Starbucks is at it again.

After recent promotions for its Gold and (Starbucks)Red cards, and free coffee on Election Day for those who voted (and, after several state Attorneys General started making noise about election laws, even for those who didn’t vote), the company is making a push today (just two hours from now, at least here in NYC!) for its line of Tazo teas:

Tuesday, January 13 @ 2:00 is tea time at Starbucks.  All company-operated stores will be sampling the new Tazo® Tea Lattes and Tea Infusions along with some tasty food.

Most of the people I know already have the nearest Starbucks location imprinted on their brain stems — so this isn’t really a play for increased foot traffic. Nor does it seem like a community-building maneuver, like the CEO Road Trip the chain is currently rolling out.

But it’s a chance to stop by and perhaps sample a new drink, maybe shake up your routine a bit.

Take Lauren, for example. She only just made this recent announcement:

I think I’ve got my signature @Starbucks order down: Double tall single shot skinny vanilla non-fat latte. Try to say that 3x.

I think “tea” may be much easier to remember — and it’s amazing how simple and satisfying hot water and a tea bag can be (I’m partial to Earl Grey and the pyramidal PG Tips (I want one of those monkeys!) — but I remember when I used to be able to walk into a corner deli and order “coffee — milk and sugar.”

Those days are long gone, I know — but I shudder at the thought of Starbucks twisting my simple tea fixation into something so complicated and….well, branded.

j.