February is a month that Bigelow Tea really takes to heart.  The heart is not just a symbol of love and romance celebrated on Valentine’s Day; it’s the living, beating pump that breathes life into our body, keeping us alive. It’s not a coincidence that this month has been proclaimed American Heart Month too,  spearheaded by the American Heart Association to raise awareness about the importance of  heart disease prevention.

Heart disease is the number one cause of death in the United States.  It’s also the leading killer of women over the age of 34 – mainly because the symptoms, which differ significantly between men and women, are often overlooked.  In an effort to emphasize the severity of this disease to women, the Women’s Heart Foundation has named the first week of February National Women’s Heart Week.  The Foundation partners with local organizations across the nation, to provide women with information on prevention, symptom detection, and early intervention.

When we talk about prevention, what we really mean is that we should, collectively and individually, make it our mission to live healthier lives to help avoid the onset of cardiovascular disease, heart attack, or stroke.  Here are a few suggestions:

• Educate yourself  on the signs/symptoms of heart disease
• Visit your physician for a check up
• Eat nutritious food
• Exercise daily
• If you smoke – make the effort to quit
• Avoid excessive alcohol consumption
• Try to manage your stress through relaxation techniques/meditation
• Monitor your blood pressure and cholesterol
• Help others by  encouraging them to join you
• Laugh loud and laugh often!

And we’d be remiss if we didn’t also suggest regularly enjoying Bigelow Tea’s green tea. Cheers to healthy living!

Photo via Vegan.sheknows.com.

Manager (and Bigelow Tea Spokesman) Terry Francona’s Red Sox had a
busy offseason, bolstering their roster for a championship run in 2011

Warming our hands over the embers of baseball’s hot stove this winter, there’s been talks of trades, offseason moves and last season’s transgressions. But now all the passionate judgments are wrapped in a fresh coat of spring optimism. You know that Bigelow Tea loves baseball, and even though the parks’ verdant grass is still buried in snow, we’re feeling that giddy anticipation for the day when they declare “pitchers and catchers report!” Welcome to Spring Training 2011!

Soon the boys of summer will return, as equipment managers pack semi-trailers for travel to the sunny confines of Cactus and Grapefruit play.  Much has changed in the great game of baseball. In the past, many ballplayers farmed, sold cars or peddled insurance in the off-season while waiting for spring. Today, fall and winter leagues prepare the up-and-comers (and the still-hopeful) for the rigors of the game and the new season, while the full-time professionals can’t just show up at spring training intending to ‘get in shape’ for opening day. Instead, they make a year-round commitment to physical excellence.

Spring Training games are also big draws for clubs, often selling out facilities such as the Met’s home in Port St. Lucie, Florida.

Added drama to this year’s spring training are the rumors about Bigelow Tea favorite (and spokesman) Joe Torre; we know he won’t be sipping his green tea on the dugout steps this season – but perhaps he will be in the Baseball Commissioner’s office!

The 1921 New York Yankees, Spring Training in New Orleans’ Pelican Stadium

And amid all the buzz every February, we also remember those who’ve passed away in the last year, like “The Boss,”George Steinbrenner. Also gone forever are Sparky Anderson, Bob Feller, and many other baseball greats.  In their stead are the tide of fans, players and coaches, each of whom believe, deep down, that this is “the year.” Hope springs eternal at spring training, on and off the diamond!

Nothing warms a cold winter night like a favorite cup of Bigelow Tea…and what better beverage to share thisValentine’s Day with your loved one!

This February 14^th, as part of our ongoing Bigelow Tea Facebook Sweepstakes, 14 winners will receive two boxes of these delicious seasonal teas, a total of 40 tea bags of sharing! This month’s gift is a befitting assortment of Bigelow Tea’s Sweetheart Cinnamon Herb Tea and White Chocolate Kisses Tea – the perfect pair, just like you and your sweetie!

Bigelow Tea’s Valentine’s Day Sweeps will run from February 7^th to February 13^th, with the winners announced on Valentine’s Day. To enter: visit Bigelow Tea’s Facebook page, and “Like” us by clicking the icon next to our name at the top of the page. Then visit the sweepstakes tab and enter your name for a chance to win this great Valentines gift duo from Bigelow Tea!  (A $6.59 retail value.)

We hope you enjoy this month’s sweepstakes, and take advantage of the chance to spend some time with a lovely Tea CUP-ple on Valentine’s Day!

My name is Louise, and I live in Illinois. I grew up in Rockford, in a totally Swedish community, but my mother was of English descent. Even though she enjoyed coffee with all our friends and relatives, our special time together was always over a cup of tea.

When I was very young, she introduced me to Bigelow’s Constant Comment. The spices and orange flavor made it especially yummy to my young palate.

When I was still in grade school, my mother baked a huge assortment of Christmas cookies every year, and I proudly carried a written invitation to my teacher for afternoon tea and cookies on the last day of school before the holiday break. I would dress in my finest new Christmas dress, and my mother would have the house all decorated, with the dining room table set for just the 3 of us. We would enjoy polite conversation, cookies, and of course, our favorite Constant Comment tea.

I eventually moved away from my home town, and my mother passed away 2 years ago, but I’ll always cherish those “grown up” moments with my mother over cups of Bigelow’s Constant Comment tea.

Louise

Bigelow Tea Drinker

What a huge complement!

The Town of Fairfield (CT) just had an opportunity to name a new street near our building while they are building an added train station in our neighborhood. And the name of the street is…”Constant Comment” Way. It doesn’t get any better than that.

We have been in this town for over 20 years, and we love Fairfield. We love doing things for the community and its residents. The fact that the Board of Selectman wanted to go above and beyond to recognize our commitment to this town by naming this new road after our flagship brand is truly heartwarming and humbling. As one of the three selectman stated when voting on this amendment, “Bigelow has never asked anything from this town, it only gives. It is our pleasure to say thank you for all their efforts by naming this street ‘Constant Comment’ Way.”

Wow, that was truly a magical moment for me and all of us at Bigelow Tea. Thank you Fairfield, we are proud to be a resident! We plan on giving back for a very long time….

Cindi Bigelow

We recently found this video from a Green Tea drinker, Bubzbeauty. She woke up wondering, “If green tea can do wonders for our health, what about our skin?” So, after some research and experimentation, she decided to give herself a green tea facial! By combining brewed green tea, sugar and oil, she created a luxurious facial scrub.

As we’ve noted before, green tea is full of antioxidants and can provide a myriad of health and beauty benefits. An article by Suzanne Currie lists green tea as one of the top five ingredients for beautiful skin. She writes:

Green tea is rich in antioxidants that reduce inflammation and protect cell membranes. It has been proven to reduce the damage of sunburns and overexposure to ultraviolet light, which in turn reduces the risk of skin cancer. Green tea also contains polyphenol. Recent research by scientists at the Medical College of Georgia shows that the polyphenol most abundant in green tea also acts as a “fountain of youth” it reactivates dying skin cells. In addition to its skin-healthy properties, green tea is also high in vitamins C, D and K, zinc, calcium, magnesium and iron.

We’ve used tea as a soothing body spray, as part of a mild astringent toner, and now you can use it for a facial scrub! What’s more, green tea is not sticky, it’s inexpensive and is 100% natural. What more could you want from a skin care product?

We hope you already enjoy Bigelow’s many Green Tea varieties as a beverage. And, perhaps on a snowy day when you feel like pampering yourself, you’ll see what it can do for your skin! Tea and beauty are a winning combination.

Additional Note: Perfect timing, ABC Good Morning America featured a segment this morning on how to use damp green tea bags (from Bigelow) to help diminish blemishes.

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!

National Hot Tea Month-in our world that is a big deal.

Had a party scheduled for our employees to celebrate and due to many weather interruptions was just finally able to have it today (not a day too late….Jan 31st!). But it is so rewarding for me to have an opportunity to get in front of our employees in Fairfield (wish I could do the same with our other plants for this occasion), and just thank them for everything they do, day in and day out to make us successful.

Whether it is the 270 people who come to our plants everyday to make teabags or the 60 people who come to the corporate office, we have 330 people dedicated to making the best tea possible. How great is that!

Yes this was National Hot Tea Month, yes we did celebrate in all facilities, but at our company, every day is cause to celebrate Hot Tea and the employees that make it happen!

Cindi Bigelow

Can you imagine our excitement here at Bigelow Tea when we received word from Everyday with Rachael Ray Magazine that one of our teas had won first place in a Black Tea Taste Test?! Yes, it’s true, we were recently informed that in the February issue of Ms. Ray’s delectable magazine our very own Plantation Mint Tea would be featured as the BEST in the “black tea with HERB” category!

Here’s a preview of what Everyday with Rachael Ray Magazine says about our fantastic Plantation Mint:

Since its introduction half a century ago, this blend has amassed a loyal following—and it won over our judges too.
Black tea adds depth (plus caffeine) to sweet, invigorating spearmint leaves.
“This would be the ultimate morning pick-me-up!” one taster exclaimed. Another noted that it’d be delicious served iced.

Plantation Mint was developed by Eunice Bigleow and introduced in 1961. It continues to be a consumer favorite, ranking in sales among our top three flavored black teas. We love it whether it’s hot and soothing, iced and refreshing or in one of our favorite recipes like Bigelow Frozen Iced Tea!

We hope you’ll all grab a copy and give it a read … and maybe sip some Plantation Mint tea while you’re perusing its pages! Thanks, Rachael, for recognizing our tea. We love you too!

The Bigelow Tea Boise Plant recently completed a “Blue Jean and Snack Drive” for The Hope House, a local children’s home located in Marsing, Idaho.  We collected 100 pairs of blue jeans and many boxes of snack food to help this worthy cause.   Nicki Cunningham and Barbara Marcum, team members of the Boise Plant who are pictured above,  were instrumental in organizing our effort.  They delivered our collections to the Hope House and were met with a warm welcome by the kids.  Oh, and we also gave them lots of tea!