I am a coffee drinker in the morning but in the afternoon, when I want a hot drink and my body cannot tolerate caffeine after 12 noon, I go for very light tea. So, what a delight it was to be invited to a Starbucks event that was NOT about coffee but all about TEA!!!
Starting September 14, 2016, all Starbucks stores will be carrying the Teavana line of teas in hot and cold variants!
Bedecked in colorful hues reminiscent of its tea varieties, Starbucks Eugenio P. Lopez was the venue of the Teavana launch. Probably the most beautiful Starbucks branch I have ever been in, the Eugenio P. Lopez Starbucks branch was a beautiful mix of glass (to bathe the entire branch in natural sunlight), wood, and concrete with beautiful ceiling decor made from local materials to give a Filipino ambiance with a touch of modernity.
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| Awesome ceiling decor made of native materials |
Beginning Sept. 14, 2016, Starbucks customers will be able to choose from among six different tea varieties depending on their palate preference. We were treated to a wonderful tea tasting experience, trying out both the hot and cold variants of the tea flavors.
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| Starbucks Teavana team represent! |
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| Four of several Teavana variants that we got to try |
Hot Teas
In this category, there are six different tea variants whose caffeine content ranges from zero to very light to heavy.
The lightest caffeine content (1-15mg) is Youthberry. Youthberry is white tea with a hint of rosehips and tart green apple. It is infused with a super fruit, acai, and blended with tropical pineapple and mango flavors. You may be wondering why the tea is reddish when it’s supposed to be a white tea (my question too!). That is because of the rosehips infused in the tea that gives it that color. White tea is not too common in the Philippines. In fact, the white tea I have here at home was given by someone who came from Singapore. I think this is readily one of my favorites in a light tea.
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| Youthberry (white tea) |
Emperor’s Clouds and Mist is a green tea, harvested and grown on the steep, windy slopes of Huangshan Mountain, 3500 feet above sea level. This is also one of the lightest when it comes to caffeine content but has a richer body and a naturally sweet flavor compared to the fruity Youthberry. While it is also quite light in caffeine content (1-15mg), I found its taste sweeter vs the fruity flavor of the Youthberry. It will appeal to green tea lovers. Like me.
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| Emperor’s Clouds & Mist (green tea) |
If you want more caffeine in your tea, try English Breakfast, a handcrafted blend of Indian Assam, Sri Lankan Ceylon, and Chinese black tea. This was the one that tasted most like tea because it has >41mg of caffeine. Take this tea with or without milk.
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| English Breakfast (black tea) |
A caffeine-free blend that has a very strong herbal flavor is Hibiscus, a combination of papaya and mango combined with citrus lemongrass. The hibiscus flowers give the tea that slight tartness as well as its deep fuschia color.
Two other caffeine-free herbal teas are also available (in-store only).
Mint Blend – This tea’s mint leaves come from the highly sought-after and prized Pacific Northwest mint, known for its high amount of mint oil. Its spearmint base is rounded out with cool peppermint notes and untertones of spicy sweet lemon verbena.
Chamomile – This is the tea I’d recommend for you if you want to have restful sleep. I always have chamomile tea at home and now, it’s part of the Teavana brand as well. The Chamomile used for this tea is from Croatia and provides its soft, soothing floral blend.
For all hot tea variants, the prices are as follows:
Tall: PhP 110
Grande: PhP 110 (yes, same price as tall!)
Venti: PhP 125
Box of 12 full-leaf tea sachets: PhP 525
Iced Shaken Teas
These you have to try!!! Take my word for it! These are the best iced shaken teas I have tasted so far and I believe this could very well be my beverage of choice (Yes, I can’t believe I am saying this when I am usually a coffee drinker, haha!).
There are three iced handcrafted beverages to choose from.
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| (L-R): Matcha & Espresso Fusion, Iced Shaken Black Tea with Ruby Grapefruit and Honey, Iced Shaken Hibiscus Tea with Pomegranate Pearls |
Iced Shaken Hibiscus Tea with Pomegranate Pearls
Hibiscus tea is combined with pearls of real pomegranate juice that burst in your mouth and give that tart kick of flavor. Pomegranate juice, by the way, is a great source of antioxidants.
Iced Shaken Black Tea with Ruby Grapefruit and Honey
This is a combination of traditional Western black tea with bites of pomelo fruit, grapefruit and honey for that added sweetness. The star ruby grapefruit is a good source of Vitamins A and C and is rick in bioflavonoids and antioxidants.
Matcha & Espresso Fusion
My personal recommendation is NOT to mix this drink when it is served to you. Instead, enjoy the 3 layers of fine matcha powder layered with milk and Espresso Roast by sipping carefully so that you experience the flavors layer by layer. Matcha is full of catechins, which are some of the most potent and beneficial antioxidants.
The prices of the two iced shaken teas are as follows:
Tall: PhP 130
Grande: PhP 145
Venti: PhP 160
The prices of the Matcha & Espresso Fusion are:
Tall: PhP 155
Grande: PhP 170
Venti: PhP 185
Teavana Promo
* Up to September 20, 2016, customers who buy any two (2) Starbucks Teavana Packaged Teas will get a complimentary Starbucks Teavana Packaged Tea of their choice.
* Customers can choose from any of the available Starbucks Teavana packaged teas on display.
* There is no limit to the number of purchased Teavana packaged teas per customer during the promo period.
* Whole Bean and Tea Star will be given for purchased Teavana packaged tea for customers who purchase using their Starbucks card.
* Offer cannot be exchanged for cash/credit or combined with other promos.
* Offer is valid in all Starbucks stores in the Philippines.