Today most of us steep our tea in microwave-safe mugs, but for a superior drink, many of yesteryear’s tea lovers relied on a particular teapot called the Brown Betty. According to an informational antiques web site, in the seventeenth century Brown Betty teapots were created from a special red clay that helped the pots retain heat. By the nineteenth century, these vessels had evolved in shape, morphing from tall, urn-like vessels to round, squatter teapots that allowed more flavor — and less bitterness – to be released into each potful of boiling water. It’s no wonder the plumper shape of the modern Brown Betty became popular, first gaining favor at the court of Queen Victoria.

Makers associated with the Brown Betty include Swinton Pottery which developed the brown glaze and streaked finish that came to be associated with the teapot. 

If you’d like to obtain an authentic Brown Betty, heed a few words of warning. While the teapots can be found on the Internet and in retail stores, make sure the ware you’re considering has been handmade in the Old Caledonia Mills in Stoke-on-Trent and imported from England. Then, happy brewing! 

I am so excited to share some fun news about a super idea generated by a team in our company called IGT which stands for the Idea Generation Team.  IGT is made up of 7 employees from diverse departments throughout Bigelow Tea.  Since the groups’ inception two years ago, they have met once a month and brainstormed about all different kinds of ideas.  For example, one of their fun thoughts was to develop their own cooking show.  Two members of the IGT created delicious recipes using Bigelow tea. I have to say, they had a complete ball making up recipes for all of us to enjoy. We got such joy from watching the video they created (especially the bloopers)!

Well last Thursday another one of their ideas become a reality.   Next to our corporate headquarters sign on the outside of our building, they wanted to add a beautifully crafted replica of the Bigelow Tea signature teapot logo.  Sounds like a no brainer (which of course saying yes to their idea was) but no one else made it happen like they did! 

Because of this team’s great work, everyone passing by our building will now get to not only see our formal name R.C. Bigelow, Inc. but it will have placed next to it our lovely teapot emblem.  

In my opinion, some of the best ideas are what I call the “V-8” idea-you hear the idea and you react the same as the V-8 commercials “wow, I should have had a V-8”….simple, yet effective…. 

Cindi Bigelow, President

Gift giving is a breeze this season with an online catalog that has Bigelow tea gifts, tea chests, gift baskets and more!

Fairfield, CT, December 4, 2007 – - Bigelow Tea, a family owned business steeped in over 60 years of tea traditions, is proud to offer its 2007 Holiday Collection found at www.bigelowtea.com.  The catalog features more than 30 pages full of tea products and gift ideas sure to warm friends and family over this holiday season.

Distinctive gifts like the Zen Glass Teapot and Trivet will be sure to please with its elegant hand blown glass design along with the more traditional Classic Tea Chest which is beautifully crafted with an elegant cherry finish and contains eight different varieties of Bigelow tea.  The Green Tea Together basket, which includes Bigelow exclusive mugs, Meyer Lemon Cookies and eight different kinds of green tea is sure to make a green tea lover out of anyone while the festive Poinsettia Tea for Two tea pot with tea cups on a matching ceramic tray is perfect for the person who has everything.  There are many options available through the catalog in a variety of price ranges and all can be easily ordered online.

“We are constantly looking for unique and wonderful tea gifts to offer in our catalog so our consumers can share their love of tea,” says Cindi Bigelow, President of Bigelow Tea.  “We wanted to make holiday shopping more convenient, while at the same time, enjoyable and even entertaining.  This is our way of saying thank you and happy holidays!”

About Bigelow Tea Company

Bigelow Tea was founded by Ruth Campbell Bigelow over 60 years ago in 1945. The company continues to be 100% family owned and managed by the Bigelow family with a special blend of pride and enthusiasm. Today the company is one of the nation’s leading producers of specialty teas, which includes more than 80 varieties of flavored, traditional, green, organic green, herbal, decaffeinated, and iced teas.  One of Bigelow Tea’s best-known products is America’s number one specialty tea flavor – “Constant Comment® –   flavored with a delicious blend of oranges and spice. It is available in black tea, green tea and decaffeinated versions.

Bigelow Tea products are available nationwide and every variety can be found on the company website (www.bigelowtea.com).  Tea lovers will also enjoy the company’s blog (www.bigelowteablog.com).

Elizabeth April-Fritz
Bigelow Tea
203-334-1212
eafritz@rcbigelow.com

Valorie Luther
Creative Concepts
203.259.4202
vluther@creative-conceptsllc.com

Are you ready for the wave of the future for teapots?  Looking for an exceptional holiday gift?  Look no further.  Gizmodo blog has shown us the next wave of teapots.  You can pre-order this teapot on Joey Roth’s website .  Enjoy!