Starbucks To Open Tazo Tea Store

Starbucks is seriously stepping up their game; in addition to their Evolution Fresh juice store, their purchase of La Boulange Bakery, and every other thing they're in the news for, the coffee chain is now launching a tea store.

Reuters reports that Starbucks will open a Tazo tea store in Seattle, strictly devoted to their line of tea. The store could open as early as this fall.

According to Reuters, "The Tazo store will sell more than 80 varieties of loose-leaf tea and other tea products. It will also offer brewing equipment, pastries, packaged chocolates, infused sugars, and honey."

The Seattle Times also says that the store will have a "blending station," where customers can create their own tea blends. Rumor has it that the store will be placed in University Village, and will be separately branded, sans Starbucks' green goddess.

Starbucks bought the Tazo brand back in 1999 for $8.1 million. Now, the company says, the tea brand is worth some $1.4 billion.

Jessica Chou is an associate editor at The Daily Meal. Follow her on Twitter @jesschou.