What tea chain did Starbucks acquire in 2012?

Starbucks acquired the tea chain Teavana in 2012.

Starbucks agreed to buy Teavana for approximately $620 million in cash, and the acquisition formally closed on December 31, 2012. Teavana had been founded in Atlanta in 1997 and built its identity around loose-leaf teas, tea blends, accessories, and mall-based retail stores.

The purchase expanded Starbucks' position in the tea market and gave the company a recognizable tea brand beyond its existing Tazo business. Starbucks later began introducing Teavana teas in its own coffee shops and retail channels, including brewed and packaged products.

The acquisition is often confused with Starbucks' earlier purchase of Tazo, which occurred in 1999. Tazo was a separate tea brand and was later sold to Unilever in 2017. Starbucks eventually announced the closure of Teavana's retail stores, with the remaining locations closing by 2018, although selected Teavana products continued through other channels.