Starbucks Coffee

This is great news!  I am looking forward to the boost in flavor that comes from using whole-leaf tea -  and I hope you will also offer whole leaf tea in bulk that I can buy and bring home!

This sounds great. Will these teas be able to be made cold in the store for you?

Will you have any pure teas that don't have spices and flavourings etc added?

Bring in a tea that tastes similar to the Joy tea. I really enjoyed this and think more customers would like to buy something that tastes similar all year round! I'm looking foward to the full leaf tea launch!

I'm not really much of a tea drinker, but I tried a Tazo tea iced, ... I think it was called "Queen Victoria"... but I'm not sure.  I was at 15th Ave Coffee. I think you should offer it.

Wow that last post of mine came out sounding disjointed -- Multi-tasking didn't work so well for me. I was trying to say that the Tazo Queen Victoria tea was delicious iced!

What about a Decaf Black Tea!?

It's nice to see you're offering full leaf teas rather than sweepings. I would really like to see better quality green/black teas (Camillia sinensis). Admittedly, tea has never been a real strong point for SBUX and other coffee chains, so full leaf is a start.

Tea quality doesn't matter so much for proprietary blends like Awake™ ,  Zen™ , and herbal infusions, which contain non-tea ingredients. You can disguise lesser-quality tea by adding stuff to it.

I'd like to see Darjeeling and Envy offered in SBUX stores, as well as a white tea, although adding more green and/or white tea selections may be somewhat problematic as brewing water temperature makes a huge difference for green and white teas.

Bring back the Berry Blossom White.  I am not a coffee drinker and live on Berry Blossom White Tea Misto's.  Without BBW tea, I have no more reason to go to Starbucks!

SO EXCITED FOR FULL LEAF LAUNCH :D

Very excited to have Vanilla Rooibos as a regular tea option!  Finally a reason for me to return to Starbucks since I quit drinking coffee.

This certainly sounds like a wonderful tea lineup; I look forward to trying each and every one of the options.

Also, I am wondering whether some kind of herbal infusion with acai berry could be possible.  Has anyone looked into that?  Thank you so much for reading.

Janet - this is great news!  But I think what "h3t3pu 4us4r" was getting at was "bulk tea", meaning a tin filled with tea, no bags, much like all your competitors offer.  I too would support this and could divert my purchases from one of your competitors.

But I'm not ungrateful - thank you for the whole leaf tea - I look forward to trying it.

Are they Fair Trade certified and organic? If not, I'll pass, and continue to buy my tea at places which exclusively or primarily sell such teas.

I love whole leaf teas!  They are so much more flavor.  Thanks Starbucks!  Now, will there be "tea parties" at the stores soon?

Hi - just making sure - are these teas all gluten-free?

Thanks,

jennmdp71

www.sweetdesignrelief.wordpress.com

I really wish you would offer a decaf black tea, as well as a decaf Earl Grey. Some of us would like the flavor of a black tea without the caffeine - we don't necessarily want a green tea or a flavored tea. To have only flavored/herbal choices for your decaf choices is highly disappointing. Also very sorry that you've discontinued the Berryblossom White tea.

How wonderful, truly looking forward to having the full leaf tea at my nearsest SBUX.  I have full leaf as much as possible at home, will enjoy having it out as well.

So I like the shaken ice black tea in the summer.      

NOT thrilled by this.  I've had the Awake full leaf tea and it is not as good the existing.  Are we going to be unable to get the existing awake tea?  Big mistake.  

Great news!! So excited that my favorite tea, Vanilla Roibois, will finally be available for purchase other than in a tea latte purchase. Rock on!!

Three questions:

1) Will there be a price increase for this new version of full leaf teas?

2) Will the current style of tea disappear after these are released?

3) Will this be rolled out to all countries and not just the USA?

I have tried the Chai, the Vanilla Rooibos, and the Zen so far. They are so much better than the prior bag versions. Tazo has been great so far, and these are no exception, the flavor really pops out of these, the freshness can be tasted. I was amazed at the Zen, its flavor was truly so much better than before. I tried a side by side comparison of the two,

Check out my Tea blog at: 365tea.blogspot.com

or on Facebook: 365 Tea

Also 2 questions, have you put any thought into adding a Pu-erh to the lineup?  And is there anywhere to buy Macha so I can make it at home?

will the chai tea lattes remain the same . . .  made from syrup??? i have tried chai tea made from tea bags and HATE it!!!

When is the official launch of the loose leaf teas in the stores?

@amazonv Should be the 12th of January

I used to drink Berry Blossom White and I LOVED Wild Sweet Orange.

I am very disappointed by some of the new teas.   I have tried the new Orange Blossom twice, but both times, I was so disappointed I threw it away (tastes vaguely orange and leaves a bad aftertaste).  Unfortunately, without a tea that I love anymore, I have little reason to visit SBUX.  Please continue to offer the original Tazo's in the future

I gotta say I am one sad girl today.  I went to Starbucks yesterday to get my weekly eg tea misto and was saddened to find out my favourite drink will no longer be around as of mon....:-(   i have tried the london fog but do not like the loose leaf teas at all...too strong....and too expenseive!  i have been hooked on my drink for years and receive at least $100 in gift cards at christmas to help my "habit" ....now what???  oy.  this is up there like when i heard they were making a new coke....heading back to bed and pulling hte covers over my head til i come to terms with this...

I'm VERY VERY disappointed. After going to Starbucks almost every morning for the last 5 years, I may stop. I really wish they'd still carry the old selection as well. For a company that used to brag about consistency, this is very disappointing.

I am also disappointed.  I went to get my usual China Green Tips tea misto - which tastes almost the same but I was charged almost double the price.  Uhm, no thanks.

I tried a grande Vanilla Rooibos  yesterday. New format now provides only one bag in a grande. I always got a grande for the strength of the two bags. The drink was weak and lacking flavor. I won't try it again, but I'll be buying talls from now on. I don't need the extra liquid.

My local Starbucks has been experimenting with using the loose leaf teas on and off for several weeks now, above the tea lattes the company has been offering for months.  I am a regular Awake tea drinker, literally stopping by at least once a day (sometimes twice) for my caffeine jolt.   And I absolute HATE the loose leaf version of Awake tea.  I am not against loose leaf teas, and have used them when brewing at home, but I thoroughly dislike this change.  Although the price increase was a bit of a jolt, please do not mistake my dissatisfaction with loose leaf tea as being disgruntled because I am being asked to pay more for my tea.  It is all about the taste.  And it bothers me enough that I will stop going to Starbucks for my tea entirely.  

Where are the Oolong teas?!  They are the best out of all of them!

I simply can NOT live without "Awake" tea.   THE BEST black tea EVER created.

Zen was offered to me last night in place of Green Ginger, my all-time favorite tea. Zen is not the same. The move to full leaf is a good one, but will there be a tea w/ginger offered? Or a decaf black tea?

Although the quality of the Tazo Refresh is better than the "tea-mulch-in-a-bag" of  prior, its price is too high. A single bag Venti is $2.08 in Boston. Same as the coffee. I would have tolerated a small rise in price. This is unacceptable.  I love the tea.. but this IS my last cup.

Today I saw the new teas but there was some confusion over the price for it and if it could be made as an iced drink. I thought it could.

Finding a grande Vanilla Rooibos  weak and unappealing yesterday I tried a tall Calm, thinking less liquid a bit stronger. But here too, lacking flavor and weak. I'm very disappointed with these two decafs. - A bigger disappointment was an approximate 33% jump in the price, and of course with a grande only getting one bag now I'm in no need of that size. I think I'll take a hiatus from Starbucks after this.

So disappointed in the tea switch.  Much higher prices are unreasonable and unworkable.

Also very disappointed. I don't like the Full leaf versions of the black teas... especially the chai and earl grey : (

imperialdreams.blogspot.com/.../why-did-starbucks-change-tazo-tea.html

Janet, could you please let me know what the new teabags are made out of? They don't appear to be biodegradable and my local store told me they're actually plastic. Please confirm or deny!

I am all about offering a high quality product - which is part of Starbucks' mission.

Recently I have become a drinker of China Green Tips tea. It is so mild and light - my new favorite! After the introduction of the new whole leaf teas, I was excited to try the new CGT. It is still delicious, however I am concerned about the price.

It's ok to pay a bit more for the brewed tea, but for the packaged tea, the price increase is from $4.95 (for 24 bags) to $6.95 for 15 bags! Not only did you increase the price, but you took away 11 bags! 11 bags! As someone that drinks tea several times per day, this is very inconvenient!

Boo!

hate it

This is very wrong!

Instead of getting 20 bags for $4.95, you now get 15 bags for $6.95. That is $.25 center per serving versus $.46 per serving. That's 84% increase!

Frankly, I don't see any improvement in taste. If anything, I think I like it less. Furthermore, I couldn't care less about the fancy tins the teas now come in. It's one more thing I need to recycle. No, I didn't recycle the cardboard boxes (shame on me) but they folded up and created little waste.

Once I can no longer find the older Tazo tea bags, I won't be buying anymore Tazo teas. The huge increase in price does not  justify minimal taste improvements.

The price hike is going to lead to me visiting less and encouraging my wife to come with me somewhere other than Starbucks to get her coffee.  Bring back the original tea bags at the original price and let those who want to spend 33% more give their money to you.

I am very disappointed and angry.

I drink a venti Awake tea misto several times per week.  When the "misto" button the cash register was removed, most of the counter personnel charged me for the tea and adding dairy although some were so apologetic for not having my drink that they just charged me for a tea.

I have tried the tea latte with the Awake and found it lacking in flavor and I was VERY put off by the price increase.

I will check in periodically to see if things have gone back but for now I will use the tea offerings at Tullys and other local shops.  I don't like the feeling of getting gouged because the other drink sales have fallen.

Tried the new Orange Blossom and it is really awful.  Have always loved the Wild Sweet Orange and am so sad to see it gone.  Will never have the Orange Blossom again.......tastes bad and smells worse.  Big mistake.  Another reason not to go to Starbucks.....oh, I just remembered that was the only reason to go to Starbucks.  Bye!

Does this mean the end of African Red Bush!!?  The Vanilla Rooibos is too sweet.  ARB is the only tea I drink.  Innovation is great but don't get rid of what works.

Absolutely DISAPPOINTED and DISGUSTED that Starbucks would feel the need to REMOVE a drink, in favor of a MORE EXPENSIVE drink that is a DIFFERENT DRINK.  Mistos and Lattes are NOT the same (according to Starbucks' definitions) and there is no reason why one should replace the other.  The only plausible explanation would be the excuse to charge MORE.  

From many of the comments and complaints that I've been hearing, it's clear that this was not TRULY a customer-oriented decision, because IF it was, then we would be GIVEN THE OPTION to purchase either a MISTO OR  a LATTE. To take away that choice, seems to me like this has little to do with what the customer wants.

JANET LEE, I am disappointed to see that you have not even addressed the large majority of individuals here who are SINCERELY upset, focusing instead on the "neutral/positive" remarks.  I believe many here, including myself, would appreciate AT LEAST some acknowledgment of the CRITICAL comments regarding this...that's the LEAST you could do.

What a disappointment.  

I also must state, this is wrong!  VERY disappointing.

I don't see any improvement in taste, and actually don't like it as much.

The price increase is unconscionable.  As a previous post mentioned,  "Instead of getting 20 bags for $4.95, you now get 15 bags for $6.95.  That is $.25 cent per serving versus $.46 per serving.  That's an 84% increase!"

I won't be buying any of the 'new'  Tazo teas once my current supply runs out.   Please reconsider bringing back the original version.

100% agree with Aivi!  Looks like we are wasting our time trying to talk to Starbucks and help them keep us as customers.  

The tea situation is ridiculous.  I have asked as many Barista's as possible and they are telling me that people are complaining about the new tea and new tea prices.   Even if you like the new tea, there is no reason for the price to go up so dramatically.  Also there is no need for 2 tea bags in the venti...it takes up almost half of the cup!!  It is also insulting to say that the new tea bags are so much better.  So what are you saying Starbucks...that you served us crappy tea for all these years and we shouldnt like it anymore?

Also to discontinue the Tea Misto and replace with the Tea Latte for over 2 bucks more (for the same drink) is highway robbery!!  

Start answering the hard questions Janet Lee and stop with the candy coated ones.

I am very  disappointed, I recently bought a full leaf passion tea lemonade and it was not the same. I noticed as soon as I put the bag in my hot water. The color was lighter than usual, the taste was light and barley tasted like the old passion tea. It didn't have the same enriched taste as it used to. I don't mind the price but I mind the way that they had to change to full leaf tea.

Hi Janet,

I’m a student and I’m taking a course on social media in public relations.  I’ve chosen to do a project on Tazo Tea.  We are learning how the brand appears in conversations through blogs, news sites and informational feeds on-line.  Tazo has a lot of dedicated fans out there!  I’ve been following this blog for several weeks now.  I think it’s great that Starbucks is reaching out to the community and asking for feedback.  What a great way to go to the customer directly.  I tried the full leaf Calm tea blend last week and loved it!  I’m definitely going to go back and try another variety again.  Thanks for keeping us all updated.

I too was a frequent drinker (almost daily) of Wild Sweet Orange Tea from my local Bucks.    As they ran their stock down of the 'old tea' the Orange disppeared from the store (I really wanted to send them over to Target where the Wild Orange still exists on the shelves).  After Jan 1, the new Orange appeared.   I have tried it twice ... but in both cases I have not been able to drink it .... because of the aftertaste.   The first time, they used two bags, so I thought that the medicinal aftertaste might have been due to that.   The second time, they used only one bag at my request.   Unfortunately that did not help.   I no longer go to Bucks for tea, but if I am there with someone else for coffee, I will buy the new Vanilla Rooibos.   But I still miss the Wild Orange.   Does anyone at Tazo or Bucks care?

I too am a 3-a-day Wild Sweet Orange Tea addict - and am extremely disappointed by the decision to discontinue that tea.  It appears that Publix is even discontinuing that tea - so I bought the store's last 2 boxes tonight.

I agree as to the aftertaste on the new orange tea. Ugh. Please bring back the WILD SWEET ORANGE TEA.

I am forced to look to another company now for my herbal tea - a real disappointment.

Can we go back to the regular tea or at least offer both? The new "full leaf" does not work for me at least. Unless the other tea is back then no more Starbucks visits for me.

I have been drinking Tazo Teas from Starbucks for years. They are strong with lots of flavor at a decent price. Then, some idiot decides to replace my great tea with some weak tasting, nasty, useless flowers in an expensive bag. Why must you fix what is not broken. To make matters worse, the tea is more expensive to buy now. Thanks to some idiot, I am being charged more money for a nastier product. Bring back the old teas!!!! I was a loyal Starbucks customer and now I have to spend my money elsewhere!!!!

I do have to say, I am not satisfied with the weak taste. I agree with Van de Lecii, why replace something with its not broken? My mom bought me a box of Passion tea and I was so excited when I saw the box. But when I opened the box, I asked her if she took some for herself. turns out, there are less tea bags in the box and they are even more expensive! Since I've quit drinking coffee, I've turned to tea. I guess I will just be shopping at walmart for tea bags. I will not buy from Starbucks until they fix these problems.

I wrote to Tazo to say that the African Red Bush seemed overly fruity lately - couldn't even taste the Rooibos. Got a corp-speak reply from someone who had obviously never tasted ARB or Rooibos. She informed me that ARB has been discontinued but that I should try the Vanilla Rooibos. She described it as a mix of rooibos, a sweet tea, and vanilla, peach, and apple juice. Well, yes, the Vanilla Rooibos mixture is nauseatingly sweet, but not because of the tea. Rooibos has a funky and decidedly NOT SWEET taste.

I am aghast at the decision of Starbucks to increase prices at a time when everyone is trying to economize. I am so glad I don't own Starbucks stock. This is a totally bone-headed decision. Tazo was already pricey. Count me as a former customer. You dropped my favorite product and jacked up prices.

Just as well. I have always hated the stupid website and it has always bothered me to support the corporate giant that sells burnt coffee and faux cool.

I love TaZO Passion tea but the full leaf is not the same.  I really miss the bagged tea you used to offer please go back to the original. 8-(

My husband and I love your Tazo Organic Chai, we brew the tea bags daily and add sugar as we like. Are you going to continue to provide the traditional  type you've had all these years?

We tried to the new one and do not like it at all. The cardamom is not as strong with the full pod because it is not crushed. I see it does not say organic anymore. And the expensive price and wasteful pile up of tins isn't useful for us either.  Alas, with this change (if the old type is no longer available) we will no longer visit Starbucks while traveling or buy your tazo products for home. We like  loose Assam or English breakfast (other brands) but you've ruined a great mix with your chai change. Sad. Wasteful of resources and our money. I recommended your chai far and wide. Sorry to retract that recommendation.

Will you be offering the old teas again?  Almost everyone I've talked to dislikes the new full leaf versions.  A friend of mine and I had a long discussion about how the new vanilla rooibos was the only tea that we've ever been completely unable to finish.  The only one of the new teas that I can get down is the refresh, and even that tastes a whole lot worse than the original version.  Please bring back the old teas!   It's true that they weren't gourmet, but they were reliably decent.  I miss drinking chai tea misto's and I'm having a hard time finding anything to drink here now.  I only come for free internet...

The subject of Fair-trade is once again placed on the table. Well, going back to the topic, I do wish that they return the old teas like the Berry Blossom, but any <A HREF="www.californiateahouse.com/.../View-all-products.html">Decaf Tea</A> will do because they're all exquisite.with the condition though that they don't burn a hole in my pocket.

The subject of Fair-trade is once again placed on the table. Well, going back to the topic, I do wish that they return the old teas like the Berry Blossom, but any Decaf Tea will do because they're all exquisite.with the condition though that they don't burn a hole in my pocket.

www.californiateahouse.com/.../View-all-products.html

Since the launch China Green Tips has been hard to come by in Toronto - what's going on?!

Just for my 2 cents.... I love the full leaf tea!

I am a Zen drinker - it being my tea bag of choice 5 mornings out of 7 - and I love the new full leaf Zen. Much fresher tasting and aromatic.  I just wish that I could buy the tea in larger amounts and without the tins. Yes, they are reusable but I can use only so many. I also compost my tea bags and I hate that these new bags seem to be made of plastic.

The only other one I have tried is Orange Blossom. It has potential,   maybe just a tad more tea leaf. BUT, please remove the fennel seed. It is way too overpowering.

I'm with the "this change stinks" crowd. Green Ginger isn't included in this new full-leaf rollout, yet every time I've asked about it, I get the same disappointed response from the employee: "it's my favorite too." If it's everyone's favorite, why was it dropped?! Now I'm worried that it will be discontinued from its current filter bag form, which I buy in the grocery store. And, in looking thru the Tazo website, it looks like Organic Spicy Giner isn't being made any more either!! I'm buying more and more Republic of Tea since SB is cutting out the flavors I want. Don't even get me started on why the decaf chai latte mix is avaialable in my grocery store, but I can't get one at an actual Starbucks.... Another customer gone.

I would like to know as a Canadian customer, where can I buy another box of the Berry Blossom White Tea?

I have looked at Wal-Mart, most of the Starbucks Locations in Toronto, Ontario but they're not where to be found.

If you could please bring this flavor back out or at least tell me where I could find them, that would be fantastic!

Whoa... I never post on these blogs...but the loose leaf "Calm" tea is such a disappointment.  It has no flavor and smells like NeoCitrin....looks like some ingredients are missing.  

The old version of the tea, had a heavier and more diverse array of flavours and scents.  And it definitely had a calming effect.  Maybe some cost cutting measures are in place?  The tin is expensive as well.

Anyways I'm heading to health food stores for some alternatives.  This is really too bad.  Definitely doesn't feel as though the quality is there.

@rewriter:  fairtrade certifed is just a brand name. starbucks follows something very similar called C.A.F.E practices which ensures that for what starbucks buys a premium price is being paid for it, there is transparency so they can see how much of the money is going to who. As for certified organic the reason why most of starbucks coffees are not "certified" is because its EXPENSIVE for the farmers (NOT SBUX) who grow the coffee.

@JeenDee : Berry blossom white isnt even a little bit decaf.  it was the most caffeinated tea that starbucks carried with the filterbags.

I LOVE the Earl Grey Latte, however I would LOVE it even more if it came DECAF! :)

This is probably a dumb question, but can all teas be ordered as a latte?  I know that Chai lattes are made with a syrup, but what about the leaf teas?