13th July, 2007: Friday the 13th
There is always apprehension when you talk about doing things on Friday the 13th but that is not stopping us from moving forward with a major project. Bigelow Tea has been working with the Connecticut Clean Energy Fund, CCEF, on a 194 kW solar system. Over the last several months this project has been proposed, funded, and approved but the visible work will now finally start to happen.
On Friday the 13th a crane will be lifting the solar panels and associated hardware onto our 3rd and 5th story roof. Then over the next two to three weeks the panels will be installed, wired and tested. By mid August we should be producing power. This solar array will be the 2nd largest in the state and will produce 10 to 20% of our power demand. Now we can make green tea and green power at the same time.
Dean
Posted by Dean at 6:00 am | Comments (2)
11th July, 2007: A Week in Appalachia
Wow what a week. I just got back from Appalachia where a team of us helped repair homes. What beautiful people in West Virginia. They were so welcoming, so accepting, so kind! This was my second year of going to Appalachia with a team of young adults and adult advisors. The projects varied from roof repair to plumbing to rebuilding floors, ceilings, walls, you name it. During the week you get very close to the family in which you are serving. Their appreciation was so heart felt that it continues to bring tears to my eyes thinking about it. While I was in a local hardware store, I watched as one resident wasn’t sure he could afford a 45 cent part-my heart was breaking just thinking about all these people have to do to make things work. But even though their situations are challenging, their capacity for love and kindness is immeasurable. To me the most touching part was when the woman of the family of our home said to our team when we were leaving, “it doesn’t make a difference what you did to our home, it means so much more that you came into our lives and became our friends”. Yes, it was a week I won’t ever forget, people I will stay friends with forever, and memories to last a lifetime.
Cindi Bigelow
Posted by Cindi at 6:00 am | Comment (0)
10th July, 2007: Bigelow Tea-V brings you a Summer Recipe
Check out our latest video with Cindi Bigelow making a Constant Comment Cosmo made with Bigelow Constant Comment of course. (Note: Move the round button on the bottom of the screen slightly to the right and enjoy!)
Posted by Liesl at 6:00 am | Comment (1)
9th July, 2007: Oprah Curbs Her Appetite With Tea
As part of her evening ritual, Oprah uses tea to avoid snacking. She adds mulling spices, which consist of a mix of cinnamon, allspice and cloves, and lemon and orange slices to decaffeinated tea. Sounds like a treat in itself. Yet, Oprah goes one step further. She enjoys sipping her tea from a beautiful cup… Maybe you and Oprah have something in common? Do you drink your tea from a special tea cup as well?
Julie
Posted by Julie at 6:00 am | Comments (5)
6th July, 2007: Tea parties making a comeback
Marie Claire reported that, after years of sagging popularity, afternoon teas are making a comeback in the United Kingdom. During the last week of April, Tesco, the UK’s top supermarket chain reports increased sales of teas and teapots, as well as cream cakes, a traditional European tea treat.
Even in the United States, the popularity of teas as a social occasion (as well as a drink) is on the upswing according to Netscape Celebrity.
There, a recent article features the new book “Tea Party” by author Tracy Stern. Among the great ideas presented is this little gem: “If you own a variety of teacups but not a complete set, use glass plates to mix and match for a modern-vintage look.”
Posted by Brenda at 6:00 am | Comment (1)
4th July, 2007: Tea in a Bag – an American Innovation
The introduction of the tea bag revolutionized the way people make and enjoy their tea. Its convenience was irresistible. Patents for the original tea bag date back as far as 1903. The original shape was actually a rectangle very similar to what we have today. Instead of paper casing, however, the first tea bags were hand-sewn silk muslin bags with drawstrings. The acknowledged credit for bringing tea bags to market is given to Thomas Sullivan, a New York tea and coffee merchant. Sullivan devised the bags as a means to distribute samples of his tea and exported them all around the world. By the mid 1900s, teabags had replaced loose tea consumption in the western world.
Today, fervent tea drinkers, perhaps you among them, debate whether the flavor of tea brewed from a bag is equal to that of loose tea. Nevertheless, the fact remains, the introduction of the tea bag is rooted in American ingenuity.
Happy July 4th Tea Drinkers!
Posted by Julie at 6:00 am | Comment (0)
3rd July, 2007: Warming of Connecticut
Many of you might not have seen the program on Connecticut Public TV on June 26th “The Warming of Connecticut” but it was a well done documentary on global warming. Like “An Inconvenient Truth” it walked the viewer through the current conditions and showed what might happen in the future if we humans do not make some changes. As you might imagine from the title it focuses on the North East and showed what some local communities were doing to make a difference. It pointed out that while we might want the government to step in and make sweeping changes there are things we can do to have a positive impact now. Making the right choices all the time is tough, I was reminded today that I was not shutting down the computer each night, just letting the computer go to stand by. Now it is not that hard to just turn off the computer but I guess I was a bit lazy, that is where having co-workers or family can help remind you to do the right thing. So when you are thinking about throwing out that plastic bottle or newspaper remember to reuse, renew, recycle.
Dean
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2nd July, 2007: Tea Trends
According to the Tea Association of the U.S.A., tea is in demand. Just last year, Americans consumed over 2.25 billion gallons of the beverage. And sales are increasing, which begs the question, how is tea being consumed today?
A quick visit to 2BASnob shows some new ways tea is be enjoyed, including cocktails. Bartenders in the trendiest big city clubs are including green, black and scented teas in a new wave of drinks.
Check out our latest video with Cindi Bigelow making a Greenie Martini made with Bigelow Green Tea of course (Note: give the video time to download, hit the play button and enjoy!)
Posted by Brenda at 6:00 am | Comments (2)
