Teavana

First time in a teavana. It was super cool. Pretty pricey when your first starting off with buying things, such as mugs, tea pots, honeys, sugars and natural tea mixtures. However if you look closely you can find sales on everything. We bought s’mores tea, chocolate chai, winterberry, and pumpkin spice. The young girl helping us let us smell the natural teas before we bought them. The aromas where amazing!
The staff is super nice and helpful with everything. They had two sample teas you could taste hot or cold. Store is super small and cramped in the mall but products are easy to find on shelves. Received a huge discount when I checked out, if you buy 16oz of tea and make sure to look on the shelf to left of register for 75% off tea already canned. Great way to save!

Great products and service.
They go beyond teas and carry an array of tea-​related gifts. I’d highly recommend stoping by this store.

Last year I would have never stepped back in Teavana due to the harassing «can I help you, can I help you now? What about now?» Now I can’t wait to go back! The people there were so friendly and helpful! When I walked in I wasn’t bombarded by people «wanting my commission in sales.» My fiancée and I looked around without any hassle and when I had a million questions about the different teas I had two staff who were totally awesome lead me to a tea I just can’t get enough of! (Try it! It’s a strawberry rosé oolong)
TEAVANA ROCKS! you guys really turned it around!
Oh! Best part, I was able to order a cup of tea (no it’s not free) and try the tea before I bought it! So I was able to enjoy a nice hot cup of tea right then and there without having to rush home. My only complaint is a weird one, they brew their tea at prefect brewing temp (which is HOT) and they are so awesome they double cup it so you don’t burn your hand. Only problem is because it’s double cupped you have to wait a decent amount of time to drink the tea. When I tried to take the second cup off I wouldn’t they really jam pack them together! Next time I am going to remember to ask them not to double cup it ;)

A Tea Store
How can I write a long review about this place?
The big issue is that it’s in the Providence Place Mall. The worst mall I have ever set foot in.
This place sells specialty teas at a premium price. I went in and the girl behind the corner showed me the Green Tea that I wanted and I bought it.
The products that they sell are high quality so I can’t complain (maybe about the price)
It’s a shame you have to go to this crap mall to hit this shop, but if you can tolerate it and need tea then this place is ok.
Thanks

I got some money for my birthday and was wandering about the mall trying to find excuses to spend my money. I walked through the second floor and one of the saleswomen wanted me to try some tea. I got some of the Youthberry blend and it was awesome. I immediately got some tea, got a strainer and had all of a sudden spent $ 40.00. Totally happy with it too.
The girl that helped me was really nice and knew A LOT about the different products, where they were made, how much, how hot I make the water, etc etc. She was basically an encyclopedia. I don’t know her name, but the receipt says Dayna and also Nicole. Regardless, she really sold me on the tea.
Like a lot of people said below, they are definitely SALES people, but when you walk into a store, you should be mindful that their business model is that they’re trying to SELL you stuff. If you don’t want to buy anything, make it clear and just go on shopping.
I really enjoyed my tea quite a bit so I swung by yesterday and picked up another 4oz of tea, a teaspoon and a mug. All really wonderful stuff and the same girl was there. She remembered what I said I liked and disliked and walked me around the store. She is incredibly helpful and I hope each time I go, she’s there because she’s so far led me into two really great teas.
The only thing that gets me is the price, which I think may be a little bit steep, but I’m willing to buy myself one luxury: P
Overall, I really enjoy coming into this spot even if it means putting up with Providence Place.

Just… don’t.

Well, I never expected this today. As I was killing time before my early dinner with a friend of mine — I popped into this store because of the delicious fragrance coming out the door into the mall.
I was instantly greeted by a man named Josh and welcomed to the store. I was overwhelmed with the selection and had no idea what I was doing. So, the associate asked me if it was first time there. «Yes. I’m a Teavana virgin!» He then proceeded to explain to me what they were all about and the had me sample some of the different selections. I really enjoyed 2 of them and decided I wanted to purchase them.
As everyone who reads my reviews knows, I’m really sold on service more than product. However much I loved this tea, nothing could compare to the positive attitude of the staff here. The Providence Place Mall has gone downhill over the past few years and this associate, Josh, was the most animated, happy person I had dealt with all day in this mall. I felt like he was introducing me to the product instead of shoving it down my throat like those ladies at the cosmetic pagodas in the center of the mall aisles. (even though the product literally… was going down my throat)
After I had chosen the blends of tea that I wanted (which ended up being 4 separate types) that I turned into 2 after the combinations, I was offered different assortments of tea makers so that I would have everything I need to relax with tonight.
All in all, I got the tea maker, 4 teas, and 2 tea tins — this however, can not compare to how happy I am that I’ve found something I really enjoy. I have something to look forward to each night now when I do my reading — and a place to go to replenish that won’t patronize me — or coax me into buying something that I don’t want.
So a big thank you to the staff at PPlace Teavana and Josh D. that helped me today! You’ll see me again soon!

Mind you I’m a very respectful, kind, mannered person.
This rude employee, wish I knew your name It was about a week ago.
I walked in, shopping asking for hiring Teavana is an interesting store I came to look ask if they were hiring maybe buy something you know?
Anyway I walk in with my sister and softly politely say, «excuse me if your not busy?»
she gives me some kind of face signal, some alien signal… maybe it was a bad day who knows? you know?
Anyway she gives me this face signal telling i can talk mind you she did that mid sentence, who cares I thought, I asked «are you hiring?» she says with no eye contact (if I was criminal in the store she wouldn’t even describe my hair or eye color) she says «Go online» very fastly, then I quickly asked before she hacked my body up in to pieces I asked ««How old would-​.» stops me in mid sentence says «18.»
Service with a smile doll face, who hired her? I was dying to tell her to respect and smile and stop acting like it’s chinese water torture to work here I was one of the 2 other people that were in the store.
Much attitude if your going to look glamorous act the part.
It was funny the entire mall trip and I didn’t think about it until now while on Unilocal,it’s not much funny anymore so there we go.
All I need to say is that it’s one less application to fill haha.
I thought I saw smoke blowing through her septum before I walked in.

Yikes! I’m not sure why there are so many people swarming in there. It’s not like they are actually buying anything they are just trying all the tea samples. Which are TERRIBLE! Someone had commented that there is a rumor that Teavana adds sugar to the carafes of tea to make it taste better. I totally believe it because all of the tea I tried was super sweet. 1 extra star for the pretty tea pots… even if they are outrageously priced.

The home of the hard sell! I LOVE loose leaf tea but coming here is NOT worth it. Yesterday as soon as I walked in I was jumped on by a young girl who tried to sell me a cast iron teapot. I told her I already have a teapot and she looked at me as if I was from a third world country and said she had four! «You can never have too many.» she says in a condescending tone. Seriously I don’t know why I keep coming back but after yesterday I won’t ever again. Rude, snotty, smarmy, contemptuous, annoying, pretentious, ridiculous, absurd, makes me want to punch them in the face. It’s tea FFS! It’s not a cure for cancer or the fountain of youth!

The used car salesmen of tea. Don’t actually know anything about tea, either. They also have a franchise wide practice of overdosing on the scale. If you ask for 2 ounces, they let plenty more slide on then ask if that’s okay.
The company also has terrible turnover and makes each sales employee utilize various sales tactics to get, er sucker, you into buying more tea. They also have a ratio they track for each employee for how many tins they sell. They also, at times, overdose their sample teas with tons of tea and sugar making it like kool-​aid then deny that this happens.
What a terrible company. Go to another tea shop in the area, there’s one right up the hill.

Very Knowledgeable and Helpful Staff. Ask about the teas and smell each. That way you can be sure you bought one you’ll like.
Good tea, but it can be pricey.

My boyfriend’s parents got me into Teavana when they found out I drink it and brew it daily, rather than spending money on coffee at the drive-​thru every day. Teavana may be somewhat snooty, but the teas are delicious. They have such beautiful and interesting accessories. My favorite thing is the tea-​balls, which blossom into a flower as they release tea when placed in hot water. But beware, this is some pricey leaf! Worth it if you’re a tea buff :)

Teavana and all its incarnation around the nation is by far the worse and pushiest tea store I’ve ever been into. Sure, they have free tea sample but that’s how they lure you into their trap.
A word of advise, never give tea «advise» to an Asian, hippie guy. We drank more tea than you drank coffee so shut up and ring my order out. Also, refrain from calling me «Dude». I’m not «down» like that.
NO, I DON’T NEED a metal tin to store my loose tea. A Ziploc bag inside a dry and dark area (inside your cabinet) is good enough.
NO, I STILL DON’T NEED your metal tin despite you warning me that my tea would be spoiled. Just … No.
NO, I DON’T NEED a pound of tea. I said 4 ounces. 4.2 ounces is fine, hippie guy. I don’t care if it’s 10% off if I buy a pound.
NO, I DON’T NEED your sweetener that looks like pebbles. You can tell me it’s sugar that’s not processed, good for me, has lower calorie and low glycemic value but I still wouldn’t buy your overpriced «sugar». There are something call «Turbinado Sugar» and it’s cheap.
NO, I STILL DON’T NEED your sweetener despite you warning me that the tea I bought would taste sour without them. I’ll just add more sugar.
Sorry Teavana, you are just too annoying and pushy.

The tea is fine, although not the most amazing I’m had. Smells and looks better than it tastes. My main problem with this place, though, is the pushiness of the clerks. This isn’t unique to the Providence store – I’ve noticed it in all the ones I’ve been to. Like seriously pushy! Oh, if you don’t buy a tin immediately your tea will instantly start to be useless. Oh, it doesn’t matter if you have other storage containers at home, they won’t work! What? Leave me alone!
As an aside, I find the entire business model to be very strange. Why sell so many teas without also selling the teas by the cup, to drink? That way people can try and see what they like before committing to a pricey purchase that they might regret.

Staff circle like hawks
But look at all the samples!
How much did you say?
Like many reviewers, I’ve had both good and bad experiences here. Often the shop is a free tea way-​station and not the destination itself. And it certainly is a delicious one. Their teas are all quite delicious, and they have a great variety of blends available. Even as an admitted and demonstrative coffee addict, the allure of a tea (Mate Vana) that promises the same experience without the caffeine jitters keeps me just intrigued enough to stop by often.
It’s a great place if you’re looking for a nice display piece for your table too, as their teapots and tea sets, especially the iron ones, are really quite beautiful.
Of course there are still the sales team to contend with. While I don’t begrudge them their aggressiveness, or their tenacity, there are the (frequent) occasions on which it is not appreciated. Here’s a hint: if you tell them explicitly to go away, they will. I’ve done it, and it works. There’s no need to be overly polite, just say firmly that you’d like to look around and that it’s a small shop, you’ll find them if you need anything. This little tidbit could save pretty much everyone the headache of having to turn down a multitude of offers in the span of a few minutes.
And the price is, of course, on par with a specialty shop in the mall. It’s bright, it’s well located, and it’s pricey. It’s in the mall. You were expecting it to be cheap?

Teavana is a very cool place and their tea and products are great. HOWEVER, the sales person I dealt with was so aggressive and made the whole experience stressful. Who thought that tea shopping was so intense! I had mentioned that I wanted something in place of coffee for the morning and her suggestion turned out to be absolutely delicious. HOWEVER, it cost me an arm and a leg. If you go here, be straight forward about the dollar amount you are willing to spend and go from there. I would have given this place better ratings, but their staff sucks.

Do NOT buy tea from this horrible place. I recently purchased ¼ ounce of the Gyokuro Imperial Tea that sells for $ 60.00 an ounce from their Providence, RI store. I really liked the tea and when it was gone I went back and purchased a second ½ ounce. When I brewed the first cup of the second purchase it was clear that the tea was spoiled. It had an odd taste and barely brewed (very different from the first purchase). I took the tea back to the store the very next day. I was told by an incredibly condescending little manager that it was «against the law» for them to take the tea back. As an attorney, I explained to her that she couldn’t «resell» the bad tea but that of course she could either replace it or refund the customer’s money. She informed me that «she knew how to do her job» and the best she could do is have someone from corporate call me. I asked her for the name and number where I could call them but she refused to give me the number. From the minute you walk in their employees pounce on you expounding the wonders of their tea — but when the tea is bad they want nothing to do with you. Do yourself a favor and research the more reputable sellers before you shell out this kind of money to a company that refuses to back it’s products.

Sure, the place is pretty, and the free tea samples are really nice. Their selection of tea implements is dazzling, and they have some teas that would be interesting to try.
Their sales help and sales practice, however, is utterly appalling, and — after doing a quick Google search for Teavana upsell — apparently endemic.
Last Saturday, my husband and I found ourselves in the Mall taking advantage of their cheap parking while we did something else downtown, and walked by Teavana. I’d been in one in the Chicago area, where my sister ordered us a couple of really tasty cups of tea to go. While our tea was being made, I wandered around the store, freely and unhurriedly admiring the shiny tea things. We decided to go in to this one and look at the teapots.
Immediately, a salesperson starts hovering and interrogating me. I am not a tea novice, although I bet a lot who come in are. I just wanted to browse, yet I was interrogated by a saleswoman about anything I looked at. Just let me admire the tea warmer in peace, thank you very much! I lose her and head over to the other side of the store, where some salesman swoops in and starts interrogating me. ENOUGH ALREADY!
My husband has managed to elude all the sales people, and tries a sample of tea — a delicious rooibos and green tea blend — as we get ready to leave. He decides he’d like to buy some of the rooibos, which is priced at under $ 5.00 for 2 ounces. Here’s what happens when we get to the counter:
Husband: I’d like four ounces of the rooibos, please.
Counter staff: Would you like the blend you tasted at the door?
Husband: Sure!
[Counter staff pulls out the green tea it’s blended with, price per ounce is just out of eyesight, but it’s just 4 ounces of tea, right?]
Counter staff: It’s 5.3 ounces, is that OK?
Husband: That’s fine.
[Counter staff pulls out a tin large enough for one pound (!) of tea. For 4 ounces? I might as well leave the tea in an open paper bag on the counter!]
Counter staff: Would you like to buy a tin? It’s $ 7 and it holds a pound of tea. If you buy a pound, you also get 10% off.
Husband: No thanks.
Counter staff: What will you put your tea in?
Husband: Oh, I have plenty of tins at home.
Counter staff: OK… your total is $ 23.95.
!!!
Turns out the green tea is priced at $ 18.00 for 2 ounces. Good thing he didn’t opt for the pound.
If you’re thinking of this place, do yourself a favor and go up the hill to Tealuxe. I have never had a problem buying tea and appropriately-​sized tins there. If you can’t resist the allure of Teavana, make sure you read some other reviews and have a strategy before you go in.

i’m a fan of teavana. what’s not to love? free tea when you shop. also, they have some pretty neat things like their flowering tea. it’s very cool. this store is great for gifts.
however, not a huge fan of the sales people. they’re nice and perky enough don’t get me wrong. but VERY aggressive. once our dude found out we were looking for a gift for a man who does like his tea, he was all over us offering to fill up a tin of tea (which would have cost a HUGE amount of money) before we had even decided that this was the road we wanted to be in. too overwhelming and we had to step out.
also, while some things are priced decently enough, i cannot understand for the life of me why 2 ounces of tea costs $ 18. that seems like a ton of money. when you consider what our dude said, that it will go bad within a month unless you buy their special tin, totally not worth it.