Last updated on December 25, 2023
Teavana was one of my favorite mall-based stores. I loved walking into a Teavana, sampling the two or three brews they had on display, and browsing the store. I have a heavy, jade-green Asian-style teapot and a plastic loose-leaf tea infuser from Teavana.
My favorite teas were purchased at Teavana on a regular basis. We’d refill the metal tins, which are still the best tea storage ever made. I would buy Peach Tranquility, Pineapple Kona Pop, Berry Kiwi Colada, Zingiber Ginger Coconut, Strawberry Lemonade, and several others. My preferred teas are fruity herbal teas made with mild green tea. Online stores promise to match the Teavana varieties, but few come close. Maybe the stores sold enough tea that the choices were fresh. Maybe Teavana used more fruit in the fruit teas. I have no idea, but the other choices have a more “tea” flavor to them. The Teavana teas were great.
Since moving to Texas, I’ve adopted two chai teas that Susan located online: Stash’s Double Spice Chai and Spice Dragon Red Chai. They are in bags, which is convenient, and they both taste good. They are dark and spicy. They aren’t the same as the Teavana teas, but better than most. Definitely not mild teas.
There are things that trigger good memories. One of the things I liked about our time in Minnesota was the Mall of America. It’s hard to explain, but the mall was much more than a collection of stores. Yes, there was a theme park and good mid-range restaurants. Yes, it was a tourist destination. It was also surprisingly walkable, especially the upper floors.
I graduated college in 1990. My formative years were shaped by trips to malls. I still remember the incredible seasonal displays of the 1970s and 80s. Santa had a castle, complete with trains and animated scenery. The jewelry store in one mall had the most amazing animated scenes in its windows. There was a classic carousel in one mall, too.
In the Mall of America, the magic still existed. There were seasonal displays. There were concerts.
As an adult, I discovered Teavana, Brooks Brothers, and Sharper Image. I’d walk about the mall, enjoying the sights and sounds of excited children in the theme park area and teens hanging out in the food court. I also remember music store tucked into a corner.
Before leaving the mall, I stop in the Teavana and buy something interesting.
There was a Teavana we visited in Pennsylvania, too. It was also in an “upscale” mall with stores I enjoyed browsing. Malls have mostly faded away. Dead and dying malls are scattered across the country. Teavana was killed off by Starbucks, joining a list of deceased mall-based retailers.
Even if I found the perfect teas online, it wouldn’t be like stepping into a store and discovering a new variety or creative blend of varieties. There are some things you cannot replicate with online shopping.
Things change. I don’t like change.
Now, I’m going to have some tea.