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 like the Sleepytime but you make me want to try Bengal Spice and Candy Cane Lane.
Candy cane lane is my favorite!! I stock up on it all winter then keep it around for of I get sick- nothing is better then this tea for a sore throat
I love peppermint tea, but have never tried candy cane lane-will have to pick some up!
As a nurse, I’m always interested in things that are better for my health. I drink a lot of coffee, but would love to drink more tea and substitute that in place of coffee. So I would love to try Candy Cane Lane green tea! It sounds amazing and I know I would love the flavor.
I have been buying and drinking this particular brand of tea since I was about 14 years old I am not 40 and I still continue to buy there tea. My fav is Red Zinger Blend
I am in love with their sugar cookie tea! YUM!
I’ve always wanted to try the “sleepytime” tea!
My favorite is the sugar cookie sleigh ride! Perfect for satisfying a sweet tooth 🙂
When the weather gets cold I like to warm up with gingerbread flavor hot tea!
Sleepytime is my all-time favorite! I always have a giant box around. I’d love to try the Sleepytime Extra! Most wellness teas I don’t enjoy the taste of so I try them and go back to my Sleepytime. Maybe I’d like this one!
I like the Candy Cane Lane, but would love to try the pumpkin spice!!!
I love the raspberry zinger as well as the sleepytime. I often worked late in college and would drink it to wind down for bed. I will definitely be on the look out for the Harvest Pumpkin! That sounds fantastic!
I love love Sleepytime
The Bengal Spice sounds so yummy. Especially during a snowy cold day!
I’d love to try the kombucha or the apple cinnamon spice tea!
I am a green tea fanatic, so I would love to sample some different kinds of the green tea. I would also love to try some of their K-Cups and the sweet harvest pumpkin!
I would LOVE to try the pumpkin harvest tea! It’d be cheaper than a pumpkin spice latte. 😉
I love Bengal Spice! It’s spicy and sweet, perfect for fall mornings. it smells amazing while steeping, and I always get people asking what tea I’m drinking. The giveaway has a wonderful assortment of things – I’d love to try the kettle at work.
I would love to try the sleepy time tea. Working the occasional night shift as a nurse i think this could be very beneficial to my sleep/sanity!
I was introduced to Celestiial tea about 6 yrs ago from a co-worker i used to work with. It was a life (tea) changing moment. I love that there are so many flavors to choose from and none of them dissapoint. My favorite is chamomile and cinnamon apple spice
Would love to try Bengal Spice!
hmm i am not a big fan of many teas, but the Caramel Apple Dream herbal tea sounds soo yum. I wish I could try that! Thanks for the awesome giveaway Julie(:
Gingerbread Spice tea sounds AMAZINGGG and I’m not even a big tea drinker (except chai and apple cinnamon). thanks for the giveaway!
Morgan
I absolutely love sugar cookie sleigh ride and I’d love to try the pumpkin! I’ve never seen that one!
The peppermint herbal tea is my favorite!
I love their honey vanilla chamomile tea!
I’ve tried all their holiday teas except for Nutcracker Sweet so I would love to try that one.
Candy Cane Lane!!!! Peppermint tea is my favorite!
LOVE LOVE LOVE the Black Cherry tea! Such a great evening tea.
My favorite Celestial Seasonings tea is the Sugar Plum Spice, but I will have to try the Bengal Spice one that you are raving about!
i love the vanilla sleepy time.. but i love all the teas. so good!
I would love to try the Candy Cane flavor. I love holiday season and I’m trying to drink less coffee and flavored tea will be an easier transition. 🙂
Id love to try the pumpkin and gingerbread one!
I love candy cane lane! I have tried many of their flavors and have loved them all.
Candy Cane Lane, for sure. Next would be the Sleepy Time Chammomile.
I would love to try the Sleepytime Tea!
I would love to try the Bengal Spice you mentioned because am a fan of cinnamon!! What a great collection of holiday teas they have available!
Anything holiday-ish sounds delightful! Apples and spices and such , mmmmm
My favorite Celestial Seasoning teas are Sleepytime, Tension Tamer, and True Blueberry! I’ve grown up with Sleepytime tea so it’s a comforting flavor to have. 🙂
I love having a cup of Sleepytime tea at night before bed, and would love to try the Sleepytime extra for a little immune boost this fall, too!
I would love to try the pumpkin tea!
I love their Sleepytime Tea.
I love Celestial Seasonings chai tea with a little bit of almond milk. I really want to try their holiday flavors!
I would love to try the Gingerbread tea! I love hot teas in the morning as opposed to coffee and this would be a great way to wake me up in the morning!!
I love Candy Cane Lane.
I love Candy Cane Lane! I want to try Bengal Spice. Any holiday teas are perfect for me!
I love Candy Cane Lane and have about 10 more teas to try after reading your post 🙂
I am all for mint teas! I would love to try so many of them.
Sleepytime Chamomile Vanilla! That stuff is so, so good. I’m also pretty partial to the holiday flavors 😉
Also, I had no idea that this amazing place even existed?! I must get out from the rock I have apparently been living under!
peppermint tea!!