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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Bengal spice all the way! Although I do love the candy cane lane during the holidays…and the nutcracker sweet…they’re all so good!
Sleepytime is my all time favorite!
I’ve been a HUGE sleepy time tea fan for as long as I can remember! I always have a box on hand. I’d love to try the nutcracker sweet tea! Love the story of the young ballerina providing the name/inspiration for the tea. So sweet.
I love all their holiday teas, especially Sugar Cookie Sleigh Ride. I’m still hoarding half a box from last winter!
I have been wanting to try the Sweet Harvest Pumpkin. What a great giveaway!
My favorite tea is the SleepyTime as it always reminds me of my childhood days when my mom would make a big travel mug of hot tea to drink while taking us to school; then when she picked us up we got to have the leftover cold tea that was delicious!! You have me convinced to try the Bengal Spice so I hope I win!! Thanks Julie!
I love celestial seasonings!!! That brand reminds me of college. I used to never drink tea except at the computer lab where I tutored math since it was the only thing they had and before bed. Sleepytime tea was the only thing that would help me sleep after I drank way too much coffee to stay awake and study!
I love tea so much 🙂 this is the perfect giveaway. I have been on the hunt for a pumpkin tea to try so would love to try the Celestial Seasonings one. And also Bengal Spice, I love spicy teas
I would love to try and of the holiday flavors, especially the Christmas ones!
I’m loving vanilla chai lately!
The caramel apple dream sounds like exactly that – a dream. I would love to test that one out, especially since it’s been so chilly here in WI. I’m glad you enjoyed your trip!
Candy Cane Lane is my favorite!!!! I love Celestial Seasonings. My favorite part of the tour is the mint room. It smells so amazing and refreshing in there!
Sleepytime as been my favorite since I was a kid! It is so comforting. Such a classic!
I would love to try the Sleepy time Extra and the new Holiday flavors. Have a lot of tea drinkers in my family. This would make a wonderful gift for the tea drinkers!
I love the Celestial Seasoning Green tea but I also love the Christmas blends and Bengal Spice in the fall and winter. They not only taste great but smell wonderful too!
Apple Spice Cider is my favorite!
What fun! Like so many others, Candy Cane Lane is my favorite, hands-down! So looking forward to seeing it on the shelves again. I, too, am guilty of leaving the bag bobbing around in my mug! Oopsies!
Their sugar cookie tea is my FAVE around the holidays….it almost helps me to stop eating that 3rd or 4th sugar cookie haha! I’d love to try the pumpkin though, sounds delicious.
P.s. love your grey sweater!
Vanilla Chai Yummy!
Would LOVE to try pumpkin spice! Always love seasonal flavours. Definitely going through a tea phase at the moment. I switch it up between tea and coffee.
Some CANDY CANE LANE would make my week!
Candy cane lane!!!
I would love to try the sweet pumpkin one! Yum!
I love have some Sleepytime tea right before bed. It is a really soothing habit that I enjoy 🙂
Anything with cinnamon in it! Thanks for sharing the tea love!
I’d love to try the Pumpkin Spice or Sugar Cookie Sleigh Ride!
I’m curious about the Bengal Spice! I love the sugar cookie tea, but like to mix it up. thanks for the advice on steeping tea, I also tend to leave mind in and it gets way too bitter!
The Apple Cinnamon tea is my favorite!
caramel apple dream is my go to tea, when I want to get that fall feeling going! like now 🙂
Wellnes tea would be a great choice at the end of the day !
I love to try new teas, but my favorites are sleepytime and sugar cookie sleigh ride. I am really interested in trying candy cane lane, yum!
I like their black teas and chamomile if I need to cut back on caffeine.
I love the sleepy time tea though the sugar cookie tea is a nice sweet treat too!
I’ve never been a big tea drinker until I tried the Chai tea at Starbucks, so I’d love to try some of the other flavored teas that don’t have quite so strong of a “tea” flavor, like the gingerbread!
Would love to try their sweet harvest pumpkin!
The honey camomile tea is my favorite!
I’d love to try the sleepytime wellness tea!
I would love to try that Bengal spice! It sounds delicious!
The Bengal Herbal Tea sounds heavenly! I am going to be on the lookout for that!
I would love to try the sweet harvest pumpkin!!
Year round I love Tension tamer and I always stock up on the Candy Cane Lane Green tea around the holidays. Yum!
I love Country Peach Passion with a passion!
I love Bengal Spice!
I’m always so boring with my tea choices! I almost always go green, but I want to be more adventurous. I must say, Bengal Spice sounds very intriguing…
I LOVE their Zingers, the caffeine-free teas! They are amazing iced. I also love chai – LOVE!
Currently my favorite is “Sweet Harvest Pumpkin”! I even have a box in my desk at work – it’s a delicious, seasonal afternoon pick-me-up!
Peach will forever be one of my favorites!
I’d like to try the honey chamomile
I’d love to try Sweet Harvest Pumpkin!