10th June, 2008: Celebrating Iced Tea
“One drinks tea to forget the world’s noise.” ~ Thomas Sterling1, Tea Expert; and on warm summer days, what better way is there to refresh the body and the spirit, than by enjoying a tall, frosty glass of iced tea. The Tea Association of America states that iced tea, or at least a more commercialized version of it, was possibly invented by Richard Blechynden while he was trying to engage the public’s interest in imported teas during the 1904 St. Louis World’s Fair; but, it was so hot and humid that people were passing him by in search of colder fare. Not one to be daunted he decided to cool the tea and after several attempts at getting the temperature and taste just right created the beginnings of the beverage we purchase packaged or bottled to enjoy in all of its wonderful variations
Of course tea made fresh in your own kitchen, sweetened to taste and chilled to perfection is a real treat too. To learn more on the subject, visit a previous Bigelow Blog article that discusses the history of iced tea and some of the ways iced tea was served in the home, commercially and for celebrations from the 1800s through to today and, since the month of June is National Iced Tea Month you will want to celebrate too by indulging in this classic summer-time beverage every day.
Iced Tea on the go from Bigelow Tea.
Source: The History of Iced Tea.
1Thomas Sterling, “A Toast to Tea,” Reader’s Digest (Pleasantville, NY: Readers Digest Association, Inc., March 1979), 61.
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6th June, 2008: Extending the Cup of Friendship
How long has it been since you’ve seen your school chums? Former co-workers? Or even far-away family members?
Dea’s Crafts is making it easier to reach out to these dear friends with a clever gift idea. Picture this: a Bigelow tea bag and simple but heartfelt poem placed in a colorful tea cup or a paper cut-out of one.
Dea’s features several poems to choose from, including this thoughtful message:
I wish we could sit down together
And have a cup of tea
But since we can’t
When you have this one
I hope you’ll think of me.
~ source unknown
Choose from more lyrical lines and project variations at Dea’s Web site. Then take this opportunity to reconnect with those who matter most with this heart-warming reminder that you care.
Posted by Brenda at 6:00 am | Comment (1)
28th May, 2008: Enjoy the “Calm-a-Sutra of Tea” and Win $$$
Calling all students! The Tea Council of the USA, Inc. recently launched its $20,000 scholarship competition. Called the “Calm-a-Sutra of Tea,” the campaign encompasses a nationwide search for a short, original Internet video which most uniquely depicts tea consumption while incorporating some aspect of tea’s many health benefits.
“While educating the public on the emerging science supporting the health-related benefits of drinking tea is one of the Tea Council’s main objectives, we also strongly support America’s young people seeking a higher education,” said Joe Simrany, the council’s president.
This year Megyn Price of the CBS hit series Rules of Engagement is serving as the official celebrity spokesperson for the competition. Price — a new mom and big fan of healthy foods and beverages — supports the council’s platform on educating young Americans about tea’s nutritional benefits through the immensely popular and ever-growing trend of online video.
“I funded my own education in large part with outside scholarships, without which I never would have been able to graduate from college,” said Price.
All entries must be received by August 6, 2008 and will be judged by a panel of representatives of the Tea Council. For full details on this great opportunity, visit the Tea Council website at www.teausa.org/calmasutra.
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23rd April, 2008: Letting Tea Go to Your Head
You might have read how your leftover tea bags can be used for the skin and eyes (if not, see our December 5th post). But did you know that tea also has some unexpected beauty applications for the hair?
According to Shirley Bragg at About.com, some herbal teas can be used to add shine to your tresses. But that’s not all. Bragg has, herself, witnessed that tea can be used to create highlights or darken hair. She offers the following advice: “If you have red hair, green tea is the color of choice. Chamomile tea will add blonde highlights, black tea will add a glow to dark hair and for gray hair, try ginseng.”
Perhaps your hair color isn’t the problem. Maybe excessive hair is. If so, you’ll want to follow up this study reported by the BBC. In February they noted that one specific herbal tea may control unwanted hair. “Spearmint tea may help to control excessive hair growth in women,” according to Turkish researchers. Thus far results are modest, and additional research is needed, so while you may not want to pin your hopes on this as a solution for hirsutism, keep your eyes open for more word on the potential of this and other herbal tea uses.
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16th April, 2008: What is Herbal Tea?
Herbal tea or tisane is an herbal infusion that does not contain any leaves from the tea bush, Camellia sinensis. (Although tea leaves can be flavored as well, as is the case with Earl Grey, which is black tea and bergamot.) Herbal tea is made by pouring boiling water over loose or bagged fresh/dried flowers, leaves, seeds or roots.
Herbal tea is flavorful and soothing and comes in many varieties: red raspberry, peach, chamomile, orange spice and lemon among them. In addition to great taste, as Organic Tea blog points out, herbal tea is often used to try to combat sleeplessness, alleviate menstruation pain, detoxify the body and clear the mind.
Chamomile tea, for instance, is thought to have sedative effects. Interestingly, even in fiction, author Beatrix Potter, who wrote The Tale of Peter Rabbit, had Peter Rabbit’s mother serving him Chamomile tea to make him feel better And she isn’t the only one. In a number of her mysteries, Agatha Christie’s sleuth, Hercule Poirot, drank herbal tea in order to recover from wet weather. Many modern day celebrities enjoy herbal tea as well.
Pick your flavor! There are so many delicious herbal teas to choose from.
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28th March, 2008: What Your Tea Says About You
Is there a link between your tea preferences and your personality type? Some might argue there is. iVillage has introduced a light-hearted listing that attempts to identify personality traits based on a tea lover’s favored flavors.
Take, for example, Earl Grey fans. Like the delicate aroma of your favorite tea, your feelings are easily bruised, although you “thrive on positive criticism.”
Those who prefer fruit-flavored teas, however, are all about fun and frivolity. Still, even you have a need to unwind occasionally and then “relaxation becomes very important.”
Have a penchant for green tea? iVillage speculates that you are “at one with yourself.” And, if you enjoy your tea on ice, you “are the personification of reserved dignity, a perfect model of self-restraint and control.”
If these descriptions are not ringing true for you, don’t be surprised, because the listings are all in good fun. Still, like a good fortune cookie, there’s a bit of wisdom in every one. Like this sage advice for black tea drinkers, “Kick back and try going with the flow; you never know what you might see from this different perspective.” That’s good advice for all of us.
Not finding your favorite on the list? Read the full article here.
Posted by Brenda at 6:00 am | Comments (2)
17th March, 2008: Irish Tea Facts
Ireland may not be known for its love of tea, but the under-rated inhabitants of this country enjoy their tea in abundance. They also like it strong.
So, before you associate the Irish with green beer, consider this little known fact: Ireland arguably has the highest per capita consumption of tea in the world. That’s the word from Pat Friend who has written about this love affair with tea for AllAboutIrish.com. We didn’t believe it either at first, which is why we researched the matter further. Here’s what we learned: although the #1 spot may be debated, year after year the Irish are, indeed, among the top six tea-sipping countries in the world with an average daily consumption ranging from 1.5 kg of tea to 3.2 kg. That’s approximately three to six cups per person per day!
As Friend noted, “Ireland’s close ties to tea have their roots in the country’s history as a part of the British Empire.” The love affair with the beverage began when tea was first imported in 1835 and the preference continues to be for tea that is strong and black. Which explains the saying, “a good Irish cup of tea is strong enough for a mouse to trot on.”
To learn more about Ireland and its tea preferences, view Friends’ full article here.
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7th March, 2008: Tea Timeline
Have you ever wanted to see the big picture when it comes to tea history? We’ve located an online tea history that can help.
The Tea Page features a timeline which extends from 2000 BC, when tea was grown in India, to 1953 AD when the play Tea and Sympathy (starring Deborah Kerr) was performed at New York’s Ethel Barrymore Theater.
Points of interest along the timeline also include the year 222 when tea was “mentioned as a substitute for wine for the first time in Chinese writings.” And, how in 805, tea was “introduced to Japan as a medicine.” Not to forget our British friends, there’s even a spot in the history for 1597 when the first English mention of tea appears.
For more detailed accounts in tea’s history, view these Bigelow posts: The Japanese Tea Ceremony, How Tea Got to England (Parts I and II), How Russia was Introduced to Tea (Parts II and III), and the History of Iced Tea in America.
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26th February, 2008: Mary Cassatt’s Artful Tea
Gentle women have been sipping tea in Europe and the United States for centuries. By the late 1880s, however, we were blessed with a world-class artist who captured this relaxing pastime in her work. You’ve probably seen prints and posters derived from her original paintings and pastel renderings; they remain quite popular to this day. But you may not know the artist behind the colorful images.
Mary Stevenson Cassatt was born in Philadelphia and studied art abroad where she focused on the Old Masters. Cassatt drew acclaim as the only American selected to exhibit with the French Impressionists. She is also recognized for her depictions of the social and private lives of women. One typical subject was that of well-bred ladies enjoying tea.
By 1908, deteriorating eyesight virtually ended Cassatt’s career, but – luckily for us – she had already given the world a unique body of work. Today you can view much of Cassatt’s art online, including her tea-themed paintings. Afternoon Tea Party can be seen at the New York Public Library Website and The Cup of Tea is only a click away at the Metropolitan Museum of Art site, where you can also find pages filled with additional information on Cassatt.
Five O’clock Tea by Mary Cassatt
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22nd February, 2008: American Tea Rituals
When it comes to tea, history is being made in United States. Tomislav Podreka at Planet Tea says that “We are … at the beginning of the establishment of an American tea ritual.”
Think about it. Throughout its history, tea has been intimately tied to ritual. Consider the expression, “steeped in tradition.” In Asian culture tea is integral to ceremonies and meditation practices as it has been for thousands of years. In England, what began as a duchess’s stomach murmurs in the 1800s evolved into tea time as a compulsory daily break for the masses.
It’s now time for America. As “[ritualization of tea] has occurred in every other culture … there will be no difference here,” Podereka says. He credits herbals – which originated early in American history as simple remedies for minor afflictions – for boosting “America’s tea culture to another level” and notes that “these infusions have made great inroads as a common staple of American life.” More recently, stringent scientific study has given additional credibility to centuries of health claims, priming tea for ritualization based on its health benefits.
What tea rituals will America develop? According to the author, a great deal depends on what influences our choices. Fortified by the latest research, will Americans drink primarily for health? For relaxation? Or something else? In the end, only time will tell, but it’s great to be part of tea history in the making.
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