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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Whenever I buy tea it’s always Celestial. I would love to try the Candy Cane Tea or the Apple Spice.
Love sleepy time but want to try the pumpkin!
Ahh this is the perfect giveaway for me! I am a tea lover & am a big fan of their sleepytime tea! I am looking forward to trying the harvest pumpkin! Fingers crossed I win!
I would love to try the Bengal Spice tea. I love all things that smell or taste like the holidays, so the holidays in a cup sounds great!
I absolutely adore Nutcracker Sweet. I love it even more now knowing the back story!
Sugar cookie sleigh ride remains my favorite! I hoarded boxes of it last year to prepare myself for and all tea related emergencies 😀
My tea preference changes with the seasons. But I’d love to try the pumpkin, yum!!
I love the sleepy time tea and their green tea in the morning. I can not wait to start drinking the festive ones like the harvest pumpkin and candy cane lane. I am definitely a tea fanatic!
my love is tied between Apple Cinnamon and Bengal Spice.
OOH Love Celestial Seasonings! My favorite is the Chocolate Caramel Enchantment Chai…sooo good!
Oohhh this is such an awesome giveaway! My favorite Celestial Seasonings tea is definitely the India Spice Chai and my fiance loooves all of the herbal teas, especially cranberry apple zinger. I’d love to try that bengal spice!
I love Celestial Seasonings’ Lemon Zinger tea!
I love Candy Cane lane, but really want to try Bengal spice, pumpkin and sleigh ride!
I always thought I was more of a coffee drinker, but since I’ve spent a winter in New Zealand, where they don’t have central heating, tea has become my best friend! The Bengal Spice that you’re raving about sounds incredible 🙂
Love the citrus flavors 🙂
I am a big coffee drinker, but really enjoy a hot cup of tea before bedtime in the fall and winter. I love the Sleepytime, but am intrigued by some of these other flavors especially the Bengal Spice!
Their blueberry tea is my favorite!
I LOVE Sleepytime! I have been drinking it forever!
I love Sleepytime. I love all things pumpkin, so need to try that one next. What a great giveaway!
Wow! What you put together is amazing! I will be trying the Bengal Spice the next time I go to the grocery! And the pumpkin! Thanks for the ideas!
I really want to try the Bengal Spice or Harvest Pumpkin! Like you, I am a huge fan of the seasonal ones! 🙂
I, like you, am all about the holiday flavors! Peppermint? Absolutely! Pumpkin? Right here, please! 😛
My absolute favorite Celestial Seasonings tea is Sleepy Time. I love it so much. Just the scent soothes me. 🙂 I’ll forever be loyal to it!
sleepytime
Bengal Spice is my favorite–I like it with a good amount of milk which makes it such a delicious treat! I am curious to try the pumpkin tea. Honestly, I love most flavors of tea since I grew up drinking it with my grandmother and every cup reminds me of her! 🙂
Candy Cane Lane is my favorite year round! I’m intrigued by the pumpkin tea and would love to try it!
I would love to try the Bengal Spice!
I’ve always loved Nutcracker Sweet but now I want to try the Bengal Spice after hearing your review!
Bengal spice sounds amazing and I learned something new regarding the no-no of leaving bags in the cup!
I just went on the Celestial Seasonings tour yesterday and it was fantastic! I love their Sleepytime tea.
Bengal Spice!! Hands down!! Soooo good!
I always make sure to grab a few boxes of Candy Cane Lane during the holiday season, but I would love to try the pumpkin tea!
I love Sugar Plum Spice–it always puts me in the holiday spirit! 🙂
I am such a cornball when it comes to holiday things–I would love to try all the holiday teas! I love anything with some holiday spice. 🙂
I always keep a box of sugar plum spice in my desk at work =]
I love waking up to the authentic green tea! And some apple cinnamon and peppermint is always needed this time of year 🙂
I LOVE SLEEPY TIME TEA!!!! Just got my husband to get on board with a nightly mug of it too!
What a fantastic giveaway! I have to say my favorite celestial seasonings tea right now is the sweet pumpkin! I have been having at least one cup a day, it is safe to say I am just a tad addicted to it! I also love the sugar cookie one they have for the winter months! Obviously I am just a huge tea person 🙂
Mmm need to try that Bengal Spice!!!
Bring on the Candy Cane Lane, yummy!!!!
I’d love to try the Gingerbread Spice tea! It sounds amaaaazing! 🙂
I love tea this time of year! I would love the peppermint for more winter and drink sweet harvest pumpkin now:)
Would love to find a Tea that can replace my morning coffee (it’s starting to do a number on my tummy). Hope I win!!
Your hair looks great! I would LOVE to try the pumpkin flavor. I often buy the green tea, but need to branch out to more. Pick me! 🙂
I’ve been dying to try sleepytime tea of any sort!! That’s definitely what I would try first!!
My favorite is candy cane lane, but i seem to only find it around Christmas. This should be a year round flavor!
I love chai teas. I’m trying to become a green tea drinker too.
Tea sounds amazing right now, especially since I have this darn sore throat that won’t seem to go away! I really like the sleepytime tea. I would love to try the candy lane or gingerbread spice!
I would love to try the Bengal Spice!! Sounds yummmmmmyy!!
I have been loving the Sleepytime tea lately! I swear I wake up more refreshed and rested the next day! I’m also glad to learn that they give free tours. The next time we take a trip to Colorado, I’d love to go check it out!