For Joanne Gao, the simple act of making a cup of tea creates a moment to pause.
"When you brew the tea, the whole process makes you focus on the moment," she said.
"I never brew the same tea, every time it's different so it helps you know about yourself and reflects your mood."
Ms Gao learnt about running tea ceremonies at a professional tea school in Beijing.
"I love the flavours — the variable, complex flavours — the aromas, they bring pictures to your mind," she said.
When she moved from China to Hobart in 2017, she had the idea to share the quiet joy of tea ceremonies with Tasmanians.
"To provide people with the tea ceremony experience, to try something a little bit different and to spend time with families and friends," she said.
Ms Gao has been working with CatholicCare Tasmania to turn her idea into a small business, through its Moonah Bazaar project.
The project works with eight people from migrant or asylum seeker backgrounds who have lived in Australia for fewer than five years to help them to develop a micro-business.
Ms Gao said the help came at the right time.
"I need a bridge to getting more knowledge about the new and local market because it's definitely a different culture," she said.
"It's good to work with people, get the feedback, to test a little bit and adjust my market to the right place."
The project aimed to establish at least six sustainable micro-businesses through coaching and training.
The participants have done a four-day workshop and will soon have individual consultations with mentors.
'Huge potential' in Hobart
Andrea Witt from CatholicCare said the project worked with people who already had a business plan or idea and needed help to progress it.
"A lot of the people that we're working with have had a dream and they've had that dream for a really long time but they haven't necessarily had the opportunity or known how to get started," Ms Witt said.
"Typically, we're looking at people who come with a whole heap of rich skills and passion about what they're wanting to do, but don't know how to get started."
The project was funded through the State Government's Multicultural Grants Program.
It has also helped artist Billy Li, who hand-paints clothing and creates murals for businesses like bars and cafes.
"All of my products and services are about personalisation because I think today's customer and people tend to focus on the personal, the uniqueness and the intangible values when they make a purchase," he said.
"I think if I do the personalised service and products for local customers, it has huge potential in Hobart."
Mr Li said the Moonah Bazaar project had given him the confidence to start his business.
"The trainer can teach us the knowledge about finance, accounting, marketing and anything related to how to start your business," he said.
"It's very useful and professional."
The businesses will run from a monthly bazaar in the Hobart suburb of Moonah, scheduled to start in March next year.
