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!
![\"Quantcast\"/](\"//pixel.quantserve.com/pixel/p-1e3-7hOJ_U8Bg.gif\")
I always love Candy Cane Lane but I’d love to try that Bengal spice tea!!
I love Sleepytime and Candy Cane Lane!
I’d love to try the Bengal Spice tea!
I absolutely love Candy Cane Lane! I drink it throughout the year! 🙂
Sleepy Time!! Love it!
i love flavored herbal teas! I’m working my way through a Celestial fruit sampler box but I’d love to try the seasonal box
Mint green tea! Though, sometimes I’ll cheat and add fresh mint.
i love the sleepytime tea already, but would love to try Bengal Spice! it sounds amazing. 🙂
The Candy Cane Lane sounds amazing! Would be perfect for the holidays, maybe even Christmas Eve night waiting for Santa!
I am one to stick to the normal routine teas but I really want to try the Sugar Plum Spice.
That is really neat that they offer a tour everyday of the week to the public. This would definitely be something I went to if I was ever in Boulder again!
I love the Sleepy Time Tea, I brew a cup nightly using my Keurig. I’ve never really branched out, but the Candy Cane and Bengal Spice sound perfect on a chilly winter day. Thanks, and I love your blog!
I love the Sleepytime kinds, but would love to try the Gingerbread!
I love all their teas but would have to say my favorite is a tie between the Wild Berry Zinger or the Pumpkin Harvest (which I still haven’t been able to find this fall 🙁 . I love to drink them hot and also make them into iced sweet teas !
I love tangerine zinger…it’s so bright and flavorful. It’s a good alternative to coffee for a quick wake-up.
I’m totally with you – I love Candy Cane Lane but also love plain old green tea as well
I would love to try the Gingerbread Spice flavor – sounds delicious!
celestial sleepytime tea!
I love Red Zinger! There is almost always a pitcher of it in my fridge. Also love the holiday teas!
I’d love to try the sweet harvest pumpkin! it’s that time of year 🙂
sleepytime has been a favorite for years when I feel restless at night!
I would absolutely love to try the Gingerbread Spice or Sweet Harvest Pumpkin teas. I love anything fall flavored, and these sound right up my alley 🙂
I would love to try the sleepytime extra. We are in the process of moving from WV to Houston and I am having a bit of a time sleeping! Im sure the process of drinking a calming up of tea would help!
I love the Wild Berry Zinger tea! I usually have a cup in the mid-afternoon and my co-workers joke that it smells like juice; I love it though! I’m looking forward to trying the Candy Cane Lane one you mentioned, I hadn’t heard of that one before!
What a great tour you had! I love the orange spice and chamomile teas. I’m so interested in trying their holiday favorites!
Candy Cane Land sounds delicious, but I’d also love to try each of the holiday sampler flavors! What a fun treat! 🙂
i love any of their sleepy time tea! But my favorite has got to be their peppermint tea. Always make my night a lil better!
This may seem like an odd flavor to like but I really love the sleepytime sinus tea. I often het sinus headaches and infections and this tea has been a miracle worker for me when I’m sick. It ALWAYS cures me and makes me feel better!!
I love the Mandarin Orange Spice!
Green tea!
HOW ADORABLE! LOOKS LIKE SO MUCH FUN!! THE ONE I WOULD LIKE TO TRY IS THE PUMPKIN SPICE… I AM LOVING ALL THINGS PUMPKIN RIGHT NOW =)
I would love to try their green tea!!!
I love Candy Cane Lane!!
I love tea! Especially being pregnant and nauseous…it’s a big help! The gingerbread spice sounds amazing!
Sleepy time with valerian root = extra sleepY!
I would love to try Candy Cane Lane! Yum! 🙂
Sleepytime vanilla is my favorite!
what a great giveaway! i’d love to try the candy cane lane … although this time of year the wellness tea would probably be a good idea too.
The Bengal Spice tea sounds delicious! I love anything that reminds me of the Holidays!! 🙂
Ooooh I definitely want to try Candy Cane Lane this holiday season!
I would love to try all those fall and winter inspired teas! That Nutcracker Sweet sounds amazing, I would love to get into drinking tea more often!
My favorite is the peppermint tea, all year long! I love that flavor in everything, it makes me feel warm and holiday-like. I would love to try the other holiday flavors!
I love their Sleepytime tea.
Sugar Cookie Sleigh Ride! I LOVE this tea! It’s Christmas! And that towel is adorable. I am inspired to try the Bengal spice!
I have always been a huge fan of Sleepytime tea, though I must try Candy Cane Lane!
I love the black cherry but now I want to try the pumpkin!
Candy Cane ALL THE WAY! Stock up on it every year! I would love to try the pumpkin.
I would love to try the peach blossom green tea!!
I would love to try the Sweet Harvest Pumpkin. Thanks,
I’d love to try the kombucha teas (new to me) or some of the sleepytime peach herbal tea!
Peppermint tea is my favorite, I would love to try Candy Cane Lane!!