Starbucks acquires Teavana for $620 Million

Teavana always had me torn. They found a sustainable formula for popularizing tea. That's good!<p>But they are very expensive and their sales staff sell on commission which I find uncomfortable.<p>I find myself in the position where I'm glad they exist but I never recommend anyone to actually go there.

As an aside, I'm very confident Starbucks will acquire Blue Bottle Coffee in the next 18 months-2 years.<p>By raising venture funding they are signaling they are looking for some kind of shareholder return/exit. The quality of the coffee, plus the "no-laptops" approach to their official cafes would make a great "luxury"/"high-end" marque and differentiator for Starbucks in markets where they are already saturated or want to attract greater wallet spend (SF, NY, etc).<p>Look at what they did with Seattle's Best but the opposite end.

I have loved Teavana ever since they opened a store in the mall near me. I hope they start using the teas that Teavana has to beef up the selection in Starbucks stores. Tazo is decent but the variety is lacking and they miss out on the complexities of flavor and aroma that specialty teas have.<p>I will be a happy customer when I can go get a Himalayan young black tea with the same ease I can get a bag of Colombian dark roast beans.

Afternoon hot tea is considered normal in other countries and it's a very strange concept in America. Hope this changes that...

I bet these guys (<a href="http://www.argotea.com/" rel="nofollow">http://www.argotea.com/</a>) had something to do with Starbucks decision to gobble up another tea company.

I don't understand why people buy teas from these places (teavana, teopia,etc), there all over priced, sub par tasting teas, The best teas are found in small outlet stores (chinese, indian, thai, etc); it's like going to East Side Mario for a taste of italy.

I've always used and liked <a href="http://adagio.com" rel="nofollow">http://adagio.com</a> for tea - they have a really simple and easy-to-use site.

Non-techie in me: Maybe this will make Starbucks actually have good tea... or at least more variety. (Teavana is more smelly tea than tasty tea)

Weird. Or really, the exact opposite of weird.<p>There is a Teavana in a mall near me. I've enjoyed their teas, and bought bags to brew at home, as well as a rather nice iron kettle.<p>Every time I walk in there I say to myself "This place is like the Starbucks of Tea."<p>I like premium Tea from Teavana much more than Starbuck's coffee though. As I should for the prices they charge...

For Americans that use Teavana, are you drinking this tea the English way with milk, or iced?<p>I remember when I first went to America as a 21 year old (I had a job door-to-door selling) and Americans, being the hospitable souls that they are, would frequently offer me tea. Unfortunately, it was the cold variety :-(

Starbucks currently boils their tea, maybe this ignorant act will stop now??? It is why I try and not go to Starbucks for tea.

They're doing in-home coffee, merch, etc. and now a big chain of pure retail locations. Starbucks is really starting to open up alternative revenue streams. Good for them.

wow, they got a lot of locations!<p><a href="http://www.teavana.com/retail/united-states" rel="nofollow">http://www.teavana.com/retail/united-states</a><p><a href="http://www.teavana.com/retail/canada" rel="nofollow">http://www.teavana.com/retail/canada</a>