Teavana

The tea tasted good but it was way too pricey for my taste. They lure you into the store with nice samples of different teas, which taste pretty good, I admit. But then they get you to the checkout counter and pressure you to buy it. The lady that offered me the samples was new and was trying her best to make a sale with me. I felt bad and ended up buying 2oz of tea for $ 20. Just be careful when walking by if you’re not planning on spending that much money.

After walking by Teavana about a hundred times on various trips to MOA, I finally stopped in to get some green tea for my dad for Christmas. The customer service was horrendous! First, there were about 15 people working in that tiny store. I know it’s holiday shopping time but let’s be real. It doesn’t take 15 people to offer me a sample of tea. I think one employee was the designated «mug guy» because he literally asked me 3 times in the 10 minutes I spent in the store if I wanted to buy a mug («but they’re on sale!»)
I went up to the counter and asked for some basic green tea and they filled up 2 of their smallest tins. When I went to the register the woman told me that after the 30% discount my «total investment in health and happiness» (I kid you not) was $ 172.79! For 16 ounces of green tea! I must have looked slightly shocked because the manager standing next to her gave me an exasperated sigh, grabbed the tins, dumped the tea back into the larger tins, and said «Fine. Let’s just start over because you obviously don’t know what you want.» I was so shocked and just told him that I wanted basic green tea and that I had no idea it would be so expensive. When I asked if they had anything cheaper (I mean come on people, green tea is not a highly priced commodity!) he said that they did but in his opinion it wasn’t worth the difference in quality. As I was leaving Mug Guy asked if I was sure I didn’t want to purchase a mug today («because we also have these ones!»)
I went to Linden Hills Co-​op where the service was MUCH friendlier and where I was able to get two large jars of really good organic green tea for $ 15.

I don’t particularly care for any of the tea samples the store concocts, but it’s free so I partake occasionally even though most of it tastes like watered down lemonade. My little sister, on the other hand, absolutely loves the Blueberry Pineapple iced tea sample they have inside the store so we occasionally go inside.
On a weak moment I gave in to my sister’s wheedling and made my first Teavana purchase, spending a total of $ 17 for 2 oz. each of the two tea mixes needed to make the Blueberry Pineapple drink.
Overall, the chances of my purchasing from them again is slim as I can bulk order from online retailers for less and the store leans toward fruity teas which are not to my taste.
My impression of the store:
1) Fight the Minnesota nice urge and just say no. It’s very apparent the employees are trained for sales over service. A lot of the time they tend to talk down with a smile to convince you Teavana founded tea.
2) You must purchase a minimum of 2 oz per tea type, but it’s also plenty of tea to last you for a while unless you obsessively are addicted. The Blueberry one was appx $ 7 per 2 oz, and the Pineapple appx $ 8 per 2 oz. Of course other loose teas of theirs are priced much higher per ounce and depending on the mix, you could end up having to purchase several different types therefore the $ 30 price tag that others have experienced.
3) They hawk their storage tin like it’s the greatest invention since space travel, however the thing is made out of the same material as cookie tins you buy during the holidays. There’s an upsurge of $ 6+ if you get your tea in a canister over the little paper bag, but they don’t tell you this unless you ask.
When I told the sales girl the teas I wanted, she immediately grabbed the canister without asking if I wanted to spend the add’l money. She pouted when I told her I didn’t want the canister and then tried to sell me tea horror stories of how my tea would spoil within a week if it’s left in the lined bag they pack it in.
I told her I have air tight containers at home and her corporate-​trained response was «it can’t be clear, so you can’t use plastic, glass and other types of storage that are see-​through». Again, tea horror stories to scare you into buying their overpriced tin. Just stick it in an airtight container and put it inside a closed cupboard — problem solved people.
4) «German» rock candy. They try to hawk this along with their tin, saying how their samples contain this as a sweetener. They have pre-​packed 3 lb jars for $ 26 at the register and will also sell it to you by weight. However, sugar and honey are adequate sweeteners unless you are two steps from being diabetic. If you crave the cloying sweet flavor ala high fructose corn syrup, then just head to a Vietnamese/​Southeast Asian market and buy a box of rock candy for $ 3.

Okay, so let me tell you how to be successful at Teavana. And yes, while most of my reviews are funny, I’m being dead serious here.
1. Try the samples in the store. That’s why they are there.
2. Take your time picking out your tea itself. If you have never been to a Teavana, when you get to the counter, tell the employees what you like … and what you dislike. It’ll definitely help you out. And again, I emphasize, take your time. Nobody standing behind you will want to be rushed, either. Make them wait. The more you rush, the more you’ll spend, and Teavana tea can add up quickly.
3. Never order more than 2 ounces of any tea unless you totally love it. First, loose leaf tea can get stale in time, and 2 ounces will last much longer than you think it will. (Most cups of hot tea will only use 2 — 3 teaspoons of loose leaf tea if that helps at all.)
4. Ask the person behind the counter what kinds of teas mix well together. For example, some white teas are best drank on their own, but some mix really well with herbals. Also, it’s usually a safe bet to mix an oolong with an herbal to give it big flavor.
Tip: The Honeybush Vanilla not only sounds like a Bond Girl, but is also a really good addition to mix with anything. It adds sweetness. That said, don’t get it on its own — it’s too weak for that. But as an add on, it’s delicious.
5. Don’t buy merchandise unless you’re looking for really nice pieces. You can get tea balls at Target. You can get mug top strainers at Target. You can get beautiful pieces at Teavana, but it’s honestly not necessary unless you just like looking at your tea accessories. (I’ve bought quite a few tea sets here for gifts, which are lovely, but not necessary to just have a quiet cup of tea at home.)
TIP: THIS INCLUDES CANISTERS. Teavana employees will argue with me, but you do NOT need a canister to store your loose leaf tea. Find something that seals (a mason jar can work), but honestly, if you aren’t buying more than 2 ounces of a tea at a time, you can keep it in the bag it comes and you’ll do just fine.
6. Don’t buy more than 6 ounces of tea at a time. If you stick with my formula of only buying 2 ounces of each tea, you’ll get at least three varieties. If you pick teas that mix well together, you’ll have quite a few different flavor combinations. My partner and I usually drink 2 – 3 cups of tea each day, and 6 – 8 ounces lasts us about 6 weeks.
7. You don’t need beet sugar. Just get honey at the grocery store — it’ll be just as delicious and it won’t overpower these teas. Also, many Teavana teas are pretty sweet already, and may not really require sugar at all.
Teavana employees will likely try to upsell you, but resist. Get your tea, don’t get too much, and get the heck out of there without getting any merchandise. You — and your wallet — will thank me.

On the plus side, the store is nice and always offering multiple free samples, and the teas are really very good.
On the negative side, they really do try to sell you very hard at the checkout counter! You have to come here prepared like you are going to a car dealership. And it’s quite pricey already.
In my one experience, I came here seeking tea that could reproduce Thai Iced Tea at home, a drink I love and have searched for years to buy an at-​home version, without success, (which I find amazing considering the 100s of dry teas available in many supermarkets).
They had some things kind of close but not precisely it, but we decided to buy some anyway. (Sidenote: I finally did find some that is precisely it at United Noodles, though also quite pricey, it’s worth it!)
They automatically put the tea in a canister as if that was a free part of the deal, and of course, when I questioned that, it added a good amount to the price.
I said that we would like it without the canister and suddenly the checkout woman turns stern and says «What, so you DON’T want your tea to stay fresh for 6 months? I can’t guarantee what I have told you without this canister».
I said, «No. it’s just that we already have canisters thanks»
And she continued, «Well but again, I can’t make any guarantees without THIS canister, are you SURE?»
So that was a bit ridiculous and I tried to get out of there as fast as possible after that and am not eager to go back, but if you know what you want and aren’t afraid to face-​off an aggressive salesperson, it’s a fine place.

Three experiences here now, and I must say the only thing I don’t like about coming here would be the people that work at the checkout counter. The guys and gals that work on the floor itself are super helpful, and are genuinely concerned about making sure that you get what you want… but once you have picked out a product (if you are even buying a product) the cashier experience leaves MUCH to be desired.
When I already know what I want, don’t sit there and offer me THREE other items besides what I asked for.
I just want my Monkey Picked Oolong… Why do you need to show me three different teas that «blend well» with it? I didn’t ask for any of those other teas did I? Oh and trying to get me to buy an «airtight canister» each time I am in there… You tell me that your tea only lasts two weeks outside of your supposedly special canisters and that my friends is a complete false statement. Take the tea (paper bag and all) and throw it in a regular zip-​loc bag once you get home and stick that in the freezer. Take out your tea when you need it, otherwise the freezer keeps it fresh just fine.
Love the tea, love my one-​cup brewer I got here too… just don’t like the sales tactic.

Ugh.
I thought I really liked this place, I honestly did. So much so that I made a special excursion to my most-​reviled place, the MOA, to pick up some fancy tea.
I don’t know what I thought I was thinking. If you like pushy salespeople and overpriced tea, this is the place for you. Otherwise, you’ll be dealing with ‘do you need an empty canister to go with that?’ (because our tea doesn’t even come in resealable bags so in order to keep it fresh, you really should purchase our canister) and ‘I really like (insert tea name here) mixed with (insert different tea name here)!’ (because even though most of our teas are already blends, they apparently don’t taste good enough on their own to warrant selling them on their own, so you’ll have to pay TWICE AS MUCH as you thought you were going to in order to get something that tastes good). Yep, they’re ALWAYS pulling out two canisters at a time and waving the lids in your face. Always the upsell here. And if you’re getting any of those blends, be prepared to pay at least the equivalent of $ 35/​lb for the privilege, and that’s for one of the less-​expensive, i.e., $ 4.50÷2 oz. types, of which there are very few. $ 50-​$ 75/​lb. would be closer to the mark.
They do have loose «normal» teas, e.g. Earl Grey, also, but frankly that’s not what they seem to be pushing, or giving you samples of when you come into the store.
My infatuation with Teavana is officially over. I’ll stick with my tried and true love, Tea Source.

This is an amazing great store to buy loose tea and tea pots! You can even go in and buy a cup of tea to sip while walking around the mall. I recommend Queen of Babylon and Roobios Rose Garden with a pinch of sugar (hot). Yummy!