Teavana IS SpecialTeas?!

I recently visited a newly opened Teavana in a mall near me and their per ounce prices about floored me. I found their prices were 3-4 times the prices that we charge at my store Culinary Teas and I know from my connections with them that we share many teas directly from the source. And their practice of making you sample teas that are actually a blend of two teas so that if you really like that tea you just tasted you will be forced to buy two bags of tea instead of just one is a horrible practice.

Help!! I was addicted to SpecialTea’s Gyokuro Asahina Extra Fine tea and now I can’t get it because TeaVana has taken over.

I have tried many Gyokuros from Japan, paying almost any price, but none have the non-vegetal rice-like finish that Special Teas version had, that I have found out I love.

Does anyone know about a different gyokuro finish that tastes rice-like? I know it’s not the Genmaicha mix tea because I have tried that and it’s too Genmaicha.

Thanks in advance for any thoughts.