6th October, 2008: Monday Morning Quarterback (MMQB) Peter King’s Taste for Tea
Today, Peter King’s Monday Morning Quarterback (MMQB), on SI.com spoke about Week Five of the NFL Season. In Ten Things I Think I Think, King lists #10 as “his non-football thoughts of the week.” Among them…Bigelow Tea’s Green Tea with Pomegranate! Rather than the second latte of the day, Peter King recommends Green Tea with Pomegranate as “a nice, tasty substitute, at about 245 fewer calories. Smart idea to make green tea tasty.”
Learn more about the other benefits of this popular tea by reading our previous entry. For recipes incorporating Green Tea with Pomegranate go here.
Posted by Julie at 10:13 pm | Comment (0)
6th October, 2008: Will Joe Torre and Terry Francona Meet?
Well the weather is getting cooler and what a great time to enjoy many cups of Bigelow Green Tea while you’re watching the Baseball Playoffs and World Series. It’s been a great run for many teams but we’re down to the final eight. I can’t believe that Joe Torre and Terry Francona (two of our Bigelow spokespeople and regular Bigelow Green Tea drinkers) are in the playoffs and could meet in the World Series. What’s even more interesting is that Terry and Joe have been friends for many years. I don’t know how many people know the story but Joe played with Terry’s father Tito Francona when Terry was a boy and they’ve been friends ever since. Today their bond also includes their regular enjoyment of Bigelow Green Tea.
I wish them both good luck in their quest for a World Championship!
Bob
Courtesy of New York Times: Joe Torre, left, and Terry Francona during a rare on-field meeting in Fenway Park in 2004.
Posted by Bob at 6:00 am | Comments (2)
3rd October, 2008: It feels like fall…smells like apples…but what recipe to use for dinner?
Feel like something seasonal for dinner? Try our Roast Loin of Pork with Spiced Apple Cider Apples recipe. It will fill your kitchen with the smell of fall.
Roast Loin of Pork with Spiced Apple Cider Apples
Ingredients:
3 1/2 cups (975mL) boiling water, divided
1 box Bigelow Apple Cider Herbal tea bags
2 1/2 lb. (1kg) pork loin roast
1 clove garlic, sliced
1/4 cup (50 mL) olive oil
2 bay leaves
Salt and pepper
Apple Garnish:
4 large firm cooking apples, peeled and cut into slices
(example: Fuji, Granny Smith, Cortland).
1 cup (250mL) reserved (from above) Bigelow Apple
Cider tea
2 tablespoons (30mL) brown sugar
Yield: Serves 8 - Prep Time: 25 minutes - Cooking Time: 60 minutes
Instructions:
Boil water and add 20 Bigelow Apple Cider Herbal Tea bags. Let steep for 5-8 minutes. Remove bags by squeezing well and discard. Make slits in the roast and insert garlic slices.
Combine 2 1/2 cups (625mL) Bigelow Apple Cider Herbal Tea with olive oil, bay leaves and salt and pepper in a large plastic bag, add pork roast and marinate for 8 hours or overnight in refrigerator.
Refrigerate 1 cup (250mL) reserved Bigelow Apple Cider Herbal Tea for Apple Garnish.
When ready to roast pork, preheat over to 350ºF (180ºC). Remove meat from marinade, place meat in roasting pan and put into oven and roast for approximately 60 minutes or until meat is no longer pink inside and thermometer reads 160ºF (71ºC).
Meanwhile, prepare apple garnish by combining reserved 1 cup (250mL) Bigelow Apple Cider Herbal Tea and brown sugar, place in large skillet, add apple slices and cook on medium heat until liquid has reduced and apple is tender and flavored with tea.
Serve slices of pork with apple garnish.
For more recipe and entertaining ideas go to: http://www.bigelowtea.com/entertaining/recipes/
Posted by John at 6:00 am | Comment (0)
2nd October, 2008: A Spectacular Day with Bigelow Tea
What a spectacular day. The 21st annual Bigelow Tea Community Challenge was everything we could have hoped for! Almost 1000 participated in this event, and the weather really cooperated (the rain held off beautifully). We had almost 150 kids running in the Kid’s fun run, almost 200 joined the 2 mile walk and over 550 runners participated in our 5K…and with them they brought family members, strollers, dogs, smiles, and laughs…the perfect day!
In addition to putting on a great event, we raised the most money ever for our local charities, almost $85,000. A team of 15 plan this event over 9 months, and to see it come off as well as it did, all I can say is that is what it is all about. No question, one of my favorite things about running this family company is having the opportunity to give back to others and the Bigelow Tea Community Challenge is exactly that…giving back to others.
Cindi Bigelow
Tom Harding, 5K Winner
Photos courtesy of Jack McCoy Photography
Posted by Cindi at 6:00 am | Comment (0)
1st October, 2008: October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month
Think pink…October is Breast Cancer Awareness month. Fifteen years ago, Evelyn Lauder, Senior Corporate Vice President of the Estée Lauder Companies, founded National Breast Cancer Awareness Month (NBCAM) with the Pink Ribbon as its symbol.
For more information about tea and breast cancer, check out previous entries: Reese Witherspoon’s Tokyo Tea Ceremony and Think Pink…Tea Intake Linked to Increased Breast Cancer Survival.
Image courtesy of Wikipedia
Posted by Julie at 6:00 am | Comment (0)
30th September, 2008: Chamomile Tea Goes Beyond Comforting: It May Prevent Diabetes Complications too!
A recent study from Japan and the UK concluded that chamomile tea may prevent blood sugar increases and other complications associated with type 2 diabetes. In the study, diabetic rats that were fed chamomile tea exhibited lower production of sugar alcohol sorbitol from glucose, which has been linked to eye and nerve cell damage as well as kidney damage.
Researchers from the University of Toyama in Japan and the Institute of Grassland and Environmental Research in the UK reported “The results (of this new study) clearly suggested that daily consumption of chamomile tea with meals could contribute to the prevention of the progress of hyperglycemia and diabetic complications.”
Future studies on humans will need to be conducted to see whether the results can be repeated. As a dietary approach, this may well mean chamomile tea may be added to the expanding list. This is promising news for those with type 2 diabetes…
If you are just looking for “comforting” and want to learn more about herbal teas in general go here. Curious which celebs are drinking chamomile tea? Look here. Or maybe you’re hankering for some chamomile tea yourself?
Posted by Julie at 6:00 am | Comment (0)
29th September, 2008: Bon Jovi Tours with Herbal Tea
With more than 2500 concerts in over 50 countries, Bon Jovi has been around almost as long as tea — okay, maybe not quite that long. However, 25 years is a long time for a band, and Jon and his band are still going strong. In fact, at one time, David Bryan joked “We’re the same as when we started out — just a little more expensive and a little older.”
Some things have changed just a little over the years, like the must-haves when they are on tour. Along with the meatloaf that their chef of 20 years prepares before the first date of their tour, you can add chicken soup, Halls Soothers and, you guessed it, herbal tea.
Posted by Ruth at 6:00 am | Comment (0)
26th September, 2008: 21st Annual Bigelow Tea Community Challenge
The big day is coming up!! Yes our 21st Bigelow Tea Community Challenge is this Sunday (rain or shine), September 28th. We hold this wonderful family event at Wakeman’s boys and girls club in Southport CT. We hope to have over 1000 participants to either be in the kid’s fun run, the 2 mile fitness walk or the 5K road race. It is such a special event bringing together so many people in our community to raise money for local organization’s in need. This year we have already raised $85,000 – WOW! That just goes to show how generous and kind people truly are, even during these more challenging times.
I am so proud of the people in this company that make this event happen, the volunteers that come the day of and all those in our community that participate-together it creates a positive spirit beyond words!
This race has truly become a treasured event in our company….I will happily let you know the results when it is over. Yes rain or shine, everyone on that day is a winner in my book!
Cindi Bigelow
Posted by Cindi at 9:33 am | Comment (0)
26th September, 2008: The Art of the Sommelier
Many have heard the term ‘sommelier’ in relation to wine. People tend to associate it with being an expert on whatever subject is being referenced. James Labe is America’s first tea sommelier. He explains the difference between a wine and tea sommelier as follows: “a tea sommelier is someone who walks around making recommendations and preparing tea for people, that’s the big difference between a wine sommelier and a tea sommelier.” Labe is a faculty member with the American Tea Masters Association and has received many prestigious honors.
For those of you looking to learn more about tea sommeliers through firsthand accounts, check out The Voice of Tea, a blog written by tea sommelier Chris Cason.
If you’re interested in becoming a tea sommelier yourself or just learning more about it, check out the Art of Tea’s Tea Sommelier Training program.
Posted by Linda at 6:00 am | Comment (0)
24th September, 2008: Tea Video Contest Selects Its “2008 Calm-A-Sutra of Tea™ Master”
The Calm-A-Sutra of Tea Master for 2008 National Scholarship contest, which required all entrants to submit original one-to-two minute Internet videos containing at least one valid message regarding tea’s health-related benefits, specifically black, green, white and oolong tea, has chosen a winner…and the grand prize goes to…John Ford. John will receive a $20,000 scholarship from the Tea Council of the USA, Inc.
John is a resident of Los Angeles, CA and second year graduate student at the American Film Institute (AFI) where he is pursuing a Masters of Fine Arts in Film Directing.
Out of nearly 700 videos submitted, John’s video, INTERROGATION, stood out. The Tea Council of the USA, Inc. partnered with sitcom star Megyn Price of the CBS hit series Rules of Engagement as the official Calm-A-Sutra of Tea celebrity spokesperson.
The video was reportedly inspired by John’s father, a retired FBI agent, “who to this day can’t seem to shake the habit of interrogating everyone, including the cat.” It depicts two police detectives interrogating a cup of tea. It’s entertaining and educational all at the same time… a must watch!
For more information, see our two previous entries: Enjoy the “Calm-A-Sutra of Tea” and Win $$$ and The How’s and Why’s of Tea.
Posted by Julie at 6:00 am | Comment (0)
