Had somewhat of a surprise visit yesterday from Terry Francona, the manager of the Red Sox. We have been working with Terry for the last several years and I have been blessed to be with him a few times. This time I was able to spend a couple hours with him at our company. He got the full tour of our plant, met all our employees, saw our manufacturing process and our blending process…he was so excited to learn how to make a teabag! He actually is a little bit of an “operations geek.” He watches programs on manufacturing and finds it fascinating (who knew!).

But besides seeing how we operate, he was so gracious and generous with his time in chatting with our employees. Our employees were smiling from ear to ear as he signed photos, notes, whatever as well as stood for pictures with anyone that wanted one (which was just about everyone!). He never gave me the feeling “he had to go” even though he was driving down to Spring Training when he left our company. He is a class act in every sense.

Yes, the Bigelow family is very fortunate in our partnerships. We could have not have found a better spokesman for our company, not only does he love our green tea but as everyone knows he is a true gentleman. A professional, a gentleman, a huge heart and a fantastic manager….we are blessed to call him part of our family!

Cindi Bigelow

Thanks to The Who for the image

Never mind the chips, salsa and beer. The refreshment of choice during Super Bowl XLIV should have been Bigelow Tea—at least during halftime!  That’s when The Who, one of the greatest rock groups ever, performed their dynamic live set in Miami, as part of the most-watched television program in history!

If you were one of the 106.5 million viewers who saw the New Orleans Saints defeat the Indianapolis Colts, you probably enjoyed seeing Pete Townshend & Roger Daltrey rock the arena with a medley of their classics, like “Pinball Wizard” and “Won’t Get Fooled Again.”  (And you might be doubly thrilled to know you can play their medley yourself on Rock Band right now!)

But for all their instantly-recognizable classics, The Who are still cranking out new tunes as well — including their recent song Tea & Theatre, which begins with the question, “Will you have some tea…with me?”

Yes we will!

Decide for yourself what the lyrics in Tea & Theatre are about (watch an acoustic version here), but featuring a tea reference in lyrics does follow a long tradition in music. Perhaps The Who’s legendary singer Roger Daltrey and songwriter/guitarist Pete Townshend, the two original members remaining in the iconic group, love tea because they’re from England, which enjoys the world’s highest per capita tea consumption.

The Who’s album Endless Wire, released in 2006, includes the poignant Tea & Theatre, which was often played as the final song of their concerts during the album tour:

The Who in London, 1965 (Thanks to The Who for the image)

Image Courtesy of Wikipedia

“Before we walk from the stage
Will you have some tea
Will you have some tea
At the Theatre with me?”

Inducted into the Rock n’ Roll Hall Of Fame in 1990, The Who continue a long list of blockbuster Super Bowl halftime performers, including Prince, the Rolling Stones and Paul McCartney.  And if they inspire a few football fans to warm up with a hot cup of tea, they’re our personal MVPs!

Picture of Punxsutawney Phil Courtesy of Groundhog.org

As we begin to tire of winter (enough, already!) we also wait anxiously for the answer to a crucial question: “Will there be six more weeks of winter or will we soon be singing Spring Fever?” Well, we at Bigelow Tea can’t answer that question, so we’ll defer to the professionals – Punxsutawney Phil and his like-minded brethren.

Each year on February 2^nd, Phil (and his geographic network of groundhogs in the United States and Canada) ventures out of his burrow.  If he sees his shadow, he scurries back into hibernation for another six weeks; if however, the lovable four-legged muse fails to see his shadow, he will leave his burrow, indicating that spring will soon be sprung!

Groundhog Day is celebrated with gusto in many locations, especially in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania – which, fittingly, was the set location for the 1993 movie Groundhog Day, starring Bill Murray. Each year in Punxsutawney, crowds of people gather before sunrise to begin their annual all-day celebration featuring county fair themed events, food, libations and dancing.

Image Courtesy of Donnan.com

The Groundhog Day tradition dates back to 19^th century Pennsylvania and the influx of German immigrants, whose European weather lore and customs were adopted. The annual celebration is also reminiscent of the medieval Catholic holiday of Candlemas.

Today, communities across the country have named their official groundhogs. Sadly, in Bigelow Tea’s home state, Connecticut Chuckles VI (a.k.a. Arnie) died last year at the ripe old age of 12. However, the title has been passed on to Molly, heretofore known as Connecticut Chuckles VII.

Happy Groundhog Day! And be sure that that when you come in from the cold, that you put the kettle on and enjoy some tea!

You might recognize Demi Lovato from the TV movie, Camp Rock, or maybe the series, Sonny with a Chance, and if not, here at Bigelow Tea we’re pretty sure that your kids do!

Thanks to aceshowbiz.com for the Image

Starting her career in showbiz at six-years-old, the seventeen-year-old star has certainly accomplished a great deal: besides movies and TV she also has two studio albums under her belt, the first of which, Don’t Forget, debuted at number 2 on the Billboard 200 charts!

In addition to her genuine talent, Lovato’s care for the environment is something that you would appreciate having the little ones emulate, having taken part in the environmentally friendly initiative,

Disney’s Friends for Change. We also welcome her love of tea and simple pleasures!  Check out a recent mention on her Twitter profile:

“Wishing I was in bed with soup and tea watching movies all day”

We agree Demi, what a way to spend a quiet day!  However, we’re pretty sure the world has some bigger plans in store for you.  Better get that tea to go!

Thanks to zimbio.com for the Image

Best known for her hilarious and yet totally inappropriate character Karen Walker on the former hit TV series Will & Grace,  Bigelow Tea knows that behind-the-scenes Megan Mullally leads an extremely healthy lifestyle.

Mullally reports to drinking  herbal teas and water exclusively, and credits tea with helping her maintain a fresh, youthful appearance. She explains that a diet of healthier food and drink has contributed to much higher energy levels, which she puts to great use with her Broadway appearances.

An established stage star, cast in hits like Grease and How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, Mullally is working on her latest stage performance, Karen: the Musical.  Set to open sometime in fall 2010, the musical will revive the beloved character Karen Walker. That’s a revival we can’t wait to see; Will you join us?

Thanks to cbspressexpress.com for the Image

What does a Late Late Show host like to drink? Tea, of course! The Scottish-American actor, stand-up comedian, writer, director and CBS late night host definitely has plenty on his plate. And something tasty in his cup too:  with such a diverse schedule, Ferguson maintains one constant, his tea drinking routine. When asked about his favorite drink, the funny man replied:

“I put tea into a pot, pour boiling water over it, and let it sit for a while.Then I pour milk into a cup and I pour the tea on top.”

Thanks to entertainmentblur. files.wordpress.com/ for the Image

The Glasgow native attributes his love of tea to his European background, but we know celebrities from all over the world who love their tea as well! (In fact, we’re pretty sure he’s had many of them on his show as guests).

Catch Ferguson each week night on the Late Late Show and don’t miss his extremely cool mug. It looks like a rattlesnake and was given it to him by guest, Mary McCormack (take a look to the left.) Hmmm…do you wonder if it’s always tea that he’s sipping throughout the show?

Please note that we have since discovered that Mr. Ferguson is a recovering alcoholic and has been sober for 18 years. We applaud his committment to sobriety and are sorry for the insensitive comment we made at the end of this post!

Whether you watch his show, The Dr. Oz Show or you’ve seen him give eye-opening tips on the Oprah Winfrey Show, Dr. Mehmet Oz is certainly becoming a household name in health. Dr. Oz is known for his candid discussions about health in America, and what we can do to improve it.

Thanks to cnbc.com for the Image

One tip you’ll find on almost all his lists: drink more tea. Well of course we here at Bigelow Tea couldn’t agree more. We’re always discussing the latest health studies right here on your Bigelow Tea blog. Like so many others do, Dr. Oz recommends green tea for a variety of reasons, and suggests drinking it three or four times a day to maximize the benefits of the heart-boosting polyphenols it contains. It can even be used to reduce dandruff when applied directly to the scalp says the good Doctor – just don’t forget to let it cool first!

He’s not just partial to green tea, either. He also promotes drinking white tea for the anti-oxidants and lower levels of caffeine. He says that white tea properties have been around:

“It’s not new—it’s very old—and [has] been used for centuries for healing purposes”

Watch Dr. Oz every week for more great healthcare tips! Check your local listings!

As we’ve written before, the stars are out in full force on Twitter, tweeting about their favorite tea-drinking habits!  In the past we’ve told you about celebrities like Kathy Ireland and Jenna Elfman’s preference for tea.  Now we’re back with the sultry songstress, Solange Knowles.

Thanks to popsugaruk.com for the Image

Sister of Beyonce, Solange is a star in her own right; she has built a career as a model, dancer and recording artist. Knowles even launched her own junior clothing line with her mother and sister, called Dereon.

What does this busy woman do when she’s feeling a bit under the weather?  She grabs some tea and heads to her Twitter page!  Like fellow singer, Joss Stone, Solange knows that tea can be a great way to soothe a sore throat; here’s what she had to say about her efforts to fight off a recent cold:

Echinacea, ginger root, vitamin c, throat coat tea with honey & lemon.

Am I missing anything? I’m about to fight this with a double edge sword. [!]

As always, we’ll keep watching Twitter for motivating mentions of tea, and you can help.  Let us know if you catch one we’ve missed!

Thanks to rockycast.net for the Image

Some of us know Alison Sweeny from her character Sami Brady, her role of sixteen years (and running) on the soap opera Days of Our Lives. Alison Sweeney gained even more recognition when she became the host of NBC’s hit show The Biggest Loser. Now a wife and mother as well as actress, Sweeney is busier than ever, and admits she struggles to stay fit at times.

In her book, All the Days of My Life (So Far), Sweeney explains that taming her sweet tooth was her most difficult obstacle to weight loss. However, she reports that she did finally overcome it – with the help of tea!  She simply replaced all her sugary drinks with iced tea, and after just a few weeks had eliminated her sugar cravings!

The altruistic tea fan even served tea to guests at her baby shower last year – where by the way – all gifts were donated to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital… A gift of chari-tea at its finest!

We certainly identify with Alison’s sensible approach at Bigelow Tea. Incorporating tea into your diet and eliminating sugary sweet beverages is smart, and has been touted before as a great aid to getting and staying healthy! Watch Alison Sweeney on her most recent visit to The Ellen DeGeneres Show, here!

As Cindi mentioned a few days ago, we were lucky enough to have Jose Feliciano stop by the Bigelow Tea offices. Not only did we have a chance to sit down and speak with him and his wonderful wife, Susan, but he also gave us an impromptu, private concert!

We can’t wait to share the entire interview with you, which we’ll do in January 2010.  Until then, enjoy this video of Jose singing “Feliz Navidad” along with Cindi Bigelow and much of our Bigelow Tea family! Happy Holidays and stay tuned for full coverage of our visit with Jose!