Daniel and Narelle Hillsley selling their tea at the markets. Photo: Supplied.
There’s nothing quite like a nice cuppa to get the day started, and a little business in Yanco is blending some of the best teas from around the world for you to enjoy.
Narelle’s tip for a good brew is several teaspoons per teapot (depending on the size), boil your water to 100 degrees, steep for two to three minutes, strain it and enjoy!
Who are you and what is your business? My name is Narelle Hillsley and I am the owner and tea blender of Nelmarose, a small business in Yenda, creating and selling loose-leaf tea blends.
Where did you begin? It goes back a few years. I’ve got a few sisters and my Mum and Nana and some friends, we always loved to have tea parties with a 1950s tea vibe like a high tea – with the dresses, the little sweet foods and teapots, teacups and all that, and we had them quite often.
In 2019, I decided that since I love tea, I should learn about it and about how to blend tea, and then in 2020 Nelmarose was born!
What do you produce? It’s high-quality loose-leaf tea, and the tea and the ingredients are from all around the world.
Nelmarose began in 2020 and has become a familiar sight at Riverina markets. Photo: Supplied.
What do you sell that makes a great gift? Before Christmas, we did gift hampers which turned out to be a great hit, so we will continue with them and just change them up for various occasions like Easter and Mother’s Day and just changing little bits and pieces in it.
What would you make if you could do anything? I think we will continue to make unique tea blends and try and keep it a bit interesting.
Where can we buy your products? At the moment, you can DM us on Facebook and Instagram at Nelmarose and follow us to find out where we’ll be at our next market.
How would you promote the Riverina? We attend and promote various local markets in the Riverina and we try and attend a few different ones. I think that’s really important, to support these sorts of things so they can continue to happen.
After the success of last year’s Christmas hampers, Narelle is planning for more. Photo: Supplied.
Coolest local thing you’ve ever bought? When we go to markets, my husband is never at our stall, he’s always socialising and shopping and he comes back with some very cool purchases. But one of the coolest recently was a welded deer’s head made from scrap metal by some high school students. We thought that was pretty cool.
Where’s your favourite place for a cuppa? I’m always a bit of a homebody, so if you’re at home or someone’s place with some friends and family it’s always a more relaxed vibe. But if I’m out in Griffith, we love La Piccola for its delicious coffee and the best service there. And if we’re in Wagga we really love the Fast Lane and we stop at it every time.
Who is another local producer you admire? I’d say Savannah from Sugar Cookies N’ Co. They are beautiful and so delicious and we actually have them in the gift hampers at the moment. She’s very talented.
You can learn more about Nelmarose Tea here.
Region Riverina is committed to celebrating our local producers and creatives and encourages everyone to buy locally.
If you’re aware of someone who’s making something amazing, let us know!
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