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girlawhirl takes some time for tea at the celestial seasonings factory in boulder, co Jun 23, 2008
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She checked in at the tour center to sign up and get her ticket – a sample pack of tea (hers was Lemon Zinger). As she waited for her tour to start, she checked out some of the original artwork used as illustrations for Celestial Seasonings' boxes that's on display along with a collection of teapots and a dress made entirely of tea bags. There were also several teas out for her to taste, both hot and iced, or she could visit the tea sampling bar where all of the company's more than 100 flavors are available.
When the tour began, Girlawhirl moved into a small theater with the rest of her group to see a short movie on the history of the company, which was founded in 1969. After the film, they all donned hairnets for a guided tour of the factory floor, which can churn out up to nine million tea bags per day! For Girlawhirl the most interesting part of the tour was going into the tea and mint rooms. Both are closed off from the rest of the factory; the tea room because tea is like a sponge and it would absorb the flavors and aromas of all the other botanicals in the factory, and the mint because it is so strong it would permeate everything around it. In fact, the mint aroma is so intense the tour guides hold a little contest within their groups to see who can stay in the room the longest.
The tour wrapped up – as most tours do – by funneling the group out into the gift shop where every variety of Celestial Seasonings tea was available for purchase along with teapots, tea cups and other tea inspired gifts. There were also organic skin care and beauty items on sale. And if lunch had been on her agenda, Girlawhirl could have stopped by the Celestial Café for a bite to eat and, of course, a cup of tea.
The Celestial Seasonings factory is located on Sleepytime Drive in Boulder, Colorado. For more information including tour hours click here.
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Girlawhirl has always been fascinated by how things are made. She just loves seeing how things are put together, which is why she is always willing to spend a couple of hours when she visits a new city taking a cool factory tour – especially if it makes a product she uses and enjoys. So when she was in 
Some people in Girlawhirl's group stepped in and immediately backed out, their eyes watering. But Girlawhirl and a few others stayed in until it was time to move on, relishing the overwhelmingly minty experience.
