Hmmm, this is a hard one. I got a very nice earthy pu erh taste, but little in the way of strawberry. I did have a tartness in my mouth and a juicy feel after sipping, that made me think I had eaten strawberries. I still have that taste in my mouth and I finished the tea an hour or more ago, so I am not 100% sure it is from the strawberry part of the tea, to be totally honest. It could be some artificial flavouring that’s just taken to my buds or something.
I don’t hate this tea, but I don’t love it. It could be the preparation of it. It deems revisiting for further tastings, but for now I will look at trying the others.
On a side note, you can really tell the difference in the Teaopia to Teavana changeover. And not necessarily for the better. Every tea I look at seems to be (most) everyone’s favourites, or they love that one, which honestly makes me begin to feel that their declarations are not genuine. I work in sales too, but I don’t tell everyone that this or that is perfect for them or that it is my favourite. They seem to have a new set up where there is one person at the Tea Bar, one person working cash, and another one or two working the floor. This has made a huge difference in the amount of time it takes to order and receive my drinks to go. Before, anyone free would get it started…there might be two or three going simultaneously. You’d think with just one person, they’d get the order right too. It was taken correctly, but not made to order. I had asked for room to be left for milk and also for some sugar (light). It was made straight, and adding the rock sugar post steep is not good. I had to get both milk and sugar from Timmies on the way back to my store. I understand that there are big changes, and there are growing pains with that. I may have to look at calling in my order (once I know which ones I like) before crossing the mall to get there in order to save some time. But already, I miss Teaopia, and I am very fearful for the new conversion. I’m already seeing and hearing things that make me think back to all those horrible reviews and stories I’ve read. Also, I have noticed a few things about them…
A lot of their teas are extra fruity, like more tea than fruit. I think there is a name for this I have read somewhere on a tasting. Now, they claim that their teas are higher quality, which justifies the price increases, but when you have half fruit or more, how can you even taste the quality of the tea? What are they hiding or covering up? Secondly, there are so many blends that it is truly dizzying trying to get through the complexity. Lastly, and back to the fruit, with all that dried fruit in there, surely that’s gotta weigh something, so less tea for more money, eh? What a scam! Now, I know other companies add things, but it seems like Teavana teas are disproportionately fruit and extras to the actual tea.
Just some of my initial feelings. I may continue to order things from the old store just to show my support for what made it through the conversion.
So much has changed in ten years!