rabbysmom said

My first visit to Teavana since becoming a tea lover- need suggestions!

I think I’m going to try the MateVan there, but are there any others you would suggest that I take home to try? Also, thinking of getting their tea maker that looks about the same as the Adagio one. Does anyone have Teavana’s version? I have a Bodum tea pot but think the one’s by Teavana and Adagio seem easier to use. (I haven’t used the Bodum one in forever, though) Thanks for any suggestions!

25 Replies

Well, I know Teavana has a lot of fruity type teas which I am not usually into…but kudos for thinking outside the box, eh!? Their Ealr Grey is basic but a good standby. I haven’t been to Teavana since they released their new ones…so I am not sure if these are all still around on their wall but…Yin Yang Dragon is ok. I really like their Strawberry Slender Pu-Erh® Tea. I think my fave from them is their Green Tea Heaven® Flavored Green Tea. I’m hearing some good stuff about their white teas but it all depends on how much you want to spend, I suppose. As for the Tea maker…I have Adagio’s…

Teavana has discontinued a bunch of the teas I like…bummer…

Login or sign up to post a message.

Bethany said

MateVana is awesome.

Login or sign up to post a message.

rabbysmom said

Thanks! So, when I look at the tea prices, I see the smallest amount they sell is 2 oz. How many cups does that make? Guess you can tell I have NO IDEA about loose! :)
The green tea heaven sounds great! I think I’ll buy that, the matevana and earl grey creme

Cofftea said

I have no clue what their serving suggestions are, but based on my preference, that’d give you about 25. Because there are ~28g per oz and I like 2.25g of leaf in my cup. I have a feeling they probably measure servings by the teaspoon, but that’ll give you a rough idea.

PeteG said

About 24 cups of tea…

Login or sign up to post a message.

Bethany said

I believe the smallest amount they sell online is 2 oz, but you can buy under that in the store if you like. My brother-in-law bought me some tea from Teavana for Christmas, and he said the clerk told him that 2 oz. will last you about 2 weeks. I think that’s an absolutely ridiculous estimate – it really depends on how often you drink and how you drink (one cup at a time, teapots, etc).

A forewarning, if you haven’t already heard: Teavana salespeople can be a bit pushy. It’s likely that they will try to talk you into buying larger sizes and asking you if they can put your tea in a tin to seal it better. Be warned that the tins cost more, and you can tell them “no thanks” and get it in a nice sealed bag for free.

Cofftea said

I agree Bethany, while you can take their recommendations I’d scour their website and get an idea of what you want 1st, or at least a budget and don’t let them convince you to go over that. If you want to go the tin route, you could buy the tin and then keep reusing them, or maybe search online for cheaper (maybe even prettier) tins.

Login or sign up to post a message.

denisend said

I have the Teavana easy steeper. The problem that I have with it (and similar steepers) is that you can’t see how much liquid is in your mug, so if your mug is on the small size you can overfill it. I believe the steeper holds 16 oz of liquid and my work mug is only 8 oz. The fix is to get a bigger mug (but then if you don’t drink fast enough, the tea gets cold before you finish – I don’t drink quickly at work). The other fix is to measure water before putting it in the steeper, but that’s annoying.

Teavana teas I love –
-My husband’s sweet tea blend, which is 2 parts English Breakfast and 1 part Lemon Youkou
-Jasmine Oolong
-Tarocco Ruby Orange
-White Ayurvedic Chai Tea
-Stawberry Lemonade
-Raspberry Riot Mate

(gosh, I love fruity teas…)

If you’ve never had mate, I’d suggest getting them to make you a drink rather than buying loose tea. You can sip on it while making your other choices and decide if you like it or not – mate is one of those things that people generally either like or they hate.

Cofftea said

I always measure my water and don’t find it that big of a problem. What I would find annoying is making more tea than I want. Making 16oz of tea would require me to do math anyway lol. My brain is on auto pilot for 2.25g/6oz so whenever my mom wants an 8oz cup I have to remember that’s 3g and 16 is 6g. Not math I can’t handle of course, but since I’m in so much of a routine it causes me to think lol.

denisend said

At work I drink bags, so 1 bag = 1 mug.

At home I use the Zarafina, and that has water measuring marks.

I only use the Teavana thing when I’m out (like when I went to my sister’s house for the holiday) and it was annoying to keep checking on the mug (since I made 2 cups of chai, one for me and one for the husband).

Auggy said

I had the same problem with my ingenuiTEA at work but then I just took it home, measured out some cool water in a Pyrex cup (8oz, 12oz, 16oz) and marked the water lines on the outside of the plastic with a Sharpie. So now I have easy little measuring lines that tells me how much water to pour. Of course, I don’t know if the Teavana one is clear plastic, so that might not work!

denisend said

Good idea Auggy! The Teavana one is clear plastic (it’s just squatter), so it shouldn’t be a problem to do that to it!

im copying you :D we have 2 ingenuiTEAs a “his and hers” so to speak :) ive over filled too many cups or came too short so lines on mine! :D

Auggy said

It makes life so much easier because I’m horrible at judging amount and have done the overflow thing one too many times! (Okay, more like 5 or 6 too many times).

spohkh said

Having mentioned your use of the Zarafina contraption, do you like it? Does it brew tea as precisely and artfully as it advertises? Thank you =)

denisend said

Spohkh – I currently have the Zarafina and the triniTEA (as well as a ton of “manual” pots and contraptions) … and the issue is not simple! I prefer the Zarafina. So as not to clutter up this thread, I’ll post an update comparing the two in the Electric Tea Maker topic:
http://steepster.com/discuss/95-electric-tea-makers

Login or sign up to post a message.

Cofftea said

Has anyone tried their matcha? My nearest teavana is 2hrs away but I’m thinking of stopping there next time I go to the Milwaukee airport.

Login or sign up to post a message.

2 oz will brew 25-30 cups of tea. I have little luck getting multiple infusions from their tea blends. Now with the English Breakfast tea, I can get 3-4 infusions…and the price point is low $3.30 for 2 oz…makes this tea affordable for a daily tea.
I too got bit by the Teavana bug and here are the results!
(only the * ones are still in my cupboard)
Sweet Oolong Revolution…love it…hate the price.
Matevana…gave it away…hated it!
*Peppermint…great for a sore throat…I keep on hand just for that purpose. Also good to mix with other teas.
Honeybush vanilla…hated it.
*Plum harvest…good, but I have only drank it once or twice.
Zingiber Ginger Coconut…hated it ( I decided I did not like Rooibos)
*English Breakfast…my all time favorite
Almond Biscotti-sweet, not much flavor to me, gave to daughter
*Masali Chai-good chai, spicy
Sweet Cranberry black-not much flavor, flowery(contains rose petals)gave away.
Before you buy the Teavana tea maker, read some reviews at Teavana and on Amazon…I thought at one time I wanted it too, but after reading the reviews, I stuck with my Chatsford and my glass teapot from Dr. T’s!
Hope this helps you not jump in as far as I did…alot of money down the tubes…but on the plus side, I make my co-worker very happy when she sees me coming with a Teavana bag of tea:)
Afterall, Tea is meant to be shared.

Login or sign up to post a message.

i want to buy from them too but i felt very intimidated while sipping on a sample at the entrance of their store as the employees rushed at me like guard dogs so i left. ive picked out a few things online and when i get the time i do plan on going back.

Login or sign up to post a message.

Jillian said

Some good advice might be to not let the Teavana employees talk you into buying teas you don’t want. :)

Cofftea said

Exactly. Learn the difference between them suggesting something based genuinely on what you’re looking for and your budget vs. just trying to meet their commision quota. My local tea shop had gift packs where you could choose 6 different teas (either w/ a theme or random) and the owner was helping a gentleman put together one for his dad and she said “and we’ll put this one in here because it’s 50% off”.

PeteG said

My experience with Big Box stores and that includes franchise tea stores…they are there to make a sale! Begin to ask obscure questions about teas and you will get that “deer in the head-light” look… Purchase what YOU want and don’t bother unless you have a question…they will attempt to sell you the dirt off of the floor if they could get a sale…please forgive my abruptness but tea is too important to true lovers of tea…as well it ain’t Cheap!…

Login or sign up to post a message.

denisend said

@threewhales – I also have had crappy luck getting multiple infusions out of many of their teas. Sour Cherry Serenade is lovely and puckery on the first infusion and a plain black tea on the second. Seriously?

I am so glad it is just not me…I was thinking there was something wrong in my brewing technique….

Login or sign up to post a message.

Login or sign up to leave a comment.