Teavana

When you enter the food court in our local mall you are immediately hit with a thousand different smells and flavours. However those are not the smells that entice me; I keep walking through the food court to the shop just outside it: Teavana. Entering Teavana is like entering a sauna of dizzyingly delicious aromas. There are many different samples of teas for you to try that are hot, cold, energizing, relaxing, decaf, highly caffeinated, decorative, cancer-preventing-and all together DELICIOUS- in a variety of price ranges. The last time I visited, there were two tea samples at the doorway-- One some Jasmine Oolong something that was pretty tasty, with a low caffeine level (5% that of coffee), but the other was called Rooibos Chai and was probably one of the most delicious things I've ever tasted. It also had a whole slew of benefits like antioxidants, curbing your appetite, and as much caffeine as coffee (a plus for me, a caffeine addict...). There was also a blend of iced tea that had some sort of blueberry flavour that was quite refreshing. The only downside is that the sales people can be a little aggressive and after you've grabbed a few samples you might wanna high tail it outta there before they make you waft every can of tea in stock. However if they offer to show you the tea blossom, let them! It's an awesome little bulb of tea leaves that blooms when you put it in hot water, making delicious tea AND a lovely display. I highly recommend stopping by your nearest Teavana if you are a tea drinker (or even if you aren't, you will become one!)


-K


*Fun Fact: The last time I went, there was a charming young man who worked there who wasn't quite as pushy as the other sales people. He was just refilling the sample-cup holders while we drank cup after cup of free tea. I told him I liked Argyl sweater and he said his friends told him he was starting to dress like a lesbian. He was delightful.