Teavana Spreads Gospel of Loose-Leaf Tea

When customers visit and wander towards Teavana, sellers of loose-leaf, high-quality tea and proponents of culture and good health, they are greeted by a store worker offering two complimentary teas.

Their aim is to dispel the notion that the only good tea comes in bags, or that tea is boring. The folks at try to make it comfortable and not snobbish, even if you’re a coffee drinker.

“Tea is most of the world’s source of drink, except in the United States,” Frank DeMarco, General Manager at the Paramus Park Teavana, said. “It’s part of the culture.”

The Teavana concept, now almost 13 years old, was developed by Andy and Nancy Mack of Atlanta. The company, which went public this past November, has 205 stores, with locations in the United States and Canada.

“It was their (the Macks) vision to make the best cup of tea at home," DeMarco said.

Teavana offers more than 100 varieties of tea, and preparation tools like cast iron, glass, ceramic or plastic teapots; tea sets; books, gifts and more.

But most of all, they offer advice to the novice. In fact, Kimica Hastings, Assistant General Manager, was initially a customer.

“I wanted a cup of tea,” when she entered the store for the first time, she said. “They really reflected a positive attitude. It translates into the system so customers pick up on it.”

Agnes Gempp, originally from Newcastle, England but now living in New York, certainly did. She has retained her accent and love for tea from her homeland.

She was visiting Teavana for the first time, sampled a few teas courtesy of worker Christian Crisologo, and she loved it.

“I drink tea all the time; I’m used to tea,” she said. “I drink coffee occasionally. Sometimes I go to the restaurants here and ask, ‘Don’t you know how to make a cup of tea?’ They often only offer coffee. I know quite a few tea drinkers, and this [Teavana] is very attractive.”

Nadine Shakespeare, Northeast Area Manager for Teavana, said the store educates customers on the history and possible health benefits of each variety available.

“The average customer doesn’t make loose leaf tea but are tea people,” DeMarco said. “Tea bags are mass produced and the quality can be poor. The tea here has much higher quality.”

And there are significant health benefits, DeMarco said.

“People are looking for alternatives to stay healthy," he said. "Tea has been around 1,000 years, so there is a track record on its health benefits. Tea is not as complicated as people make it.”

Paramus is the perfect location for Teavana, DeMarco said.

“We want to be where the people are,” he said of the Paramus Park and Garden State Plaza locations. “Our mission is to be everywhere.”

Teavana as well works with both CARE and EquaTrade Programs. More information can be found here: http://www.teavanacares.com/about/equatrade.

Teavana, 700 Paramus Park Mall, (201) 265-4719, www.teavana.com