Photo via Taj-travel-India-miniguide.com

At Bigelow Tea, we’re always happy to share encouraging news, especially when it relates to how the properties found in tea might possibly impact our health for the better.  So when we heard about a recent study indicating that tea may reduce the risk of ovarian cancer, we couldn’t wait to pass the information on to you. The research, conducted in Australia by the Queensland Institute of Medical Research (QIMR) surveyed 2700 women – half with ovarian cancer, half without – on their diet, lifestyle and tea-drinking habits. Dr. Christina Nagle, lead researcher from QIMR’s Gynecological Cancers Group, stated “Our results indicate that drinking more than four cups a day of tea may reduce ovarian cancer risk by almost 30%.”

Dr. Nagle recognized that the findings did not specifically differentiate between black, green or herbal tea. She further specified that “…combining all of the evidence worldwide suggests that…one or more cups of green tea per day may reduce your risk of developing ovarian cancer by 40%,” although further research is certainly needed.

Ovarian cancer is the 5^th leading cause of cancer-related death among women in the United States. From all the cancers of the female reproductive system, the mortality rate for ovarian cancer is the highest as the symptoms are difficult to detect in its early stage. Therefore it is often diagnosed at the advanced stage when the cancer has already spread beyond the ovary. Early detection is critical and that’s why it is so important for women to visit their gynecologist regularly and be attuned to unusual aches and pains, as well as any changes in their appetite and energy level.

So, ladies, treat your body like a temple. Make healthy choices. And, do sip some tea!

Photo via Serve.uoregon.edu

There’s nothing like a little summer gardening to make you appreciate nature…hikes in the woods, a camping trip, or a canoe ride on the lake. And, if you don’t really like the prospect of some dirt under your fingernails, you may enjoy spending weekends grilling mouthwatering food on the barbecue, surrounded by family and friends. Whatever your pleasure, one thing is for certain: summertime and sustainability go hand in hand. At Bigelow Tea, we are all about SustainabiliTEA. That’s why we’re thrilled to be able to share some tips to help you make the rest of your summer sustainable and fun:

• Everybody loves a summer picnic, but try to avoid packaged foods in favor of produce from the local farmers’ market. Fruits and vegetables abound in the summertime!  And remember your re-usable containers.

• Recycle your water bottles. Better yet, bring your own water container.

• Worship the sun, yes, but please protect your skin by using sunscreen!

• It’s fun to be outdoors, but not so fun to be bitten by bugs! Use a natural insect repellent like lemongrass. You can rub the stalk on your skin, plant it in the yard or dab yourself with lemongrass oil.

• Keep your beaches, campsites, and RVs clean.  Carry a bag to store your garbage.  Be an Eco-Samaritan – if you see litter, take the initiative by picking it up and discarding it appropriately. Why? Because it’s the right thing to do.

• Have a green barbecue. Don’t throw the excess food away, but do give your guests a doggie bag.

Photo via Sustainstl.org

And, as you sit on your favorite patio chair, marveling at the beauty of the summer evening sky, pour yourself a cup of your favorite Bigelow tea. Sip it slowly, relax and savor your summer!

Photo via Teaandbingo.com

Fancy a spot of tea with Sir Elton John? In a recent charity fundraiser for the launch of British soccer pro Rio Ferdinand’s Live The Dream Foundation, the hot ticket item on the docket was a personal tour of Elton John’s English home in Windsor, England – complete with an Afternoon Tea with the legendary singer/composer himself! At Bigelow Tea, we’re thrilled, albeit not surprised, that Elton knows the value of an Afternoon Tea. In fact, the bidding was enthusiastic, and it went for a cool £30,000 (approximately $48,000)!

Bigelow Tea is intimately familiar with the harmonious relationship between Philanthropy and Tea. We derive great joy from raising funds to benefit the community. After all, it’s the right thing to do. The great news is that Charity Teas seem to be catching on, whether it’s an Afternoon Tea or a Morning Tea. There’s nothing like a good tea gathering to inspire generous-hearted people to reflect on their own blessings and to extend themselves to those in need.

The significance of tea time is well represented in the folksy-blues song from John Baldry, “Everything stops for tea,” coincidentally co-produced by Elton John nearly 40 years ago!

Oh, a lawyer in the courtroom
In the middle of an alimony plea

Has to stop and help ‘em pour when the clock strikes four
Everything stops for tea

It’s a very good English custom
Though the weather be cold or hot
When you need a little pick-up, you’ll find a little tea cup
Will always hit the spot”

~ From Everything Stops for Tea, Long John Baldry, 1972.

Produced by Elton John and Rod Stewart

Photo via Wikipedia.com

Photo via Iowapga.com

The great thing about summer is that school’s out, the sun is shining and families can gather together to share in fun, outdoor activities.  So how about some golf? After all, July is Family Golf Month, sponsored each year by Play Golf America. Here at Bigelow Tea we encourage you to soak up the warm weather and take up a relaxing round at your local golf course. Don’t know how to play? No worries! During the month, golf courses across the country will be offering a series of programs for you to learn and play golf as a family. Some of these programs include Bring Your Kids to the Golf Range, Family Golf Clinics, and Family Golf Play Days.

And, after you finish a few rounds, chill out with some thirst quenching Bigelow Iced Tea.  Mix and match your Bigelow flavors. After all, variety is the spice of life! (That and plenty of iced Bigelow Tea all summer long!)

Photo via 410bridge.org

Tee off with Iced Tea!  Have fun during Family Golf Month with these Bigelow Tea Iced Tea specialties!

Fresh Brewed Iced Tea

For Iced Tea by the Glass:

4 to 5 fl. oz. boiling water

1 Bigelow Tea  bag

Ice Cubes*

For Iced Tea by the Quart:

1 cups (8 fl. oz.) boiling water

6 Bigelow Tea bags

Ice Cubes*

Instructions:

By the Glass:

Pour 4 to 5 oz. boiling water over 1 tea bag.

Steep 3 to 5 minutes.

Sweeten to taste.

Pour into tall glass filled with ice…and enjoy.
By the Quart:

Place 6 tea bags in a one quart container.

Pour 1 cup (8 fl. oz.) boiling water over tea bag.

Steep 10 minutes.

Remove tea bag.

Add 3 cups (24 fl. oz.) cold water.

Serve over ice.*

Sweeten to taste.

* For fun, try combining some of your favorite Bigelow Tea flavors when you make iced tea.

Then, try freezing your iced tea concoction in an ice cube tray.

Use your ice tea cubes instead of regular ice cubes.

How refreshing – and flavorful!

Iced Tea Cubed

Cool Summer Tips:

For a hint of mint, try Iced Tea Cubes made with Bigelow Mint Medley or Plantation Mint.
For a splash of fruit, try Bigelow Red Raspberry, Perfect Peach, Orange & Spice,

Pomegranate Pizzazz or Raspberry Royale.
For a citrus sensation, try cubes made with Bigelow I Love Lemon or Lemon Lift.

Image via blog.syracuse.com/sports

From the beginning with the (then) down-on-their-luck NY Yankees, back in 1973, George Steinbrenner demanded the optimum performances from the team. Over the next decades he built a legacy of excellence with his challenging style, truly earning his nickname “The Boss.” He became the game’s most successful and best-known owner with his larger than life Yankees – and larger than life personality.

You know that here at Bigelow Tea we are huge baseball fans. “America’s Pastime” is like a long, cool glass of ice tea to us; refreshing, invigorating. Perfect. And George Steinbrenner’s many contributions to the great game of baseball, as well as his significant philanthropy, speak volumes. His passing comes eight months after the Yankees won their 27th World Series title, the first since 2000 – when Bigelow Tea spokesman Joe Torre was at the helm of the Iconic organization.

George Steinbrenner and Joe Torre as Yankees

Image: Al Bello/ via sportsillustrated.cnn.com

Joe Torre started with the Yankees in 1996, and guided them to an incredible four World Series titles in five years. Of course today, Joe (when he’s not enjoying his tea) is the skipper of the venerable Los Angeles Dodgers. He shared that George “…was a very special man. He made an impact on everybody that was connected with baseball.”

Sure, George Steinbrenner butted heads. He fired managers. He rehired them, and then famously fired them again. He wouldn’t have it any other way. He also brought some of the greatest players to New York, for top salaries, and accepted nothing less than World Championship efforts. The results? Under George’s direction, the Yankees won seven World Series and 11 American League pennants.

And while returning the Yankees to greatness, George Steinbrenner changed the way baseball works today. At Bigelow Tea we raise our cup to a man who was ahead of his time.

Just got back from an amazing week in West Virginia with 180 fellow companions (approx 120 young adults and 60 adults)-what a week!

I have gone now for 5 years and never cease to be blown away by the level of compassion and the amount of good work done over the course of the week.  This year my team (always two adults and 5 high school kids) worked on a family’s home but what made it even more extraordinary than usual was that we got to meet four generations from the same family.  We worked directly with a mother and her son every day putting up siding and underpinning, then visited her mom at her home and then we even got to meet her grandmother (the young boy’s great grandmother!).

The warmth and abundance of appreciation they all showed us will stay with me forever.  The grandmother insisted we visit her at her home where we spent over an hour with her as she told us story after story and walked us around her home showing us all her flowers and vegetables with such great pride.  I could have listened to her all day.

It was a heartwarming a trip as I could ever have imagined….my team performed miracles.

Image via silkroadtea.com

Tea is the most widely consumed beverage in the world next to water, according to The Tea Association of the USA. Moreover, as research continues to support the health benefits of tea, more and more people are switching from a morning cup of “joe” to a cup of tea instead.

So, knowing that so many people enjoy their daily tea time, those of us at Bigelow Tea started wondering what type of tea people drank on a daily basis. Let us know: participate by telling us which of our teas is your favorite “everyday” tea!

What’s Your Favorite Everyday Tea?online surveys

Just came back from visiting our plant out west and the employees took great joy in having me sit on and then ride (of course with someone else as the driver) the biggest Harley Davidson motorcycle I have ever seen in my life.  Just getting on it was a task, but after I was safely returned back to the plant after my high speed motorcycle ride on the highway,  I was smiling from ear to ear as were the employees.

I loved the spirit and the adventurous nature of our employees; they truly make work extra fun.  Thanks guys for a motorcycle ride I will never forget!

Cindi Bigleow

Bigelow Tea knows that many celebrities really enjoy their tea. Everyone from British teen idol Robert Pattinson, to pop singer Christina Aguilera like to unwind with their tea every now and then. So when Bigelow Tea Blog and Facebook fan Kelly enlightened us about another musical celebrity who enjoyed his tea, we weren’t surprised. Even 6’6” rough-edged Chicago blues singers appreciate some good old-fashioned tea once in a while!

The late classic blues vocalist Howlin’ Wolf sang about his love for tea in his famous melody, “Spoonful.” Also known as Chester Arthur Burnett, award-winning Howlin’ Wolf was one of the greatest blues singers to come out of Chicago. His burly fashion, along with his fearsome musical style, landed him a place in the Blues Hall of Fame.

So just how did Howlin’ Wolf’s love for tea come to be? For one thing, he was born in Mississippi, a state that enjoys, along with many southern states, sweet tea as the drink of choice.  In fact, southerners have been drinking sweet tea by the gallon for years.  It’s no wonder a crooner like Howlin’ Wolf loved his tea!

So whether you hail from the celebrated jazzy and tea-drinking Chicago, or from the historic sweet-tea south, you know that a spoonful of tea always goes down smooth. The proof was in Howlin’ Wolf’s voice, captured for posterity in many historic recordings. Although, we do have to say that while a spoonful of tea is always tasty, we prefer the whole cup!

Bigelow Tea Green Tea Lemon Ice Cream

What would a sweltering hot summer day be without a tall glass of refreshing Bigelow Tea iced tea, or maybe a delicious ice cream cone? July is National Ice Cream Month – and to celebrate, Bigelow Tea wants to you to make the most of the summer sun by enjoying Bigelow Tea and ice cream together in the same tasty snack!

This Green Tea Lemon Ice Cream Bigelow Tea recipe is sure to become a favorite as it melts in your mouth, and just in time for July 18^th which is National Ice Cream Day:

Green Tea Lemon Ice Cream

Ingredients:

2 eggs
2/3 cups granulated sugar
1 3/4 cups milk
2 cups heavy cream
6 Bigelow Green Tea with Lemon Tea Bags
Ice Cream Maker

Yield: 1 1/2 quarts

Instructions:

In a small saucepan, combine the 6 tea bags and 1/2 cup of the milk until bubbles are visible; immediately take off heat and steep for 5 minutes. Strain tea bags, squeezing out all of the remaining liquid. Beat eggs in a medium size bowl. Temper the warm tea/milk mixture with the eggs (meaning add a quarter of the warm tea/milk to the beaten eggs and keep whisking until completely combined). Add sugar and heavy cream. Whisk vigorously, until well combined. Follow directions on a commercial ice cream maker. As the ice cream machine is going slowly add the mixture. Time for 30 minutes. After this time ice cream will be ready to consume or remove and place in an airtight plastic container and freeze.

Enjoy this and other recipes, like Bigelow’s Green Tea with Peach Ice Cream recipe, all summer long!