Tazo tea was founded in 1994 by Steve Smith. Steve absolutely sold the company to Starbucks in 1999, and today you can not walk into a Starbucks now or even many convenience stores without noticing Tazo tea. You can buy Tazo tea in a variety of different flavors. All of which will fall under one of the following four categories: black, green, oolong, or white. All of them come from the tea plant, Camellia sinesis. They differ in the way the leaves were processed. Each variety contains caffeine without it specifically states that it does not, however you can reduce the amount of caffeine in your regular tea: Simply pour boiling water over your tea and infuse it for 45 seconds then pour off the water and brew it for a second time. Tazo has an array of decaffeinated teas including the following flavors: Brambleberry, Lemon Ginger, Simply Red, and Wild Orange.

Tazo products are certifiably kosher by the Kosher Supervision of America. You can find the KSA symbol of certification on any Tazo packaging. Tazo products are also gluten free minus the following varieties: Green Ginger, Tazo, Honeybush, Lemon Ginger and Tea Lemonade. Tazo has recently become a member of the Ethical Tea Partnership (ETP). The ETP is an alliance of tea packers who are working together to improve the sustainability of the tea sector. ETP aims to improve the lives of tea workers and ensure that tea drinkers can be confident that the tea in their cup has been produced in an environmentally and socially sustainable way.

Tazo is based in Portland, OR. Each year they give out grants to local groups selected by Tazo employees. Tazo also offers in-kind pledges to non-profits that meet certain tax requirements. They focus on giving to organizations that support AIDS outreach, education, arts and literature, the environment, diversity and children's issues.