Insider’s Guide to Celestial Seasonings

Walk into virtually any grocery store in the United States and you’ll likely find Boulder’s Celestial Seasonings in the tea aisle. Serving 1.6 billion cups of tea per year, Celestial Seasonings is the largest tea manufacturer in North America and one of Boulder’s most beloved attractions. Whether you’re tea obsessed or simply curious about how the magic is made, visiting the Celestial Seasonings tea factory or shop while you're in town is well worth the time.

History

In 1968, one of Celestial Seasonings’ founders, Mo Siegel, began gathering wild herbs in the forests and canyons of the Rocky Mountains and mixing them to make healthy teas. After finding more herbs surrounding Boulder, Mo and co-founder Wyck Hay enlisted friends and family to help pick and produce their first tea, “Mo 36,” which they sold to health food stores around the country in hand-sewn muslin bags.

In 1970, the first production facility was established in a barn in Boulder. Eventually, the founders began sourcing herbs rather than picking them themselves, and their dream of launching an herbal tea company—the first of its kind—began to come to life. Two of Celestial’s flagship blends, Red Zinger® and Sleepytime®, were introduced in 1972 and are two of the company’s best-selling blends to this day.

Over the years, Celestial’s product line has expanded to include green teas, black teas, wellness teas and cold brew iced tea, with ingredients being sourced from more than 35 countries.

Visit Celestial Seasonings

Open: Tuesday-Saturday, 10am-5pm (Closed on New Year’s Day, 4th of July, Thanksgiving Day, & Christmas Day)
Location: 4600 Sleepytime Drive, Boulder, CO 80301
Tour times: Tours last approximately 45 minutes and start every hour on the hour (first-come, first-served basis) during regular business hours
Ages: Children under 5 years of age are not allowed on the factory tour
Tour price: $5

Take a Tea Factory Tour

Located at the Boulder headquarters—Celestial's only tea factory in the world—this popular tour receives more than 100,000 visitors every year and was named one of the top 10 free travel destinations in America by USA Weekend magazine as well as one of the country's best food factory tours by USA TODAY's Readers' Choice.

During the factory tour, you’ll get an up-close look at the magic behind Celestial’s tea-making and packaging process. Watch as fresh herbs, spices and botanicals are carefully blended and boxed up from start to finish, and learn about the company's commitment to sustainability and responsible sourcing practices.

The tour also includes a peek into the iconic Mint Room, where you'll be enveloped in the aroma of peppermint leaves—an unforgettable sensory experience.

Visit the Tea Shop & the Tasting Bar

Whether you decide to take the tour or simply peruse the shop, you will find plenty of goodies to sample and take home. Browse through shelves lined with colorful boxes of their classic teas as well as new and hard-to-find holiday blends. Also in the Tea Shop is a variety of tea-related gifts and souvenirs, including snacks from Boulder-based businesses and art by local artists.

Next door, you can sample many of the 105 varieties of flavors for free at the tasting bar inside the Tour Center. The knowledgeable Celestial staff will help you discover the perfect blend for your palate. You'll find a handful of teas in carafes to sample or you can request a special blend from their menu. While you sip you can browse the art gallery walls, which showcase colorful paintings that grace the front of the tea boxes.

The Sleepytime Bear

We can't fail to mention that Celestial's Sleepytime Bear has become somewhat of an Internet icon. You can purchase Sleepytime Bear merch in the Tea Shop or get a selfie with the bear on your way into the Tour Center. You'll notice him peaking out of his little teacup cottage on the left as you enter.