Starbucks acquired Teavana to bring the Teavana tea brand into its portfolio.
Starbucks announced the acquisition of Teavana in 2012 and completed the transaction soon afterward. Teavana was known for loose-leaf teas, tea blends, accessories, and mall-based retail stores. The deal strengthened Starbucks’ position in the tea category and complemented its existing coffee business.
Starbucks had already acquired Tazo, another tea brand, in 1999. That earlier purchase is the main source of confusion between the two names. Teavana and Tazo were separate brands acquired at different times.
Starbucks later closed Teavana’s standalone mall stores while continuing to use the brand in packaged products and selected beverages. Thus, the acquisition answer is Teavana even though the brand’s retail-store presence later changed.