I participated in an Influencer Activation Program on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for Starbucks. I received a promotional item and a gift card to facilitate my review.
Mother’s Day is just a few days away, and like myself, my mother isn’t pretentious when it comes to gifts. We both agree that spending time together over a really good meal and a cup of tea or an afternoon of manis and pedis is the ideal way to celebrate our relationship. My mom and I have been visiting tea rooms since I was a little girl, and it was largely because of her that I always start my day out with a hot cup of tea. I’m adventurous when it comes to tea flavors and I like to change it up, so I was excited when I learned Oprah would be partnering with Starbucks and Teavana to create an exclusive Chai Tea.
I absolutely love Starbucks’ Chai Tea, and I’ve often used it in place of coffee for a spicy start to my morning. Since I like to change up my tea routine, I had a feeling I would like Teavana Oprah Chai Tea. Featuring a bold infusion of cinnamon, ginger, cardamom, and cloves, this tea is a blend of loose-leaf black and rooibos teas. The tea is wonderfully aromatic with a hint of sweetness, which actually comes from the infusion of cinnamon. I was pleasantly surprised that I could enjoy Teavana Oprah Chai Tea iced and hot, each of which offered a unique experience. The ginger and cardamom are distinguishable, and while the infusion of spices and flavors is bold, I find this tea to be smoother than Starbucks’ original Chai Tea.
Over the weekend, my mom, daughter and I headed to Starbucks for a girls’ day out and I ordered Teavana Oprah Chai Tea Lattes for us to enjoy. It was a warm day in LA, so we opted for iced lattes, which we both thoroughly enjoyed. Because it contains both black and rooibos teas, the amount of caffeine is less than that of traditional Chai Tea, something my mother appreciated. We picked up a couple of cookies and enjoyed some much needed time together to talk and catch up.
My daughter and I have frequented our local tea room from time to time and I’m hoping to continue this ritual of drinking tea together with her. As opposed to the “coffee-on-the-run” mentality that is pervasive, the steeping and drinking of tea often inspires conversation and a pause in the day’s routine to connect and reflect. I can’t tell you that I’ve actually sat down at my local Starbucks more than a handful of times, but I know that scheduling “tea time” with my mom, my daughter, or a friend would allow us that vital time we need to engage.
As I mentioned above, Teavana Oprah Chai can be enjoyed hot or cold, with milk or without. Since this is a loose leaf tea, you’ll want to make sure you brew it properly to truly enjoy the flavor and essence of the tea.
To Brew Hot Tea:
- Heat the water using a kettle. Starbucks recommends a temperature of 195-205 degrees F for Teavana Oprah Chai Tea.
- Steep 1 teaspoon for 2-3 minutes.
- Add Perfectea Rock Sugar or honey to sweeten, if desired.
- Add steamed milk, if desired.
To Brew Iced Tea:
- Heat the water using a kettle. Starbucks recommends a temperature of 195-205 degrees F for Teavana Oprah Chai Tea.
- Steep 2 teaspoons for 203 minutes.
- Add Perfectea Rock Sugar or honey to sweeten, if desired.
*Note* Do not steep tea longer than recommended as it will taste bitter. Add more tea if you desire a stronger flavor.
Starbucks and Teavana offer a variety of products to make brewing your favorite tea seamless. I personally like Teavana’s Perfect TeaMaker and the Modern Iced TeaMaker, both of which are ideal for loose-leaf teas.
Mother’s Day Special + Gift Idea at Starbucks
Celebrate your favorite mom this Mother’s Day at Starbucks! When you purchase a Teavana Oprah Chai Tea latte, the second one is free.
In honor of Mother’s Day, Starbucks is offering a Teavana Oprah Chai Gift Box for just $39.95 which includes a 2 ounce tea plus a double wall glass tumbler + stainless steel filter.
*For every Teavana Oprah Chai purchase (drinks, gift sets, loose leaf tea, etc.), Starbucks will make a $1 donation to the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy Foundation. You can learn more about the foundation by visiting Steep Your Soul.
How will you celebrate that special mom in your life this Mother’s Day?
Images: Rockin’ Mama unless otherwise noted.
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