Seattle-based Starbucks Coffee Co. launched Teavana Oprah Chai Tea. The tea beverage was developed by Oprah Winfrey in collaboration with Teavana’s leading tea teaologist and features a blend of cinnamon, ginger, cardamom and cloves with loose-leaf black tea and rooibos, the company says. Teavana Oprah Chai Tea is available as a handcrafted latte or loose-leaf tea at participating Starbucks stores across the United States and Canada and as loose-leaf tea and brewed tea at Teavana stores in the same regions.
“This is a momentous day for Starbucks and Teavana collectively, and we are honored to share Teavana Oprah Chai with our customers,” said Howard Schultz, chairman, president and chief executive officer, in a statement. “This distinctive and remarkable tea developed personally by Oprah Winfrey, someone whom I admire and that shares so many of our core values and beliefs, will help introduce even more customers to the ritual and comfort of a great cup of tea.”
As part of this new core offering, Starbucks will make a donation for each Teavana Oprah Chai Tea product sold to benefit educational opportunities for youth through the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy Foundation. The Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy Foundation provides funding for the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls — South Africa and is dedicated to helping its graduates attend colleges and universities. The foundation supports additional youth education through Girls Inc., National CARES Mentoring Movement, Pathways to College and the U.S. Dream Academy.
“For years I have been steeping my own tea as part of my morning ritual, and I am very excited that, starting today, [April 29], Teavana Oprah Chai is available in Starbucks and Teavana stores across the country,” Winfrey said in a statement. “This new partnership came from an organic space as the missions of our two companies are naturally aligned — we both want to inspire and nurture the human spirit. The best part is, a donation from every sale will go to support youth education starting today.”
In addition to the on-premise offerings, pre-packaged Teavana Oprah Chai Loose-Leaf Tea is available in reusable storage tins for $14.95 at participating Starbucks stores and as scooped loose-leaf tea at Teavana stores for $14.98 for 2 ounces. It’s also available pre-packaged in 8- and 16-ounce reusable storage tea tins at Teavana stores. Starbucks will make a $1 donation to the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy Foundation for each reusable tin purchased and 25 cents for each handcrafted Teavana Oprah Chai Tea beverage purchased. Small and large gifts sets also are available at participating Starbucks and Teavana stores, respectively, with Starbucks making a $1 donation for each small gift set and $4 for each large set.
In other news, Starbucks and Teavana also opened a Teavana Fine Teas + Tea Bar in Chicago. The new tea bar is located in Chicago’s Southport neighborhood and features an assortment of handcrafted tea beverages, premium loose-leaf teas, tea-inspired food offerings, and tea merchandise, making the ritual of tea more elevated and accessible for customers. Starbucks plans to open additional Teavana Fine Teas + Tea Bars in 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.
