Frequently Asked Questions

What is soy lecithin?

Soy lecithin is a soy based emulsifier used in some of the natural flavours found in our teas. Emulsifiers are ingredients used to keep oils and other ingredients from separating for instance, an emulsifier is generally used to keep the chocolate and cocoa butter from separating in candy bars. Food ingredients derived from soy beans can be problematic for those with allergies to soy products. Celestial Seasonings is calling out on both our packaging and on our website those teas that contain soy lecithin.

Can you describe the decaffeination process you use?

Our Green, Black, and White teas are decaffeinated using Carbon Dioxide (CO2), the same compound that plants breathe in daily. This process is also known as effervescent decaffeination.

How much caffeine does an average cup of each kind of tea contain?

Black Tea: Approximately 60 mg
White Tea: Approximately 50 mg
Green Tea: Approximately 30 mg
Herb Tea: Most have no caffeine – see individual tea

For comparison:
Drip coffee: Approximately 90 mg
Regular Cola: Approximately 45 mg

Why can’t I put milk in a tea that contains hibiscus?

We recommend that milk not be added to any tea containing hibiscus because hibiscus is very acidic and will curdle the milk.

What is citric acid?

Citric acid is used to balance the tartness and help produce a consistent product. The citric acid Celestial Seasonings uses is derived from corn.

How do I make my tea iced?

All of our tea boxes include suggested preparation instructions on the inside label. We have included iced directions for those teas that we find appetizing cold, but feel free to experiment with your favourite tea.
Recommended directions for iced tea by the pitcher: Pour 2 cups of boiling water (for herb and black teas) or very hot water, not quite boiling (for green teas) over 4 tea bags. Steep 3 to 5 minutes. Remove the bags. Add sweetener and/or lemon if desired. Then add 2 more cups of cold water. Refrigerate and enjoy!

Do your teas contain tannins?

Some of our teas contain condensed tannins. “In small amounts, tannins provide astringent actions both externally and internally. External applications promote rapid healing of wounds and inflammation by acting with protein to form a protective layer such as the action of comfrey on wounds. Internal actions help with conditions such as diarrhea, colitis and peptic ulcers.”*
Tannins’ astringency is the “dry”, “puckery” sensation at the back of the mouth and throat.

*Healthy Herbs & Tannins. Juli Kight.
http://healthyherbs.about.com/cs/phytochemicals/g/Tannins.htm

What are the differences between green, black, white, red, chai, honeybush and herb teas?

Black tea-what we commonly think of when someone mentions “tea”-is made from the dried leaves of Camellia sinensis, a white-flowering evergreen bush native to China and India.

The leaves used for green tea are the same as those that make black and oolong teas, but they are either steamed or pan-fired right after being picked.
Grown only in the remote mountains of China, white tea consists of just the first tender buds and top leaves of the tea bush that are gathered only in springtime.

Rooibos (“red bush” in Afrikaans) tea is made from the twigs and leaves of the rooibos bush that grows naturally in the dry, sandy soils of the Cedarburg Mountains of South Africa.

Chai is just black tea with a blend of herbs and spices. In India, often times families will have their own secret blend of herbs and spices for their family’s chai. Spices commonly used in chai include cinnamon, cloves, cardamom, nutmeg and black pepper. Sometimes the spices are mellowed with anise and vanilla.

Honeybush is a bright, yellow-flowered bush native to South Africa. The stems and flowers create a delicate honey-sweet herb tea with floral and fruity notes. It has been long enjoyed as a soothing herbal tonic and is a healthful source of minerals and antioxidants.
Herb tea is made from many different plants using not just leaves, but also flowers, roots, bark and seeds. Herb tea does not contain any part of the Camellia sinensis plant and is therefore naturally caffeine free.

What are antioxidants?

Antioxidants protect key cell components by neutralizing the damaging effects of “free radicals”, natural byproducts of cell metabolism. Free radicals form when oxygen is metabolized, or burned by the body. They travel through cells, disrupting the structure of other molecules, causing cellular damage. Such cell damage is believed to contribute to aging and various health problems.

Please refer to “Tea and Health” for more information

How safe are herbs and tea for me?

At Celestial Seasonings, we are committed to the good health of our customers. We maintain close professional contacts with food and supplement safety experts, and carefully research all components of our products to ensure that each is safe when used as directed.
Our wellness teas and supplements are formulated to be safe when used according to all label directions. Our other teas are regulated as food and are safe when used in reasonable amounts.
We encourage you to pursue a continuing dialog with your health care provider regarding any health concerns and your use of dietary supplements.

What does “natural flavours and ingredients” mean?

Several of our teas are enhanced with natural flavours. The natural flavours we use at Celestial Seasonings are concentrated substances of some of the same fruits, herbs, and spices used in our teas, such as cinnamon, citrus peel, oranges, almonds, mint or apples. Celestial Seasonings flavours have never contained monosodium glutamate (MSG).

If you have allergies or sensitivities to certain flavors, we recommend you avoid all products with added flavorings.

How can I suggest a new tea flavour or product idea?

We appreciate your interest in our company and our products, and we’re grateful for your support. We are not able to compensate for unsolicited ideas or suggestions, but include all suggestions in a monthly report to our Leadership Team.

Why has my tea been discontinued?

We continually review our variety to determine which products provide the best product mix based on popularity. Products are discontinued only after careful review and discussion. Unfortunately, these products are no longer available; however, we hope that you will choose another tea from our wide variety of flavours.

Why don’t your teabags have strings or tags?

To help conserve our forests and eliminate excess waste, the tea bags do not include strings, tags, or individual overwrapping. The elimination of string and tag prevents 431,000 lbs. of tags, 46,000 lbs. of string and 3,140,000 lbs. of impression paper waste from being deposited in landfills each year. That’s just one of the ways Celestial Seasonings is dedicated to creating products that are healthy for you and for the earth.

Why did the formulation of my favourite tea change?

There have been reformulations to some of our products based on our efforts to make our products the best they can be. Through taste testing at our corporate headquarters and across the country, our consumers help us to determine which variations of our teas they prefer. A new recipe or reformulation is approved only after it passes extensive consumer testing.

Are you a public company? How do I get stock information?

We appreciate your interest in our company! As part of the Hain Celestial Group (http://www.hain-celestial.com) , our stock is publicly traded on the NASDAQ: http://www.nasdaq.com/asp/quotes_multi.asp?mode=Stock&Symbol=hain and you may go there to retrieve latest stock prices. You can also retrieve current and past financial information by linking to the Securities and Exchange Website by going to Edgar Online