Bigelow Tea Company facts for kids
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| Private | |
| Industry | Beverages |
| Founded | 1945 |
| Founder | Ruth Campbell Bigelow |
| Headquarters |
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U.S.
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Key people
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| Products | Teas and herbal teas |
| Revenue | US$188.9 million |
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Number of employees
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350 |
The Bigelow Tea Company is an American company that makes tea. It's located in Fairfield, Connecticut. Ruth C. Bigelow started the company in 1945. She created a special tea recipe called "Constant Comment."
Today, Bigelow sells over 50 different kinds of tea, like black, green, and herbal teas. All their teas are mixed and blended in Fairfield. They also have other factories in Boise, Idaho, and Louisville, Kentucky.
Bigelow owns the Charleston Tea Garden in South Carolina. This is the only tea garden in America! However, it doesn't grow the tea for Bigelow's products. Bigelow is still a family-owned business. It employs about 350 people. In 2020, the company made around $188.9 million in sales.
The Story of Constant Comment Tea
"Constant Comment" is still one of Bigelow's most popular teas. It's a black tea with orange peels and sweet spices. Ruth Bigelow, who was an interior designer, created this recipe in 1945. She got the idea from an old recipe for making spiced orange tea.
In 1945, a food writer named Jane Holt wrote about this new tea. She said it was "unusual" and "delicious." She also noted that a small amount of this tea made a lot of cups. This made it very "economical."
Another famous food writer, Clementine Paddleford, shared how the tea got its name. Mrs. Bigelow's friend served the new tea at a party. The guests didn't know it was a new blend. But everyone kept talking about how wonderful the tea smelled and tasted. They had "constant comment" about it! So, Mrs. Bigelow decided that was the perfect name.
Sales of "Constant Comment" grew steadily. They really took off in the 1970s. This was when Bigelow started putting their tea bags in folding cardboard boxes instead of metal tins.
The famous musician Leonard Cohen even mentioned "Constant Comment" tea in his song "Suzanne." He sang about "tea and oranges." The tea also appeared in a children's book from 1977.
Today, the recipe for "Constant Comment" is a secret. Only two people know the exact formula: Ruth Bigelow's son, David Jr., and his wife. The recipe has not changed since it was first created.
Other Interesting Teas
- Earl Grey tea: This is an English tea. It's flavored with oil from a special type of orange called bergamot. But it doesn't have other spices like "Constant Comment."
See also
In Spanish: Compañía Bigelow Tea para niños
