15th October, 2008: Simple as Tea Time…Green Tea May Help Prostate Cancer
The American Association for Cancer Research and Clinical Cancer Research both reported that green tea may help slow the growth of human prostate cancer. In a study performed at University of Wisconsin-Madison, researchers demonstrated that low doses of the COX-2 inhibitor celecoxib, administered with a green tea polyphenol called pigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), can slow the growth of human prostate cancer. Their experiments were performed in cell cultures and in a mouse model for the disease.
“Celecoxib and green tea have a synergistic effect — each triggering cellular pathways that, combined, are more powerful than either agent alone,” said Hasan Mukhtar, Ph.D., professor of dermatology at the University of Wisconsin and member of Wisconsin’s Paul Carbone Comprehensive Cancer Center. “We hope that a clinical trial could lead to a preventative treatment as simple as tea time.”
Previously, we reported about Mukhtar’s prior cancer research with regard to tea in our entry “Tea Benefits Touted by USA Today”.
Posted by Julie at 6:00 am | Comment (0)
14th October, 2008: Bigelow Tea Partners with Boston Sports Icons Red Sox Manager Terry Francona and the New England Patriots
Bigelow Tea Emerges as the Official Tea for the Boston Red Sox and teams up with New England Patriots Radio Network
FAIRFIELD, Conn., October 2008 - Bigelow Tea (www.bigelowtea.com) and the Boston Red Sox Major League Baseball team have recently joined forces to celebrate the enjoyment and health benefits of green tea. Terry Francona, manager of the Red Sox and avid tea drinker, has become the newest Bigelow Tea spokesperson, alongside his long-time friend, Joe Torre, Manager of the Dodgers. A fan of Bigelow Tea’s Green Tea with Pomegranate, Francona starts off each of his ball games with a cup.
Bigelow Tea has also teamed up with Boston’s very own Classic Rock WZLX, which is part of the New England Patriots Radio Network and one of the top stations in Boston, for an exciting contest offering one lucky winner and their guest an opportunity of a lifetime. The grand prize will be roundtrip airfare for two to Philadelphia, PA. for a tour of the Showtime NFL Studios and a visit with NFL Legend Phil Simms. Since retiring from the New York Giants, Simms, also a Bigelow Tea drinker, is currently a television sportscaster for the CBS network.
For more information on the contest go to www.patriotsradionetwork.com and for more about Bigelow Tea, visit the Bigelow Tea website and blog.
About Bigelow Tea Company
100% family owned Fairfield, Connecticut-based Bigelow Tea pioneered the specialty tea category more than 60 years ago. Bigelow takes pride in its heritage and successful growth from a one-product, entrepreneurial venture into America’s leading specialty tea company. The Bigelow Tea line includes more than 80 varieties of flavored, traditional, green, organic, herbal, decaffeinated teas and iced teas- including America’s number one specialty tea flavor, “Constant Comment®”. Also, enjoy the Charleston Tea Plantation located on Wadmalaw Island just south of Charleston, South Carolina which is owned and operated by Bigelow Tea and produces American Classic Tea and products.
Bigelow Tea products are available nationwide and every variety can be found on the company website (www.bigelowtea.com). Tea lovers will also enjoy the company’s blog (www.bigelowteablog.com).
PRESS CONTACT INFO:
Elizabeth April-Fritz
Bigelow Tea
203-334-1212
eafritz@rcbigelow.com
Valorie Luther
Creative Concepts
203.259.4202
vluther@creative-conceptsllc.com
Posted by Valorie at 6:00 am | Comment (0)
14th October, 2008: It’s Easy Being Green
As you probably know, Bigelow Tea has been making efforts to make the company more “green”. My family has also taken up the “green” cause. With the high cost of gas and following our personal beliefs, we decided to look into hybrid vehicles. Being a bit of an engineering family we went ahead and compared the vehicles that were available and then our family picked the one that met our needs, a Toyota Prius. That was over a year ago and with the price of gas increasing faster than our savings account it has proven to be a good investment. When you turn the car on, you hear no engine starting. The gauges all light up but the engine does not turn on until the demand is higher than what the battery can supply. It has become somewhat entertaining to see how far we can go without having the engine come on. My eight year old son is always watching to see if Dad can make it to the end of the street without the engine, or can get all the battery charge bars green when heading down the hill by our house.
We are active recyclers at our house as well, sorting out our paper, newspaper, cardboard, metal, glass and plastics. We take our garbage to our disposal station ourselves, so we are very aware of how much trash we produce at all times. My son participates in this activity as well and helps us by placing his “trash” in the appropriate recycle bin. We use fluorescent lights in our house, and our son is slowly getting better at realizing that using lights when not in the room is a waste of electricity and may be contributing to air pollution and global warming depending on your electricity source. We also belong to a program created by our electric company that allows us to specify that our power usage be purchased through renewable sources. It costs us a little more each month, but we believe in putting our money where our mouth is.
Do we do everything we can to conserve, recycle and protect the environment? I am sure we do not, but slowly every year we add on a little more as we can, and more importantly, we talk about it as a family. When my son becomes an adult, the “new” stuff we do will be old hat to him. Our family has made an effort to be green, and so has the Bigelow Tea Company.
Going green doesn’t have to be a “big” thing. It starts small, and can grow as much as you want. Green at home often translates to green at work. We have found talking about it with children, co-workers and friends also helps spread the desire and knowledge about things we can all do to make our world just a little “greener”.
Here’s hoping you can find a way big or small to get “green”. Kermit was wrong after all, “It is easy being green!”
Dean
Posted by Dean at 6:00 am | Comment (0)
13th October, 2008: Difficult Times call for the Oasis of Family
What a difficult time it has been as of late, the market is getting crushed, the election is getting “unpleasant” and I just need to sit back and take a personal inventory of where I am. It is so easy to get caught up in the whirlwind going all around us, but I know that will not make anything better. No doubt, this is a difficult time in history.
There are a lot of people in trouble, but it is at times like this that I take great solace in this family company. It might sound so simple, but the fact that we only make tea is comforting. Sure, this little company isn’t going to save the world, but it does represent a little oasis. It is a warm and kind environment where all of us can come and “do our job”. I have always loved working here but it is during challenging times like this, that I really know how lucky I am.
My grandmother, Ruth and my parents Eunice and David gave me a wonderful gift when they grew this company into what it is today…I look forward to it being around a long time. Through good times and through bad…cheers to a bright future!
Cindi Bigelow
Posted by Cindi at 6:00 am | Comment (1)
10th October, 2008: Try this delicious recipe combining fall flavors, pumpkin and ginger, with yummy cheesecake…
Pumpkin Ginger Cheesecake
Ingredients:
4 tablespoons (60mL) butter, melted
1 1/4 cup (310mL) gingersnaps, crushed
1 tablespoon (15mL) brown sugar
1 teaspoon (5mL) cinnamon
10 Bigelow Ginger Snappish tea bags
10 Bigelow Pumpkin Spice tea bags
1 1/2 cup (375mL) heavy cream
24 ounces (750g) cream cheese, softened
1 1/2 cups (375mL) sugar
3 large eggs
1 1/2 cups (375mL) pumpkin pie filling
1/4 cup (60mL) pecan halves
Yield: Serves: 10 - Prep Time: 35 minutes - Cooking Time: 70 minutes
Instructions:
Preheat oven to 325*F (160*C).
To make the crust, melt the butter in a small saucepan. Mix the gingersnaps, brown sugar and cinnamon together.
Add the melted butter and mix together with a spoon.
Spray a 10″ (25cm) springform pan with cooking spray.
Press the crumb mixture into the bottom.
Filling:
Add heavy cream into saucepan, heat over medium heat, be careful not to boil.
Add Bigelow Ginger Snappish and Bigelow Pumpkin Spice tea bags and steep cream for 5 minutes. Remove tea bags and squeeze out excess cream. Set aside to cool.
Beat cream cheese in large bowl with an electric mixer until fluffy, gradually add sugar, beating well.
Add the eggs one at a time and beat the mixture until it is fluffy and pale. Add the cooled cream and beat well.
Stir in the pumpkin, combine well and pour the cheese mixture into prepared springform pan.
Place pan into a larger pan and fill with hot water halfway up.
Bake for 60-70 minutes. Do not over bake, the middle should have a little jiggle.
Refrigerate at least 3 hours to chill thoroughly.
Remove cheesecake from the pan, decorate the edge of the cheesecake with pecan halves, cut into wedges and serve with whipped cream if desired.
For more great recipes and entertaining ideas, go to: http://www.bigelowtea.com/entertaining/recipes/
Posted by John at 6:00 am | Comment (0)
8th October, 2008: Salmonella May Be Stymied by Green Tea
As reported in Green Tea Health News, research performed since the 1980’s appears to show a promising correlation between green tea’s antibacterial properties and inhibiting Salmonella. Salmonella has many strains and has been known to cause illness for over 100 years. (The strains are named after the American scientist, Salmon, who discovered the disease.) Green Tea Health News reports that most of the studies show effectiveness from 44% to 100% inhibition for two common types, both Salmonella typhimurium and Salmonella enteriditis.
Most persons infected with Salmonella exhibit symptoms like diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps 12 to 72 hours after infection. The illness usually lasts 4 to 7 days. In some instances, however, the diarrhea may be so severe that the patient needs to be hospitalized.
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, there are 40,000 cases reported in the United States each year. Therefore, there is no doubt it is worthwhile to be on the lookout for more promising news on this subject as well as other green tea benefits.
Posted by Julie at 6:00 am | Comment (0)
7th October, 2008: Smooth Green Tea from the Charleston Tea Plantation
New from the farm: This season has been exceptional. Record quantities of green leaf have been harvested this year with the factory running 5 days a week. Rainfall has been perfect at 1 inch per week. The tea plants have been very happy this year.
We are proud to say the Charleston Tea Plantation is now producing its own Green Tea, called ISLAND GREEN. A very mellow green tea with a smooth flavor. Available from our Gift shop in loose tea tins or glass jars.
Give us a call to order at 843 559 0383 or visit us online.
Bill Hall
Posted by Bill at 6:00 am | Comment (0)
6th October, 2008: Monday Morning Quarterback (MMQB) Peter King’s Taste for Tea
Today, Peter King’s Monday Morning Quarterback (MMQB), on SI.com spoke about Week Five of the NFL Season. In Ten Things I Think I Think, King lists #10 as “his non-football thoughts of the week.” Among them…Bigelow Tea’s Green Tea with Pomegranate! Rather than the second latte of the day, Peter King recommends Green Tea with Pomegranate as “a nice, tasty substitute, at about 245 fewer calories. Smart idea to make green tea tasty.”
Learn more about the other benefits of this popular tea by reading our previous entry. For recipes incorporating Green Tea with Pomegranate go here.
Posted by Julie at 10:13 pm | Comment (0)
6th October, 2008: Will Joe Torre and Terry Francona Meet?
Well the weather is getting cooler and what a great time to enjoy many cups of Bigelow Green Tea while you’re watching the Baseball Playoffs and World Series. It’s been a great run for many teams but we’re down to the final eight. I can’t believe that Joe Torre and Terry Francona (two of our Bigelow spokespeople and regular Bigelow Green Tea drinkers) are in the playoffs and could meet in the World Series. What’s even more interesting is that Terry and Joe have been friends for many years. I don’t know how many people know the story but Joe played with Terry’s father Tito Francona when Terry was a boy and they’ve been friends ever since. Today their bond also includes their regular enjoyment of Bigelow Green Tea.
I wish them both good luck in their quest for a World Championship!
Bob
Courtesy of New York Times: Joe Torre, left, and Terry Francona during a rare on-field meeting in Fenway Park in 2004.
Posted by Bob at 6:00 am | Comments (2)
3rd October, 2008: It feels like fall…smells like apples…but what recipe to use for dinner?
Feel like something seasonal for dinner? Try our Roast Loin of Pork with Spiced Apple Cider Apples recipe. It will fill your kitchen with the smell of fall.
Roast Loin of Pork with Spiced Apple Cider Apples
Ingredients:
3 1/2 cups (975mL) boiling water, divided
1 box Bigelow Apple Cider Herbal tea bags
2 1/2 lb. (1kg) pork loin roast
1 clove garlic, sliced
1/4 cup (50 mL) olive oil
2 bay leaves
Salt and pepper
Apple Garnish:
4 large firm cooking apples, peeled and cut into slices
(example: Fuji, Granny Smith, Cortland).
1 cup (250mL) reserved (from above) Bigelow Apple
Cider tea
2 tablespoons (30mL) brown sugar
Yield: Serves 8 - Prep Time: 25 minutes - Cooking Time: 60 minutes
Instructions:
Boil water and add 20 Bigelow Apple Cider Herbal Tea bags. Let steep for 5-8 minutes. Remove bags by squeezing well and discard. Make slits in the roast and insert garlic slices.
Combine 2 1/2 cups (625mL) Bigelow Apple Cider Herbal Tea with olive oil, bay leaves and salt and pepper in a large plastic bag, add pork roast and marinate for 8 hours or overnight in refrigerator.
Refrigerate 1 cup (250mL) reserved Bigelow Apple Cider Herbal Tea for Apple Garnish.
When ready to roast pork, preheat over to 350ºF (180ºC). Remove meat from marinade, place meat in roasting pan and put into oven and roast for approximately 60 minutes or until meat is no longer pink inside and thermometer reads 160ºF (71ºC).
Meanwhile, prepare apple garnish by combining reserved 1 cup (250mL) Bigelow Apple Cider Herbal Tea and brown sugar, place in large skillet, add apple slices and cook on medium heat until liquid has reduced and apple is tender and flavored with tea.
Serve slices of pork with apple garnish.
For more recipe and entertaining ideas go to: http://www.bigelowtea.com/entertaining/recipes/
Posted by John at 6:00 am | Comment (0)
