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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Sleepytime Tea is one of my favorites. So calming!
Pumpkin Spice and Chai..mixed together, yum!
I love the candy cane lane holiday tea! And also – Sleepytime Vanilla. 🙂
In the winter every evening – either the gingerbread tea or a sample from the flavored fruit package. Would love to try to the Bengal spice
I would love to try Cranberry Apple Zinger tea! I am nor well acquainted with teas and so far enjoy fruity ones!
I love the pomegranate green tea and am dying to try the pumpkin spice tea. I’m obsessed with everything pumpkin!
I would LOVE to try the peppermint tea! Anything minty is right up my alley.
Chamomile is my fave, just because I grew up drinking it. But I really want to try some of the holiday teas you mentioned!
I really enjoy seasonal or holiday flavors, so the Nutcracker Sweet really grabbed my attention!!
I love their peppermint teas like Candy Cane Lane! They’re my go-to when I have a sore throat too.
Candy Cane Lane! I love a good minty tea (though caramel apple also sounds delicious)
The Bengal Spice tea sounds perfect for cozying up to in the Fall and Winter!
I love the Sweet Harvest Pumpkin and the one that taste like sugar cookies!
I love Candy Cane Lane! It reminds me of Christmas! 🙂
I love the Sleepytime tea, I work 12 hour day shifts so I look forward to my relaxing cup of tea at the end of the day!
I have their Peppermint tea almost every afternoon. Such a good stress reliever. During the holidays, I stock up on the Candy Cane Lane.
I LOVE everything spicy (my all-time favorite is Chai tea)! So when you mention Bengal Spice and Sweet Pumpkin Harvest they’re right up my alley 😀 I would love to try them all before I pick any new favorites but I definitely think Bengal Spice will be the winner.
I love their sleepytime tea and also the holiday tea flavors! I haven’t tried the pumpkin tea yet-it sounds amazing!
I would love to try the Bengal Spice! I’m always looking for a caffeine free tea that doesn’t need to be sweetened.
Pumpkin everything right now!!! However, I have never had pumpkin tea before. Would go crazy for the Sweet Harvest Pumpkin and would love to try it!
Honey vanilla chamomile is amazing
I am about as big as a tea fan as one can be! I drink it instead of coffee most of the time. I have a cup of Sleepytime every night.
I’m pretty boring and like sleepy time tea the most. I would be interested in trying the candy cane and pumpkin harvest!
The Nutcracker Sweet is my absolute favorite tea of any brand! I always stock up during the holidays. Now that I have to be up for work by 3 a.m., I’m a big fan of the sleepytime tea!
I would never think to pick up a Bengal spice!! Craving to try.
I definitely want to try the Caramel Apple Dream, although I honestly love every type of tea.
Where are those boots from and the top? love them
The top is Forever 21 and as for the boots — I actually got them years ago online from a brand called Miss Me (only $30!), but I think they actually stopped making all shoes/boots since then, which is a bummer because I love them! Wish I could be of more help!
Cinnamon Apple Spice, Country Peach Passion, & THE FRUIT TEA SAMPLER (Raspberry Zinger is my fav in the pack)! I would love to try any of the holiday teas! 🙂
The Caramel Apple Dream tea sounds delicious and so season appropriate!
Candy Cane Lane is my go to. I buy a ton at Christmas time & drink it all year round. It’s usually stuffed in my stocking for Christmas too since my parents know I can’t get enough!
the pumpkin sounds cool
I look forward to candy cane lane all year. I stock up!
That Bengal spice sounds AWESOME!
This trip seemed so fun!! Something so different. My absolute favorite Celestial Tea is the Lemon Zinger! Its so refreshing and has a great lemon taste without having to add anything extra to it. I just started to get in to teas and trying different ones as I have always been a coffee girl. Granted I am still a coffee addict, tea is perfect for an afternoon pick me up! What I would love to try most is the pumpkin spice tea. I also just started to get in to pumpkin flavored things and I think the tea would be a subtle taste without going overboard on the flavor. 🙂
I would love love LOVE to try the Caramel Apple Dream tea you mentioned. It sounds festive & amazing. I’m a big coffee drinker but have been thinking about switching to tea so this would be so great. Looks like you had a blast!
I can’t sleep without chamomile tea
Peppermint is my favorite Celestial Seasonings Tea its such a nice afternoon pick me up on a cold day. 🙂
I love Celestial Seasonings! I actually have a box of their Natural Detox in my desk at work. I’d really like to try their Nutcracker Sweet. I always see at the holidays, but I forget to actually get a box and try it!
I love their Sleepytime tea! It’s my favorite thing to drink before bedtime on a cold winter’s night.
I love Celestial Seasonings tea! My favorite for fall has to be Gingerbread Spice but I’ve been DYING to try the Sweet Harvest Pumpkin but I can’t seem to find it here in Québec! This giveaway is simply awesome!!!
Love Nutcracker sweet!!! After this post, can’t wait to try Bengal Spice!:))
I would love to try the Bengal Spice tea! Sounds delicious!!!
I love the candy cane lane but have been eyeing the sugar cookie sleigh ride for years because I can’t find it anywhere.
I would love Bengal Spice tea 😉
i love the Bengal Spice! Perfect for winter
I am so excited about this giveaway! I drink chamomile tea regularly but would love to try the Bengal Spice tea.
I’m a big fan of Nutcracker Spice but I’d love to try the pumpkin flavor! I drink different kinds of tea all day, every day!
My favorite for years has been Bengal Spice! So delicious!
I love the Sleepy Time tea — while I have caffeinated choices for the morning, Sleepy Time is the perfect pre-bedtime treat.
I absolutely love their Sleepytime Vanilla tea – perfect for curling up with a good book before bed!