We had written earlier this year about Starbucks’ search for tea, it ends and begins with a purchase of Teavana for $620 million cash.
Adding to the list of Teatailers in New York this week is Palais du Thés, a French tea importer and retailer, started in 1987 by François-Xavier Delmas. The chain has 28 boutiques worldwide. The 29th is its first in the United States and the first outside France that is not a franchise.
A joint venture between a floral designer and tea master puts a unique spin on traditional tea flavors for an exotic taste. The space hosts a variety of rare tea collections, Yi Xing pots, cups,
tea ware and instruments with floral arrangements on display. They will also have classes for Chinese tea art, tea appreciation and painting.
Chrysanthemum is located on 669 Washington Ave. between St. Marks Avenue and Prospect Place
The biggest macaron location to date in the world for Maison Ladurée is opening soon in Soho. The new shop will include a pastry lab, tea salon, chefs on-site and catering services. Expected opening date has yet to be confirmed.
Maison Ladurée will be located at 398 West Broadway near Spring Street
After selling Tazo Tea in coffee shops for years, Starbucks is now looking to open up retail chains dedicated to brewing and selling this tea brand. The first shop is set to open later on this year. This new business venture for Starbucks comes on the heels of the tea industry being highlighted as the one of the top five growing beverages on restaurant menus by research firm NPD Group.
Starbucks will look to its competitors for product differentiation. Pleaces like Teavana, Argo Tea, and Jamba Juice are among some of the competitors observed in Nation’s Restaurant News’ article
17 E 17th St, New York, NY 10003 (Flatiron) • 212.253.7676
DAVIDsTEA
Their Success… A new direction to branding tea time. If you are looking for an “Organic Gold Rush” with your “Birthday Cake” topped off by a “Jolly Jellybean”, then you might consider this place to be “Paradise found”. These are the names of flavors you’ll find created by pairing loose-leaf teas with ingredients from around the world at this tea shop. David Segal, founder of DavidsTea, saw the need for a non-serious approach to drinking tea that’s now filling a void overlooked by traditional tea shops. The first location, which opened in Montreal, Canada, was the starting point for the tea empire’s success. The brand’s consistent messaging about making tea fun is careful crafted at every touch point– from the staffing and overall guest experience to brand concept and packaging. Tea time is usually relaxing to most but DavidsTea has pushed tea into a new gamut with a trendy, clean yet clever appeal. Tea time is now fun time.
What We Learned… Sometimes the key to a successful brand is what inspires us in a non-traditional way. David Segal based his brand off an idea that “tea should be more fun”.
Take Aways… What’s your inspiration? How can you use what inspires you in your
branded product?
Production of the crop more than tripled to 14,000 metric tons the past decade as farmers expanded rooibos plantings to meet demand from companies including the world’s largest coffee shop operator and Nestle SA (NESN), the biggest food company.Tea consumption is increasing as health-conscious consumers spurn sugary and caffeinated beverages. Rooibos, like green tea, contains antioxidants that boost the immune system, calcium and fluoride. The drink constitutes about 10 percent of the herbal tea market and 1 percent of a global tea market that has an estimated value of $23 billion, according to the South African Rooibos Council.
Rooibos Tea is on the rise
This Los Angeles chain opens their newest location with a custom coffee and tea cellar that has over 100 tea and coffee blends to choose from.
The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf on the Upper East Side is located on East 83rd Street and 3rd Avenue
Tavalon’s newest venture offers tea drinkers an open resource to New York City’s real estate landscape. The new tea bar, located next to a real estate office, will have various listings available for patrons to review while sipping on their favorite oolong brew.
Blu Café is located on 120 Riverside Blvd towards the corner of W 66th
Italy Comes Alive
The next event will take place on Saturday, March 31st from 11 am – 1 pm in the Scavolini Soho Gallery and will include a tea and coffee demonstration from Tarallucci & Vino. RSVP by
Wednesday, March 28th.
Scavolini Soho Gallery is located at 29 W. Broadway (between Prince and Spring). Email RSVP confirmations to italycomesalive@bdeonline.biz
Tea Bar will carry 15 free-trade teas in addition to 6 kombuchas from Kombucha Party
The new tea cafe is located on 439 Metropolitan Ave between North 5th/6th Street
paigepapers.com 