We know you love to drink your favorite teas, but how much do you really know about this amazing beverage? What are the differences between Green, Black and Oolong teas … and where does Herbal tea fit in? If these questions have you stumped, Bigelow Tea can help!

So to further your tea edification, we thought you’d enjoy hearing from Bigelow Tea president, Cindi Bigelow. If anyone knows tea, it’s the granddaughter of Ruth Campbell Bigelow, founder of Bigelow Tea! We hope you enjoy this video lesson … and we think that after viewing it that you’ll not only know a lot more about the complexities of tea appreciation, but that you’ll be also dying to brew a cup!

Enjoy!

Click here to view the embedded video.

So to further your tea edification, we thought you’d enjoy hearing from Bigelow Tea President, Cindi Bigelow. If anyone knows tea, it’s the granddaughter of Ruth Campbell Bigelow, founder of Bigelow Tea! We hope you enjoy this video lesson … and we think that after viewing it that you’ll not only know a lot more about the complexities of tea appreciation, but that you’ll be also dying to brew a cup!

Enjoy!

Click here to view the embedded video.

At Bigelow Tea, we’re devoted to our Family, so, it’s no surprise that Cindi Bigelow was on board when her family of employees approached her about the concept of a Bigelow Tea Rap Video! The video, written and performed by Bigelow Tea blender Jamaar Wright, pays homage to the positive work environment and community at Bigelow tea.

Several Bigelow Tea employees (and Cindi herself !) are seen dancing and grooving in the background -  join in and dance with us!

This is special. Enjoy!

So we were thinking: you might want to hear directly from our dedicated Bigelow Tea employees about how they are driving environmental initiatives into every aspect of the Bigelow Tea enterprise. Their dedication is exciting … and so is this video which was produced by Hayden Stebbins, Sustainability Intern at Bigelow Tea!

Click here to view the embedded video.

History, family tradition, innovation … at Bigelow Tea we continually strive for the perfect blend! Join CPTV and President Cindi Bigelow on the “Empowering Connecticut” original series as they take you inside our company’s state-of-the-art plant in Connecticut, where cherished family heirlooms and state of the art technology are equally at home. From the installation of solar panels that generate 20 percent of the plant’s electricity, to the development of biodegradable tea bags, today’s Bigelow Tea family is doing amazing things to reduce energy use and preserve our environment for future generations of tea drinkers. We think Ruth C. Bigelow would be proud!

The French expression “chacun à son goût” (“to each one his taste”) is apropos when referring to the perfect cup of tea.  Our neighbors across the pond in the UK have a great affinity for tea …  and very opinionated theories as to what constitutes a perfect cuppa!  The British Waitrose Food Illustrated conducted a survey to get to the root of the matter, gathering a panel of 70 people dubbed “The Tea Council.” This panel reached a consensus for the perfect English cup of tea:

• English Breakfast loose leaf tea
• In a mug
• Steeped for 3 ½ minutes
• Made in a pre-warmed China pot
• Tea in first
• Splash of milk
• No sugar

On this side of the Atlantic, tastes vary considerably because our culture is a melting pot. We have so many people from a variety of cultures and traditions, each with their own concept of the perfect cup of tea. As for us at Bigelow Tea, we focus on the quality of our tea and the brewing details. Here’s how we’d make our perfect cup:

• Bigelow Tea (any type, any flavor)
• Fresh cold water
• For Black, Oolong and Herb teas:  bring water to a boil, then pour immediately over tea  (steep Black/Oolong teas 1-2 minutes; Herbal teas, 3-5 minutes)
• For Green and White teas: bring water just to when bubbles begin to form, then pour over tea (steep Green teas 2-4 minutes)

For further instruction, here’s Cindi Bigelow herself, giving us her best advice on the perfect cup–check it out, she’s the expert!

Click here to view the embedded video.

So, there we have it.  Now it’s your turn: comment here or visit our Facebook Page and let us know what makes your perfect cup of tea!

Image via Blogs.voices.com.

Among the many things to love about our Bigelow Tea varieties—in addition to the great taste and reported health benefits—are their freshness and full-bodied tea flavor! That’s why we put as much effort into making our packaging as we do our teas, ensuring that every cup you brew will be perfect. No need to purchase special containers for storing your Bigelow Teas!

That said, it’s helpful to understand the principles behind the packaging. It is the prolonged exposure to air, light and moisture that will diminish the potency of your tea and flavorings. So each Bigelow tea bag is individually wrapped in a foil pouch to seal in all the wonderful flavor and freshness. The tea bags themselves are of the highest quality—rated a 10 on a 1-10 scale for ability to maintain freshness. And our amazing loose teas come in special tins that protect the delicate tea leaves and flavorings. Either way, when you tear open a pouch or pop the lid, you get a burst of intense tea aroma that you know will create a deeply flavorful cup of tea!

Of course, the quality of the tea going into our bags and tins is just as important. Check out this video, where Bigelow Tea President Cindi Bigelow demonstrates how you can actually see the difference between our teas and those of lesser quality. You’ll be amazed:

Click here to view the embedded video.

Storage? No problem! Simply place the box of Bigelow Tea foil pouches or tin of loose tea in a cupboard away from heat and light. And never put tea in the refrigerator or freezer. The most important thing though, is to make sure that wherever you store your tea, it’s within easy reach so you can brew up a delicious cup anytime!

Looking back however I still can’t get over that Friday was Charles McCord’s last day on the Imus in the Morning Show. Charles will be retiring to Arkansas after a wonderful 40 year association with Don Imus. It was an honor to wish Charles continued success in the new chapter in his life and we wish him all the best. We consider him a true friend to our family.

Enjoy your next chapter Charles…. I know it will be magnificent !!!! Just like you deserve.

Cindi Bigelow

Who says green beer is the “it” drink for St. Paddy’s Day? Why not shake things up with a TEA-licious alternative –Bigelow Tea’s signature Greenie Mar-TEA-ni! The recipe’s key ingredient, of course, is Bigelow Green Tea, and that’s altogether fitting, especially given Ireland’s affinity for tea.

Cindi Bigelow, President (and resident Greenie Mar-TEA-ni expert), beautifully demonstrates how to mix one up. Hint: there’s some serious multigenerational shaking going on!

But don’t worry about flouting tradition. Turns out the Irish and would-be Irish around the world have a long history of reinventing ways to honor the patron saint of Ireland, and Irish culture in general. Parades? Those originated in New York City, not Ireland, in 1762! Alcohol? Until the 1970s, Irish pubs weren’t allowed to open on March 17^th, since St. Patrick’s Day had traditionally been a religious festival. Dying everything green? Chicago got really creative in 1962 by dying the Chicago River green, and a new tradition was born.

Of course, reinvention is emblematic of the Irish-American experience. Irish journalist Rory Fitzgerald offers a lovely reflection on this – and why we all claim to be just a little bit Irish on St. Patrick’s Day. So raise a Greenie Mar-TEA-ni toast to all things Irish!

The Greenie Mar-TEA-ni

Ingredients:

6 Bigelow® Green Tea tea bags (can use any flavored Bigelow Green tea)
1¼ cups boiling water
1 tablespoon sugar
4 ounces vodka
Garnish with a twist of lemon

Yield: Serves 4

Instructions:

Place Bigelow® Green Tea tea bags into a measuring cup and add 1¼ cups boiling water. Let brew for 3 minutes. Remove tea bags.  Add sugar and stir until it dissolves.

To chill, place tea concentrate in the freezer for 30-45 minutes.

To make a martini, take two ounces of the cooled sweet tea and mix it with one ounce of the vodka. Shake with ice and strain into a martini glass. Garnish with a twist of lemon.

Photo: by geishaboy500 via flickr.com

Perhaps it’s Wally the Green Monster at Fenway Park in Boston, or maybe Cindi, Joe and Phil tossing around tea talk in New York? Watch the clips and vote below, and support your favorite clip in the comments section!

Click here to view the embedded video.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Which is your favorite Bigelow Tea Video?