Bigelow Tea is excited to announce the winner of the exciting “smart fortwo” sweepstakes! Partnering with grocery and pharmacy retailer Jewel-Osco as well as Smart “fortwo”, this environmentally friendly sweepstakes grand prize was a new smart fortwo car. Consumers were automatically entered when they purchased Bigelow Tea with their Jewel-Osco Preferred Card, or by sending in an entry form from Jewel-Osco locations. We are happy to announce that Ms. Joyce Johnson of Inverness, IL is the Grand Prize winner, and is very excited to win the fun and environmentally aware smart fortwo. The sweepstakes dates were September through December 10th, 2008. Bigelow Tea thanks everyone who participated in the smart fortwo sweepstakes!

Ms. Joyce Johnson, Winner of the smartfortwo sweepstakes

Bigelow Tea teamed up with Jewel-Osco because of their mutual commitment to being green. While the health benefits of drinking Bigelow Tea are well known, the smart fortwo sweepstakes is a great way to demonstrate commitment to a healthy environment too. The smart fortwo is classified as an Ultra-Low Emission Vehicle (ULEV) due to its extremely low exhaust emissions. As with the ecological benefits of smart fortwo, Bigelow Tea takes part in environmentally responsible choices to help promote a sustainable future. As a good corporate citizen, Bigelow Tea remains committed to protecting the environment and strives to improve environmental responsiveness.

Ron Gondek is the Executive Vice President at C.A. Fortune, Bob Fischer Bigelow Tea Regional Sales Manager, Grand Prize Winner Ms. Joyce Johnson, Tracy Krogstie Marketing and Promotions Manager Jewel-Osco/SUPERVALU

Our society uses a great deal of energy in our daily commutes and in working and playing every day. There are several tactics that we can employ to save on energy costs while reducing our carbon emissions impact. Active recycling at home and in business, and use of fluorescent lights are a couple of great ways to address the challenge of reducing our carbon footprint. Here’s to a sustainable and smart future!

smartfortwo car grand prize

Okay, back from vacation and feeling very rested. My entire pace is better-more patient, more thoughtful, which equates to being better at absorbing ideas around me. Lots of great meetings since I have been back in the office and I took more away from them than I had from previous meetings in the last few weeks. Clearly, the vacation did what it needed to.

If you are at all like me, sometimes you say, “it isn’t worth it” –you know taking the time off- because there is so much to do when you return. Well to that I say “BOLOGNA”…it is needed. Not just for you (and me) but for the poor individuals around us!!

Feels great to be back…although I am not going to lie, the mountain I was at just got 10 inches of snow last night and yes I did want to play hooky today and run back up to Vermont but I DID THE RIGHT THING…came to work and hit the ground running.

Cindi Bigelow

Thanks to Kids-go-Party!!!!

Listen up brides-to-be and bridesmaids alike; February is National Wedding Month! Although not a very popular month to get married, February is a crucial month of planning for spring and summer weddings.

For many family and friends of the bride, planning the Bridal Shower is a key component of the wedding process. What’s the latest trend in these celebrations? Tea party showers!

There are more opportunities to create a unique event with a bridal shower. For example, you could plan a casual gathering among close friends, or an all-out formal event. The great idea behind tea parties is that they can be either.

For brides with simple, more laid-back tastes, having a tea party in one’s home might be best. If this is the case, there are great tips all over the internet on how to pick out tablecloths, china and even where to order some genuine British scones! If your bride has more extravagant tastes, it might be a good idea to look into tea rooms in your area. Tea rooms can offer larger spaces, more variety and a more formal atmosphere.

Interested in learning more? Here’s a great place to start!

Would you consider throwing/having a tea party bridal shower?

Cindi Bigelow hit the streets of New York City to see who is drinking Bigelow Tea. Maybe your town is next!

Thanks to MTV for the image

Sunday, February 8th was music’s night to shine at the Los Angeles Staples’ Center. Musicians like Katy Perry and Coldplay gave it their all in live performances. Congratulations to tea drinkers Alison Krauss and Robert Plant for winning Record and Album of the Year, Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals, Best Country Collaboration with Vocals and Best Contemporary Folk/Americana Album! Perhaps it was all that throat-coating tea?

Green tea frappuccino lover Nick Jonas was also nominated along with his brothers for Best New Artist. Unfortunately, this year wasn’t an award-winning one for the boys, but surely there will be many more opportunities to win for the three talented youth.

Jazmine Sullivan was also nominated for several Grammy awards, but unfortunately was not a winner this year either. However, the new R&B singer who credits fellow singer Maxwell for making her a throat-soothing tea, is sure to be a regular at future Grammy Awards.

For a full list of winners, check out the official site’s list. Did you miss the awards? You can now download the performances on iTunes!

India consumes more tea than any other country in the world, and is also the world’s largest tea producer. Chai (literally “tea” in many languages) is a major component of India’s rich tea culture, deep-rooted in everyday life. Most people in India drink several cups of chai a day, enjoying it in public places such as trains and streets. It is a family tradition in India to welcome your guests with cups of Chai, and every family has their own recipe and preparation method.

Chai plays a leading role in the current hit movie Slumdog Millionaire, being featured often in this affecting story of main character Jamal. Slumdog Millionaire was the big winner at the Golden Globes in January. As a participant on India’s version of “Who wants to be a Millionaire”, Jamal is often called “chai wallah”, which translates literally to “tea person”. In India, chai wallahs prepare tea over an open fire in small stands and stalls, typically serving chai in small clay teacups which they bisque fire over an open flame. These cups are thrown on to the ground and shattered when emptied — returned to the earth as a natural recycling program! For a demonstration of Chai being made in India, click here.

By most accounts, chai first hit the American market in the early 1960s in natural foods markets and cutting edge cafés, and its popularity continues. Bigelow Tea offers Chai for every palette: Spiced Chai, Vanilla Chai, Green Tea Chai and Decaf Spiced Chai. Go here to check it out. And for more stories of the Chai experience from India and throughout the world, the book The Spice of India is a great source. Here’s to “living the Chai Life”!

Radio Show host Laura Ingraham knows the therapeutic effect of Bigelow Tea — and she knows when she sees someone in need of a nice hot cup. Or two. Laura offered some “tea therapy” on her show to tennis star Roger Federer, after his epic battle in the Australian Open final against No. 1-ranked Rafael Nadal. Federer lost the marathon momentum-swinging, five-set final February 1st, now losing to the younger Nadal in the three last Grand Slam finals that they’ve played together. The 27-year-old Swiss tennis star couldn’t hold back tears at the presentation. “Maybe I’ll try later. God, it’s killing me,” Federer said, sobbing. He also congratulated Nadal, saying: “You deserved it. You played a fantastic final”.

Federer said after the loss that “In the first moment you’re disappointed, you’re shocked, you’re sad….it overwhelms you. It’s the worst feeling”. Laura Ingraham knows a cry for tea comfort when she hears it — and she calls for the calming effects of Bigelow Tea special Cozy Chamomile. Better put the pot on — Federer will need plenty more consoling chamomile with these ferocious matches with Nadal, like the titanic battle at last year’s Wimbledon final, where Federer also lost to Nadal in a five-set match, taking nearly five hours of play plus rain delays. Later that summer, Nadal won gold at the Beijing Olympics, and officially dethroned Federer as the No. 1-ranked player in the world.

But Federer is still “on his game”, with a gold medal of his own at the 2008 Olympics in doubles, and then finishing out 2008 by winning the U.S. Open. With all the heart-stopping action on his schedule, hopefully Federer will pack plenty of stress-relieving Bigelow Tea along with his racket and tennis shoes!

To hear for yourself, listen here.

The 2008 harvest at Bigelow’s Charleston Tea Plantation was one for the books, including the introduction of five brand new American Classic Tea varieties. As the only location in North America where tea is grown, the Charleston Plantation is located on Wadmalaw Island, just south of Charleston, South Carolina, and it holds a wealth of interest for any tea lover. The singular task of growing tea in America is just another step in the appeal of Bigelow and Bill Hall — our partner and world renowned third generation tea taster.

The number one question from public tours of the 127-acre Charleston Plantation site has always been: “Do you make green tea?” Bigelow Tea and Bill Hall were able to answer that question definitively in the spring of 2008, capitalizing on those unique conditions there that are amenable to growing tea. The introduction of the new American Classic Tea Island Green was a hit; after several growing seasons, Bill had found the green tea recipe that would pass his critical standards of quality at this one of a kind Tea Plantation.

The wait was finally over and the American Classic Green Tea went on sale in the plantation gift shop in July 2008 to incredible demand. It quickly became the #1 seller in the shop. Now we are able to offer this popular tea directly on the web! Also new in 2008 were four additional American Classic Tea Pyramid tea bag items. The large cut leaf teas, in a pyramid tea bag create a whole new experience for enjoying fresh tea from the Charleston Tea Plantation. American Classic Tea, Charleston Breakfast, Governor Gray, Plantation Peach and Rockville Raspberry pyramid tea bags are all for sale. See the new Buy 5 boxes, Get 1 Free web offer at the bottom of the page (Call 1-843-559-0383 to place your order).

New American Teas: Charleston Breakfast, Plantation Peach, Governor Grey and Rockville Raspberry

President’s Day 2009 stands to remind us that Tea has played an important part in the Presidency and American politics from the beginning of the Republic. According to the Tea book Tea with Presidential Families, presidents and their wives knew a cup of tea could change a country. We know that tea can grace a quiet afternoon on a rainy day, but it also plays prominently in the powerful office of the Presidency. From George Washington to Barrack Obama, each president has a story with tea playing a role.

And thank goodness for that — the presidential regime is tough, and the Commander in Chief needs all the help he can get to maintain mental and physical vigor. With all the many health properties that Tea brings to the table, the President profits from improved attention and focus as well as benefits to the Brain and Heart. Our First President George Washington drank tea regularly, as did most Americans. In fact, it is estimated that Americans at the time of the American Revolution drank more tea per capita than any other nation on earth, at times averaging 10 pounds of tea per person yearly. That’s a great country-building plan! After Washington became President, tea was always served for state occasions, and George and Martha began a long tradition of Presidential Tea.

Our 16th President, Abraham Lincoln also enjoyed tea; enjoying tea time with the family was one of the customs the Lincolns observed to affirm their middle class status before ascending to the Presidency. The Tea tradition continues today with the current Administration, so a tip of the cup on President’s Day to tradition and good taste!

Okay going on vacation next week, yeah!! Could really use it! I feel like my office is a deli every day (people lined up waiting for their order)-not the right pace for long term health.

I know things will calm down but that does not take away from the fact I am delighted for a few days away in the snow with my family….talk to you soon!

Cindi Bigelow