It’s time for a recap of my trip to Boulder, Colorado with Celestial Seasonings!
![Celestial Seasonings Sleepytime Bear_thumb[8]](file:///C:/Users/Julie/AppData/Local/Temp/WindowsLiveWriter1286139640/supfiles127DD2B4/Celestial Seasonings Sleepytime Bear[6].png "Celestial Seasonings Sleepytime Bear_thumb[8]")
I’m excited to share all of the fun with you today! And, at the end of this post, you will find a pretty stellar giveaway packed with items I picked out just for you guys (including some of my favorite teas, a super cute Anthropologie-esque mug, a tumbler, tea kettle, adorable potholder and more). Let’s get to it!
Visiting Celestial Seasonings
Thursday of last week was jam-packed with all things tea! Our morning kicked off with breakfast at the hotel before our group of bloggers hopped in a car and headed to Celestial Seasonings’ headquarters, located on Sleepytime Drive. How appropriate, right!?
Those of us from out of town got a kick out of the adorable prairie dogs that greeted us from the fields as we drove onto the property, but even their cute little faces couldn’t top the welcome we received from the Celestial Seasonings team.
All of the employees greeted us on the front lawn with signs and smiles. It made us feel very welcome and we made sure to thank everyone for their enthusiastic greeting! (Just FYI, Celestial Seasonings offers a free factory tour in Boulder every day of the week!)
Of course we all were especially excited to meet the Sleepytime Bear!
![Celestial Seasonings Bear_thumb[2]](file:///C:/Users/Julie/AppData/Local/Temp/WindowsLiveWriter1286139640/supfiles127DD2B4/Celestial Seasonings Bear[4].jpg "Celestial Seasonings Bear_thumb[2]")
The famous Sleepytime Bear has a cat named Chamomile and I did my best to convince him to get a dog, too, even though I’m pretty sure Sadie wouldn’t touch that bear with a ten-foot pole. She’s not exactly the bravest little creature.
After our warm welcome, it was time to warm our bellies with all the tea we could drink. I’m pretty sure I went to the bathroom every 30 minutes when I was there because I did not stop drinking tea. I loved trying so many new-to-me flavors, including Sweet Harvest Pumpkin (sweetened with a little stevia – so good!) and Cinnamon Apple Spice.
![Celestial Seasonings Tea Tour_thumb[6]](file:///C:/Users/Julie/AppData/Local/Temp/WindowsLiveWriter1286139640/supfiles127DD2B4/Celestial Seasonings Tea Tour[6].jpg "Celestial Seasonings Tea Tour_thumb[6]")
During the tasting, I truly did not try one tea I didn’t like, but there were two big standouts that quickly claimed the top prize in my eyes.
First place went to Bengal Spice herbal tea.
This fragrant tea tasted like the holidays in a cup and was incredibly flavorful thanks to cinnamon, ginger, cardamom and cloves. I was shocked to hear it wasn’t sweetened since it definitely has a sweet flavor. I also think it would be fabulous with a splash of almond milk. I made sure to buy two packs of this tea before we left.
Second place went to the Caramel Apple Dream herbal tea that included quintessential autumn flavors such as apple, cinnamon and maple. (I picked up a box of this one, too!)
Following the tea tasting, we were ushered into the main tour room where we learned more about the company’s beginnings and the direction they hope to go in the future. Founded in 1969 by Mo Siegel, Celestial Seasonings came to be when Mo and his friends decided to bring the blended herbal teas they made in the Colorado mountains to health food stores. The company continues Mo’s passion for herbal tea and many of the ingredients used in their teas come from the same farmers Celestial Seasonings has used for upwards of 30 years.
After learning a bit about the company, we were off to the next activity, but not before I quickly snagged a bottle of Celestial Seasonings kombucha.
![Celestial Seasonings Kombucha_thumb[1]](file:///C:/Users/Julie/AppData/Local/Temp/WindowsLiveWriter1286139640/supfiles127DD2B4/Celestial Seasonings Kombucha[3].jpg "Celestial Seasonings Kombucha_thumb[1]")
I drank a bottle of the super green tropical blend and thought it was great. I am rather picky when it comes to kombucha since I’ve tried my fair share of kombucha I have not enjoyed, so I was happy to love this one!
And then it was off to do some more tea tasting, only this time we learned a bit about the brewing process. I clearly had a lot to learn because I always leave my tea bags in my mug when I make myself a cup of tea which is a big no-no.
Here are a few single-cup brewing tips for the most popular kinds of tea:
- Green Tea: To brew a great cup of green tea, place one tea bag in your cup. Pour very hot (just at the brink of boiling) water over the tea bag. Cover and steep 3 minutes. Remove tea bag and add lemon and/or sweetener if desired.
- Chai Tea: Place one tea bag in your favorite mug. Fill with 3/4 cup boiling water. Steep for 4 to 6 minutes. For authentic chai taste, remove tea bag and fill mug with 1/4 cup hot milk or dairy substitute. Sweeten to taste with sugar or honey.
- Black Tea: Place one tea bag in your cup and pour boiling water over it, cover and steep 3 to 5 minutes, depending on desired strength. Remove tea bag. We recommend adding honey to sweeten.
- Herbal Tea: Place one tea bag in your favorite cup. Add boiling water and let steep 4 to 6 minutes. Sweeten if you desire – we recommend honey!
Another quick tip: Squeeze the tea bag before removing it from your cup. Why? Tea leaves can absorb up to seven times their weight in water and compressing the bag enhances color and flavor.
Following our tea tasting, we sat down to a lunch that included fresh salads, salmon and sweet treats before it was time to slip into our marshmallow suits and head off on the factory tour.
![Celestial Seasonings Tour_thumb[10]](file:///C:/Users/Julie/AppData/Local/Temp/WindowsLiveWriter1286139640/supfiles127DD2B4/Celestial Seasonings Tour[10].jpg "Celestial Seasonings Tour_thumb[10]")
![Celestial Seasonings Factory Tour_thumb[2]](file:///C:/Users/Julie/AppData/Local/Temp/WindowsLiveWriter1286139640/supfiles127DD2B4/Celestial Seasonings Factory Tour[6].jpg "Celestial Seasonings Factory Tour_thumb[2]")
During the tour, I chatted with our guide about the holiday teas which are some of my all-time favorites. (I’m looking at you Candy Cane Lane!) He told me that the inspiration behind their Nutcracker Sweet tea came from an 11-year-old girl on one of their factory tours. She was a ballerina and said they should make a holiday tea and call it “Nutcracker Sweet.” This eventually led to more favorites like Sugar Plum Spice.
![Celestial Seasonings Holiday Teas_thumb[1]](file:///C:/Users/Julie/AppData/Local/Temp/WindowsLiveWriter1286139640/supfiles127DD2B4/Celestial Seasonings Holiday Teas[3].jpg "Celestial Seasonings Holiday Teas_thumb[1]")
No trip to the Celestial Seasonings factory is complete without a visit to the Mint Room, so we made sure to spend some time in the incredibly aromatic space where all of the mint is stored before we were done.
![Celestial Seasonings Mint Room_thumb[1]](file:///C:/Users/Julie/AppData/Local/Temp/WindowsLiveWriter1286139640/supfiles127DD2B4/Celestial Seasonings Mint Room[3].jpg "Celestial Seasonings Mint Room_thumb[1]")
Our day at Celestial Seasonings concluded with a happy hour that included tea-infused cocktails.
My favorite was the Until Next Time cocktail made with vodka, chamomile simple syrup, lemon juice, egg whites and strawberry puree. It was fantastic!
![strawberry tea infused cocktail_thumb[1]](file:///C:/Users/Julie/AppData/Local/Temp/WindowsLiveWriter1286139640/supfiles127DD2B4/strawberry tea infused cocktail[3].jpg "strawberry tea infused cocktail_thumb[1]")
And now it’s giveaway time!
Before we said goodbye to our friends at Celestial Seasonings, we were each given a gift card to use in the Tea Shop toward a giveaway for our readers. I obviously wanted to include some of my favorite teas, but I also added a few extra things that I hope you love!
![Celestial Seasonings Giveaway_thumb[1]](file:///C:/Users/Julie/AppData/Local/Temp/WindowsLiveWriter1286139640/supfiles127DD2B4/Celestial Seasonings Giveaway[3].jpg "Celestial Seasonings Giveaway_thumb[1]")
This giveaway includes:
- Celestial Seasonings Holiday Tea Sampler Pack (Candy Cane Lane, Gingerbread Spice, Sweet Harvest Pumpkin, Nutcracker Sweet)
- Celestial Seasonings Bengal Spice Herbal Tea
- Celestial Seasonings Sleepytime Extra Tea
- Alba Botannica Hawaiian Body Cream
- Alba Cherry Lip Balm
- WoodWick Candle in Bakery Cupcake (This smells amazing!)
- Festive Mug
![Aroma Gourmet Electric Kettle_thumb[1]](https://i2.wp.com/pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/AromaGourmetElectricKettle_thumb11.jpg "Aroma Gourmet Electric Kettle_thumb[1]")
- Aroma Gourmet Electric Digital Kettle
- Celestial Seasonings Tumbler
- Celestial Seasonings Teas with Altitude t-shirt
- Cute Potholder with Embroidered Towel
To enter this giveaway, simply leave a comment below telling me about your favorite Celestial Seasonings tea or the kind of Celestial Seasonings tea you’d love to try!
I will randomly select a winner on Friday morning. Good luck!
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I would love to try the candy cane lane green tea!
I love this brand of tea! especially the bengal spice.
Sugar cookie sleigh ride! Thanks Julie!
I love the Bengal Spice too! I had some at a friend’s house and she told me that it’s almost always sold out at our local grocery store so I should buy a lot when I see it. I bought 3boxes when I finally found it on the shelf! Luckily it’s so good…
I can’t wait to try the Bengal Spice tea that you recommended!
I would love to try the Caramel Apple dream… Yum!!!!
My all time favorite is sleepy time, but I love buying their variety boxes to have at school. I’m a teacher & drink a cup of tea pretty much every morning before my students get to class.
Bengal Spice is my fave that’s available all year, but the holiday ones (sugar cookie! gingerbread!!) get bought in bulk and hoarded every year. Already on the hunt this season!
WHERE IS THAT SWEATER FROM? LOVE!!
I would love to try the Sweet Harvest Pumpkin!
I love their variety box of fruit tea you can buy especially the peach tea. Their sleepy time tea is one I want to try, I heard it’s pretty amazing!:)
I really want to try the Nutcracker Sweet Tea, especially after hearing about how it was named!
I LOVE the sugar cookie sleigh ride holiday tea!! 🙂 cookie addict.
This looks so fun! My favorite is the vanilla sleepy time tea…but now I’m excited to try the Bengal!
I would love to try Sugar Cookie and gingerbread for sure!
I would love to try the gingerbread spice blend!
Peach tea with honey was always my favorite. I am looking forward to trying them Pumpkin Spice!
Wait, pumpkin tea? I MUST try pumpkin tea!
I’d love to try to sweet harvest pumpkin tea. Sounds perfect for fall!
I LOVE the Gingerbread Spice! I always have to stock up around the holidays so it lasts through the rest of the year!
What a perfect tea-lover giveaway! Last year I discovered my favorite holiday tea-Sugar Cookie Sleigh Ride! Definitely will have to try the Bengal Spice
I am addicted to sleepytime tea! It’s great after a hard day’s work….I would love that Sweet Harvest Pumpkin tea I saw in the background of the candle picture — I have never seen that in my stores!!!
Bengal Spice is my “adult” favorite tea but as a little girl I loved when my Mom made us Sleeptime!! It brings back such great memories.
I love their sleepytime tea– now you have me dying to try their Bengal Spice!
My favorite tea is the sweet pumpkin tea!
I LOVE the sweet harvest pumpkin in the fall!!
I want to try the ones that taste like they’re sweetened when they’re not! I have such a sweet tooth and would love to not have to add sugar!
I love seasonal everything! The pumpkin and spiced teas sound amazing!
I am a huge fan of anything and everything gingerbread so I can’t wait to try the gingerbread spice! My mom and I wanted to tour the factory when we were on a college visit to Boulder a few years ago but unfortunately it was closed the day we tried to go! It’s on my list for next time we find ourselves out there again!
I would love to try the Bengal Spice now that you say you loved it. I would probably never pick it up in the store but now I will try it!
I’ve LOVE to try all the festive flavors, including the Harvest Pumpkin, Gingerbread, & Nutcracker-inspired flavors. Man, do I love tea!
I would love to try the Holiday Sample Pack all of those flavors sound amazing.
I am a big fan of Sleepytime but the Sweet Harvest Pumpkin sounds fantastic!
Decaf Mint Green tea!! What an amazing giveaway!
I was raised on sleepy time tea and still have it almost every night before bed!! I always love anything mint or cinnamon flavored as well!
This seems like such a neat tour! I love anything with pumpkin because it means it’s officially fall, so I would love to try the harvest pumpkin tea!!
I’d love to try one to help me relax before going to bed.
I love that pumpkin tea! I’d forgotten about it, but I’m going to need to pick some up at the grocery store this week!
I look forward to mt first cup of sweet harvest pumpkin tea to kick off the fall season.
My all-time favourite Celestial tea is Cinnamon Apple Spice. Especially during this time of year….. I cannot get enough of it!!
However, I had NO IDEA how many amazing teas Celestial has!! This is a huge eye opener and makes me want to head out to buy some now! I would LOVE your giveaway to share with family & friends this upcoming holiday season (Thanksgiving)
Thanks Julie!!
I’d love to try the sleepytime one!
I love everything Chai! I love the sweet and spicy flavors!
I would love to try the Nutcracker Sweet. I am curious about the flavor and love that an 11 year old girl named it.
I love Sleepytime tea. I drink it almost daily. It just puts me at ease for bedtime
SUGAR COOKIE ALL THE WAY!!!
Will have to try Bengal though!
Candy Cane Lane is my favorite! But the Sweet Harvest Pumpkin sounds like one I need to find!
I have been looking for this pumpkin tea EVERYWHERE and have not been able to find it! I would love to try it!
I love the throat tamer tea–it’s good even when I’m not under the weather.
Is it opened worldwide?
I love the Bengal Spice tea!