First there was Oprah, the show. Then, O, the network. Now, Starbucks is taking the Oprah brand to a whole new level with — Oprah, the tea.
Starbucks announced a first-of-its-kind collaboration with Oprah Winfrey to co-create Teavana Oprah Chai Tea, which will launch in stores across Canada and the U.S. beginning late April.
For Oprah fans, this is more than just a celebrity endorsement. Starbucks will make a donation for each Teavana Oprah Chai product sold in Starbucks and Teavana stores in the U.S. and Canada to the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy Foundation to benefit educational opportunities for youth.
Oprah Winfrey personally developed the tea with Teavana’s leading teaologist Naoko Tsunoda. The distinctive blend of tea, which features a bold infusion of cinnamon, ginger, cardamom and cloves, blended with loose-leaf black tea and rooibos, will be made available to customers in time for Mother’s Day in the U.S. and Canada in handcrafted latte and loose leaf tea formats.
“I looove tea,” said Oprah Winfrey. “My daily tea ritual is a vital part of my morning. Savoury and spicy chai, with its deep flavour, has long been a favourite of mine. When Howard Schultz offered to have me come into the Starbucks tasting room and create my very own tea blend, I thought that sounded like such a unique opportunity and fun to the tenth power. To share one of my favourite things with the rest of the world and support youth education at the same time is truly the perfect blend.”
“Partnering with Oprah Winfrey in the creation of this distinctive and remarkable tea is a strong next step forward in accomplishing this objective, while also giving back in a meaningful way through the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy Foundation. I am personally humbled to work with such an inspirational leader and visionary who shares so many of our core values and beliefs. I truly believe that, together, we will set the bar for a world-class tea experience at Starbucks and Teavana” said Schultz.
Contributions from sales of Teavana Oprah Chai products will go to the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy Foundation, which provides funding for the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls – South Africa and is dedicated to helping its graduates attend colleges and universities.
