2nd July, 2009: Join Cindi Bigelow on a Video Tour of the Charleston Tea Plantation!
A little Southern hospitality goes a long way in South Carolina’s Wadmalaw Island, home of America’s only tea garden, the Charleston Tea Plantation. Cindi Bigelow gives a fun and informative video tour of the idyllic plantation, purchased by the Bigelow family in 2003.
The plantation receives over 30,000 visitors each year, many of whom are curious to see a real, unique tea garden - in all its 127-acre splendor - and perhaps want to plan their weddings/special events on the grounds or to explore the rich history of Charleston or to simply just enjoy a lovely a cup of the plantation’s signature American Classic Tea.
Posted by Ben at 6:00 am | Comment (0)
1st July, 2009: Just the TEA facts, please!
As the most widely consumed beverage in the world other than water, tea can still be a mystery to some people.
Tea is steeped in many traditions and legends, and the history of tea is quite fascinating - but the Western World may still be playing catch up with the east on many things tea. For instance, it wasn’t until 1905 that the tea plant received its official Latin name, Camellia sinensis. Many western scientists at the time were not aware that Black, Green, Oolong and White tea production all came from this single tea plant.
Image courtesy of plantoftheweek.org
One of the biggest misconceptions about tea is the caffeine level - which is less than half that of coffee. Add to that all the heath benefits in tea, plus the fact that tea contains no sodium, fat, carbonation, sugar and is virtually calorie-free, and you don’t have to be able to read the tea leaves to see all the advantages of enjoying your tea.
Here are some more interesting tea facts for you, while you wait for the pot to boil:
- On any given day, about half of the American population drinks tea. On a regional basis, the South and Northeast have the greatest concentration of tea drinkers.
- The tea plant Camellia sinensis can grow over 30 feet in height, but most tea plantations keep the plant trimmed to about waist-height so the leaves can be plucked easily at harvest time.
- It was actually Dutch traders who were the first to bring tea to the West in the early 1600s, and it quickly became an important staple of trade for many countries.
- And yes, it is true that the only tea plantation in North America is Bigelow’s Charleston Tea Plantation, located on Wadmalaw Island, just south of Charleston, South Carolina!
Charleston Tea Plantation
Posted by David at 6:00 am | Comment (1)
30th June, 2009: A Bigelow Tea Visit to Red Sox Nation: A True Homerun!
On a beautiful, sunny spring day in May, Bigelow Tea hosted a special event filled with a truly memorable day of fun and learning at Fenway: the oldest baseball park in our country.
The day’s events included tea education along with a Bigelow Tea tasting followed by a once in a lifetime talk with Terry Francona and concluding with a moving tour of Fenway Park.
Carrie Hammond, Marketing Manager, Terry Francona, Red Sox Manager, Sherri Luba, Marketing Administrative Assistant, Scott Ricci, Marketing Director
Red Sox Manager, Terry Francona, was a true gentleman; taking time to chat with us over his cup of Bigelow Green Tea with Pomegranate , answering questions, signing autographs and snapping pictures before going on air for his pre-game show on WEEI. We asked lots of fun questions such as:
Q: “What is your favorite memory of the game?”
A: Seeing the guys storm the field after the 2007 Series win, guys from 6 or more countries embracing in pure joy.
Q: “Who’s your favorite Yankee?”
A: Derek Jeter, great guy, amazing athlete.
Q: “Who’s first to the locker room before games?”
A: Dustin Pedroia, since day one in the majors and probably always will be, he gets everyone going!
The park tour followed with fun facts and lots of history. Did you know…
- The red seat in right field is a marker of the furthest hit ball?
- Ted Williams hit that ball 502 feet and the record stands to this day!
- The dots and dashes on the white stripes of the manual scoreboard are the initials of Mr. and Mrs. Yawkey in Morse code, former owners of the Red Sox!
- The waiting list to work behind the manual scoreboard is over 7,000 names long!!!
Our sincere thanks to the “Fenway “team” for ensuring the day went off without a hitch (or a strike) and our personal and heartfelt thanks to Terry Francona for making this day a true home run!!!
Carrie Hammond
Marketing Manager
Bigelow Tea
Posted by Carrie at 6:00 am | Comment (0)
29th June, 2009: A Bigelow heads to Appalachia
You all might recall that every year I head down to West Virginia for the Appalachian mountains to help work on homes for a week with about 150 people. This is a program for youths, of which I am a crew advisor. This year we have 163 people heading down, more than any other year! I have to say, I am really looking forward to it. It is always challenging to finish up everything in the office and my home before I go, but if there is a week worth preparing for, this is it. Anyway, I can’t wait to go and I can’t wait to tell you all about it! So this week will be a tad crazy but it won’t bother me one bit…
Cindi Bigelow
Posted by Cindi at 6:00 am | Comment (0)
26th June, 2009: Fiesta! Go South Of The Border For Dinner, with Bigelow Tea inspired Recipes!
If you’ve had the pleasure of eating Spanish, Cuban, Mexican or other Hispanic inspired foods, you know how good they can be. The question is how to make your dinner at home sizzle the same way; Bigelow Tea (or Té Bigelow) has an answer!
Here are two fantastic Bigelow Tea inspired recipes, one entrée and one dessert, for you to make dinner a south of the border sensation right at home. Invite your friends - it’s time for a fiesta!
Masitas de Puerco Fritas (Fried Pork Chunks)
with Bigelow Chamomile and Mango Salsa!
In English and Spanish
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Fried Pork Chunks with Bigelow Chamomile and Mango Salsa. Masitas de Puerco Fritas Serves 4 for dinner and up to 8 as appetizer Fried Pork Chunks 2 lbs Pork loin 1 cup olive oil 1/2 tsp dried oregano 1/2 tsp pepper 2 cups water 1 med onion, cut in half and thinly sliced Sauce: 1 cup water 6 bags Bigelow Chamomile Mango Herb Tea Bags 3/4 cup sugar 1 cup pureed mango 1/4 cup orange juice Pork: Prepare Mojo (the marinade) Combine sour orange juice (or the orange and lime juice), 1/2 cup olive oil, garlic, oregano, cumin, salt and pepper. Cut Pork into 2 inch chunks. Pour mojo (marinade) over pork chunks. Cover with plastic wrap and put in refrigerator to marinade for at least 4 hours. The longer the better. Remove pork from marinade and into a pot. Pour two cups of water and 1/2 cup olive oil over the pork. Bring water to a boil then reduce heat to bring to a simmer. Continue to simmer, uncovered until all water evaporates (30 to 45 minutes, approx.). The oil will remain. Fry the pork in the oil until crispy and brown on the outside. Remove pork from the pot. Sauté onion slices in the same pot used for the pork until transparent. Serve pork with the onions. Sauce: Bring water to boil. Remove from heat and let tea bags steep for 5 minutes. Remove tea bags. Add sugar, orange juice and mango puree to tea. Bring back to boil and reduce to simmer. Let liquid reduce in volume by half. You will have a syrup like consistency. Remove from heat. Let cool. Serve over the pork chunks or on the side as a dipping sauce. |
Masitas de Puerco Fritas con Salsa de Bigelow Manzanilla & Mango. 4 Porciones Masitas de Puerco Fritas 2 lbs Lomo de cerdo picado en cubos 1 tza Aceite de oliva ½ cdta Orégano seco ½ cdta Pimienta 2 tzas Agua 2 Cebollas medianas, cortadas en rebanadas finas Salsa: 1 tza Agua 6 bolsas de té - Bigelow Manzanilla Mango ¾ tza Azúcar 1 tza puré de mango ¼ tza Jugo de naranja Para el cerdo: Prepare el marinado combinando el jugo de naranja y limón, ½ taza de aceite de oliva, ajo, orégano, comino, sal y pimienta. Vierta el marinado sobre el cerdo. Cúbralo con plástico y déjelo en el refrigerador por no menos de 4 horas. Mientras más tiempo mejor. Ponga el cerdo en una olla y agréguele el agua y ½ taza de aceite de oliva. Haga hervir y baje la temperatura. Continúe a temperatura baja, destapado hasta que el agua se evapore (aprox. 30-45 minutos). El aceite se quedará en la olla. Sofría el cerdo en el aceite hasta quedar dorado por todos lados. Remueva el cerdo. Sofría las cebollas en el mismo aceite hasta que estén transparentes. Sirva con el cerdo. Salsa: Hierva el agua. Remueva del calor y añada bolsas de te por 5 minutos. Añada azúcar, jugo de naranja y puré de mango al té. Vuelva a hervir y baje la temperatura. Deje reducir el volumen a la mitad. La consistencia será como syrop. Remueva del calor y deje enfriar. Sirva con el cerdo. |
“Chamomile Mango” Vanilla Fritters
In English and Spanish
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“Chamomile Mango” Vanilla Fritters Buñuelos de Vanilla con Salsa de Manzanilla Mango Serves 4 Vanilla Fritters: 1 ½ cups all purpose flour 1 ½ teaspoon baking powder ½ teaspoon salt 1 egg 4 tablespoons (½ stick) melted butter 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 ½ teaspoon granulated sugar 1/3 cup milk 2 cups vegetable oil, for deep-frying Chamomile Mango Sauce: 8 Bigelow Chamomile Mango Tea Bags ½ cup heavy cream ½ cup milk 3 tablespoons granulated sugar 2 egg yolks pinch of salt Mango-Mint Salad: 1 cup mango, diced 1 tbsp fresh mint leaves, chopped 2 tbsp lemon juice 1 tbsp honey ¼ cup pecans, toasted & chopped Directions: For the Vanilla Fritters: Sift together the flour, baking powder, and salt. In a separate bowl whisk together the eggs, melted butter, vanilla bean paste, granulated sugar. Add milk and stir to combine. Pour wet ingredients into dry, stir until soft dough forms. Over a lightly floured surface, knead the dough. Divide the dough into 12 equal pieces. Shape into balls. Cover with a slightly damp paper towel and let rest for 15 minutes. Pour vegetable oil into deep skillet. Heat until oil reaches 360 degrees Fahrenheit. Fry until golden brown, a few at a time. Drain on paper towels. For the Chamomile Mango Sauce: Add cream, milk, 1 tablespoon of the granulated sugar, and tea bags to saucepan. Bring to a boil. Remove from heat and let tea infuse for 15 minutes. Remove tea bags from milk-cream mixture and simmer while whisking egg yolks, salt, and remaining sugar in a separate bowl. Pour half the milk-cream mixture into the egg yolks, while whisking continuously. Pour back into saucepan and cook over medium-low heat. Stir continuously with a wooden spoon for 2-3 minutes, or until sauce thickens slightly and coats the back of the spoon. Strain sauce into bowl. Let cool to room temperature. Chill for at least an hour before serving. For the Mango-Mint Salad: Combine ingredients and toss. Chill for 15 minutes before serving. Serving Suggestion: Fritters should be served hot, so fry when ready to serve. Ladle ¼ cup of the chamomile mango sauce on serving plate. Arrange 3 vanilla fritters over sauce. Drizzle with a bit of the sauce. Top with 2 tablespoons of mango-mint salad. If desired garnish with whipped cream and mint leaves. Chamomile Mango Sauce and Mango-Mint Salad can be prepped one day ahead. Yields 4 servings. |
Buñuelos de Vanilla con Salsa de Manzanilla Mango Sirve 4 personas Buñuelos de Vainilla: 1 ½ tza harina 1 ½ cdta de polvo para hornear ½ cdta sal 1 huevo 4 cda mantequilla derretida 1 cdta extracto de vainilla 1 ½ t cdta azucar granulada 1/3 tza leche 2 tzas aceite vegetal, para freír Salsa de Manzanilla Mango: 8 bolsitas de te Bigelow Manzanilla Mango ½ tza de crema espesa ½ tza leche 3 cda azúcar granulada 2 yemas de huevo Una pizca de sal Ensalada Mango-Menta: 1 tza mango, picadito 1 cda hojas de menta, picaditas 2 cda jugo de limón 1 cda miel ¼ tza pecanas, tostadas y picadas Instrucciones: Para Buñuelos: Cierna la harina, polvo para hornear y sal. En un recipiente separado bata juntos los huevos, mantequilla derretida, extracto de vainilla, azúcar granulada. Agregue la leche y revuelva para combinar. Vierta los ingredientes mojados en los secos, revuelva hasta formar una pasta suave. Sobre una superficie con un poco de harina, amase la pasta. Divídala en 12 pedazos iguales. Forme en bolas. Cúbralas con una toalla de papel levemente húmeda y deje descansar por 15 minutos. Vierta el aceite vegetal en una sartén profunda. Caliente el aceite hasta que alcance 360 grados Fahrenheit. Fría hasta el doraditos, algunos a la vez. Drene en las toallas de papel. Para la salsa de Manzanilla Mango: Agregue la crema, la leche, 1 cda de azúcar granulada, y las bolsitas de té a la olla y hierva. Quite del calor y deje el té infundir por 15 minutos. Quite las bolsitas de té de la mezcla e hierva a fuego lento mientras que bate las yemas de huevo, la sal, y el azúcar restante en un tazón de fuente separado. Vierta la mitad de la mezcla de la leche-crema en las yemas de huevo, mientras que bate continuamente. Vierta nuevamente dentro de la olla y cocine a fuego medio-bajo. Revuelva continuamente con una cuchara de madera por 2-3 minutos, o hasta que la salsa espese levemente y cubre la parte posterior de la cuchara. Cuele la salsa en un recipiente alterno. Deje refrescar a temperatura ambiente. Enfríe por lo menos una hora antes de servir.
Para la ensalada de Mango-Menta: Combine todos los ingredientes y revuelva. Enfríe por 15 minutos antes de servir. La salsa y ensalada se pueden preparar 1 día antes. |
Posted by Ann at 6:00 am | Comment (0)
24th June, 2009: Green Tea Helps Control High Blood Pressure
High blood pressure is a dangerous medical condition that currently affects over 65 million Americans, and up to 1 billion people worldwide. High blood pressure kills about 50,000 Americans every year, and contributes to 75% of all strokes which is the #3 killer in the U.S. today. Dire statistics, but it is good to know that daily consumption of green tea can help. While it’s true that many studies have concluded that Green tea consumption is associated with overall reduced mortality, what about specifically controlling high blood pressure and strokes?
In several studies, over 8 years, researchers in Taiwan discovered 65% lower risk of high blood pressure for men and women who drank at least 20 ounces (600 ml.) of green or oolong tea daily for at least a year. Other results have shown that a daily green tea regime helps prevent artery constriction, which forces the blood pressure to rise, thus protecting against strokes caused by high blood pressure.
The Archives of Internal Medicine reported another study of 550 men that revealed that drinking almost 5 cups of tea per day reduced the likelihood of stroke by 69 percent. Add a little lemon to your tea, and the results are even more dramatic. Good to know that daily enjoyment of tea, as part of a healthy lifestyle, helps control blood pressure and can help prevent stroke, as well as other healthful benefits. So enjoy that healthy, calming cup of tea, a well deserved break for both brain and body.
Posted by David at 6:00 am | Comment (0)
23rd June, 2009: Cindi Bigelow and the Bigelow Tea Family step up to bat as energized supporters of the Bridgeport Bluefish! Go Fish!
Image courtesy of the Bridgeport Bluefish
Bigelow Tea has many great associations with “America’s Pastime” as we have seen in several blogs over the years. From spring training news, to Joe Torre, Skipper of the LA Dodgers and Terry Francona of the Boston Red Sox chatting with Cindi Bigelow; clearly, Bigelow Tea plays in the Majors! But did you know that a little closer to home we also are a great supporter of the Bridgeport Bluefish baseball club? The Bluefish play in the Liberty Division of the Atlantic Baseball League, sporting a cool logo, and a warm association with Bigelow Tea!
Check out this brief new clip from Cindi Bigelow attending a Bluefish game. There’s just something about the smell of the grass, the crack of the bat and a great cup of tea for Cindi Bigelow; she’s clearly in her element at The Ballpark at Harbor Yard in Bridgeport, Connecticut, where the Bluefish play their home games. Cindi again shows what a great fan is, and what a great team Bigelow Tea and the Bridgeport Bluefish make. A real Field of Dreams!
And Cindi is not the only one enjoying Bigelow Tea at the Bluefish games - the umpire is served Bigelow Tea’s Pomegranate iced tea during breaks in the games, as the park announcer broadcast’s the umpire’s refreshing bonus. Undoubtedly the stimulating iced tea helps keeps the Ump’s eyes extra sharp and his calls more accurate! Go Fish!
Posted by David at 6:00 am | Comments (3)
22nd June, 2009: Elizabeth Banks Drinks Tea Not Coffee
Elizabeth Banks has played a wide variety of roles in her young career. From her portrayal of former first lady Laura Bush in the 2008 film W., to an evil stepmother in this year’s The Uninvited, Banks has proven she can conquer many film genres.
Thanks to Niuse for the image
Another reason Banks stands out is for her love of tea - especially in what you might call a noteworthy coffee state. Massachusetts is not only Banks’ birthplace, but also the birthplace and home of a certain unnamed “donut and coffee-dunking” chain! However, for this tea lover the choice was an easy one. And rightfully so, we say at Bigelow Tea!
Tea will even help her keep that movie star smile, unlike coffee. “I didn’t drink coffee and still don’t. I’m a tea drinker,” she says. And with her busy schedule, we’re sure Banks loves the energy she gets from tea.
If you’re looking for a little bit of stimulating caffeine, try a black tea which is the more caffeinated choice over green tea. And for more information on caffeine content in different teas, check out this previous blog from Bigelow Tea!
Posted by Linda at 6:00 am | Comment (0)
19th June, 2009: Father’s Day Gifts for 2009 to Thank Dear old Dad!
Father’s Day is upon us on June 21st this year, and you may be surprised to find that it’s not much of a world-wide event. The United States is one of the few countries in the world that has an official day on which fathers are honored by their children, and it was not until 1924 that President Calvin Coolidge made it a national event. So for the 64.3 million fathers in America today, Bigelow Tea salutes you on your special day!
It’s not always easy being the Dad, as famous comedian and father Bill Cosby wrote:
“If (dads) feel bewildered and defeated, let him take comfort from the fact that whatever he does in any fathering situation has a fifty percent chance of being right.”
So, on the third Sunday of every June on Father’s Day we thank Dads for their valiant efforts with gifts, and maybe dinner with some good family time. But why it is such a struggle to get “Dear Old Dad” a present more interesting than a new tie? Well, let’s look and see how Bigelow Tea can help…
Its Tea time for Tee time on the golf course! Dad will love this cool Bigelow Tea sporty cooler, including traveler tumbler, snacks and quart-sized bags of Bigelow’s Perfect Peach Iced Tea. A hole in one!
And if Dad double-bogies on the 18th green, he’ll want to relax with our Bigelow Tea spa treatment; with everything for a great at home treatment, and 80 assorted flavored tea bags!
For Dads with a sweet tooth, how about this Gift tray filled with an assortment of cookies and more great Bigelow Tea. We hope he shares!
I wonder which 2009 Father’s Day gift Cindi Bigelow will get for her dad, David C. Bigelow to celebrate Fathers Day? It’s a great day indeed, and a great time for Dad as well as the whole family who can be your oasis in these challenging times as Cindi has stated. The very best of the day to you and your family this Fathers Day, from the Bigelow Tea family!
Posted by David at 6:00 am | Comment (0)
17th June, 2009: Make Family Reunion Month a Festive Time
All across the country, from Bigelow, Maine, to Bigelow, California, families are gathering because June is Family Reunion Month. What better way to celebrate than with tea made by a 100% family owned company, Bigelow Tea?
There will be no family squabbles about what to serve since Bigelow Tea offers more than 80 varieties of tea!
Make your reunion especially memorable by choosing a theme, logo or slogan and use it to decorate tea shirts, er, T-shirts, mugs, hats, and goodie bags. You can stuff those goodie bags with souvenirs, photos, recipes and a reunion booklet full of favorite family stories, honors and updates on all your relatives - able to attend or not. While you’re at it, why not throw in a box of Bigelow Tea bags. Since they are boxed and individually wrapped, they will survive the heat of a long summer picnic or, heaven forbid, a downpour.
Bigelow Tea Green Tea Lemon Ice Cream
If you do picnic, why not whip up some homemade ice cream? A hand-cranked ice cream maker is the most fun because everyone can get into the act by taking turns churning. They will work up a thirst, so have plenty of iced tea ready.
No plans for a family reunion this June? Well, no worries. November is Family Reunion Planning Month, so you’ve got plenty of time to prepare for next June.
Posted by Greg at 6:00 am | Comment (0)
