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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My two favorites are sleepytime vanilla and wild berry zinger!
Ooh the caramel apple dream sounds fantastic. Autumn in a cup!
Oh my gosh! Gingerbread spice sounds amazing! I am also a huge fan of all things that taste like the holidays!
I love the Peppermint and bonus, it supposed to help with bloating.
Any type of tea that reminds me of Christmas, I love! I’m going have to try all of these you mentioned!
OMG! I’ve been/dragged my husband to the Celestial Seasonings Tea factory twice and have loved it each time. My favorite is always chamomile with a little lemon or natural honey. Yum!
I love their Honey Lemon Ginseng
I currently drink the Celestial Chamomile tea and love it. I’m intrigued by the Nutcracker Sweet though and so is my sweet tooth! Can’t wait to try it!
I love lemon zinger because it has both lemon and berry favors! It’s great after lunch. I would love to try the cinnamon apple and pumpkin flavors. I absolutely love tea. Good luck everyone!
I love their country peach tea & their chai tea! Now I need to try candy cane lane!
I love the chamomile ones. I want to try different ones.
Love love the new peach sleepy time
I took that tour a few years ago and still remember that awesome mint room! I also bought their chapsticks, which included a sleepytime scent – YUM!
LOVE celestial! The Bengal spice sounds amazing!
I love sleepy time but I am intrigued by the holiday-inspired flavors! Yum!
I am also mostly in the Sleepytime Tea club, but I may have to try some other brews despite my tendency to drink the same ol’ things! But that decaf jasmine? Soooo yummy or before bed!
ALSO I never thought of adding this factory tour to my list of sights to see in Boulder, but you can bet I am now!
I would love to try the Bengal Spice!
We could use some of the Sleepytime tea in this house. I love Boulder too!
Always Sleepytime!
My favorite Celestial Seasonings tea has always been Lemon Zinger! But, I would love to try all of the fun holiday flavors.
Glad you enjoyed Boulder – I went to CU and miss it lots 🙂
Sugar cookie is my favorite, usually tough to find though!! I’m interested in trying the Bengal spice one now, I’ve always passed it by for some reason but it sounds like flavors I love.
I would love to try their gingerbread spice!
I love all Celestial Seasons teas, but my absolutely favorite is Candy Cane Lane!!!
i would love to try the sweet harvest pumpkin or candy cane teas!! i haven’t been able to find them near me since my move!
I would love to try any of the holiday teas! I usually go for green tea but those sound amazing!
The Bengal Spice is a tea that I would like to
try. I love most anything with cinnamon and the addition of all the other spices sounds yummy.
I love all teas! Sleepy time and peppermint are my favorites!
Oh my goodness! I am obsessed with tea and try to collect it (or at least try new teas) during my travels! I absolutely love Sleepytime tea. I’ve been drinking it since I was a little girl. And the caramel apple flavor is intriguing to me. Did it taste like cider?
Ps Your sweater is so cute!
I LOVE sugar cookie sleigh ride, but I’m dying to try the bengal spice tea.
The Bengal spice is my favorite! I would love to try the candy cane lane, though!
I drink a cup of their peppermint tea every night after dinner. I love when the holidays roll around and candy cane lane returns!!
Would love to try the Bengal Spice – sounds amazing 🙂
I would love to try the Nutcracker Sweet because the story behind it is too sweet!!
I love all of the Celestial Seasons teas, especially the fruity ones. My company has a huge selection in the lunch room so I switch it up everyday!
Oh my- I would love to try their caramel apple dream!!
That Sleepytime Extra is noooo joke. I”ve tried a bunch of their teas but I love the Sleepytime and Chai!
Cinnamon Apple Spice and Chai Tea are my favorites of theirs! The Bengel one sounds delish. I may need to add that to my shopping list!
The Sweet Harvest Pumpkin and Cinnamon Apple Spice both sound amazing!
I love Celestial Seasoning teas and always have a few flavors at home. I have at least one cup of Honey Vanilla Chamomile or Sleepytime each night – it’s so comforting after a long day!
Sounds like an awesome trip!
I love the Sugar Cookie Sleigh Ride!
Any of the holiday ones…would be good!!
My favorite Celestial Seasoning tea is Sleepy Time! I have loved it since I was a kid. 🙂
The seasonal egg nog is my favorite!
I would like to try the Candy Cane Lane flavor. Can it be Christmas already?
I’m also a big fan of Bengal Spice!
I love the Wild Berry Zinger 🙂
LOVE sweet harvest pumpkin!!! YUM!!!
I am a huge fan of celestial teas. I’m actually from Colorado and live about an hour or so away from the factory, although I’ve never been :/ I would LOVE to try the Pumpkin Harvest and the Caramel Apple Dream!
I love ginger teas, but I’d love to try that sleepy time tea! I bet it would help calm down my 2nd wind at 9pm!
I’ll have to try the bengal spice, it sounds delicious!
My favorite is Cinnamon Apple Spice but I love many of them! I choose tea before coffee any day!