Do you think Teavana could replace the Tazo Tea offerings inside the Starbucks retail stores?
Last December, Starbucks purchased Teavana, making it a wholly-owned and operated subsidiary, along side Evolution Fresh, La Boulange, Seattle’s Best Coffee, and Tazo. Since that time, (in April this year) Starbucks has introduced a Teavana-branded Starbucks card, and added My Starbucks Rewards stars for purchases made inside Teavana stores. On July 25, 2013, Howard Schultz was quoted as saying, “Over time, many unique hand-crafted Teavana tea beverages will also find their way into Starbucks stores.”
So it is no surprise to hear that Starbucks has already begun testing in a small number of Atlanta Starbucks locations. Those stores now offer Teavana tea beverages, having launched Teavana in stores with the fall launch beginning on September 4, 2013, and removing Tazo tea from the retail wall.
In the Starbucks stores testing Teavana, hot tea options now include English Breakfast, Earl Grey Creme, Emperor’s Clounds, Jade Citrus Mint, Youthberry, Maharaj Chai Oolong, Passion Berry, and Pineapple Kona Pop. I’m familiar with some of those teas as I have made them at home. The Jade Citrus Mint reminds me of the Tazo Mintly Citrus which used to be available at the now-closed Tazo Tea store. Pineapple Kona Pop makes for an amazing iced tea, and I have made it at home many times. I last mentioned Pineapple Kona Pop in this article here. All of the teas are individually packaged.
The retail wall also has loose leaf Teavana tea available for purchase:
Also, I have heard that the stores offering Teavana teas have the Teavana German Rock Sugar available if you should want to sweeten your tea with it.
What do you think? Your turn to weigh in. There are aspects of this that are wonderful. Having tried a number of Teavana teas, I know they’re great – and a number of the tea blends work wonderfully iced. I am sentimental about Tazo though. Somehow, I would be a little sad to see it gone from the stores, should Teavana ever launch nationwide at Starbucks stores. It’s my understanding that if you want iced tea, you still get the standard black, green, or passion iced teas, but now baristas refer to them as “Starbucks teas,” rather than calling them Tazo teas.
If you like reading about the many things that Starbucks tests, you can read about more tests here. Last but not least, I enjoy featuring reader-submitted photos, whether that is your amazing neighborhood Starbucks, a coffee event, or what have you. I’m sorry but I don’t use every photo that is sent to me, but feel free to email me at Melody at StarbucksMelody dot com, if you have a Starbucks photo that you wish to be considered for this site. Please indicate in your email that you took the photo and that you are giving this site permission to use. Thank you so much!
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Starbucks and Howard,
I’m done.
No more Tazo (specifically, China Green Tips) in our Starbucks means no more of my money. Cancelling the Starbucks Gold card today.
From the looks of things, you’ve got a lot of unhappy customers over this corporate decision.
Where is plain, simple, good, basic green tea?
Same here. I love the Tazo Chai; tried the Oprah Chai only because I walked into the store yesterday unaware of the switch. When informed by the barista that the Tazo Chai had been replaced, I was disappointed, but agreed to try the Teavana Oprah Chai upon his assurances that they were very similar. Not even close, and the latter is absolutely awful. I’m mostly a tea drinker, but when I do drink coffee I steer clear of Starbucks’s because it tastes burnt. So without the Tazo Chai, I have no reason to ever set foot in a Starbucks.
I am disappointed that starbucks replaced Tazo tea. Tazo teas are the best. Tevana tea is not that good, please switch back to Tazo.
I have absolutely no reason to ever set foot into a Starbucks again. As a regular herbal tea drinker, Calm and Refresh were my staples. Two of the best herbal teas on the market. Now they’ve been replaced in the Starbucks with fruity infusions that smell artificial and taste even worse. There’s no mention of the health benefits of their new herbal tea replacements, their names seem to position them for the youth market, for example: Kona Pineapple Pop – which tastes like artificial candied pineapple syrup and smells like old apple cider vinegar. It’s quite nasty.
Shultz, I’m not sure what market research you conducted to make you decision to replace Tazo with Teavana – but for this customer it’s a really bad move. I’ll stick with buying my own herbal tea and steer clear of your stores which have become more vapid and empty of any kind of soul or product worth sticking around for.
I’m another tea drinker who won’t be returning to Starbucks now that Tazo teas are gone. Teavana has so many types of black tea that it had to be a non-tea drinker who decided on the replacement for Awake. Even after steeping for 5 minutes as the barista suggested, the English Breakfast still tastes watery. Perhaps Starbucks thinks we’re all Lipton drinkers in the U.S. Time to start carrying my own tea again when I leave the house.
I buy a Tazo Chai Latte every day. I hate the Oprah Chai Latte. The Tazo is still available at my store but for how long? I’ve spent $1000’s on Starbucks and the only think I like is the Tazo Chai Latte. I don’t like coffee. I guess if they do get rid of it I will be saving $5/day and be very unhappy.
Very disappointed that I can no longer get Tazo Zen tea in Starbucks. I’ve been drinking it since 1998. None of the Teavana teas come close. Tazo is about tea, Teavana is about marketing. (Hence the enhanced sweetness) This Sharma bum will look for his teas elsewhere
Has anyone gone onto Starbucks’ site and complained about the Teavana debacle? I did and got a pat answer that they would report my concern to the appropriate “team”. Really???
I’m dreadfully dissapointed! I have been a Starbucks customer and enthusiastic brand evangelist for 20 years. Ten years ago when I had to give up coffee I continued to patronize and extoll the virtues of Starbucks enjoying Tazo teas. I tried to embrace the new Teavana teas and have regretfully reached the conclusion – like many other customers- that they are just not as good. I will be taking my business elsewhere. I’m so sad to end our relationship SBUX!
When Starbucks first made the switch to Teavana, the new iced green tea was dreadful.
At some point, stores in the So.Seattle area must have switched to a different Teavana green tea — Jade Citrus Mint — which, much as I hate to admit it, is close enough to Tazo’s Zen green tea that my wife and I can once again enjoy iced green tea at Starbucks. Also, Jade Citrus Mint appears to contain all natural ingredients (unlike Teavana’s other not-so-good teas).
If that does not sound like an endorsement for Teavana, you’re right, it’s not
I still want Tazo back!
I am an avid Chi tea latte drinker. I drink TWO venti’s every day since 2006. My Starbucks around my house all know my order. I love it so very much. I have been a gold card member since 2008 and spend a lot of money there. I have tried Oprah Chi and I couldn even finish one cup of it. Without Tazo Chi tea I will no longer go to Starbucks, nor will I take any of my friends and family. I’m so Mad!
I was told at my Starbucks that they are not getting rid of the Tazo Chai Tea Latte that they now call Classic Chai Latte. They are only replacing tea bag tea from Tazo to Teavana. I hope they are right.
very disappointed with the change from Tazo to Teavana teas — the stores are always out of stock of the emperors cloud mist green tea (which is not nearly as good as the china green tips) and the other Teavana teas are not good!!
why would you make the change when it is clear Teavana is not as good nor can they keep a steady supply at the Starbucks locations — lots of customers unhappy
A very bad decision — bring back the Tazo!!
The starbucks I go to in marietta ga runs out of green tea (jade citrus mint) every other week. The tea is worse than tazo and they can’t even keep the crappy teavana in stock . I was actually told by the manger they couldn’t order it last week so it will be at least another week and even then they can’t guarentee they’ll have it . I think I’m finally done with starbucks . They don’t care about tea drinkers
I’ll chime in with the rest, that eliminating Tazo in favor of Teavanais a big mistake. The Teavana Emperors Cloud is no match for China Green Tips. Guess I’ll be carrying my own tea from now on. Bring back Tazo, SBUX !!
Really!!!!??? No TAZO tea… What is wrong with you people?! Seriously you people are obviously not rocket scientists, if you were TAZO would still be in the Starbucks stores. The earl grey now has a cinnamon taste to it….ugh!!! Gross. For all tea drinkers…check out Marshalls and TJ Maxx they have better teas that are also full-leaf for less than $5. That will now be my go to tea until TAZO full-leaf will be available again. Also you can check out Ebay there are people on there that are ripping people off and charging astronomical prices for tea. But hey desperation will make you do crazy things
I have tried almost every Teavana variety, and I am so disappointed. Nothing comes close to China Green Tips by Tazo. I’ll be spending a lot less time and money in my local Starbucks! I tried to be open to the change, but the taste just isn’t there.
The Oprah chair leaves a foul aftertaste, so I stuck with the classic chai latte.
But I didn’t know that the switch to Teavana would include the classic until I mentioned to the barista that my previous chai had been “weak” and could I have an extra “pump”. That’s when she told me about the switch and added that I wasn’t the only customer who’d complained.
Needless to say, I am done with Starbucks. The iced teas have tasted “off” since summer – and now I know why.
Second Cup’s chai isn’t as good as the Tazo but it’s better than the Teavana. They will get my business now.
Tazo chai tea lattés are now gone. Classic chai tea is now made by Teavana (as is Oprah chai but Teavana classic is different than Teavana Oprah chai). Am I the only one devastated?
Pretty disappointed tazo tea is gone. Not impressed with Oprah tea. Transitioning away from starbucks
omg! I miss my tazo zen. im not a coffee drinker so I absolutely love my green tea and tazo zen is the best. I was going to starbucks several times a day and had a can at work and home. Please bring this back. im very sad since the teavanna tea that they are pushing as alternative is nothing but mint… I think it would do a great benefit to all tea lovers for tazo to return sooner rather then later
I want Tazo earl grey tea back. Teavana brand isn’t the same. Why does everything you enjoy and is good get replaced with something bllllllllla?
Starbuck you are suppose to represent quality. Your losing that states.
When I’m looking for a treat, I always head to the closest Starbucks for a grande Awake Tea Latte. Despite the ridiculously high price, I bought a few every week on my way home from work. Every time I bought a tea for myself I also bought a venti mocha for my husband too. That’s $17.74 week, or $922.43 a year, that doesn’t even include the random pastry.
Thank you Starbucks for removing the only drink I liked. Without a reason to partake in your drive through, I’m saving at least $922 a year.
I have loved Tazo Zen as an iced tea for many years. The first time I was served a Teavanna-based Shaken Green Iced tea, I thought that some gross procedural mistake had occurred. After the second, I started to look into an explanation on-line. I am so disappointed that Starbucks has apparently replaced Tazo iced tea, and furthermore, Zen and China Green Tips are not available hot. Tazo has a crisp, clean taste and the Teavanna tasted slightly “soapy”. It also is darker without being proportionally more flavorful so I am wondering about dyes. I have given all of my business to Barnes and Noble, which is still serving Tazo Zen and occasionally Peets.
They have lost my wife as a customer. We now travel with a Coleman stove, cooler, and Awake tea. Teavana English Breakfast is watery weak, and way overpriced.
Yes, the Teavana English Breakfast is watery and weak…and leaves a bitter aftertaste. It’s not anything like Awake.
switching to teavana is a horrible decision. BRING BACK “TAZO” !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Starbucks marketing campaign is that yiu can get ‘your’ drink anywhere in the world and that’s what I loved about them. Now that tazo has been replaced, I can’t get my awake tea latte anywhere. I no longer have a reason to go to Starbucks again.
Starbucks gets no more of my money either. I have Crohn’s and GERD and the only drinks I could stomach were the Tazo Chamomile, Passionflower, and Vanilla Rooibus. Now everything is either fruit or mint based or caffeinated and sent me puking outside the front of the cafe. Until they bring out something for those of us who can’t drink most things, no more Starbucks.
omg. I miss my tazo zen and chai tea. everyday after my walk starbucks was my stop.. the wknd 3or 4 times daily I have not been in starbucks all year that teavanna is a joke my gold card jus sits in the drawer. #BRINGBACKTAZO
I miss Tazo Rest. So many of us do! Oh, why won’t they bring it back? I don’t know of any substitute for it anywhere. What blind corporate madness has taken Tazo away and replaced it with the fruity awfulness that is Teavana?
Well it appears that not one comment that I have read is for the switch to Teavana teas of any kind. If so many people are disappointed with the change why not listen to your customers. It seems that you really don’t care about your customers. I have been a customer forever, 7 days a week sometimes twice a day for your Tazo chai latte. Baristas have tried everything to make the Teavana chai taste good but to no avail. I have given up and haven’t been in for 3 months. Pretty disappointing….
My Sunday morning treat of Starbucks tea is finished Teavana is horrible. Sad