As we celebrate the Fourth of July at Bigelow Tea, the red, white and blue continue to inspire us!  It’s a day to wear a red T-shirt and blue jean shorts, maybe lay out a tri-colored tablecloth, hang the stars & stripes and perhaps make a simple red, white and blue dessert like strawberries, blueberries and whipped cream!  With the patriotic colors and spirit of Independence Day, we thought we’d share suggestions for red, white and blue teas to drink too!

Red: our Red Raspberry Herbal Iced Tea with raspberry, elderberries and rose hips, is delicious and refreshing!White: Bigelow Tea makes an all-natural, organic White Tea With Raspberry & Chrysanthemum that’s smooth and delicate … and Blue: one of our most popular herbal teas, Blueberry Harvest, is bursting with blueberry flavor! And blueberries happen to be packed with antioxidants, so feel free to indulge!

For a truly patriotic blend, we’d love to suggest our American Classic Tea, grown and produced right here in the U.S. of A at our Charleston Tea Plantation! We wrap this singular blend in red, white and blue packaging and send it to the men and women serving in our armed forces as part of our Tea for the Troops initiative. Check out our Facebook page and specially created tab regarding Tea for the Troops for more information, and maybe leave an Independence Day note for them on our wall!

So, as you enjoy your red, white and blue tea on Independence Day, don’t forget to take a moment to remember those who fought to give us our freedom … and those who continue to serve and protect us today.

Happy Fourth of July!

Images by Patrick Hoesly, via Flickr.com and DVIDSHUB, via Flickr.com

Spring is in full swing, and summer is nearly upon us. Here at Bigelow Tea we know that summer doesn’t commence properly without first recognizing Memorial Day, honoring those who have served in the armed forces, and who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our country. As the unofficial start to the summer, Americans celebrate these dedicated men and women of the Armed Forces on Memorial Day with traditional warm-weather pastimes like parades, barbecues, and special time with family.

In 2009, the spirit of recognizing the brave men and women who help protect our country, Bigelow Tea proudly introduced our Tea for the Troops program. Our American Classic Tea (grown on American soil, at our Charleston Tea Plantation on Wadmalaw Island, South Carolina) is specially packaged and shipped to American soldiers hard at work overseas. To learn more about this program, please join us on Facebook where we featured up to date photos and letters from our troops.

On Memorial Day 2011, Bigelow Tea would like to once again extend our sincerest gratitude to all the service men and women stationed domestically and overseas. We are infinitely pleased that our teas have brought some measure of enjoyment to the soldiers who defend our freedoms and keep our country safe. Therefore, we encourage our fellow Americans to reflect—over a delicious cup of tea, of course— on the sacrifices of those have served, and those who serve now. A safe Memorial Day weekend to all!

Image via The National Guard

Nothing says spring like the First Flush FesTEAval at the Charleston Tea Plantation, continental America’s only working tea garden! Bigelow Tea is thrilled to announce that Grace Potter and the Nocturnals, an awesome blues-rock band, will headline the 5^th annual FesTEAval on Sunday May 15^th. It’s the perfect opportunity to bring the whole family to picturesque Wadmalaw Island for a unique celebration of seasonal renewal and, of course, tea! By the way, we served more than 7,000 cups of iced American Classic Tea at last year’s event, which drew over 5,000 attendees!

2010 First Flush FesTEAval

Even if you don’t live in South Carolina, our FesTEAval is worth the trip to historic Charleston, especially if you love tea and are interested in how it’s made. Check out Cindi Bigelow’s informative video tour of the Charleston Tea Plantation to get a better idea of what makes it such a special place:

First Flush tea, made from the new leaves of tea plants as they emerge from dormancy every spring is an extra-special brew. In fact, it was once reserved only for royalty! Today, First Flush tea is anxiously awaited by connoisseurs who deem it to be the purest, freshest tea.

And thanks to the FesTEAval, the Charleston Tea Plantation is known as a top destination for the best in live music, entertainment and local cuisine, as well as the tea! The Bridge at 105.5, a local radio station and key sponsor of the FesTEAval, is once again booking a lineup of hot bands. “This station event combines a great location with talent that has gotten better every year,” said The Bridge Operations Manager Mike Allen. “The show has become our most anticipated event!”

So, come join us on May 15^th – advance tickets are available through Etix – and we’ll have the tea pitchers iced, the acoustics set and the fun all fired up!

February is the perfect time to indulge your inner romantic, especially if a wedding is in your future. With Valentine’s Day on the 14^th and February designated National Wedding Month, inspiration abounds to help you express your unique romantic style.

Ultimately, a romantic wedding is in the details – those that celebrate your love story, not a hearts-and-flowers cliché. Think shared passions, favorite foods and a setting that reflects your vibe as a couple. Here at Bigelow Tea, we can’t think of a more romantic place to say “I do” than our own Charleston Tea Plantation, home of America’s only tea garden. This special place, tucked away on 127 unspoiled acres on Wadmalaw Island in the heart of South Carolina Low country, is where Jackie and Tyler exchanged vows in a ceremony that Charleston Weddings.com called “rustic-chic.” The lush and tranquil grounds served as the perfect backdrop for the nuptials of these two horse lovers, who met as carriage drivers in historic downtown Charleston.

Spark your imagination with this video tour of the Plantation. Whether you choose a simple ceremony under the majestic “wedding tree” or a more dramatic celebration amid the endless rows of tea blossoms, romance is sure to be in the air! Guests will find plenty to do, from a trolley ride explaining the Plantation’s fascinating history and how American Classic Teas are produced, to wine tasting at Irvin-House Vineyards, Charleston’s only domestic winery.  If you’re planning a spring wedding, antique lovers will appreciate Charleston’s annual Festival of Houses and Gardens, March 17 – April 16, 2011, offering a rare glimpse inside of some of America’s most beautiful historic homes.

With your wedding plans now under control, grab a cup of tea and relax.  In the spirit of romance, we suggest Sweetheart Cinnamon Herb Tea shared with someone special!

Photo via Allaboutweybridge.co.uk

We all know that fruits and veggies are good for us.  Harvested from the earth, they’re Mother Nature’s great source of nutrition. And since everything in life is cyclical, when we sustain our precious earth, she, in turn, sustains us.

To fully appreciate the magnitude of this natural bounty, take a trip to the farm or orchard nearest you and pick your own produce. It’s a delightful way to spend a Saturday or Sunday afternoon. Bring the kids along to enjoy the sights and smells (and taste!) of fresh food. They’ll have a blast and learn a lot in the process.  Just think, not only will you be eating sustainably, you’ll also be doing nature a good turn. After all, farm fresh produce eliminate the requirement for wasteful packaging and transportation (which uses up fossil fuels).

If there isn’t a farm or orchard nearby, try your local farmer’s market.  Find out what fruits and vegetables are in season and synchronize your menu planning accordingly. And if you happen to have a green thumb, why not go the distance? Grow your own! There’s nothing more satisfying than slicing and dicing tomatoes from your own garden!

Speaking of gardens, if you’re ever in South Carolina, do drop by Bigelow Tea’s very own Charleston Tea Plantation which is located on the charming and picturesque Wadmalaw Island. It’s the home of American Classic Tea, the only tea grown in America.  Now, that’s Sustainabili-TEA!

As keen practitioners of sustainabili-TEA, we encourage you to support local farmers, enjoy the flavors of fresh seasonal produce and, when you get a little thirsty, sip some delicious Bigelow Tea!

Image via David C. Bigelow’s Archive

You know that family and community are both very important here at Bigelow Tea, ever since the very beginnings of Ruth Campbell Bigelow’s foray into the world of Constant Comment® now 65 years ago. With Bigelow Tea, we know that keeping company with family and friends makes life that much all the more delicious.

In that spirit, we believe one familial branch deserves a more prominent place in our vast family photo album. Enter Camellia Sinensis, the granddaddy and chief contributor to cup after cup of our storied past. In fact one could argue it is our family tree. Muse enough for David C. Bigelow, Co-Chairman Bigelow Tea, to grab his trusty camera and snap these family portraits during recent visits to the Charleston Tea Plantation, documenting our favorite evergreen.

Image via David C. Bigelow’s Archive

More than just a pretty face, the tea tree is capable of prodigious growth. Here you see the stages of growth, starting with the tiny cuttings…

Image via David C. Bigelow’s Archive

And with plenty of nurturing, the tea plants grow and grow….

Image via David C. Bigelow’s Archive

And zoom to the mature healthy plants, getting ready for harvest time. How quickly the kids have grown!

Throughout the celebrated history of Bigelow Tea, Camellia Sinensis has reigned alongside our fantastic Herbal Teas. Tea appreciation has generated tea societies and countless tea experiences across the globe. Author Erika Dillman writes that “After water, tea is the most consumed beverage in the world. It’s drunk hot, cold, plain, with sugar, with milk, and in the Himalayas with yak butter.” (We wonder if that’s for special occasions only.)

Suffice it to say, Camellia Sinensis has deep roots in our Bigelow Tea history, so welcome its bounty home to your family for a picture-perfect sip.

This year’s 4^th annual First Flush FesTEAval was amazing!!!…

The weather was perfect, in the mid 80’s and sunny…We could not have asked for a better day!  Excitement filled the air as we opened the gates at 10:00am on Sunday morning, but little did we know that by 3:30 that afternoon we would be announcing that we were closed to all guests without pre-purchased tickets.  Yes, that is right!…At 3:30 The Bridge at 105.5 announced to all of its listeners that the First Flush FesTEAval was SOLD OUT!  We had reached our maximum count of 5,000 plus attendees!  What an amazing site to see!  People and cars covering every inch of the farm… with the exception of the tea fields, of course!

People danced to the music, soaked in the sun, and enjoyed over 7,000 cups of iced American Classic Tea we had prepared for them!  We thought 7,000 cups would be plenty, but much to our surprise this tea loving group wiped out our entire supply by 1:00 that afternoon.  We found ourselves scrambling to brew enough tea to satisfy their demands!  We did it though!…Thanks to the hard work of our Charleston Tea Plantation staff and event volunteers, we were able to keep the tea flowing!

This year’s First Flush offered more entertainment than year’s past.  Not only did guests get to enjoy the music of well known performers like Crowfield, Cory Chisel and headliner Robert Randolph and The Family Band, but they were also treated to sounds of local artists presented by Mark Bryan’s (Grammy award winning guitarist/songwriter for Hootie & The Blowfish) Chucktown Music Group.  This included Amber Caparas, John Wesley Satterfield, Mac Leaphart and Mark Bryan himself.  However, to no one’s surprise, it was Robert Randolph that brought the house down with his unique style of music!  Even people who weren’t familiar with the sounds of a his famous pedal steel guitar danced and grooved to the beat!

Guests also enjoyed local cuisine and shopped the wares of Charleston artists.  Needless to say, there was something for everyone, even the kids!  The Spider Jump was a huge hit again this year and children and parents loved the new additions to the kids’ area: face painting, pony rides and Beaufort the Rescue Mule!

We can’t say it enough, this year’s First Flush FesTEAval was AMAZING!!!

A big THANKS to everyone involved in making this the best First Flush FesTEAval to date!!! Our entire Plantation staff plus over 35 event volunteers were the true heart and soul of it all!  THANK YOU again for your support, and we look forward to next year!

Cara Valentine, Charleston Tea Plantation.

Photos provided by Mark Snowberger

A working tea garden is not something many of us are familiar with, so we at Bigelow Tea wanted to share our newly designed web site for the Charleston Tea Plantation. Here you will discover acres and acres of beautiful tea plants, take a tour the Tea Factory, and even browse the charming Plantation Gift Shop.

Learn about America’s only Tea Garden, which is representative of gracious, civilized living, just like the aroma and flavor of a hot cup of Bigelow Tea! No surprise that Bigelow Tea’s plantation is in South Carolina – renowned for gracious living.

Also on our site you can learn about the trolley tour of the grounds at the Charleston Tea Plantation, with all its beauty and heritage. And for a taste of what it’s all about, please feel welcome to join Cindi Bigelow on a short video tour of America’s only Tea Garden, right now! (Please wait until the vehicle has come to a complete stop before leaving this page!)

And who knows? With all information packed into this website, maybe you’ll start planning a road trip this summer to the Charleston Tea Plantation, home of the delicious American Classic Teas!

The time is now! Bigelow Tea invites you to bring the entire family to Wadmalaw Island this Sunday, May 16^th from 11:00AM to 6:00PM to celebrate the beginning of the 2010 tea harvest at the Charleston Tea Plantation. All tea lovers will want to be there as the Charleston Tea Plantation and The Bridge at 105.5 present the 4^th Annual First Flush FesTEAval!

‘First flush’ is all about the tender, new tea leaves that are plucked in the first growing season of each year. It’s a celebration of spring, a celebration of life, and a celebration of all things tea. But you can count on this unique festival to provide even more than recognizing the first harvest at our Tea Garden (the only working Tea Garden in the country). Aside from learning first-hand how our tea is produced at the plantation factory, you can also enjoy music, food, trolley rides through the picturesque fields, and simply sitting back and relaxing in the beautiful surroundings. Bring your blanket!

This year again, the music is a fantastic lineup of recording artists. Check out Robert Randolph & the Family Band, Cory Chisel, Crowfield, and Mark Bryan (multi-platinum and Grammy award winning guitarist/songwriter for Hootie & The Blowfish). All will perform along with the Chucktown Music Group, Amber Caparas, John Wesley Satterfield, and Mac Leaphart. Add all to all of that entertainment to the games and fun just for the kids, the delectable local cuisine and complimentary iced American Classic First Flush Tea served all day long, and you know there’s something or everyone!

We look forward to seeing you Sunday at Wadmalaw Island! Don’t miss the chance to join us in celebrating the start of American Classic tea’s harvest season, and have a great day with Bigelow Tea!

Constant Comment Story Winner Debora Dickinson (left) and dear friend, Helen (right)

“As far back as I can remember, my mother bought Bigelow’s Constant Comment Tea…
We would sometimes sit out on our outside front porch in the summer when everything was rich and green and the morning doves were cooing, crickets were noisy and read a good book savoring our CC tea…”

~ Debora Dickinson

A mother and daughter…tea and tenderness…they were the inspiration for Debora Dickinson’s poignant Constant Comment® story, which won her a special trip for two to the exquisite home of American Classic Tea – the Charleston Tea Plantation, on historic Wadmalaw Island, South Carolina. Debora brought along her dear friend, Helen, and they enjoyed a three-night stay at the charming French Quarter Inn, in the heart of downtown Charleston. They sampled local restaurants and shops and soaked up the sites of historic Charleston. The icing on the cake was their personalized tour of the Charleston Tea Plantation, led by world-renowned tea taster and tea maker, Bill Hall.

The enchanting tea garden is so beautiful in the springtime, such an ideal venue for weddings, anniversaries or Mother’s Day. For Debora, the trip was a celebration of her mother and the memories of moments they shared over cups of Constant Comment®. Her lovely story resonated with all of us at Bigelow Tea because Constant Comment® was created by Ruth Campbell Bigelow and her legacy has been passed down now for generations.

As a family owned company we proudly commemorate our 65^th anniversary in business, and most especially, Bigelow Tea’s founding mother. We remember all the times that we too, as a family, shared life and love over cups of Constant Comment®.  We’re proud to provide a product that satisfies all of our customer’s expectations, and plays such an important part in their lives.