In the South, they are often considered interchangeable.  In fact, traditional Southern iced tea, known as sweet tea, is frequently referred to as Southern Table Wine.  This is simply because, historically, wine and other alcoholic beverages were less available and somewhat frowned upon in the region.  Sweet tea has been the signature drink of the South for centuries and continues to be a beverage rooted in family tradition.  It is a staple at picnics and family gatherings.

The oldest known printed recipe for sweet tea was published in 1879 in a community publication “Housekeeping in Old Virginia.”  While most sweet tea today is made with black tea, this recipe actually called for green tea.  In fact, it wasn’t until World War II when green tea supplies were cut off that black tea from British controlled India became more prevalent.

Although the tradition of making sweet tea differs from family to family, and even from person to person, traditional sweet tea is brewed very strong with lots of sugar added while the tea is still hot.  This tea mixture is then diluted with water and served over ice in a tall glass with lemon.  Today, the more health conscientious among us might substitute some of the sugar with artificial sweeteners or even berries, peaches or other sweet fruits.

We’d love to hear your family’s sweet tea traditions…

NY Mag’s Chris Smith has an interesting story on Joe Torre. His past and present revealed.

We especially like the part about how Joe Torre has become a father figure to not only his players but to the City (New York City) as well where he sips green tea (that would be Bigelow Green Tea) and issues warm but stern advice.

According to a recent article published at WebMD, Green tea may fight lung cancer.

Citing research at the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA), medical writer Miranda Hitti noted that one or more antioxidants in green tea seemed to have curtailed the movement of cancer cells. The study was conducted on human lung cancer cells in test tubes, however, more research is needed to prove whether drinking green tea curbs lung cancer in people.

Due to the encouraging results, though, researchers speculate that future lung cancer drugs may very well be based on green tea extract.

Previous green tea research at UCLA has included a 2001 study that indicated green tea in the prevention of Chronic Gastritis and a 2005 study that suggested potential as an anti-cancer agent.

Each year the company holds a picnic for all of the employees.  In Louisville they had their picnic in June, in Boise they are scheduling their picnic for August and in Fairfield ours is scheduled for September. 

This is a great time to see everyone from Bigelow and in a relaxing setting.  People take the time to get to know one another and share some of those stories that do not come out in a work setting.  Since we have people working on night shifts, day shifts, and weekends, we really do not get many opportunities to gather everyone together at one time. 

Besides having good food (sometimes it is catered, or pot luck, or cooked by management), we also have time for a little competition in sports.  We have the mighty hula-hoop, water balloon toss, bingo, horse-shoes, tennis and then that ever popular volleyball game. 

It is nice to be able to take time out of a busy schedule to enjoy each other’s company.  When we are back at work and trying to resolve issues, it makes a difference that you know a bit more about your co-workers!

Dean

This fun clip was put together by Steve Somers who is a sports talk show radio host on WFAN.  Question:  what makes Joe Torre, Manager of the New York Yankees, successful?  Green tea of course!  Check it out!

bigelow-tea-steve-somers.mp3

From all of us at Bigelow Tea, our hearts go out to the nine firefighters who have lost their lives through the terrible tragedy in Charleston, S.C. where a blaze consumed a furniture store.  This is, we know, a difficult time for the friends and family of such heroic men who have died in the line of duty while trying to help others and while trying to make the world a safe place. Their bravery makes this tragedy that much harder to accept!

As many of you know, our Charleston Tea Plantation is right outside of Charleston.  The Bigelow family has had the opportunity to spend time in that wonderful part of the country in the last couple of years.  The community is warm, caring, and giving, and we know that in this difficult time, the town will pull together and help each other.

You never know what life has in store for you but for sure every day is a gift! When we lose those we love and/or those who are doing good work, it makes you stop and take pause.

Create a little extra time today to reach out to those you love.  It will honor the lives of nine brave men from Charleston and all Firemen who have lost their lives to save others!

Cindi Bigelow

Co-President, Bigelow Tea

Just wanted to congratulate Bigelow on your English Teatime tea. I have been here in the US for about six weeks with a month to go before returning to my home town of Rochester in the UK. My English tea bags had run out and I was not looking forward to the coming month.

It is always a challenge for the English abroad to find a way to make a decent cup of tea. I have a travel kettle, so boiling water is not a problem. Decent tasting cows milk can be difficult to find but not this time as I’m working in Wisconsin. Only the tea bags to find then. Finally, I was in Wal-Mart and happened across your English Teatime tea bags. Usually the tea bags abroad either taste more of the bag than the tea or the tea is like perfumed water. Not yours though, just a lovely cup of English tea.

I hope you’re supplying all those hotels in Florida !!!

Well Done.

Graeme Longmuir

It is budget time for us, since our season is busiest during the winter we have made our fiscal year July through June.  This means we are estimating how many tea bags we expect you to buy, when you will buy them, and what flavors you will choice.  All of this is of course scientifically done and has a zero percent chance of error, well ok so it is a best guess.  After we have determined all of that we then spread the production over our facilities and notify our vendors of what we need and when we need it.  This is then forwarded to our three plants so they can determine the staffing and production requirements.  Now all of this is probably what you do when you create your home budget each year so you might be able to relate to the fun times we have during this process.  And like you we try to make sure we come within +/- 3% of our budget.  So when you are in the tea isle do not forget to pick up that box of tea, we are planning on it.

Dean

Just came off a great weekend with about 20 of our employees.  We had a Bigelow Tea day in Bridgeport, Connecticut to help build a home for Habitat for Humanity.  It is such a great feeling-a team (most of us completely unskilled but with big smiles and tons of “willingness”) working on hanging doors, putting up trim, painting, caulking, you name it.  And when we were done, the family came to see our work and received a Bigelow tea chest with a name plate that monogrammed the tea chest with their family’s name.  It was a great day! 

One of the best things about this company is its desire to give back-not because it is good PR but because it is the right thing to do.  Now I actually know how to hang a door-not bad for tea lady with zero skill sets in the building arena. 

I could not be more proud of the team of people I work with every day-I am fortunate to work with them and I am fortunate we are able to do such rewarding and invigorating things like we did this past Saturday…yes, it was a great day.  

Cindi

It might be surprising to learn that tea has been served cold in this country for centuries.  In fact, in the early 1800s, cold tea was served in the form of green tea punches, spiked with alcohol such as claret or Champagne.  By the middle it the 19th century, versions of these punches acquired regional and patriotic names like Charleston’s St. Cecilia Punch, named for the annual musical ball at which it was served, or Savannah’s Chatham Artillery Punch.

Later, sweet tea became a staple beverage in the South.  The oldest sweet tea recipe on record dates back to 1879.   However, iced tea was really commercialized at the World Fair in St. Louis in 1904.  Due to a particularly hot summer that year, fair goers turned to the refreshing flavor of cold tea to cool themselves off. 

Any form of dry tea may be iced according to one’s tastes.  It is commonly available sweetened or unsweetened and served with a slice of lemon.  However, throughout the country, iced tea has been adapted to meet climate and cultural preferences.  In the Southwest, for instance, iced tea is more often accompanied by lime than lemon.   

Although fresh brewed iced tea is most often black tea, such as Orange Pekoe, fruit flavored teas and herbals teas are now not far behind.  Jasmine Tea, Earl Grey and Spiced Chai over ice are among the other popular variations.  Cool off with your favorite Bigelow tea over ice today!!!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iced_tea

http://www.whatscookingamerica.net/History/IcedTeaHistory.htm