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://www.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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While, I would really to try the martini you had, I would also love to try the Bengal Spice. I am not a coffee drinker and love to try new teas. I try to avoid anything with aspartame and added sugar, so the fact the is tastes sweet, but is unsweetned is a plus.
My favorite tea is their JAMMIN lemon ginger! I also love all festive flavors.
Celestial Seasonings is my FAVORITE! I have yet to try a tea I didn’t like 🙂
I love their pumpkin spice! So yummy.
Sleepy time tea is my all time favorite hands down- there’s something about that little bear on the box that makes you want to snuggle up and zzzzz
I have always been a fan of herbal teas and I really love Sleepy Time (I mean who doesn’t). I would love to try the Cinnamon Apple flavor, this time of year I love all things apple!
I love the Country Peach Passion Herbal Tea, and would love to try one of the Wellness tea to incorporate when I feeling sick.
I am dying to try that Caramel Apple Dream herbal tea! Sounds amazing. Chai tea has always been my go-to, ESPECIALLY around the holidays. It’s like Christmas in a cup!
I’d love to try the harvest pumpkin and candy cane flavors!
Sugar cookie! Yum
I bought the gingerbread spice last year! Loved it during my holiday break.
Oh my gosh, love the Bengal Spice! My favorite though has to be the seasonal Sugar Cookie tea, which is basically my favorite flavor of all time. I buy obscene amounts of it during the Holidays, as it only comes out once a year!
My favorite is Raspberry Zinger, and that Caramel Apple sounds like something I need to try.
I love the Cinnamon Apple Spice tea!
I would love to try the Carmel Apple Dream and Candy Cane Lane. They both sound perfect for this time of year!
My favorite is the India Spice Chai Tea! I especially love it during fall and winter… it feels so festive!
Lemon Zinger is my absolute favorite!! I love sleepytime and the holiday flavors as well, haven’t tried the pumpkin one yet though! Sounds yummy!
For a girl that has never had a cup of coffee it is all about the tea. I love sleepy time extra after a long day.
No other perfect time to drink tea! I love the spice-y ones on a cold chilly autumn day. 😀
Oohhhhh what a give away and what a fun time! I Adore all there teas and it’s not just the packaging (which seriously, sells itself, so cute!). I also love Candy Cane Lane ( always buy two and keep one box with our Christmas decor in case I can’t find it right when the holiday seasons start), Honey Vanilla Chamomile, oh goodness too many…
sleepy time tea for me, especially if I have had a long day.
I’m a total tea-fean! I really enjoy their chai and chamomile.
Lemon zinger’s my current favorite, but I’m definitely going to have to try the Bengal Spice!
I’ve been a faithful drinker of the Orange Green Tea for years, love!
My favorite is their Peppermint. I would love to try the Bengal Tiger one!
We always have sleepytime vanilla and cinnamon apple spice in our tea drawer! Love them!
I am in love with candy cane lane and sugar cookie yum
I’ve heard great things about Bengal Spice, and now that you’ve endorsed it too I definitely need to pick up a box at the grocery store!
I would love to try sugar cookie or any of the holiday flavors! I’ve never had them so now I’m excited to try them out! ☺️
I love the lemon tea! Thanks for the giveaway!!
My favorite is the peppermint also!!! The perfect Christmas time drink!
I really want to try that candy cane lane one. I’ve also really wanted to try the sleepy time tea too, when I needed I don’t ever have it. I should really invest in a box to keep for those nights that I just can’t fall asleep! Loved the tips for making my own tea, I will never forget to take out the tea bag before I enjoy it! Thanks! xoxo, ganeeban
Tis the season of pumpkin, I would love to try the Sweet Harvest Pumpkin flavor.
Oooh, I would love to try Bengal Spice! The Sweet & Spicy tea from Good Earth brand is my all-time favorite, and Bengal Spice sounds very similar. A taste test may be in order…twist my arm, right? 😉
I hear that Harvest Pumpkin is amazing and I heart all things pumpkin.
I don’t usually drink tea, but the holiday teas sound really good and definitely want to try them too, especially around Christmas time!
Madagascar Red Vanilla!!!!!
My favorite is sugar cookie sleigh ride.
Oh the until next time cocktail sounds amazing… What a great way to use their teas!
My favorites are the cinnamon spice and peppermint, and my husband and I love to sip on sleepy time every night in the winter. Pretty much once the temps drop I soloed dribk by teas
Original sleep time, what I grew up drinking whenever I was sick.
I love Candy Cane Lane–peppermint all year round. Would love to try Pumpkin.
I love several of the holiday teas but have never tried the gingerbread spice.
I start my day with a coffee, but after a busy day at work and time to unwind I finish my day with an Earl Grey tea, I find that it calms me before sleepy time. As the weather is a tad cooler here in Florida now I would love to taste the Bengal Spice, I could just imagine that I was snowed in with a warming cup of tea, mmmm.
I usually drink herbal tea and love country peach passion with a tiny bit of stevia! I think it tastes like Peach-Os. I would love to try the Bengal Spice and Pumpkin Harvest!
I have never tried the Nutcracker Sweet…sounds intriguing! My favorite flavor is Raspberry Zinger! I could drink it year round 🙂
I’d love to try sugar cookie or any of the holiday flavors! Sounds so yummy!
Yummmmmmmm! All of the teas look amazing, I’ve always been such a big coffee drinker but recently started drinking green tea for it’s health benefits. Your giveaway would be perfect in helping me become more of a tea enthusiast!
I love country peach passion!!