Teavana

I love tea, I am a tea whore. I have been here a few times, however, never to buy anything as their prices are higher than other tea shops of similar quality selection. I liked this place when it was Teatopia.

Location: Out of the way if you’re on foot (you have to go over the Lion Gate’s Bridge to Park Royal).
Service: I had a great experience at this location. The clerk who assisted me was very helpful and took the time to elaborate on the different types of teas I was interested in, and she also told me how to brew my tea and make ice tea. I definitely felt like I was getting personalized service.
Tea: The tea samples were delicious! I purchased a combination of two Chai teas that the clerk measured out then mixed for me. Not only does it smell amazing, but it’s delicious. I did find it a bit weaker than I expected so will try adding more tea to my infuser. I also purchased a pineapple tea and a blueberry tea — both of which have actual fruit pieces in them. I combined the tea to make ice tea and it’s amazing.
Price: It’s a little expensive but I find the quality is better than say, David’s Tea. They go by weight as well, so it all depends on what, and how much you buy.
I did get the sense that the clerk was trying to sell me more crap than I needed, but I just said no. One can only buy so many tea-​related items, eh?

Their tea comes with enticing labels, but is very weak and often overpriced in comparison with most local offerings. I used to buy from Teavana almost weekly when I lived in Seattle, but have yet, within the two years that I have lived in the Vancouver area to find a place that tops Granville Island tea.

Yikes! I visited the new Teavana store in Park Royal to purchase the PerfecTea Maker. I wanted to purchase it after a recommendation from a family member in the US where Teavana stores are more popular. I appreciated the greeting when I entered the store. I even welcomed the offer to assist me in finding something. I didn’t appreciate the continued pushy sales pitch. I didn’t feel I could just look on my own without being followed or interrupted when looking at products.
At checkout, a 2^nd person asked if I wanted a tea sample to which I declined. She said to my «why not? it’s a free sample after all.»
I love tea but visiting Teavana made me feel like I was searching for a car and the sales responded as strongly as I have experienced at car dealerships.