Bigelow | Vanilla Chai Latte

Bigelow’s Vanilla Chai Latte is a vast departure from the boxes of Bigelow tea you will find in your local grocery store.  A product such as Bigelow Vanilla Chai Latte (creamy spiced black tea) has the potential to attract customers that otherwise would not buy loose leaf tea or tea bags destined for hot tea steeping (or iced tea).  I heard this product was coming, so I’ve been looking forward to this moment.  First of all, let’s start with the bottle.   My entire family thinks the bottle is cool.  There’s no way you can drink this without someone asking about it.  So, great concept for the bottle design on Bigelow’s part.  It does remind me of the vibrant colors you would see in India.  It’s one of the happiest bottles I’ve seen.  I’m glad to see Bigelow bring this product to the marketplace.  As an RTD consumer, it’s one that I’ve been waiting to try for a long-time.

Taste: Creamy and sweet with a splash of cinnamon, vanilla, honey and a touch of black tea.  It’s almost dessert like, but not over-the-top sweet.  I can’t stress enough the creamy-smooth texture of this product.  In addition to liking chai, if you enjoy coffee flavored RTDs (lattes, cappuccinos, etc.), you’ll most likely enjoy this beverage.  I’ve drank a ton of chais over the past couple of years, and this one is definitely more tame than the traditional Masala Chais as far as overall spice.  Having said that, it’s right on par in the spice department with many Chai RTDs I’ve tried.  You’re not going to get a mouthful of cardamom or cloves with this tea.  I know for most of my friends and family, that’s a good thing.  If you’re in the mood for a sweet, creamy, chai to take on-the-go – definitely try this.  It was a lot fun to drink.  I only wish the bottle was bigger.  The (10.5 fl. oz.) bottle states: Calories 160, Calories from Fat 25.  Another note at the bottom of the label: contains milk, soy.

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Cindi Bigelow shows us how to prepare a “perfect” cup of tea in this YouTube video. Bigelow Tea has produced quality tea since 1945. The company is based in Fairfield, CT. Cindi Bigelow is the Co-President of the successful family-owned tea company. Cindi Bigelow is a well-respected executive in the tea industry. Her charm and charisma makes this instructional video both entertaining and educational. 

• Visit Bigelow Tea

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This is a good video to watch for those of you that are new to tea. If you are starting to gain interest in tea, Bigelow Tea is a great place to start.

• Visit Bigelow Tea

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One of my first blogs was titled: Bigelow Tea, a rare US family owned tea company

I still cannot wait to visit the tea plantation in Charleston, South Carolina. That said, as I suggested in my previous blog, I was going to try one of their loose leaf teas. I’ve had several of their bagged products, and for the most part I have enjoyed most of their selections. I ordered this tea online from bigelowtea.com. I had no problems with the online checkout process, and the delivery of the tea was very fast. I selected their signature tea “Constant Comment.” Again, this was one of Bigelow’s loose leaf teas. This was the first time I have ever tried a Bigelow loose leaf tea. In addition, it was the first time I have ever tried “Constant Comment.”

The tea absolutely exceeded my expectations. First off, the tea leaves looked large and fresh. There are orange rind pieces mixed throughout the tea. The pieces of orange rind add to the presentation of the dried product. The scent of the tea coming from the tin literally makes your mouth water. Now, I’ve tried several fruit flavored teas. I have even tried orange flavored teas. Bigelow’s “Constant Comment”® is by far the best flavored black tea I have ever tried. I’ve tried several cups, and I have yet to be disappointed. The orange flavor is authentic and fresh. If you are a fan of citrus flavored teas, this is a must. My only complaint about the tea is that I don’t know where the tea was grown. I’ll let that slide…

Click here to follow Bigelow Tea’s “Going Green” initiative.

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It must be awesome to be a part of Bigelow tea and the heritage that surrounds the company. I’m sure any one reading this post knows of Bigelow Tea. The U.S. family owned and operated tea company is located in Fairfield, Connecticut. They own the Charleston Tea Gardens in Charleston, South Carolina. It’s often dubbed “America’s only tea plantation.” My goal is to some day make it there. I truly admire their passion for tea.

Now, the reason I’m writing today is to let you know about their blog. That’s right, they’ve had a blog for a short-while now, and they keep it up-to-date. You’ll be notified of both the good and the bad happenings within the Bigelow tea company. In addition, you’ll get the message directly from the top. So, check it out. One more important note: on May 12, 2007 @ the Charleston Tea Plantation, they are holding a First Flush Celebration from 10am – 5pm. That should be pretty cool to attend. See the links below for details:

• Bigelow Tea Blog
• First Flush Celebration @ the Charleston Tea Plantation
• Shop online for Bigelow Tea

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I’ve discussed in previous blogs about how much I depend on caffeine. In the event I had to stop drinking beverages that contain caffeine, I would be in serious trouble because other than Rooibos, I have no idea what products are out there that actually taste good and are decaffeinated. In addition, I’m always asked about decaffeinated teas, and teas that can be purchased at a local grocery store.

So, that leads me to my next beverage selection: Bigelow French Vanilla. I do like this one! It has a creamy french vanilla flavor that almost reminds me of a cappuccino. Without adding any sugar, the Bigelow tea has a very sweet flavor. The key to this tea is the fact that it tastes how I would expect it to taste. The good news, it’s a decaf. I do recommend this tea for those of you wanting a nice warm and relaxing beverage to sip at night without worrying about the side effects of caffeine.

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My “decaf” blogs are for those of you wanting to drink tea, but need to cut the caffeine intake…

from a previous blog.marTEA.com blog on Earl Grey: Earl Grey is a popular black tea blend often referred to as an afternoon tea. I like it anytime of the day, especially in the morning. There’s one catch to liking Earl Grey, you have to like the flavoring of the Bergamot oil. Bergamot is a citrus fruit described as a cross between the pear lemon and a grapefruit. Whenever I hear someone say they don’t like Earl Grey, they are usually trying an Earl Grey from a supplier that might have overpowered the tea with Bergamot oil.

I have read that most teas are made decaffeinated by additional processing. Tea naturally contains caffeine. The processing needed to rid tea of its caffeine is completed in a safe and natural manner (or so I’m told). One way to remove the caffeine is Ethyl Acetate processing, and another way to remove the caffeine is to basically “pressure cook” tea using Carbon Dioxide (CO2).

Now, let’s get to the taste test. I know when I started drinking diet pop/soda/cola it took me a while to get used to the flavor. The same is going to be true with decaf tea. The smell of the Earl Grey tea before it was brewed was excellent. The popular Bergamot scent was pronounced and pleasant. However, after brewing the tea, it lacked the flavor that I was expecting. It did not taste bad. The tea was just weak in flavor. In addition, the scent of the brewed tea was flat and not at all as pronounced as the dry tea. Unfortunately, after a few cups of this tea, I’ll have to pass.

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