Welcome to our cyber tearoom. Please stop by and share what is in your cup today.
Yesterday, I was surprised at how many responders did not have fave teaware motifs. You can still vote and discuss yesterday's topic.
Today's TeaRoom Poll and discussion topic. All the discussion regarding Teavana since I have been a member (and in particular lately) made me wonder about everyone's experience with this somewhat notorious tea vendor. Please answer the poll and then share with us. Also, any other notorious vendors. For me it is RoT (love the acronym).
I am looking forward to sharing time in our TeaRoom with everyone. Bottoms up!
Dec 20th, '08, 02:09
Posts: 20891
Joined: Apr 22nd, '06, 20:52
Scrolling: scrolling
Location: Back in the TeaCave atop Mt. Fuji
Dec 20th, '08, 02:36
Posts: 921
Joined: Feb 6th, '08, 04:57
Location: enjoying a cup of Red Rose down in GA
Dec 20th, '08, 03:18
Posts: 5151
Joined: Dec 20th, '06, 23:33
Scrolling: scrolling
Location: Gainesville, Florida
No experience with them except hearing about them here. I suspect they don't carry Tim’s wonderful 2004 Wuyi Shuixian oolong from a bush more than 200 years old. This is the Lil Champ that Phyll Sheng, Tim, Michael, and I brewed for 11 days running -- same leaves -- for totals in the range of 35 to 40 infusions. Goodness gracious. Thanks again, Tim!
I have shopped at a Teavana in the past, wasn't really happy with the experience. Their tea was pretty bad. They did have a nice selection of teacups though, but with the exception of a few cups I could find them cheaper elsewhere, most were from the same import company. Some though I haven't been able to find elsewhere, and items like that are the only item i'll buy there atm if I really really feel I want them.
So I guess I've been there, wasn't my gateway, i'll shop there, but only buy if that is something that I can't get anywhere else (even regardless of price).
So I guess I've been there, wasn't my gateway, i'll shop there, but only buy if that is something that I can't get anywhere else (even regardless of price).
Dec 20th, '08, 04:57
Posts: 53
Joined: Oct 17th, '08, 23:58
Location: Not in the blue teapot
From all the bashing I hear around here I doubt I'd ever willingly shop for tea more than as a passing interest through Teavana. Being rather skeptical of any retail person's statements I tend to do research before I even walk into a store unless it is entirely on a whim (lulz, Hot Topic). Due to this I know the closest to me is the Fashion Valley location- proof that I'd not shop there as even standard retail outlets have a 15% markup per average in that mall compared to any others in the county. This is primarily due to the location and the mystique of the region so price and sales being the pitch it would seem to be the perfect spot for a Teavana local.
But I'm tangenting. I doubt I'll shop there unless I'm visiting some yet known teashop in that area or to try their actual teas for the blends and flavors rather than the expensive gimmicks I expect to find according to the many accounts here and about from archive to current.
In my cup: at 1:54 AM I think a kettle would wake the family. Haven't been feeling like drinking much tea lately and I have no samplers to try until the 25th (bloody tea gifting family telling me not to buy tea samplers, *grumble, grumble* :P) so I'm taking a break with holiday drinks or something like that. Maybe some herbal something as I can't have a cup of Jasmine without it being stolen. My poor Jasmines! T-T
But I'm tangenting. I doubt I'll shop there unless I'm visiting some yet known teashop in that area or to try their actual teas for the blends and flavors rather than the expensive gimmicks I expect to find according to the many accounts here and about from archive to current.
In my cup: at 1:54 AM I think a kettle would wake the family. Haven't been feeling like drinking much tea lately and I have no samplers to try until the 25th (bloody tea gifting family telling me not to buy tea samplers, *grumble, grumble* :P) so I'm taking a break with holiday drinks or something like that. Maybe some herbal something as I can't have a cup of Jasmine without it being stolen. My poor Jasmines! T-T
Other: Never been in one, but through a recent tea exchange, received a bunch of flavored tea that was apparently from there.
At this point, if I saw a Teavana, I'd probably be curious enough to take a look inside for myself. I probably wouldn't buy anything, as I have enough online tea-sources.
Today's cup is Adagio's Yunnan Noir. I just got this a few days ago, and it's my first real plunge into black teas since starting this tea journey. Good stuff. And I can actually taste it a little through my cold. Boy I can't wait till this thing is gone and I can taste the full spectrum of flavors again.
At this point, if I saw a Teavana, I'd probably be curious enough to take a look inside for myself. I probably wouldn't buy anything, as I have enough online tea-sources.
Today's cup is Adagio's Yunnan Noir. I just got this a few days ago, and it's my first real plunge into black teas since starting this tea journey. Good stuff. And I can actually taste it a little through my cold. Boy I can't wait till this thing is gone and I can taste the full spectrum of flavors again.
Dec 20th, '08, 08:20
Posts: 132
Joined: Sep 15th, '08, 21:01
Location: Millerton, NY
Contact:
toastedtoads
I went once when I was at the Mall of America. The employees didn't seem to have any idea what they were talking about and most of the [green] tea I looked at looked quite old and dry. I actually got a cup of gyokuro to go (I know, blasphemy), I wasn't expecting high quality but I wasn't expecting them to use upwards of 195 degree water either.
I think I'd only get flavored tea or herbals there, but as I don't drink either I doubt I'll be back. I have to say the raspberry black tea made wonderful iced tea though.
I think I'd only get flavored tea or herbals there, but as I don't drink either I doubt I'll be back. I have to say the raspberry black tea made wonderful iced tea though.
I said they were my intro and I moved on because I was dissatisfied... mostly because of price and because I don't have anywhere to buy tea locally... and I figured if I had to order tea online, I might as well explore other vendors... which led me to Adagio and Teachat. I've read the Teavana-bashing ever since I arrived here at TeaChat, and I recognize that lots of it is legitimate. Particularly, I don't like the deceptive information being distributed by the salespeople. Typical commercialism at its best, and quite a snazzy marketing campaign on their part.
Now, to defend them a bit... they're running a gateway business. They are going after yuppie Starbucks-type consumers who would never buy a first flush Darjeeling or a shincha or a Dan Cong as their first tea purchase... they wouldn't "get it" and might not be ready for the unflavored/unsweetened realm. In the beginning of my tea journey, that would have been the case with me... coming from a "sweet tea" world, I didn't arrive to my current palate overnight.
Yes... Their tea is overpriced... but as its been said here before, they are paying for an upscale mall presence across the country, and their overhead is far different than online vendors.
Yes... Many of their teas are artificially flavored. If you don't like flavored tea, they are not for you. If you do like flavored tea, some of them are really delicious as iced tea. Their Sweet Cranberry Black remains my favorite flavored iced tea of all time. THe coconut aloha is yummy too.
Yes... their unflavored greens are not great at all, although I do like their new Kuki-Matcha very much. You can definitely find MUCH better green tea for MUCH better cost elsewhere. But, the truth is, if I had never found Teavana and had my interest sparked, I'd never have searched out Adagio and moved on to O-Cha and other online vendors. Gateway, totally.
Yes... their salespeople are not tea experts, and they deliver company rhetoric to try to sell their most expensive products. I don't like being spoon-fed a bunch of crap by a sales person, but I get that at lots of retailers, to be honest. I don't enjoy that aspect of being a consumer, an it's a shame that its part of the way of the world. They're running a business, and they're doing what makes them successful, and they are introducing the concept of tea to newbies who might otherwise never have explored it.
I have to say... the whole idea that all of their tea is stale garbage unworthy of being drank is just not true. I got a really nice jade oolong there, unflavored, fresh, and tasty. I also tasted my very first FF Darjeeling there, and it was really wonderful. I've repurchased Darjeelings from them a couple of times since then, and they are consistently good. Several of the flavored ones are great for iced tea, and their Mate Vana is tasty and overwhelmingly popular. You can certainly find better, fresher, and cheaper online... but that doesn't mean their tea is all crap.
They let me use their restroom once when I was shopping, and when I came out, I could see their dry-erase communication board... reminders to try to sell certain teas like the Monkey-Picked, with sales goals posted, etc.... typical retail marketing techniques. I went out and tasted the monkey-picked, and it was really weak and not very flavorful, but I think it was just improperly brewed with not enough leaf... I smelled the dry leaf and it smelled pretty good. I didn't buy any because it was ridiculously overpriced and I already know where to get good oolongs.
Teavana fills its purpose well enough, but I don't approve of some of their marketing schemes. They will never be a mainstay for me anymore for buying tea, but I am grateful that I found them and discovered the world of loose-leaf tea. I will still shop in Teavana when I am near one, because I love the experience of actually being able to smell teas in person, look at the leaf, sample new things, and prowl in the teaware... and I have NO other opportunities anywhere nearby to do this. I have realistic expectations from them, and every time I go in, I spread some of my sparce knowledge to other shoppers who are interested.
I'm going Christmas shopping... AGAIN. 16 hours yesterday. In my cup is Harney and Sons Cinnamon tea... I couldn't resist Vulture's rave reviews, and it is actually the best cinnamon spice tea I've ever had. I'd like alittle more tea and alittle less cinnamon, so I'm gonna blend it with something unflavored next time. But it's realllllly tasty.
Happy Tea Day one and all.
Sarah
Now, to defend them a bit... they're running a gateway business. They are going after yuppie Starbucks-type consumers who would never buy a first flush Darjeeling or a shincha or a Dan Cong as their first tea purchase... they wouldn't "get it" and might not be ready for the unflavored/unsweetened realm. In the beginning of my tea journey, that would have been the case with me... coming from a "sweet tea" world, I didn't arrive to my current palate overnight.
Yes... Their tea is overpriced... but as its been said here before, they are paying for an upscale mall presence across the country, and their overhead is far different than online vendors.
Yes... Many of their teas are artificially flavored. If you don't like flavored tea, they are not for you. If you do like flavored tea, some of them are really delicious as iced tea. Their Sweet Cranberry Black remains my favorite flavored iced tea of all time. THe coconut aloha is yummy too.
Yes... their unflavored greens are not great at all, although I do like their new Kuki-Matcha very much. You can definitely find MUCH better green tea for MUCH better cost elsewhere. But, the truth is, if I had never found Teavana and had my interest sparked, I'd never have searched out Adagio and moved on to O-Cha and other online vendors. Gateway, totally.
Yes... their salespeople are not tea experts, and they deliver company rhetoric to try to sell their most expensive products. I don't like being spoon-fed a bunch of crap by a sales person, but I get that at lots of retailers, to be honest. I don't enjoy that aspect of being a consumer, an it's a shame that its part of the way of the world. They're running a business, and they're doing what makes them successful, and they are introducing the concept of tea to newbies who might otherwise never have explored it.
I have to say... the whole idea that all of their tea is stale garbage unworthy of being drank is just not true. I got a really nice jade oolong there, unflavored, fresh, and tasty. I also tasted my very first FF Darjeeling there, and it was really wonderful. I've repurchased Darjeelings from them a couple of times since then, and they are consistently good. Several of the flavored ones are great for iced tea, and their Mate Vana is tasty and overwhelmingly popular. You can certainly find better, fresher, and cheaper online... but that doesn't mean their tea is all crap.
They let me use their restroom once when I was shopping, and when I came out, I could see their dry-erase communication board... reminders to try to sell certain teas like the Monkey-Picked, with sales goals posted, etc.... typical retail marketing techniques. I went out and tasted the monkey-picked, and it was really weak and not very flavorful, but I think it was just improperly brewed with not enough leaf... I smelled the dry leaf and it smelled pretty good. I didn't buy any because it was ridiculously overpriced and I already know where to get good oolongs.
Teavana fills its purpose well enough, but I don't approve of some of their marketing schemes. They will never be a mainstay for me anymore for buying tea, but I am grateful that I found them and discovered the world of loose-leaf tea. I will still shop in Teavana when I am near one, because I love the experience of actually being able to smell teas in person, look at the leaf, sample new things, and prowl in the teaware... and I have NO other opportunities anywhere nearby to do this. I have realistic expectations from them, and every time I go in, I spread some of my sparce knowledge to other shoppers who are interested.
I'm going Christmas shopping... AGAIN. 16 hours yesterday. In my cup is Harney and Sons Cinnamon tea... I couldn't resist Vulture's rave reviews, and it is actually the best cinnamon spice tea I've ever had. I'd like alittle more tea and alittle less cinnamon, so I'm gonna blend it with something unflavored next time. But it's realllllly tasty.
Happy Tea Day one and all.
Sarah
***This organic blend is earthy & spicy, with a fragrant aroma & smooth flavor to captivate the senses. Naturally sweetened in the Kentucky sunshine & infused with natural energy. Equally delicious when served piping hot or crisply chilled.***
I voted "other." I've never seen a Teavanna store, but would certainly look inside one should I run across one. Whether I'd make a purchase or not simply would depend on what I might find there.
Although my neighbors are all barbarians,
And you, you are a thousand miles away,
There are always two cups on my table.
--Tang Dynasty
And you, you are a thousand miles away,
There are always two cups on my table.
--Tang Dynasty
Dec 20th, '08, 10:15
Vendor Member
Posts: 2084
Joined: Sep 24th, '08, 18:38
Location: Boston, MA
I love the cup and pot! And the turtle looks so real! (It isn't real, is it?Salsero wrote:No experience with them except hearing about them here. I suspect they don't carry Tim’s wonderful 2004 Wuyi Shuixian oolong from a bush more than 200 years old. This is the Lil Champ that Phyll Sheng, Tim, Michael, and I brewed for 11 days running -- same leaves -- for totals in the range of 35 to 40 infusions. Goodness gracious. Thanks again, Tim!
)I haven't got into puerh (yet
). But I constantly see from your photo and others' posts how mysterious it is!By sitting in peace and doing nothing,
You make your one day worth two days.
You make your one day worth two days.
Dec 20th, '08, 10:22
Vendor Member
Posts: 2084
Joined: Sep 24th, '08, 18:38
Location: Boston, MA
I have no idea about teavana and am not interested to try it out. Not because of its reputation, but simply due to its prices. I can't randomly try out something that's so expensive. I may try out some other expensive stores that have good reputation among tea people though.
I've been to some other chain store, like the Ten Ren that specialized in Taiwan oolong and sells other teas. When I was there (in Toronto), the salsperson doesn't know enough about tea, but followed me all the time and tried to teach me and sell more expensive stuff. I didn't like the manner. But they have discount at that time, and I know their oolong is truely from Taiwan, so I tried it out anyway.
I've been to some other chain store, like the Ten Ren that specialized in Taiwan oolong and sells other teas. When I was there (in Toronto), the salsperson doesn't know enough about tea, but followed me all the time and tried to teach me and sell more expensive stuff. I didn't like the manner. But they have discount at that time, and I know their oolong is truely from Taiwan, so I tried it out anyway.
By sitting in peace and doing nothing,
You make your one day worth two days.
You make your one day worth two days.