Howard Schultz, chairman, president and ceo of Starbucks and Oprah Winfrey, global media leader and philanthropist, have announced a first-of-its-kind collaboration to co-create Teavana® Oprah Chai Tea. From 29 April, Teavana Oprah Chai will be sold in Starbucks and Teavana stores across the U.S. and Canada, with Starbucks making a donation for each product sold to the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy Foundation to benefit educational opportunities for youth.
Distinctive blend of tea
Oprah Winfrey personally developed the tea with Teavana’s leading teaologist Naoko Tsunoda. The distinctive blend of tea, which features a bold infusion of cinnamon, ginger, cardamom and cloves, blended with loose-leaf black tea and rooibos, will be made available to customers in time for Mother’s Day in the U.S. and Canada in handcrafted latte and loose-leaf tea formats.
“I looove tea,” said Oprah Winfrey. “My daily tea ritual is a vital part of my morning. Savory and spicy chai, with its deep flavor, has long been a favorite of mine. When Howard Schultz offered to have me come into the Starbucks tasting room and create my very own tea blend, I thought that sounded like such a unique opportunity and fun to the tenth power. To share one of my favorite things with the rest of the world and support youth education at the same time is truly the perfect blend.”
Elevating the tea experience
“With the introduction of Teavana Oprah Chai, we are going to elevate the tea experience in the same way we did for coffee,” said Schultz. “Partnering with Oprah Winfrey in the creation of this distinctive and remarkable tea is a strong next step forward in accomplishing this objective, while also giving back in a meaningful way through the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy Foundation.
“I truly believe that, together, we will set the bar for a world-class tea experience at Starbucks and Teavana.”
Teavana Fine Tea + Tea Bars
Tea has been a part of Starbucks heritage since 1971, when the company was founded as Starbucks Coffee, Tea and Spices. In 2012, Starbucks acquired Teavana and has taken steps to integrate Teavana® teas into its Starbucks stores. Customers will soon experience a variety of Teavana products at Starbucks, including handcrafted drinks, loose-leaf teas and tea merchandise.
In addition, the company recently launched a new store concept called Teavana Fine Tea + Tea Bars in Seattle and New York. The new tea bars feature a carefully curated assortment of handcrafted tea beverages, premium loose-leaf teas, tea-inspired food offerings and beautifully made tea merchandise, making the ritual of tea more elevated and accessible for customers. Starbucks today announced plans to open additional Teavana Fine Tea + Tea Bars in Chicago, Los Angeles and additional stores in New York City later this year. The Tea Bars will also feature Teavana Oprah Chai.
To learn more about Teavana Oprah Chai, visit www.Teavana.com or www.SteepYourSoul.com.