Tazo tea refers to several varieties of tea made by the Tazo Tea company in their blending facilities located in Portland, OR.
Tazo manufactures a full line of black teas, green teas and herbal teas that span all forms; from filter bags and loose tea to ready-to-drink bottled tea and tea latte concentrates.
Tazo tea usually contains green or black tea, mixed with herbs such as chamomile, cardamom, hibiscus, star anise, cinnamon and vanilla. Citrus fruit peelings (such as orange peel) and rose petals are also added.
History of Tazo tea
The makers of Tazo tea claim that the original formulas for Tazo tea can be found inscribed on an ancient stone called the Tazo Stone. The Tazo Stone was uncovered in 1987 by the shores of the Red Sea. It is also claimed that several ancient civilizations used these original formulas for Tazo tea, including the Babylonians and the Greeks.
The name "Tazo" comes from the Romany word meaning "river of life".
The modern-day Tazo tea was created in 1994 by Steve Smith, a veteran of the tea industry. Steve Smith intended to create the most intriguing teas available in the modern world, based on specific blends and using only premium-quality teas.
Tazo tea was created through a mixture of historical recipes and traditions and Smith's own knowledge of teas and herbs. Tazo tea currently has over 80 different varieties.
In 1999, the Starbucks Company purchased Tazo tea.
Varieties of Tazo tea
There have been over 80 varieties of Tazo tea made over the history of the company, with approximately 40 varieties available in the current product line. These teas can be classified in three broad categories: black tea, green tea and herbal tea. There are also decaffeinated teas, made from the South African Rooibos tea.
Black tea mixtures are made from such teas as Assam tea. Green tea mixtures are made from Japanese green tea and green tea from the Fujian Province in China.
The herbal tea mixtures are generally a mixture of various herbs without the tea. Some of the herbal tea is made using herbs alone, while others are also infused with rooibos tea. Other herbs used in the mixtures include lemongrass and licorice root. Some varieties of herbal tea are also infused with orange and apple juices.
