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 love bengal spice as well! So good!
I’d love to try the caramel apple dream! Sounds so tasty and great for fall!
I’ve recently become a big fan of the sleepytime tea.
Often its difficult for me to wind down after a day of work and this has really helped me do so!
I lovelemon lift to wake up in the morning
Their pomegranate green tea is my FAVORITE!
This is probably my favorite giveaway you’ve done! I would love to try the Bengal Spice- just in time for the fall weather!
Sweet Harvest Pumpkin sounds super yummy!
I am allllll for peppermint tea. It’s so soothing and comforting!
I drink the sleepy time tea ever night, love it!! I really want to try the candy cane lane, sounds delicious 🙂
The sweet pumpkin harvest sounds delicious! Perfect for fall 🙂
I am a tea lover! I have a distaste for coffee, so anything regarding tea I’m all about! I would LOVE to go to the celestial factory like you, and appreciate living it through you! I’ve noticed I go through phases with tea. And recently I’ve been on a green tea kick (straight, no sweeteners added). At the same time I am kind of naive about All of the teas out there, so in response to what I’d like to try, I’d try it all!!
Mmm, I would love to try Candy Cane Lane! 🙂
this sounds like such a fun trip! i’d love to go to a tea tasting!! my fav celestial tea at the moment is the jammin’ lemon ginger, though i’m now anxious to try some new blends since reading your blog. i didn’t realize there were so many and that they offered kombucha. really need to try that. thanks for the opportunity to enter the drawing.
fingers crossed!
cindy 🙂
http://www.yogawellnesscafe.com
I don’t think I’ve ever seen the Holiday teas! I’d love to try all of them!!
I love Celestial Seasonings tea! I have a huge stack of their tea boxes in my pantry. I’ve been drinking the Sleepytime tea for years, but with the holidays coming up I would love to try the Bengal Spice.
I’m a big fan of the sleepytime but i would really like to try the sweet pumpkin. sounds great!
I love peppermint teas so can’t wait to try Candy Cane Lane! I also like pumpkin spice!
Cant wait to try Sweet Harvest Pumpkin!
Dying to try the Sleepytime tea! I’m curious about the valyrian root.
OMG, I love Celestial Seasonings! I need to research going on a CS tour. That looks like so much fun!
I love the Indian Spice tea! It’s such a great flavor.
I know i’m not alone when I say that my absolute favorite is candy cane lane!
I’d love to try all the holiday teas, but especially the sweet harvest pumpkin. Sounds delicious!!
Their peppermint herb tea is my go to! LOVE it!
what a great giveaway! so excited to try those holiday teas
I love the peppermint tea!
I ever knew so many different kinds of tea existed. I usually prefer minty teas, but the Bengal Spice sound great!
Ooh I would like to try the Pumpkin tea! I’ve not seen that in stores in my town!
Bengal spice by far but now I really want to try the pumpkin one. Sounds amazing for fall!
love sleepytime tea. It works like a charm everytime!!
I love the seasonal teas… especially candy cane lane!
I’m a huge, huge fan of Sleepytime tea. In the winter, I have a mug every night before bed.
I’d love to try the Bengal Spice, though. That sounds tasty.
Sweet Harvest Pumpkin sounds like fall in a cup! I would love to try that flavor!
I love the sleepy time tea the best : )
I too love the Bengal Spice tea. One of my favorites. Right now I am taking the opertunities to absorb all things pumpkin so I would love to try the pumpkin tea!
Candy Cane Lane sounds amazing! I love all of the fall flavors!!
I would love to try any of the holiday flavors or the caramel apple flavor you mentioned! They all sound great. This seems like such a cool trip.
Vanilla Sleepytime is my favorite tea of all time!
I love Celestial Seasonings peach tea! It is seriously awesome! 🙂
Sleepy time vanilla!
I would love to try the Harvest Pumpkin flavor!!
I’d love to try to the pumpkin tea – picking some up this weekend!
Sleepytime vanilla is my favorite, but I’d love to try the pumpkin tea!!
I’m with you – Candy Cane Lane is delicious…any variety of mint tea is always my favorite!
Oh my, these holidays teas sound amazing! I really want to try the Bengal tea, as the flavors sound similar to a tea I brought home from my study abroad trip in Spain (which I’ve since run out of!)
Thanks for the giveaway!!:)
I love the Sweet Harvest Pumpkin flavor! I would also like to try Gingerbread Spice. Holiday teas are my favorite!
What a fun post! I’m loving the Honey Lemon Ginseng Green Tea lately 🙂 It’s the perfect start to a chilly fall morning (also I ran out of K-cups so I thought I’d try something new!) And I think Bengal Spice sounds right up my alley!
I love Candy Cane Lane and Sleepytime Vanilla!
I would love the peppermint tea and the holiday Candy Cane flavor sounds wonderful. Sleepy time vanilla would be great too! Love that you got to meet the Sleepy Time bear and sounds like an awesome tour.
I LOVE Candy Cane Lane, but am dying to try the Sweet Harvest Pumpkin! I haven’t seen it in my stores so far! Looks like quite the fun trip 🙂 I will remember that if we ever take a trip to the Denver/Boulder area!