Tea Spoon

Lions and tigers and bears, oh my : ) And all of them are featured right here, in a wondrous selection of natural, caffeine-free herbal teas by Celestial Seasonings. My freezer was once filled with boxes of Celestial Seasonings teas to keep them fresh, though I drank them rather quickly. They are convenient to have on hand and easy enough to bring to work or make pitchers of chilled tea at home. No matter which blend you choose, they are always full of flavor and inspiration at a reasonable price. The company takes great pride in being green since 1969 when they started hand-picking herbs and flowers in the forests of Boulder, Colorado, and have supported sustainable, ethical trade in 35 countries. The artwork on their packages is memorable and creates a story about each tea, including origins of additional ingredients.

Elina has tried some of the Celestial Seasonings teas also, as they are available in Finland – she may have some favorites to comment on too. The first in my selection of favorites is Bengal Spice Herbal Tea and is like a chai with more of a cinnamon taste, so there is no need for adding sweeteners. The flavor is warming and full of life – a real treat. Take notice of the picture: while the spices are ground up for tea bags, they are like the other loose tea chai blends we have reviewed, and super spicy like the Knockout tea from Théhuone, though the Bengal Spice does not lull you off to sleep unless you add a few drops of valerian to it. William Cowper is artfully quoted on the package to remind us that “Variety’s the very spice of life That gives it all its flavor.”

Sleepytime Herbal Tea is a classic that many people enjoy. It is easy to drink and the name helps create a lovely mood for bedtime. The package includes a thoughtful quote from Henry David Thoreau for inspiration: “Live in each season as it passes: breathe the air, drink the drink, taste the fruit and resign yourself to the influences of each.”

The fragrant mix of herbs and flowers have a dreamy scent and look about them that makes Sleepytime one of the best teas to make a pot of for unwinding from a long day at work. Here are some notes from Blendmaster Charlie Baden on the package: “Sleepytime’s comforting aroma and perfectly balanced flavor are achieved by blending soothing herbal ingredients from around the world – including floral Egyptian chamomile, cool spearmint from the Pacific Northwest and lively Guatemalan lemongrass.”

Lastly is the Madagascar Vanilla Red Tea, which is an absolute delight with a creamy taste that you can even use as a facial and body tonic too because of the fresh feeling and added health benefits that African Rooibos has on your skin. The package includes the marvelous African Proverb: “The river may be wide, but it can always be crossed.”

All three of these I recommend and give ***** for the overall quality, inspiring packaging and nostalgia from different times in life in which tea is always there to carry us along to faraway places filled with beauty, hopes and dreams : )

Enjoy!!