Bigelow Tea has thoroughly enjoyed sharing Hot Tea Month with all of you! From our remarkable live Facebook chat with Cindi to our sensational Charleston Tea Garden sweepstakes getaway, this month has been full of rockin’ tea-related excitement! Of course, the best part of Hot Tea Month was each and every cup of tea that we sipped, shared and enjoyed during January. So to now close out the month, we leave you with this centuries–old and beautiful tea poem. Enjoy!

A Cup of Tea 

When the world is all at odds
And the mind is all at sea
Then cease the useless tedium
And brew a cup of tea.

There is magic in its fragrance,
There is solace in its taste;
And the laden moments vanish
Somehow into space.

And the world becomes a lovely thing!
There’s beauty as you’ll see;
All because you briefly stopped
To brew a cup of tea.

Tea helps our head and heart.
Tea medicates most every part.
Tea rejuvenates the very old.
Tea warms the hands of those who’re cold.

Can’t you just picture yourself holding a steaming mug of your favorite tea? Whether it’s Constant Comment, Green Tea or an herbal variety, it all warms the heart and soul. So, with those words, we send you off into February, where we know you’ll continue to enjoy your Bigelow Tea. Stay warm, and have a beautiful (and extra-long) February!

Poem by J. Jonker, Amsterdam, c.1670
Image by OhMyGouda, via Flickr.com

Impressionist paintings are often romantic depictions of the good life; picnics, parties, families playing, and tea time (!) are all common scenes found in Impressionist works. Bigelow Tea certainly enjoys viewing artwork that portrays people pouring, drinking and enjoying our favorite beverage, like the above painting, Tea Time, 1909, by American artist Henry Salem Hubbell! Hubbell’s beautiful paintings are recognized as nostalgic and hopelessly romantic … and we think they perfectly reflect the finer points of the art of tea!

Tea In the Garden At The Chateau de Rozieres (1906)

Hubbell was born in Kansas in 1870 and later studied art at the Art Institute of Chicago. He continued his studies in France in the late 1890s, exhibiting with many of the French Impressionists. He painted in Europe until he returned to the U.S. in 1910. In addition to his Impressionist paintings, he painted many prominent portraits including one of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt (1940), which now hangs in the National Portrait Gallery.

Study For The Orange Robe (1908)

Bigelow Tea of course thinks that moments related to preparing and sharing of tea are moments well worth savoring … that’s why Hubbell’s paintings make us smile. We’re overjoyed to see tea time memorialized as a truly special part of everyday lives!

Images 1 and 2 via Americangallery.wordpress.com
Image 3 via Allartclassic.com

Do you know that January is National Thank You Month? It is, and Bigelow Tea loves having an entire month to saying “thanks” to those who mean so much to us!

We all know that the words “please” and “thank you” can make all the difference in the world. So this month is a great time to remember to thank everyone who helps us out, from cashiers to wait staff to crossing guards … these are people who deserve and appreciate a heartfelt thank you. The simple words, “thank you,” can truly make someone’s day better!

January is also an excellent time of year to teach children the importance of a good, old-fashioned thank you note. You can explain why these letters are so important by asking your child (or niece/nephew/grandchild) to imagine choosing a special gift for someone, wrapping it and sending it off. Without a note of thanks, the gift-giver might not know that the present was received and appreciated.

Finally, because January marks the beginning of a new year, it’s the ideal time to reflect on the good things in our lives. We all have something to be thankful for, whether it’s health, a good friend, a supportive family or a warm, aromatic cup of tea! Here at Bigelow Tea, we are so fortunate – we haveyou, our steadfast customers to be thankful for! So in the spirit of the month we want to send a huge thank you to all of our loyal tea drinkers. Thank you for choosing Bigelow Tea and for being a part of the Bigelow Tea family!

Image by bluebirdsandteapots, via Flickr.com

We know you love to drink your favorite teas, but how much do you really know about this amazing beverage? What are the differences between Green, Black and Oolong teas … and where does Herbal tea fit in? If these questions have you stumped, Bigelow Tea can help!

So to further your tea edification, we thought you’d enjoy hearing from Bigelow Tea president, Cindi Bigelow. If anyone knows tea, it’s the granddaughter of Ruth Campbell Bigelow, founder of Bigelow Tea! We hope you enjoy this video lesson … and we think that after viewing it that you’ll not only know a lot more about the complexities of tea appreciation, but that you’ll be also dying to brew a cup!

Enjoy!

During National Hot Tea Month we know you don’t need encouragement to drink Bigelow Tea; it’s January, after all, and there’s no better time of year to slow down and warm up with a steaming cup of hot tea! But for us, National Hot Tea Month is like a month-long holiday, so we thought it might be fun to give some suggestions for teas you may want to try over the next weeks. Here are some thoughts … and we’d love to hear your ideas too!

On Mondays, when we all need a bit of a boost, a traditional black tea may do the trick. Give English Teatime or Darjeeling a try!

On Tuesdays a decaf tea during your mid-morning break sounds just about right. May we recommend our decaf Green Tea? Smooth, delicious and full of antioxidants!

Wednesday is known as “hump day,” and we think a little Lemon Lift in the afternoon will help get you over that hump and headed towards the weekend!

Thursday evenings seem to be a favorite television night, so how about an herbal tea like Chamomile Mint to sip with your favorite shows?

For Friday, why not consider the venerable Constant Comment? Usher in the weekend with the grandmother of all tea blends! Sounds pretty good to us.

Saturdays tend to be full of errands, sports and family time; our Spiced Chai is the perfect tea for this busy day!

And Sunday … brunch day … English Breakfast and Earl Grey are two traditional teas that will make beautiful additions to your Sunday brunch and family gathering!

We hope these daily tea suggestions help out … but with so many Bigelow Tea choices, we predict a busy National Hot Tea Month. We know we’ll do our part!

Oh and while you are celebrating, make note of all of the fun things we are doing in January on Facebook: Win a trip for two to our Charleston Tea Garden via our sweepstakes tab just under our profile picture in Facebook (starts Jan 3^rd so enter tomorrow). Also, chat with Cindi Bigelow, President, live on Facebook on January 18^th from 2:00-3:00pm EST.  Happy Hot Tea Month!

Image by etagwerker, via Flickr.com

Here’s to a healthier you in 2012! When it comes to New Year’s resolutions, eating better and exercising more top the list for many of us.  After all, no matter how good we’ve been, there’s always room for improvement, right? And Bigelow Tea is part of the solution to help you further your health and fitness goals!

Reducing sugar consumption is a great place to start. It’s increasingly evident that while Americans were long fixated on reducing fat intake, we may have been unwittingly piling on the sugar – to the detriment of our waistlines and overall health. In one recent study, participants consumed an average of 21.4 teaspoons of added sugars a day. That’s adding 7 teaspoons of sugar at every meal! Yikes!

Health watchers have taken note of this alarming trend. The American Heart Association recommends that women get no more than 6.5 teaspoons of added sugar a day and men no more than 9.5 teaspoons a day. But if you love soda, it’s difficult to reach this goal. Consider that a 20-oz glass of cola contains a whopping 16 teaspoons of sugar in the form of high-fructose corn syrup!

The upside? Whether you’re looking for fat free or less of the sugary drinks, tea is a great alternative, while providing your body an antioxidant boost and enhancing hydration … and it tastes delicious! So go ahead, indulge your taste for tea in 2012. With more than 120 varieties to choose from, Bigelow Tea offers a flavor for every mood. For renewed inspiration, check out Cindi Bigelow’s demonstration of how to brew the perfect cup of tea. You’ll resolve to never squeeze another teabag again!

So to all our tea fans, we wish you a happy and healthy New Year!

Photo by Roxana Gonzalez via Freerange.com

Click here to view the embedded video.

So to further your tea edification, we thought you’d enjoy hearing from Bigelow Tea President, Cindi Bigelow. If anyone knows tea, it’s the granddaughter of Ruth Campbell Bigelow, founder of Bigelow Tea! We hope you enjoy this video lesson … and we think that after viewing it that you’ll not only know a lot more about the complexities of tea appreciation, but that you’ll be also dying to brew a cup!

Enjoy!

So we’ve collected a few more of our favorite tea quotes … and we suggest you enjoy them while sipping your favorite cup of Bigelow Tea!

Remember the tea kettle – it is always up to its neck in water, yet it still sings!
-        Author Unknown

There is no trouble so great or grave that cannot be much diminished by a nice cup of tea.
-        Bernard-Paul Heroux

There are few hours in life more agreeable than the hour dedicated to the ceremony known as afternoon tea.
-        Henry James (The Portrait of a Lady)

If man has no tea in him, he is incapable of understanding truth and beauty.
-        Japanese proverb

You can never get a cup of tea large enough or a book long enough to suit me.
-        C.S. Lewis

There is a great deal of poetry and fine sentiment in a chest of tea.
-        Ralph Waldo Emerson

Tea is drunk to forget the din of the world.
-        T’ien Yiheng

Photo by Tom T, via Flickr.com

If the words “Black Friday” got you excited about holiday shopping, we think that the words “black tea” (and green tea and herbal tea too!) should give you gift-giving inspiration this year! In the spirit of the season, Bigelow Tea has put together a glorious assortment of tea gifts that are not only beautiful, but will also bring joy to their recipients well into the new year!

Whether you’re shopping for teachers, co-workers, cherished friends or relatives, a gift that comes with tea comes with love. Take, for example, our Warm Wishes Tin. This adorable round tin comes with 16 varieties of Bigelow Tea—128 tea bags in all! Whoever receives this assortment will think of you every time they brew a cup of tea!

For the tea-lover who also enjoys a little snack, may we suggest our Let It Snow bundle? It’s abounding with biscotti, truffles, gingerbread cookies, snack mix and chocolate snowman, plus as assortment of Bigelow Holiday Teas … all in an adorable crackle finish metal container! Who wouldn’t enjoy sipping tea and nibbling these goodies in front of a fire this winter?!

And for those who are devoted to spice-infused teas like the classic Constant Comment, we think our Spice Of Life collection is the ideal gift! With 72 tea bags (Constant Comment, Cinnamon Stick and Spiced Chai) plus cookies and David C. Bigelow’s wonderful book, My Mother Loved Tea. A sweet gift for someone who enjoys a great story, and a spicy cup of tea!

With these suggestions your holiday shopping will be a breeze. If you still find yourself stressed, take a minute to make yourself a cup of tea and relax! May this season be filled with love, warmth and Sweet Dreams! Fa la la la la … la la la la!

As Hanukkah is celebrated at this special time of year by members of the Jewish faith, Bigelow Tea wants to help make it special with tea recommendations and accompaniments for the traditional foods and gifts that are all part of the festivities! Hanukkah, also called the Festival of Lights, commemorates the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem during the second century B.C.

The Talmud, according to History.com, shares that the Jews who took part in the rededication of the temple witnessed a miracle: “Even though there was only enough untainted olive oil to keep the menorah’s candles burning for a single day, the flames continued flickering for eight nights…this wondrous event inspired the Jewish sages to proclaim a yearly eight-day festival.”

Today the holiday is celebrated with gatherings of family and friends, songs, prayers and foods that include potato latkes, roasted chicken, yeast doughnuts and beef brisket. Bigelow Tea selections (many of which are kosher) make wonderful accompaniments to the festive repast. Earl Grey, with its delicate and international flavors, will add a layer of enjoyment to the Hanukkah meal; and the spicy favorite Constant Comment, a favorite of many tea-lovers, is another outstanding selection!

During Hanukkah gifts are exchanged, often with small items (like a box of Cinnamon Stick tea!) for each of the eight nights. In the spirit of giving, we’ve put together a beautiful Happy Hanukkah basket that is wonderful to bring to a gathering or to give to a special person during the Festival of Lights!

The all-kosher collection of Hanukkah treats includes cookies, gelt snack mix, a beautifully-printed tea towel, an etched blue glass candleholder with tea light and 88 individually-wrapped tea bags in assorted flavors!

Happy Hanukkah from Bigelow Tea!