Black Teal Bay is a shop at 30 Buckingham Street in Arrowtown that sells handmade lavender and botanical skincare, made from plants grown on the owners' own land on the shores of Lake Wakatipu. The website says they grow the lavender themselves, hand-pick it in season, and distil their own essential oil in a traditional copper still. Products include an organic calendula moisturising balm, lightly scented with lavender, manuka and rose geranium, and beeswax candles. The shop also sells a select range of books, which is the part of the shop customers talk about most.
Customers praise the book selection and the decor, and say the books are carefully curated, giving the shop a personality of its own. One visitor bought several books and enjoyed a chat with the owner, who was sweet and kind. Others praise the handcrafted gifts and the organic products with no nasty chemicals. One mentions a rare helichrysum, which is normally only found in Crete. Our pick in Arrowtown for a book browse and a lavender balm.