Bigelow Tea Company
Encyclopedia
R.C. Bigelow, Inc, better known as the Bigelow Tea Company, is an American
tea company based in Fairfield, Connecticut
. The company was founded by Ruth C. Bigelow in the late 1940s, based on a recipe she marketed as "Constant Comment" tea. Bigelow is still a 100% family-owned business that markets over 50 varieties of tea
, including black
, green
and herbal teas, all of which are still blended in Fairfield. They also own America's only tea plantation
, in Charleston, South Carolina
. Although still a privately held company, in 2009 their annual sales were reported to be about $90 million and they have 350 employees.
In 1945, New York Times food writer Jane Holt wrote about the newly introduced tea, praising it for "economy of use:"
A 1945 article by Clementine Paddleford
tells this story about the origin of the name:
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
tea company based in Fairfield, Connecticut
Fairfield, Connecticut
Fairfield is a town located in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. It is bordered by the towns of Bridgeport, Trumbull, Easton, Redding and Westport along the Gold Coast of Connecticut. As of the 2010 census, the town had a population of 59,404...
. The company was founded by Ruth C. Bigelow in the late 1940s, based on a recipe she marketed as "Constant Comment" tea. Bigelow is still a 100% family-owned business that markets over 50 varieties of tea
Tea
Tea is an aromatic beverage prepared by adding cured leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant to hot water. The term also refers to the plant itself. After water, tea is the most widely consumed beverage in the world...
, including black
Black tea
Black tea is a variety of tea that is more oxidized than the oolong, green, and white varieties.All four varieties are made from leaves of the shrub Camellia sinensis. Black tea is generally stronger in flavor and contains more caffeine than the less oxidized teas. Two principal varieties of the...
, green
Green tea
Green tea is made solely from the leaves of Camellia sinensis that have undergone minimal oxidation during processing. Green tea originates from China and has become associated with many cultures throughout Asia. It has recently become more widespread in the West, where black tea is traditionally...
and herbal teas, all of which are still blended in Fairfield. They also own America's only tea plantation
Plantation
A plantation is a long artificially established forest, farm or estate, where crops are grown for sale, often in distant markets rather than for local on-site consumption...
, in Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston is the second largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. It was made the county seat of Charleston County in 1901 when Charleston County was founded. The city's original name was Charles Towne in 1670, and it moved to its present location from a location on the west bank of the...
. Although still a privately held company, in 2009 their annual sales were reported to be about $90 million and they have 350 employees.
Constant Comment
Constant Comment remains today one of Bigelow Inc.'s most popular products. It is a black tea flavored with orange rinds and sweet spices.In 1945, New York Times food writer Jane Holt wrote about the newly introduced tea, praising it for "economy of use:"
A 1945 article by Clementine Paddleford
Clementine Paddleford
Clementine Paddleford was an American food writer active from the 1920s through the 1960s, writing for several publications, including the New York Herald Tribune, the New York Sun, The New York Telegram, Farm and Fireside, and This Week magazine...
tells this story about the origin of the name: