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If there was a ever a sure sign that tea is all the rage in the United States, it’s Starbuck’s latest incursion into an ever-expanding market of loose leaf teas. The coffee titan revolutionized that way people think about their daily cup of joe, and now it’s trying to do the same thing for tea! A new article from Forbes outlines Starbuck’s plans for taking a big gulp of the world’s $90 billion hot and iced tea market, including thousands of tea houses aimed at filling a cuppa near you.

Starbuck’s big move has been a long time brewing. They recently acquired Teavana, which has made its own sizeable mark on the beverage market with its speciality tea offerings. In fact, new Starbucks tea houses will carry the look and feel of the Teavana brand, eschewing the kinds of markers that identify Starbucks coffee shops.

It’s no wonder Starbucks is trying to get in on the party. As Forbes reports, “Data from the Tea Association USA says America’s interest in tea has grown by 16% over the past five years.” But are they a little late to the tea party?

The short answer is yes, but that doesn’t mean Starbucks can’t still have a big impact on tea’s overall popularity. Small specialty tea shops (like yours truly!) have been building a tea culture and responding to a demand from U.S. customers for years, cultivating a love for loose leaf tea and tapping into people’s passions for the perfect blend. More importantly, we’ve been creating communities, building tea houses as gathering places and building lifelong relationships. 

As a huge worldwide brand focused on mass production, Starbucks may lack a bit of a personal touch. But its ubiquity means that it’s able to reach a lot of people at once and turn them on to tea. 

Some industry insiders question Starbucks’ ability to get customers as excited about tea as they are about coffee. However, that might be underestimating tea’s appeal. For lifelong coffee drinkers, there is certainly an element of novelty in switching to tea. For customers who love to geek out on the history, origin, quality and culture of their favorite beverages, tea offers a new opportunity get steeped knowledge. 

What do you think about Starbucks’ move towards taking on the tea market? Do you think it will do more to help or hurt tea’s popularity? How do you think it might impact other specialty tea retailers? We’re curious to know what you think, so make sure to share your ideas in the comments section below!