are interested in. The sessions might involve demonstrations of both hot and cold brewing techniques and the various equipment required, or you can request a straight ceremony. At this stage, sessions are free but bookings are essential.

Sessions aside, there are no drink-in options at present, but demand may change that soon.

Open Tue-Sat 10am-6pm.

74 Johnston Street, Collingwood, harvestindex.co.