I’m getting a kick out of my new found fun with tea. It’s loose leaf Chai tea that’s been tickling me pink. That, and my new Tazo Tea card:
The new Tazo Tea card comes in 3 colors, and purple is the one that has my name all over it. It’s definitely the prettiest of the three. By the way, if you look at eBay, it’s surprising that these cards are already starting to be sold there. Somehow collectors started snatching them up quickly.
Here’s the skinny:
- You can use your Tazo card as a form of payment in any Starbucks store, any Evolution Fresh store, and at the one Tazo store.
- You can load money onto your Tazo card at any Starbucks, Evolution Fresh store, or at the one Tazo store.
- You will earn a “star” for each swipe with this card at any Starbucks, Evolution Fresh, or Tazo.
- And you can register it at Starbucks.com/card, just like any other Starbucks card.
- It can be used exactly like any other Starbucks card.
Jumping back to tea, as I mentioned, it is loose leaf Chai that I have really been having fun with. The tea looks so pretty, and smells amazing. I always add a little milk and sugar to my tea at home. I’m sure I’m torturing my tea to something that comes as close as possible to coffee. I use way too much in my infuser. And it will never be my morning beverage! Here’s my fun with tea at home:
In case you missed, my article about the grand opening of the Tazo Tea store is here.
It’s been one month since my last giveaway!
Do you want to win one of those awesome Tazo cards? There would be a serious coolness factor to pull a Tazo card out at the register. And, this card actually says on the back that you can use it at Starbucks too!
Here is how you enter to win a $25.00 Tazo Tea card:
- 1. Leave a comment about tea. Anything you want to say about tea. Iced. Hot. Teavana. Tazo. Instant. Loose Leaf. Heavily sweetened. Herbal. However you like your tea. However, no spam comments; No posts to buy or sell items that you own or have a financial interest in. No key words as names; and no non-civil comments.
- 2. One entry per person.
- 3. You must have an address within the United States, Canada, or the U.K.
- 4. Please watch for the winners announcement within 7 – 10 days of the contest close. I’ve learned the lesson where I’ve seen people not reply to my emails telling them they’ve won, and never return to the site. If you don’t contact me within 21 days of winning, your prize is forfeited.
- 5. Leave your comment before December 06, 2012, at 6:00 p.m.
- 6. You must be over 18 years old to enter.
- 7. It’s not required, but I hope you’ll either “subscribe” or “like” this site.
- 8. I suggest you leave a comment using an email address that you really check.
- 9. As always, odds of winning depends on the number of entries. Winners will be drawn at random.
I think many of my readers probably don’t know that Tazo has a partnership with Mercy Corps to help improve the lives of people growing tea. It’s part of the mission to ethically source tea. Now that Tazo Tea has taken a bold step towards center stage in the world of Starbucks brands, I hope to see that partnership developed and strengthened further. Once upon a time, Starbucks offered a Conservation International Starbucks card. Maybe someday we’ll see a Tazo Tea Mercy Corps card? I can support that idea. What do you think?
I can’t wait to read your comments.
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Chris, if you look for Rooibos, that’s the name for African Red Bush tea. I found it in King Soopers, though admittedly Tazo doesn’t have it. Rooibos sweetened with some stevia is one of my favorite drinks.
I love green tea, loose, bagged, however. I drink it everyday religiously. YUM!
I found your site while trying to figure out how to use my newly required Starbucks Reward for becoming a Gold Member and I have to say I absolutely love your writing (and the content isn’t bad either)!
I love tea and Chai is one of my faves! I recently learned a trick where you heat up the milk before putting it in the brewed tea and I have to admit that it somehow makes it better. I don’t know why I haven’t tried loose leaf chai though… After the 3 boxes of different brands and flavors are gone I’ll have to give it a try.
@Auriella Just want to say hello and welcome. I’m on my phone so this is short. Hope youll enjoy poking around my site.
Right now I am really enjoying “holiday” teas 🙂 Looking forward to exploring the shop in University Village when I get a chance, sounds like a nice way to spend some time catching up with friends!
Hi Melody..
I love peach tea.. cold or hot.. am interested to see what happens with Teavana and Starbucks since I love their peach rooibos.
I love iced tea! So delicious! My favorite would be passion and calm tea over ice with a little honey. Iced Refresh is also delicious!
@Chris – I just checked the Tazo website and it doesn’t look like they offer the African Red Bush tea any more. 🙁
It made a great Misto.
@Melody – the Tazo website has been updated to have more of the look of the Tazo store – kind of the new Tazo brand look and feel I guess. For those readers interested in some of the items (food, ceramics, etc.) you showed in your Tazo review, you can purchase many of them at Tazo.com now.
Tazo Tea is delicious. I prefer it iced and sweetened though. Thank you for the chance, Melody, and hope you had a lovely Thanksgiving weekend! 🙂
@CD @ Ai and @ Chris – I’m no tea expert, and I may be repeating some of what Ai said, but when I look at the Tazo tea catalog, it says that the organic Rooibos is :translated as red bush,” this South African plan imparts a malty-sweet, yet woody & creamy flavor that presents itself as a bright ruddy-colored cup.”
Under the herbal tea blends, both “Chai Rooibos”, and “Vanilla Rooibos parfait” are available from Tazo.
@Melody, thanks! I was talking about Tazo not having just Ye Standard Plain Rooibos. I actually don’t like vanilla OR chai in my tea. ^_^ (I seem to be one of the very few tea drinkers that DETESTS chai in all its forms. I don’t do spiced teas besides Earl Grey.)
I also just remembered that I ALWAYS order a Tazo Awake latte (iced) whenever I want some tea at Starbucks. ^_^ I love that I can get it in a trente–lasts me through four hours of classes.
@Ai – Well, I see what you’re saying. When I go to the Tazo website, I can’t find any mention of any standard plain Rooibos. I get it- you’re seeking one that has not been blended with other things. However, it is listed in the Tazo Catalogue book that I picked up from the Tazo store. I guess it is possible that it is actually in the store only. Next time I get to Tazo, I am definitely going to look!
drinking a lemongrass chai right now, to try to battle a sore throat 😛
I enjoy Awake tea with extra milk in the mornings before my day begins. I love to sip tea and read, easing into the morning.
@Melody – Starbucks used to serve and Tazo used to sell boxed bags of a tea called “African Red Bush,” which is a Rooibos tea. When Starbucks came out with their fancier Tazo teas in the tins a couple of years ago, they replaced the African Red Bush with a Vanilla Rooibos tea which was promoted as a Tea Latte beverage (Starbucks had also tested a Red (and black) Tea Latte several years ago using a concentrate like the Chai concentrate they serve).
Even though Starbucks no longer carried the African Red Bush, it was still sold (in the box not the tin) in places like Whole Foods and other places where Tazo was sold.
@Chris – I did a quick google search just prior to typing this and the Tazo Red Bush is still available on drugstore.com and other places.
Here’s a link: http://www.drugstore.com/products/prod.asp?pid=160911&catid=190040&aid=338666&aparam=goobase_filler
Sorry to hijack your thread Melody…does that mean I get more entries? 😉
Just wanted to say if you order from the Tazo site:
1) right now there is free shipping on any size order (don’t know how long it is good for)
2) you can pay with your Starbucks card (assuming you earn a star)
3) you pay sales tax – assuming that’s because “Starbucks” does business locally in your state so they collect tax as “Starbucks Corp.” not “Tazo.”
@CD – I’m fine with that! I like that some conversations have developed. The thing about CyberMonday is that starbuckstore.com is starting to sell out already! The grinder I wanted in this thread here is already sold out. http://www.starbucksmelody.com/2012/11/23/saving-money-at-starbucks/
I’m a big fan of Starbucks iced chai lattes in the spring/ summer. I wouldn’t mind Starbucks doing other tea latte promotions again and I would try another iced tea latte version. 🙂
When I’m sick, I drink tea. It’s usually the stuff at work that’s not very good. How about a card for some better tea?
I LOVE tea<3!!! All kinds any any and every tea out there<3!!!! THANK YOU SO SO SOOO VERY MUCH:)!!!
Aloha Melody!
As a Starbucks partner and coffee master, I am always encouraging my partners to enjoy the experience of coffee. Some partners however don’t like coffee (oddly) so I encourage them to enjoy the experience of tea. I let them know that like or coffee tasting guides, we have a tazo tea passport. They fill it out and become tea specialist. I am a tea specialist as well and I am excited to make my way to Seattle to visit the tazo store! Mahalo!
My latest tea love is Green Tea with Pomegranate. Any good tea must be sweetened with honey, always. Haven’t tried it yet, but for a homemade Chai tea add cloves, nutmeg and cinnamon to regular tea. I’m anxious to try the Tazo Chai tea.
@Melody – Have you seen the Krups Burr Grinder they offer at StarbucksStore?
http://www.starbucksstore.com/burr-coffee-grinder-gvx-2-by-krups/011018083,default,pd.html?navid=PDP
They used to sell that one in the stores and I owned one (gave it away when I upgraded to an espresso machine with a built-in burr grinder).
I liked that one – it did a great job grinding. The biggest difference seems to be the number of grinder settings and maybe the size of the bean hopper. I used mine to grind for espresso and french press – it did a great job with both. It was easy to clean, etc. It might be worth a try (it is less expensive and has a positive rating track record).
I’ve always been a tea fan. It started with Star Trek:TNG and Captain Picard. When im not drinking coffee, I’m making earl grey
I like jasmine green tea, as it is light and offers a refreshing fragrance.
Ever since Starbucks launched its full leaf Tazo teas in stores, I have been in love with tea. I am particularly fond of the vanilla rooibos!
I was super excited to see the launch of Tazo Loose Leaf Teas! A friend introduced me to the wonderfulness of loose leaf tea, but she was purchasing it from another store that was just so pushy with their sales tactics! I have yet to try to Tazo Loose Leaf Teas, but this card would give me a great reason!! Thank you for keeping us up to date on all the Starbucks happenings!
I am a really big fan of Teavana and I’m sort of glad that Starbucks acquired it, that means the brand is going to grow a lot. And amazing things can happen!
I’m so impressed with the Tazo tea store! Acquiring Teavana makes everything even better, as long as there’s no dilution of branding in the process. Teavana can leverage Tazo’s CPG footprint, and Tazo gains access to the single origin knowledge, as well as the presentation, of high quality teas. Hand in hand, this deal is really beautiful for Starbucks.
Maybe we’ll see some more tea tests in the future! 🙂
I hate to break it to you, Mel, but the orange and green Tazo cards have my heart! My mother would love the purple one, as you do, so I will have to get her one whenever I get to visit that stunning location. Maybe we’ll see Tazo stores opening in malls if this retail concept proves successful! One can dream!
My favourite thing about tea is how it differs in so many ways from coffee, but still is an incredible agricultural product. It’s amazing to think about how one tea plant can give you all 4 types of tea – black, green, oolong and white, all depending on how you treat it. I like that the visual part of tea is one of the important factors – that the colour and texture in the cup both differs and offer values to the overall product.
I like that tea beats coffee in popularity in the world and I like that tea heals; indisputably can make you well.
I would really enjoy having a TAZO SBcard. even if it’s not loaded with money — it would match the key ring I got when Tazo first became a part of the family, and still wear to this day.
With a such a huge renewed focus on teas, I really want to go through my tea passport again and get my tea pin to wear on my apron! Also, I wish we would carry more white tea varieties in the CO retail stores!
I just ordered a bag of loose chai rooibos from tazo.com! I love myself some zen with a little truvia
within the last two years I’ve gotten really into drinking tea regularly, especially loose leaf teas! it’s a nice alternative to coffee, which I like. lovely giveaway! x
I love chai frappuccinos 🙂
I order iced tea every single time I go out to eat. Squeeze a little bit of lemon in there & nothing tastes better 🙂
I love Red Rooibos tea!
I love that you have a coffee blog and still make room to write about tea as well. Even some of us hardcore coffee drinkers often change it up a bit with a nice tea. Tea can take a little getting used to but once your palate accustoms to it a nice grassy green tea can be very satisfying. Love your blog and let me just say the TAZO Chai is pretty great too (and don’t forget to give some love to the TAZO calm (A very nice chamomile blend).
I love Starbucks passion tea hot, iced, or with lemonade. I’m going to try tea lattes next!
I love the Tazo teas; my favorite right now is the Calm (chamomile). A warm cup with a book and a piece of chocolate is perfect on a cold night. 🙂
I love the vanilla rooibos tea one of my favorites from tazo was the african red bush and berry blossom white anytime I find the berry blossom white in grocery stores I always get a box and of course the joy tea has become a seasonal favorite of mine in the past three years I just wish starbucks can offer an unsweetened matcha powder at the stores I know a lot of people who will be glad to have it without the sugar that’s added to the current powder we have
Iced or hot with cream and sugar. I’ll try any kind!
enjoy black tea. learning about chai
@Chris Tazo does have a red bush / rooibos (vanilla rooibos) in store and online.
just google “rooibos” and you’ll find plenty (there is also green rooibos and honeybush that are similar)
@Chris
http://www.tazo.com/Rooibos/rooibos,default,sc.html
http://www.starbucksstore.com/tazo-vanilla-rooibos-loose-leaf-herbal-tea/001143327,default,pd.html?cgid=herbal-infusions
http://www.starbucksstore.com/tazo-vanilla-rooibos-full-leaf-tea/011003198,default,pd.html?cgid=herbal-infusions
Just found your blog through an article about Starbucks I read on yahoo (as a gold card member since 2009 anything and everything that has to do with Starbucks i find myself reading) and i think its wonderful! I am from new jersey and as a huge tea enthusiast, am extremely upset that I will not be able to experience the tazo tea store in the near future but look forward to hearing more about it through your blog. As a lover of tea I currently have an entire cabinet dedicated to all different types and brands, many of them tazo (passion fruit steeped over hot water is my current favorite!) but i have been drinking a lot of the yogi brand teas recently and find that both the history behind the tea and the benefits are fascinating and delicious!
@Shayne I would love to have a tea passport 🙂
Starbucks didn’t do much until now with TAZO, I’m interested to see how Teavana and Starbucks change one another.
As for tea….
I love all tea! Or at least I wish to try all tea. I prefer loose leaf / whole leaf to fannings. My favorites tend to be oolongs and blacks. My usual drink is a soy no water chai 🙂 Joy is my favorite Tazo tea, and I am glad it is Joy season again.
Hot, cold, room temperature…some are better one way than another.
I always try a tea without sugar or milk first, then add it. It changes the profile, just like a resteep does, and that is neither good nor bad, if you like it, then that’s the right way to make it.
@Melody as you like chai, I think you need to try stovetop chai when you get a chance 🙂
FYI – Chai is tea, everywhere else! here in the US it tends to mean spiced tea
I LOVE CHAI tea! Thank you for offering this giveaway!
@Elyssa – I am so glad you found my blog! I saw the shine.yahoo.com link and definitely I’ve gotten a little influx of readers today thanks to it. I am flattered in every way. I just want to say a big “Welcome.” Glad you liked the article on the Tazo Tea store. Hope you’ll enjoy poking around the blog!
I’ve been drinking Tazo’s Green Ginger every single day for the past 2 weeks! Love it.
I’m a tea newbie and so I’ve started easy – Tazo Earl Gray. Thinking about giving Chai or Darjeeling a try next!
Thanks for the giveaway!