Brunswick, Melbourne

classes and experiences: Tea • Food and Drink Tasting

4.9 (70)

My name is Ruan and I grew up drinking Rooibos tisanes from birth (in my baby bottle). My passion and love for tea have only grown with time. In 2014, I co-founded Impala + Peacock, an artisan tea-blending business based in Melbourne, and since its inception has have been involved in brewing, blending and cupping teas daily, in the pursuit of amazing tea and tisane creations.

I also held the title of Australian Blind Tea Tasting Champion in 2018 representing Australia on the world stage in China for blind tea tasting. In 2017 I won the Australian Tea Brewing Championships.

I've travelled to China, Japan, Sri Lanka and India searching out the best teas in the world and feel honoured to share these amazing teas and history with my tea-blending guests.

Classes and experiences

Tea Blending Class

4.9 (68)

Runs regularly

Brunswick

1 to 12

$65 - $75

Tea and Chocolate Pairing Experience

5.0 (2)

Sun 23 Jun, 1:30pm

Brunswick

1 to 30

$89

Meet Impala and Peacock

Leading the charge of Melbourne’s specialty tea scene, Impala and Peacock want to show you there’s more to tea than meets the eye.

Reviews

(70)

Lee Robertson • Nov 2023

Really enjoyed learning about tea, it's history, the various types and how to blend flavours. Ruan and Sarah were really passionate about tea and shared their love of tea. We had a great time seeing blends that others made and overall nerding out with tea.

Emerald Perera • Nov 2023

Bought this class for my friend's birthday. We absolutely loved the experience and the team. Super informative about tea origins, bases and notes. The amount of tea to take home was decent too. Really positive experience and would highly recommend if you're a tea lover.

Zhao Qi Zhang • Oct 2023

Good class very informative, could maybe use some of the available ingredients to make a mix as an example to show us what the effect of the blend is

Vince Belcheff • Oct 2023

it was really fun and informative, and the teachers were open and kind to everyone !

Sue Samphier • Oct 2023

Ruan was very informative and interesting to listen to. I learned a lot about flavours, spices and teas and how to blend them. I would highly recommend this class to someone who appreciates a good tasting tea. This was a gift given to me and would make a great present for a friend or family member. -Sue

Helen Patrice • Sep 2023

3 ClassBento workshops attended

Good parking for this location on Sydney, so well chosen. Some good basic info on teas, and blending, as well as a chance to taste a few different blends.

Adriana Garcia • Aug 2023

We had an amazing time. I was looking for an experience to have with my partner on his birthday and I found this gem. Fun, educational and affordable. It ticks all the boxes and the guys are very passionate about what they do which is fascinating.

Tanya Obradovic • Aug 2023

Thoroughly enjoyed the workshop! Ruan & Sarah are true artisans at their craft and offer a great experience, you can truly see & feel the passion they have for tea. I really enjoyed tasting all the teas with the best part blending our own tea blend. Overall great experience. Thank you :)

Alexandra Alvarez • Aug 2023

This was an excellent event filled with useful knowledge, a great passion for tea blending and a well thought out plan.
We learned about tea, smelled and tasted some exotic samples and made our own blend all under the expert guidance of Impala & Peacock.
Thank you for a memorable and pleasurable event.

Nicole Hasseldine • Jul 2023

Fantastic experience. Loved the passion the teacher has for tea. Really opened my eyes and sparked my interest to embrace tea on a whole new level. Perfect venue. Highly recommend.

Teresa Randello • Jun 2023

I didn’t know what to expect from the class, but I was very pleasantly surprised. Great way to learn about different tea, and we were able to make our own blend to take home. For someone is isn’t a big tea drinker i found it really enjoyable and keen to start exploring more teas

Amanda Dovaston • Jun 2023

Ruan and Sarah are tea nerds in the best kind of sense and they impart their tea wisdom with humour and enthusiasm.

Great class Would highly recommend

Evelyn Ng • Jun 2023

Perfect location with no parking problems. The class was informative ,imparting knowledge of tea aroma, alongside making tea with the right temperature. We had the opportunity to try different blends of tea. Should have a second class, for the purposes of learning how to blend flavoured tea in a right proportions and also benefits of each tea.

Pauline Paursanidis • May 2023

Such fabulous teachers: refreshing, knowledgeable and passionate about quality teas and healthy ingredients. The class was structured well: intro, tea tasting and analytical components were so interesting, fun and engaging.
Making your own blend to take home is super. The venue and class set-up: was just divine. Overall an inspiring and value packed class to do. Absolutely loved it !

Amy Freund • May 2023

We had the best time with Ruan! So knowledgable and such a fun experience for tea enthusiasts and novices alike! I can’t wait to taste my blend at home, thank you again!

Tina Rennison • May 2023

The teacher was very informative and I really enjoyed learning all about the various tea types.

Debra Paver • Apr 2023

We really enjoyed this class. Ruan is so knowledgeable and made this topic interesting and entertaining. We now know so much more about teas. Thank you

Christine Reeves • Mar 2023

The Tea Blending class was enjoyable and gave a good insight into the history of tea and the quality of tea blends. Our knowledgeable host guided us through a class to make our own blend to take with us. All in all a great morning workshop

Amanda Stokes • Mar 2023

We did the tea pairing workshop as well as the tea blending workshop and they were both amazing. I loved trying all of the different flavours and learning about the varieties of flavours and how they compliment each other!

Jenny Chan • Feb 2023

83 ClassBento workshops attended • 81 reviews

We had a tea journey starting from tasting several teas to learning how to brew tea. You will learn some interesting facts about tea from Ruan. Venue is close to tram stop with a lovely chocolate making smell in the background. Took home my organic tea creation with spice and plants. If you love tea, then this class will delight.

Jing Chang • Feb 2023

We really enjoyed our session with Sarah and Ruan. The amount of learning, tasting, and hands-on tea blending felt really well suited to us as relative tea-novices. The small class size was perfect for the space and gave a chance to ask questions and take time to smell the different tea botanicals when making up our individual blends. Would definitely recommend to anyone who has an interest in learning a bit more about tea (from a basic starting point)!

Cassandra Bancroft • Feb 2023

Really fun. Interested in doing a pairing class now. Probably the tea and cheese.
I mixed black tea, cacao nibs, wattle seed and cornflowers.

Nic Mourt • Jan 2023

Very helpful and friendly people. Run super well and clearly were well informed on the tea making process.

Bridget Dixon • Jan 2023

We really enjoyed the class, it was informative and fun and we made a nice tea to take home

Jess Pride • Jan 2023

The class was very enjoyable and informative. Sarah and Ruan were incredibly kind, welcoming, and clearly knowledgeable and passionate about what they do. The tea was very high quality and I would highly recommend their class.

Ryan Deveau • Sep 2022

2 ClassBento workshops attended • 2 reviews

Ruan and Sarah ran an engaging workshop. Full of great tea tasting and beginners knowledge of tea, which guides you to make a really delicious tea to suit your own tastes.

Anna Xia • Sep 2022

107 ClassBento workshops attended • 105 reviews

Ryan and Sarah were lovely providing us with a variety of teas to pair with many kinds of delectable single origin bean to bar chocolates and brownies. We tasted Solomon Islands, Ecuador and East Timor chocolate bars. Brownies made with chocolate from Peru, Solomon Islands and Trinidad. Their teas are amazing, I can not recommend highly enough. The rich aromas of jasmine, lemon myrtle, lemon grass, pineapple, the list goes on. The very best of organic tea.

Host's response

Hi Anna, we're pleased to hear you enjoyed your chocolate and tea pairing class with us! May you continue to enjoy your tea journey and experiment with fun ways to combine foods and teas. Warmest, Sarah

Debbie Ferris • Sep 2022

Class was great, the guy leading it was fantastic. Very passionate, great stories, informative and very engaging. Had really nice experience and loved being able to bring my personalised tea home! It just seem to feel super fast, I know because it was very engaging, however I was expecting 20min more, from the time listed on my confirmation.

Ashlee Bodger • Sep 2022

It was a fabulous class that allowed us to taste different teas and describe their different notes. We were then given the formula to blend our own teas. Because of Ruan I now feel confident and comfortable in trying to blend my own tea at home!

Jo Lastro • Aug 2022

What a great experience blending your own custom tea blend to take home. Both Sarah and Ruan were wonderful and explained things in a simple way. Highly recommend this workshop.

Adele Vetrano • Aug 2022

Fun class, very friendly hosts Good for beginners, found it could have been a little longer, but was still good!

Louise East • Jul 2022

2 ClassBento workshops attended • 2 reviews

Loved this class. Ruan and Sarah are welcoming, passionate and extremely knowledgeable. I learned a lot and loved creating my own tea blend to enjoy at home. Great venue too.

Sue Fitzpatrick • Jul 2022

2 ClassBento workshops attended • 2 reviews

We had a fabulous time and were treated to a general history of the tea growing and making process. I now know the difference between a tea and a tisane . Loved making my own tea blend. Our instructors Ruan and Sarah were extremely knowledgeable. I would highly recommend this tea blending course…. Sue

Laura Eldar • Jul 2022

Teachers were really lovely people, the venue was fun, me and my friends enjoyed ourselves a lot!

Teacher's response

Hi Laura,

Fantastic to hear you had a great time :) Happy tea drinking! Sarah & Ruan

Julie Peacock • May 2022

8 ClassBento workshops attended • 8 reviews

Great tea enthusiasts leading the class. Friendly and fun. Love my tea blend, the pepper berry was the perfect addition.

Xavier Vale • May 2022

2 ClassBento workshops attended

This was such a great session! Ruan and Sarah were amazing people and they provided great advice on personalised tea blends! Would highly recommend

Donna Casey • May 2022

Absolutely loved the class. Ruan was fantastic and so knowledgeable. I wanted the class to go all day. Trying different blends, learning about tea and then making your own blend. It was a great venue as well. I brought a gift set which was beautifully wrapped. If you like tea then do this class. A great gift for someone.

Michelle Veljanovski • Apr 2022

As a massive tea lover, I enjoyed this class and learning the basics of blending tea. We were able to sample some teas and then have a bit of fun blending our own teas. The space was lovely, as were the teachers, and both full of knowledge about all things tea. I really could have sat there for hours! Highly recommend this class.

Leni May • Apr 2022

Sarah and Ruan really know their tea and have an excellent style of teaching.
The actual event was really well organized and relaxing.
It was great to take home our own blend and learn so much about tea.

Emily Bowman • Mar 2022

I highly recommend this class! Ruan is an incredibly knowledgeable teacher. I learned so much about the history of tea and the different types of teas. Getting to make your own blend is really enjoyable. Give it a go, you won't regret it.

Kirsty Roberts • Mar 2022

3 ClassBento workshops attended • 3 reviews

Ruan is a wonderfully inspiring tea lover!
The tea blending workshop created an opportunity to learn about tea, and to gain knowledge of tea blending. Loved coming home with my very own delicious tea blend!
Fantastic Sunday experience and highly recommended! Thanks Ruan.

Sarah Wilkinson • Mar 2022

I really loved this class! Ruan is an engaging and passionate teacher who really knows tea, and had us get hands on with different blends and ingredients from the start. I learned a lot and I can't wait to do more classes with Impala + Peacock!

Stephanie Maude • Mar 2022

2 ClassBento workshops attended

teacher was very knowledgable and really fun to work with. Great space and really fun class. Absolutely would recommend

Wen-Chen Xia • Mar 2022

107 ClassBento workshops attended • 105 reviews

It was a very easy going and informative class. Apart from possessing great knowledge on tea, Ryan makes everyone feel welcome and at ease. We tasted a range of teas and then made our own tea blends. Great variety of tea ingredients to choose from and some quirky tea trivia to keep you thinking.

Leeanne Dowel • Mar 2022

6 ClassBento workshops attended • 4 reviews

Great class could be aimed at expert and novices both get something out of it. A very informative morning.

Tj Carroll • Nov 2021

5 ClassBento workshops attended • 4 reviews

We used Ruan and co for a large event, the format worked really well and guests came away with tea blending knowledge a jar of their own brew. The set up and equipment was very professional, and Ruan and his team very accommodating. I would totally book this activity again and highly recommend it to others.

Hafiz Syam • Jul 2021

Ruan was an amazing instructor that has the charisma to keep the class interesting. His knowledge for tea is deep and is evident by the way he conducts his classes. I recommend his class to anyone that enjoys drinking tea!

Lucy McPhate • Jul 2021

3 ClassBento workshops attended • 2 reviews

Fantastic class, took place in beautiful surroundings in Northcote, delicious tea and entertaining and knowledgeable facilitator!

William McKenzie • Jul 2021

Great teacher Ruan, with a real passion for tea, had a wonderful way of sharing his knowledge of tea in an upbeat, energetic and engaging manner. Really helped me expand my knowledge and try new and interesting flavours. Would definitely recommend for tea lovers or anyone new to tea and wanting to learn more.

Crystal Mavroyeni • Jul 2021

2 ClassBento workshops attended

Ruan was absolutely brilliant, knowledgeable, had a personality! Frankly my sisters and I were not in the mood on the day, however when we go there, we were greeted by a friendly Ruan who changed our mood straight away.
To top if off, the tea experience was really interesting, we learnt a plethora of things we didn't know. We even got to walk away with our own blend of tea.
Highly recommend, great activity to do!

Karen Boucher • Jun 2021

2 ClassBento workshops attended • 2 reviews

Teacher was lovely. Fascinating to learn about Tea and all the interesting anecdotes Ruan has.

Kel Annie • Jun 2021

We had lots of fun and learnt so much. Highly recommend to anyone who loves tea!

Aaron Tan • May 2021

Ruan was an amazing teacher and ran the class really well!

Very fun and highly recommended for both tea lovers and people wanting to do something a little different.

Patty Pardillo • May 2021

2 ClassBento workshops attended

Bloody awesome session and a MUST for all those who love their cup of tea Ruan was brilliant also and I could’ve talked and listened to him forever about tea - he is so knowledgeable and creating our own blend was just one of the many highlights Everyone reading this must book this experience in NOW Joe

Natalie King • May 2021

4 ClassBento workshops attended • 4 reviews

Ruan was a wonderful teacher. His passion and knowledge of tea was amazing. Thank you for such a great day and helping us make our own custom tea blends!

Angie Ha • May 2021

5 ClassBento workshops attended • 3 reviews

Impala & Peacock provides an absolutely amazing and unique tea blending experience for tea enthusiasts and those looking to venture into the world of tea. Ruan creates a stimulating yet calming experience as he takes you through a tea journey, teaching you about the origins, stories and flavour components of tea.

The process of creating your own tea blend is delightful as it is very hands-on, and you are able to walk around and smell each beautifully selected ingredient component. This portion of the class itself was such a therapeutic experience. High-quality materials are provided for your tea blend, and you receive a lovely jar to bring it home in.

I took my mother to this Impala & Peacock class for Mother's Day and would recommend it to anyone looking for a memorable experience and a pocket of calm. Thank you to Ruan for sharing your stories and knowledge with us!

Brooke Scarlett • May 2021

2 ClassBento workshops attended

Thoroughly enjoyed the Tea blending class run by Impala & Peacock! Ruan was a fantastic teacher and extremely knowledgeable in the world of tea. I came home with my own beautiful blend of tea in a pretty amber jar, great activity to do with my girlfriends ❤️

Danielle Dias • Apr 2021

5 ClassBento workshops attended • 4 reviews

Teacher was awesome, a tea enthusiast who definitely knew his stuff. Loved learning about the history and origins of tea, plus optimal tasting and blending techniques.

Kat Johnston • Apr 2021

13 ClassBento workshops attended • 8 reviews

Knowledgable, friendly enthusiastic teacher and a nice space that it was held.
Some more basic tea education would have been helpful - including tasting the base teas (white, black and green) for comparison to the ones we did try.
Course is 1 hour, not 75minutes as advertised on Class Bento.
Overall very enjoyable time spent.

Melissa Bowen • Mar 2021

The teacher was great and I learnt a lot about tea tasting and blending. I liked that it was a small class it made it easier to get access to the teacher when creating my own tea blend.

Siyan Zhou • Mar 2021

I really enjoyed the tea blending class. It was so fascinating to learn about tea from Ruan. He was such a great instructor, sharing his insights and knowledge with us, and he was very attentive to our needs . It was also exciting to be able to create and take home our very own tea blend. I love my tea blend and drink it every day! I would definitely recommend this class. Thank you Ruan.

Margaux Josse • Mar 2021

We had a great time with Ruan. His explanations were both clear and interesting, and we came home with our tea blends to enjoy!

Christine Tran • Mar 2021

3 ClassBento workshops attended • 2 reviews

Such a fantastic learning experience with this Tea Blending workshop last Sunday afternoon.
Ruan our instructor was informative, entertaining and insightful in his world of all things quality tea. Just like wine, tea has its own tasting terminology & it is interesting to learn about these 'tea notes' to explain the different flavours. I've come out of this workshop much more aware of what natural quality tea taste like compare to the added artificial flavorings & sweeteners of tea sold at supermarkets. I reccomend this class to all the foodies and tea lovers out there who are interested in learning & creating their own personal tea blend from natural ingredients.

The venue is bright and lovely and there was plenty of time to create your own blend and ask questions. You may need to arrive abit early to find parking if you plan on driving as the botanical store is on a main busy street so best to have time to park on the smaller streets and allow a few minutes to walk there.

Louise Huesmann • Mar 2021

Ruan steered us through the intricate chai world, breaking down each taste and smell to help us create our own signature tea. Wonderful day and loved the chance to take our creations home. Thank you.

Imogen Senior • Mar 2021

really great thank you so much - we learnt heaps and made some amazing teas. super helpful teacher, excellent vibes, and a thorough background to tea making provided

Danielle Parker • Mar 2021

What an amazing class. Ruan was an informative, fun teacher who provided so much information on tea and how to blend a beautiful tea. I'd highly recommend this class to any tea enthusiast.

Jason Reynolds • Jan 2021

Great class, great teacher, great value. Excited to try our own tea blends! Highly recommend.

Anonymized Customer • Jan 2021

What an excellent class/experience! Ruan was a wealth of experience and expertise, and it was a pleasure to learn new things and to taste the new and incredible flavours available in tea. Would highly recommend!

Kendra • Jan 2021

The teacher was excellent and the venue was beautiful we felt immediately warmly welcomed and were excited about the experience!
The teas and botanicals provided were of high quality and vast range and we got really exciting blends that are personal to our palettes
We learnt so much about the history and process and detail behind tea that I never knew was so intricate! We absolutely will be coming back to do this again and are already recommending it to friends and family :)
Thankyou so much for an incredible class!

Amelia Robertson • Jan 2021

My girlfriend and I loved this workshop The teacher was welcoming and funny, making everyone in the class feel at home and like they were just chatting with a friend. The first half of the class (tea tasting) was super interesting and fun! I learnt so many things about tea I had honestly no idea about! And of course, the second half (tea blending) was very cool, and it was awesome that the teacher was there to help and advise the whole time. The store was beautiful and inviting and apart from the course, they sell natural teas, facial products and crystals! I had a really relaxing and fun time, would definitely recommend to others and will be back in the future! Thank you! ✨✨✨

Impala + Peacock

location_on Brunswick, Melbourne

local_activity classes and experiences: Tea • Food and Drink Tasting

Reviews

Brunswick, Melbourne

classes and experiences: Tea • Food and Drink Tasting