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Tazo vs. Stash: The Supermarket Tea Battle

Flavor vs. Nature

Tazo is famous for "Bold" blends, often using "Natural Flavors" to achieve that intense, Starbucks-style punch. Stash tends to lean more traditional, relying slightly more on the ingredients themselves, though they also use flavorings. If you want pure tea, check the ingredients list on both.

It is the battle of the bold grocery store brands. In one corner, we have Tazo, the brand originally popularized by Starbucks, known for its sleek design and punchy, intense flavor profiles like 'Zen' and 'Passion'.

In the other corner is Stash, a legacy brand from Oregon that offers a dizzying array of varieties and prides itself on being a B-Corp certified company. Which affordable box deserves a spot in your pantry? We brewed them head-to-head to find the winners.

Boxes of Tazo Zen and Stash Earl Grey tea side by side.
Best Earl Grey
Stash Double Bergamot Earl Grey Tea Box

1. Stash Double Bergamot Earl Grey

★★★★★ (Citrus Bomb)

If you love Earl Grey, Tazo's version can feel a bit weak. Stash takes the crown here with their "Double Bergamot." It lives up to the name, delivering a massive hit of citrus oil that cuts through milk effortlessly. It is bold, aromatic, and unapologetic. The tea base is decent, but the bergamot is the star.

Pros:
  • Intense Bergamot flavor
  • Great with milk
  • B-Corp certified brand
Cons:
  • Can be soapy if over-brewed
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Best Green Blend
Tazo Zen Green Tea Box

2. Tazo Zen Green Tea

★★★★★ (The Cult Classic)

Stash makes good green tea, but Tazo Zen is legendary. It is a masterclass in blending, combining pan-fired green tea with lemongrass and spearmint. It is remarkably smooth, refreshing, and lacks the bitterness of cheap green tea. It's the perfect entry point for people who think they don't like green tea.

Pros:
  • Perfect Spearmint/Lemongrass balance
  • Very forgiving brew (hard to make bitter)
  • Great iced or hot
Cons:
  • Not a "pure" green tea experience
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Best Chai (Bags)
Tazo Classic Chai Tea Box

3. Tazo Classic Chai

★★★★☆ (The Latte King)

Tazo was once owned by Starbucks, and their Chai recipe reflects that heritage. It is designed to punch through a lot of milk and sugar. It has a sharp, peppery ginger kick and strong cinnamon notes. Stash's Chai is a bit mellower and more clove-forward. If you want a DIY latte, Tazo is the stronger choice.

Pros:
  • Strong, spicy profile
  • Holds up to milk/sugar well
  • Distinct black pepper kick
Cons:
  • Can taste slightly artificial compared to loose leaf
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Best Pure Herbal
Stash Peppermint Herbal Tea Box

4. Stash Peppermint

★★★★★ (Minty Fresh)

When it comes to single-ingredient herbals, Stash often wins on sourcing. Their Peppermint is sourced from the Pacific Northwest (USA), considered the world's best region for mint. It is intensely mentholated, clearing the sinuses and cooling the throat. Tazo's 'Refresh' mint blend is good, but Stash feels purer.

Pros:
  • Pacific Northwest sourced mint
  • Very strong menthol kick
  • Excellent for digestion
Cons:
  • Simple flavor (just mint)
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Best Sweet Herbal
Tazo Passion Herbal Tea Box

5. Tazo Passion

★★★★☆ (The Iced Tea MVP)

This is arguably the most famous herbal tea in America. 'Passion' is a tart, vibrant red blend of hibiscus, orange peel, rose hips, and passion fruit flavor. It is shockingly sour on its own (in a good way) but becomes a tropical treat with a little sweetener. It makes an incredible iced tea.

Pros:
  • Unique tropical flavor profile
  • Beautiful red color
  • Amazing as iced tea
Cons:
  • Very tart/sour without sugar
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