Heaven of Tea

To Re-steep or Not to Re-steep

Thu, 13 Jun 2013 09:27:00 -0400

To Re-Steep or Not to Re-Steep

Re-steeping tea is a great way to get more from every tea leaf. In fact, one of the many benefits of drinking loose leaf tea is that it can be re-steeped several times, depending on the type of tea and your taste.

Tea Types

The general rule is that oolong, green, white and black teas can all be re-steeped. Most herbal teas, due to the delicate nature of the ingredients, should not be re-steeped as they don’t hold up very well the second time around.

Re-Steeping Tea

To re-steep your tea, simply save your tea in the tea basket and place it in an empty cup or saucer; when you’re ready to re-steep, place the basket back in your tea pot or cup and re-brew. Note that the steep time and temperature will not vary between the first brew and subsequent brews.

If you do not reuse your tea after six hours or so, it’s best to throw out the steeped tea and start fresh. Many tea drinkers like to keep a pot with them all day long, so it’s not uncommon to get three steeps out of the same basket of tea.

Because there are no hard and fast rules about re-steeping, you should play around with it until you find a steeping/re-steeping combination that suits your taste.

Host a Tea Tasting

Wed, 05 Jun 2013 15:19:00 -0400

Host a Tea Tasting

Tea tastings are a great way to compare several teas of the same variety or season. For example, you could host a green tea tasting party, or a summer tea tasting party. This way, you can learn to detect the subtleties that make tea varieties distinctive, or simply gain a greater appreciation for tea in general.

Tea Tasting Essentials

To host your tea tasting, you will need 3-5 varieties of tea with corresponding tea sets and saucers to display the tea.

It’s a good idea to label each tea by name, region and season, so that your guests know what they’re sampling. You may also give your guests note cards so that they can create their own tea tasting notes.

Tea Tasting Ideas

Consider hosting a black tea tasting party that compares Chinese black teas such as Yunnan Golden Pu-Erh Tea, Capital of Heaven Keemun Black Tea and Golden Monkey Black Tea.

A green tea tasting party may include tastings of Sencha Jade Reserve Green Tea, Gyokuro Imperial Green Tea, and Dragonwell Green Tea.

A summer tea tasting party may include Blueberry Bliss Rooibos Tea, Strawberry Lemonade Herbal Tea, Raspberry Pineapple Luau White Tea and Blackberry Mojito Green Tea.

What’s your ideal tea tasting theme? Share with us in the comments.

Teavana Customer Favorites: Herbal Tea

Wed, 29 May 2013 10:09:00 -0400

Teavana Customer Favorites: Herbal Tea

Wednesday, May 29, 2013Posted by Admin

At Teavana, we’re known for our inventive tea blends, which combine the highest quality tea with fruit, spice and floral ingredients that appeal to senses of taste, smell and sight. Combining choice ingredients into leading flavor combinations, Teavana’s herbal teas are as popular as they are delicious.

Wild Orange Blossom Herbal Tea

One of our most popular herbal teas, Wild Orange Blossom Herbal Tea combines orange blossoms and rose and hibiscus petals with dried orange and apple pieces. The result is a light, crisp and refreshing herbal tea full of flavor.

Pineapple Kona Pop Herbal Tea

Another perennial favorite, Pineapple Kona Pop Herbal Tea is a hit during the spring and summer months. The combination of pineapple, apple pieces, rose, marigold and orange blossoms emits a feeling of the cool tropical breeze.

Azteca Fire Herbal Tea

Azteca Fire Herbal Tea is a deliciously inventive combination of strawberry and apple pieces, red chilies and chocolate. It’s a spicy kick that is sure to awaken the taste buds.

Tranquil Dream Herbal Tea

A relaxing tea favorite, Tranquil Dream Herbal Tea combines Egyptian chamomile with lemongrass and hibiscus with just a touch of spearmint for a soothing cup perfect at the end of a long day.

What is your favorite herbal tea? Share with us in the comments.

Cool Off With Our Top 5 Go-To Iced Tea Blends

Wed, 15 May 2013 14:14:00 -0400

Cool Off With Our Top 5 Go-To Iced Tea Blends

Friday, May 15, 2012Posted by Admin

Enjoy the steamy weather by brewing up tall pitchers of iced tea. Here are our five go-to iced tea blends to help you keep your cool all summer long.

Pineapple Kona Pop Herbal Tea

You might not be in Hawaii but it will sure feel like it when you sip a cool glass of our Pineapple Kona Pop Herbal Tea. It’s a fruity blend of pineapple, marigold and orange blossoms. To make a 16 oz cup of Pineapple Kona Pop iced, steep 6 teaspoons for 8-15 minutes at 208° and pour over ice.

Youthberry White Tea

Summer means pool parties, lazy days and vacations. It’s no wonder summer makes us feel young at heart. Sip our Youthberry White Tea all summer long for a refreshing and youthful feeling. Youthberry White Tea is a blushing blend of mango, apple pieces, red current and acai berry super fruits. To make a 16 oz cup of Youthberry iced, steep 6 teaspoons for 2 minutes at 175° and pour over ice.

Moroccan Mint Green Tea

There is nothing more refreshing than mint. Our cooling Moroccan Mint Green Tea is a great way to stay chill this summer. To make a 16 oz cup of Moroccan Mint iced, steep 4 teaspoons for 1 minute at 175° and pour over ice.

Blueberry Bliss Rooibos Tea

It’s not summer without the sweet taste of blueberries. Blueberry Bliss Rooibos Tea is made of berries, grapes, black currants and hibiscus flowers. It’s a sweet and fruity summer treat that even the kids will enjoy. To make a 16 oz cup of Blueberry Bliss iced, steep 6 teaspoons for 8-15 minutes at 208° and pour over ice.

Strawberry Lemonade Herbal Tea

A classic summer flavor gets an upgrade in this sophisticated yet playful version of lemonade. Sweet and sour with a citrus zing, Strawberry Lemonade Herbal Tea combines strawberries, golden apples, rosehips and sunflower petals. If that combination doesn’t say summer, we don’t know what does. To make a 16 oz cup of Strawberry Lemonade iced, steep 6 teaspoons for 8-15 minutes at 208° and pour over ice.

Savor even more fruits of summer with our Exotic Iced Tea Gift Set. Summer is best served over ice. Cheers!

Five Flavorful Dessert Teas

Thu, 25 Apr 2013 11:53:00 -0400

Five Flavorful Dessert Teas

Thursday, April 25, 2013Posted by Admin

Dessert teas make a great substitute for high-calorie desserts. If you’re new to dessert tea, or if you’re looking for a new favorite, let Teavana be your guide. Here are our favorite dessert teas that are perfect after a meal, or any time of day.

Chocolate Bananas Foster

A dessert lover’s dream, Chocolate Bananas Foster is rich in flavor. Smooth chocolate comes together with creamy caramel and sweet banana to make a delicious treat.

Azteca Fire Herbal Tea

If you’re looking for a kick, Azteca Fire Herbal Tea has it! An excellent combination of spicy and sweet, this dessert tea combines chocolate, chilies and strawberries for a flavor you won’t forget.

Slimful Chocolate Decadence

For a rich and robust tea, try Slimful Chocolate Decadence, a luxurious mix of robust cacao, creamy toasted coconut and ginger spice that satisfies even the strongest sweet tooth.

CocoCaramel Sea Salt

A distinct taste of sweet and salty, CocoCaramel Sea Salt combines sweet caramel, decadent chocolate, a hint of cream and a sprinkling of sea salt.

Toasted Nut Brulee Oolong Tea

The name says it all – a warm combination of roasted almonds, hazelnut, coconut, cinnamon and caramel, Toasted Nut Brulee Oolong Tea is the ultimate dessert tea.

DIY Teaology: Blending Teas for Unique Flavor Profiles

Fri, 19 Apr 2013 08:14:00 -0400

DIY Teaology: Blending Teas for Unique Flavor Profiles

Friday, April 19, 2013Posted by Admin

At Teavana, we’re all about blending teas to create unique and innovative flavor profiles. But, while we’re limited in space – our tea wall can’t go on forever – we’re not limited in creativity, and neither are you.

Many of our customers take a cue from our blended teas and experiment on their own tea blends, creating new flavor profiles. Ready to create your own tea blends? In this post, we’ll discuss tea blending basics.

Flavor Basics

All good tea blends start with high-quality loose leaf tea. White tea is delicate, sweet and subtle; green tea can be grassy, mild or nutty; oolong is complex, floral and aromatic; black tea is rich and robust with a tannic sweetness; and Pu-Erh has a smooth, mineral flavor.

Some of these flavors work well in concert with one another, as they do in some of our straight tea blends such as Body + Mind White Tea. Often times, it’s exciting to pair straight teas with flavors that are floral, fruity, spicy and sweet. Experimenting is both welcome and encouraged!

Flavor Pairings

The trick to blending tea is balance. Because floral flavors tend to be easily overpowered, they don’t work well with strong black teas. Instead, floral flavors pair wonderfully with delicate white teas. The same goes for fruit flavors. Our Lavender Dreams White Tea is an excellent example of the winning combination of fruity and floral flavors.

On the other hand, black teas blend well with equally strong, but opposing flavors, such as spice, mint and chocolate. Classic chai teas are excellent examples of the strength of combining warming spices with black teas.

While green tea is a bit harder to blend, citrus, lemongrass and spicy ginger all work well when paired with a mild green tea. On the contrary, more pungent green teas can be evened out with intense fruit flavors such as berries or pomegranates. Blackberry Mojito Green Tea and Superfruit Unity Green Tea are both great examples of excellent fruit and green tea blends.

When pairing oolong teas, it’s important to remember that all oolongs are different. A green oolong will work best with citrus and berry flavors, while darker oolongs work much better with spicy and sweet flavors.

Tea Pairings

When pairing blended teas, aim for opposites. For example, a sweet tea blend like Amandine Rose Black Tea pairs well with a spicy tea blend like Cha Yen Thai Black Tea. Floral tea blends, like Youthberry White Tea, pair well with citrus blends like Wild Orange Blossom Herbal Tea. You can also even out stronger teas with more subtle teas. For example, Gyokuro Imperial Green Tea pairs well with Citrus Lavender Sage. Opposites really do attract, when it comes to tea blending!

Fruity Tea Blends Perfect For Spring

Wed, 10 Apr 2013 09:20:00 -0400

Fruity Tea Blends Perfect For Spring

Wednesday, April 10, 2013Posted by Admin

As you put away your winter clothes and update your spring wardrobe, don’t forget to update your tea collection with light, fruity springtime favorites that brew to blushing pink hues. What a great way to welcome spring!

Youthberry White Tea

A perennial favorite, Youthberry White Tea sparkles with youthful brilliance. The combination of white tea with hibiscus, rosehips, mango, pineapple, red currant and acai berry will awaken your senses just in time for tulip season.

Superfruit Unity Green Tea

Fruity green tea lovers will be inspired to write a sonnet to spring when they taste Superfruit Unity Green Tea. In this fruity and floral concoction, cranberries, raspberries, rose blossoms, hibiscus blossoms and apple pieces come together with green tea to create a tea that’s as good for you as it is delicious.

NEW! Berry Kiwi Colada Herbal Tea

Drift away to a tropical paradise with our Berry Kiwi Colada Herbal Tea. The bold flavors of mango, kiwi, strawberry and pineapple give way to a glimpse of spring in every sip.

NEW! Raspberry Pineapple Luau White Tea

As refreshing as the ocean breeze, Raspberry Pineapple Luau White Tea is bursting with fruit flavors. Bright raspberries, ripe pineapple, tangy citrus and crisp apples come together to create a deliciously sweet and satisfying cup.

Enjoy even more fruity flavors with our fresh and exotic spring teas. Be sure to share your new spring favorite with us!

Commemorative Gifts for a Blooming Occasion

Thu, 04 Apr 2013 11:13:00 -0400

Commemorative Gifts for a Blooming Occasion

Thursday, April 4, 2013Posted by Admin

The National Cherry Blossom Festival is a celebration that takes place in the spring to commemorate the giving of Japanese cherry trees from Japan to the city of Washington. On March 27, 1912, Mayor Yukio Ozaki of Japan donated the cherry trees as a token of friendship between the United States and Japan.

The first official festival took place in 1935, which grew to be an annual event celebrated by many. Each year we celebrate the blooming of cherry blossom trees in Washington, D.C. and Japan as a symbol of the beginning of spring.

You will find a number of cherry blossom inspired teaware at Teavana. Here are some of our blossoming favorites:

Sakura Allure Gift Set

A Teavana exclusive, the Sakura Allure Gift Set captures and transposes the beautiful image of blooming cherry trees onto the gift set. Each set includes a stoneware Sakura tea tumbler, an air-tight tea tin and Sakura Allure Green Tea.

Cherry Blossoms Cast Iron Teapot

The Cherry Blossoms Cast Iron Teapot is a great lifetime piece that serves as a constant reminder of both Japan’s national flower and the annual Cherry Blossom Festival. Crafted in Japan, this teapot is intricately decorated with cherry blossoms and comes in several unique colors. Create the perfect table setting by adding Cherry Blossom Cast Iron Coasters.

Okura Ume Blossom Infuser Tea Mug

A symbol of hope, the Okura Ume Blossom Infuser Tea Mug features hand-painted Ume blossoms that signify the coming of spring. Each mug comes with a matching lid and infuser.

Join the greatest spring celebration this year with some of these commemorative pieces. Happy Blooming!

Product Spotlight: Cherry Bark Tea Canister

Wed, 27 Mar 2013 10:01:00 -0400

Product Spotlight: Cherry Bark Tea Canister

Wednesday, March 27, 2013Posted by Admin

The carving of cherry bark is a Japanese craft dating back at least 1000 years. Since then, cherry bark has been used to make tobacco cases, decorative boxes and tea canisters that are revered for their natural beauty.

Cherry Bark As An Art Form

Thought to have begun 1000 years ago in Japan’s Ani region, the carving of cherry bark was taken up as a trade by the Samurai class during the late 18th Century. At that time, Samurais would go into the mountains surrounding the town of Kakunodate and strip the trunks of the wild cherry trees. They would then painstakingly scrape and polish the bark to reveal its lustrous finish. Thin strips of cherry bark were then applied to the surface of other materials, such as maple.

Cherry bark tea canisters, tobacco boxes and other decorative items are still made this way today.

Proper Use and Care

Our cherry bark tea canister is made with cherry bark on the outside and cherry wood on the inside, making for a beautiful tea canister that absorbs the flavor of the tea stored within. For this reason, we recommend storing only one type of tea in the cherry bark tea canister.

Many of our customers like to reserve their cherry bark canister for their favorite tea blends, while others have a canister for each of their teas.

As with all of our tea storage containers, the cherry bark tea canister has an air-tight seal to protect the tea stored within from air, light and moisture.

To clean the cherry bark tea canister, simply wipe it down with a damp cloth and allow to air dry. Never submerge the tea canister in water.

Building a Tea Pantry

Wed, 13 Mar 2013 11:57:00 -0400

Building a Tea Pantry

Wednesday, March 13, 2012Posted by Admin

There’s nothing worse than receiving a Teavana order in the mail and realizing you’ve forgotten to order that one item needed to make a perfect cup of tea. Let us help you build the perfect tea pantry filled with favorites that you can use again and again.

We’ve made a list of tea pantry essentials to get you started:

Most tea lovers like to have several types of tea on hand. If you’re new to tea, you might find that you like a stronger tea in the morning, an energizing tea in the afternoon and a more delicate tea at night. You might drink, for example, black tea in the morning, green or maté tea in the afternoon, and white or herbal tea at night.

Whatever your preference, when building your tea pantry, make a list of the different types of tea you enjoy and shop accordingly.

Tea Storage

Once you have your tea, it’s important to store it properly. Teavana storage tins will shield your tea from light, air and moisture, keeping your tea fresh for up to a year.

If you drink citrus tea, it’s important to keep your tea in a tin specifically designed for citrus tea. The citric acid will damage the interior of a regular tea tin.

Tea Sweeteners

If you like to sweeten your tea, you should always have some high-quality honey and German rock sugar on hand. Both sweeteners will enhance the natural flavor of the tea.

Tea Accessories

Brewing loose leaf tea at the perfect temperature is a must. That’s why it’s important to have a thermometer. This thermometer with built-in timer is the perfect all-in-one device. It even clips to the side of your cup!

If you don’t want to bother with a tea thermometer, then consider investing in an electric tea kettle or other tea appliances that will take the guesswork out of heating water for tea.

Other must-have accessories include the Teavana PerfecTea Maker, the Perfect Tea Spoon, the Perfect Preset Timer and a strainer like the Cool Touch Tea Strainer.

All About Hibiscus

Wed, 06 Mar 2013 15:05:00 -0400

All About Hibiscus

Wednesday, March 6, 2013Posted by Admin

Hibiscus teas have been enjoyed for centuries by people all across the world including Egypt, Cambodia and the Caribbean. Consumed for its flavor and other benefits, the sepals of the hibiscus plant, Hibiscus sabdariffa, create a deep red infusion that's well-loved for its tangy sweetness and cooling effect on the body.

Hibiscus teas go back as far as the ancient Pharaohs, who drank hibiscus teas to keep cool in the hot desert along the Nile River. Today many cultures drink hibiscus teas for a number of reasons. Iranians drink hibiscus teas to quiet the mind and calm the nerves. Meanwhile, the Egyptians and Sudanese drink it to mark special occasions. People in the Caribbean drink hibiscus teas, which they call “sorrel”, to stay hydrated and refreshed.

Because hibiscus adds color, flavor and depth to tea, we use it in a variety of tea blends. Some of our hibiscus teas include: Very Berry White Tea, Superfruit Unity Green Tea, Spiced Mandarin Oolong Tea and Wild Orange Blossom Herbal Tea.

Visit Hibiscus Teas on our website for a full list.

All About Darjeeling

Wed, 27 Feb 2013 09:44:00 -0400

All About Darjeeling

Wednesday, February 27, 2013Posted by Admin

Darjeeling tea is grown in the Darjeeling region of the northernmost tip of West Bengal, India. Set in the foothills of the Himalayas, Darjeeling is full of lush forests and sprawling tea plantations where they produce some of the most delicious and distinctive tea in the world.

Darjeeling tea is not native to India. Instead, Darjeeling is produced from the Chinese tea plant, Camellia sinensis, which was first planted in Darjeeling in 1841.

Though often misidentified as a black tea, Darjeeling comes in many varieties including white, green and oolong.

First and second flush Darjeelings are prized for their delicate flavors. First flush teas tend to be floral while second flush teas are more bold, fruity and spicy.

First flush Darjeelings, like our Darjeeling De Triomphe, are light in body and have a crisp, refreshing taste.

Second flush Darjeelings produce amber liquor and can either be spicy or “muscatel,” that is, reminiscent of muscatel wine.

Third and fourth flush Darjeelings tend to produce darker, fuller bodied teas and are typically only sold domestically for use in chai teas.

Visiting Darjeeling

The weather in Darjeeling is surprisingly mild, making it an accessible destination to visit anytime outside of the summer monsoon season. Visit in the spring for a taste of fresh-from-the-plantation first flush Darjeelings. Or, visit in June for a sample of the best of first and second flush.