Bigelow Peppermint Bark Herbal

Bigelow Description:
The refreshing combination of peppermint and chocolate in our Peppermint Bark all natural herb tea is hot and cool all at the same time. A warm treat on a cold day with a minty finish your taste buds will thank you for. Add a little sweetener and it's just like a decadent dessert.

We use a special foil pouch to protect your tea from any air, moisture and surrounding aromas. So open and enjoy the unparalleled flavor, freshness, and aroma of Bigelow Tea everywhere you go!

Ingredients:
Peppermint, Chicory, Rose Hips, Low-fat Alkalized Cocoa Powder, Licorice Root, Natural Chocolate Flavors with Other Natural Flavors (Soy Lecithin)

My Review:
I've never seen this one on the store shelves. It says new in the box picture so it may have only been introduced this year. I love a handful of winter themed bagged teas. Most of which I buy enough to have all year round. I am looking forward to trying this one, not just because it is minty chocolate, but because it is Bigelow. We go way back. In fact the very first tea I ever bought was Bigelow Constant Comment. I shudder to think how many years ago that was and all I'll admit to is the tea came in a container with a metal top and bottom.

I only have the one bag that came in a Christmas card. An internet search shows it comes in a box of 20. Each individually foil pouch wrapped bag contains 2g of ingredients. The envelop says to steep for 5 minutes. So I boiled some water and set my timer.

The string is long enough to keep the tag out of the water if you don't pour into the mug too exuberantly. After 5 minutes the brew turns as dark and orange as if it were a black tea, yet this is an herbal.

The dry scent is peppermint and chocolate as is the brew scent. The taste is just a little flat. It is obviously peppermint and at a pleasant non-threatening level. The chocolate on the other hand is just not coming through as much as I would like.

I added some Splenda and it helped brighten the flavor. It still lacks the decadent level of flavor I had hoped to encounter. It is tasty enough, it just lacks a wow factor. I think if I had more of this to experiment with I could lift it to the next level by adding some cacao nibs.

I find what I am seeing here is pretty typical of chocolate teas. They never quite live up to what my brain expects. It would help if I could just get it through my head I am drinking an herbal tea and not a hot chocolate. I know that but it never helps.

Bigelow, Ginger Snappish

Bigelow Description:
Savory, sweet and just a bit spicy, our Ginger Snappish herbal tea is the perfect combination of ginger and lemon. Create a new tradition this holiday season, snuggling up with a cup and relaxing by the fire while gazing at fresh fallen snow.

Ingredients:
lemongrass, lemon peel, cinnamon, ginger, lemon verbena, rose hips, natural gingersnap, and natural lemon flavor with other natural flavors (soy lecithin), licorice root, citric acid

My Review:
Another that I received as an early Christmas surprise from my friend GG. I did have this before Christmas but am just now getting around to posting. This one appears to be intended as a Christmas themed tea. I do not know if this is available only seasonally, as our local stores don't stock it, in or out of season. Bah Humbug to grocers who ignore the tea drinkers among us.

The tea bag comes wrapped in this bright cheery foil envelope. I only have the one bag, but the box they come in is even more festive. You can see it here.

The scent as I open the wrapper is ginger and lemon. I was expecting more of a ginger snap smell but then the label does say 'with lemon'. The lemon does not make me think lemon fruit, rather it is more lemongrass/lemon verbena.

The string is long enough that you won't have to fish it out of the cup later, and the bag contains almost 2.5g of herbs. Plenty for a real cup of herbal tea.

I steeped this for the recommended 4 minutes. The brew is cloudy yellow. The aroma is a pleasant ginger/lemongrass combination.

Interesting, the taste is far more lemony than I expected. Frankly it is the main flavor. The ginger appears briefly towards the end of each sip, just long enough to add a little heat and then fades rather quickly. This contains licorice root but I do not detect it in the sip.

I added sweetener to see how it affected the taste. Honestly, I preferred this without additions. It is pleasant and soothing, but I have to admit, it does not make me think gingersnap at all. It also does not coincide with any Christmas memories for me. The gingery aftertaste is not enough to bring out the Ho Ho Ho in me, on the other hand, as a quiet lemon cup it is very nice.

I mentioned in my review on Steepster that I would be more inclined to sip this one late at night in the summertime while sitting out under the stars.

You can buy this direct from Bigelow, or just maybe, it will be on your local grocers shelves.

Bigelow, Salted Caramel

Bigelow Description:
Enjoy this popular combination of sweet and salty, now in a teacup. Our all natural blend of hand-picked black tea and succulent caramel with just a hint of salt flavor is the perfect treat. Add a splash of milk and a little sweetener for a sublime guilt-free indulgence.

Ingredients:

Black Tea, Natural Flavors (Soy Lecithin), Rose Hips, Chicory Root

My Review:
An early Christmas surprise from my friend GG. Thanks! We are always on the lookout for inexpensive teas that are comforting. Here's hoping on this one!

Bigelow was my introduction to the world of tea beyond Lipton iced tea. Constant Comment was my very first purchase. Earl Grey, Lemon Lift, and Cinnamon Stick, came later - I tried everything the local grocer put on the shelf, and fell in love. So, Bigelow has a special place in my heart, even if we have drifted apart these last few years.

This tea bag is sealed in a foil pouch. That is the only way to go with tea bags if you want them to stay fresh. Pulling out the bag, I notice two things. First, this smells really deliciously of caramel candy. Second, the string is long enough that I know it won't get sucked under when I pour water over the bag. A third, and very important thing was learned while looking at Bigelow's website. Each bag contains almost 2 1/2g of tea. This will make a real cup of tea! Some companies (I'm looking at you Stash and Republic of Tea) put about half that amount of tea in their bags.

I used boiling water and steeped for the recommended 4 minutes. That is longer than I would normally go with a black tea bag. I'm trusting you Bigelow!

The brew is dark reddish brown and the cup aroma is making me hungry. I removed the bag, and yes I did not follow my own rules - I squeezed it. At least I didn't leave it in the cup.

The taste is nice but not spectacular. I can taste the black tea base. It is typical of grocery store black tea. It tastes nice but kind of plain with no depth. Good enough that it will do. The caramel is kind of faint. By the aroma, I thought it would smack me up side the head, in a good way.

So, per the label directions I added sweetener. In my case it was Splenda. Oh my! The caramel jumps out to shouts of Taaa-Daaaa! Yeah, now this is pretty good.

The label also recommends adding milk. Except in my morning green tea frappes, I never add milk. Here goes. Now the cup looks like a melted caramel, you know the milky tan color I'm talking about. The taste is not that much different than just adding the sweetener, but the feel is rich and silky.

I would certainly drink this again. If you love a bargain and find this on your grocer's shelf, I recommend giving this one a try - remember to add your choice of sweetener. Bonus, my fingers smell like caramel from squeezing the bag. Yeah!

You can buy this direct from Bigelow here, but I'm pretty sure you can buy it locally for less.

Bigelow, Mint Medley

Bigelow Description:
Just as a lovely waterfall brings a sense of refreshment to your eyes and ears, Mint Medley® will bring this same quality to your sense of taste. Enjoy Mint Medley® -- its lively flavor refreshes any time of day. 20 individually foil wrapped tea bags per box.

Ingredients:
peppermint leaves, spearmint leaves, rose hips, lemon peel, hibiscus

My Review:
This was given to me by a friend. I have no idea how old it is, but that won't stop me from trying it. Is it fair to be reviewing this tea? Maybe, maybe not. My thinking is this represents real world conditions. Bigelow is a brand common to many corner grocery and big box stores. It is not uncommon for a box to sit far too long on the shelf before it is bought. Compound it with how we all tend to treat a box of bagged tea when we get it home, Yeah, you know I'm right. How often have you pulled a box out of the back of the cabinet that you don't remember owning.

I steeped this in a small cup of microwaved water to see how it has survived. At first I thought it was too far gone but as it cooled the peppermint came through nicely. Really not getting the spearmint but I prefer it that way. The rosehips and hibiscus give the cup color and only the slightest touch of tart. It would be interesting to know how this tastes fresh. I probably would not buy a box but will definitely finish this one. Unless it I lose it in the back of the cabinet.

Bigelow,French Vanilla Decaffeinated

Bigelow Description:
Experience more than just a tea. We invite you to take a private moment to relax and unwind with a delightful cup of Bigelow French Vanilla Decaffeinated Tea. Its rich vanilla flavor will calm down even the most hectic of days and because it has no calories and the added benefit of healthy antioxidants, it's good for you too!

Ingredients:
decaffeinated black tea, natural and artificial flavors (soy lecithin).

My Review:
This is the last of my Bigelow decaf variety pack excursion. I have been avoiding this one. Why? Well, back in my pre-loose leaf days, I remember trying Twinings Vanilla. I did not like it. OK, today my tastes have changed and expanded. Would I like it today? I don't know, but let's turn our attention to the tea before us.

This tea bag has a tag, string, and staple. It comes well protected and freshness preserved in an aluminum lined mylar envelope. The variety pack version, doing the math, appears to have 1.67g/bag. The non-variety version is 1.8g. That may not be enough difference to matter.

Tearing open the envelope, I can smell vanilla. With less than 2g of leaf, I chose to use my 6 ounce cup. Just under boiling water was poured over the bag. I steeped for about three minutes. The cup is dark and shiny with an aroma of vanilla.

The sip is vanilla but the cup just seems thin. I can't taste the black tea. So, back into the cup goes the bag where I decide to leave it. A couple minutes later I sip again. Now the cup is bolder with more developed flavor and I can taste the black tea. At this point I will add that my wife liked the shorter steep time and thought she could get a second cup from the bag.

With my longer steep time the vanilla is nicely creamy. It is not overwhelming as are some vanilla teas. The decaf black tea in the bag just isn't bold enough to really compete. I can taste it, but find myself wanting a little more from it. As I have said in other reviews, that is the downside to decaf and bagged tea in general. The cup often lacks depth and definition.

While this is not a complex cup, I did find myself enjoying this vanilla offering from Bigelow. If you are wanting a simple late evening cup of creamy vanilla, this would be worth a try.

Bigelow, English Teatime Decaffeinated

Bigelow Description:
Sipped throughout the day tea quenches, soothes, satisfies ... and delivers healthful antioxidants. Typically English, rich in flavor, and appropriate for any tea drinking occasion.

My Review:
Today I am sampling the fifth of six in the variety pack I bought recently. I have had the regular version before and after learning to properly brew it, was pleasantly surprised. So I have hope for this meager bagged offering.

The bag comes in an individually sealed envelope. I find they help hold in the freshness for a very long time. Removing the bag, I smell tea. Bags, especially unflavored, often don't have much aroma - and this is decaf to boot. So it is a wonderful start!

I used a 6oz cup, I believe I could have gone bigger. I prepared this with boiling water. The steep time was three minutes. This resulted in a nicely dark and aromatic cup. The scent is decidedly malty.

My guess is this is a blend of Ceylon, Assam, and maybe something else, but that is just a guess. It only says black tea on the label. It tastes like tea. Not the blended for blandness type tea that too often comes in a bag. This is actually quite flavorful.

Its shortcoming is also its selling point. Being decaf (and bagged) it takes the depth out of the cup. That being said, this is a very nice evening decaf. I could drink this often.

Bigelow, Constant Comment Decaffeinated Tea

Bigelow Description:
Sipped throughout the day, tea quenches, soothes, satisfies... and delivers healthful antioxidants. From the wonderful aroma that fills the air the moment it starts steeping, you'll know that Bigelow Tea is like no other. To create "Constant Comment®" Decaffeinated, we blend tender, hand-picked tea leaves with the rind of oranges and sweet spices, then individually wrap our tea bags in flavor-protecting pouches to seal in its goodness.

My Review:
I continue through my variety box of decaffeinated Bigelow tea. Today it is Constant Comment. The regular version is the first tea I ever bought. At that time there were 3 or 4 varieties of Bigelow on the shelves in our local grocery stores. Everything else was Lipton or Nestea and that last one was an instant tea (yeah - Eeeww).

This is a bagged tea containing 1.67g per bag. Each bag is sealed in its own mylar envelope that maintains the freshness very well. I used just off boiling water and an 8 ounce cup. The scent is classic Constant Comment - orange, clove, and other spices.

In the past, I have tried to force this to produce a full 12 ounce mug with meh results. Using about 6 ounces of water in an 8 ounce cup produced a very fresh and aromatic cup. The orange and clove separate nicely from each other, and the other spices. This produces a far more interesting cup than is typical of grocery store flavored teas.

The black tea base can be tasted, however it is a bit thin due to the decaffeination process and the bag. Taking that into consideration, it is really not bad.

My opinion is this is a successful and worthy cup not only as a decaf but as a bagged tea. Nicely done.

Bigelow, Earl Grey Decaffeinated

Bigelow Description:
A really fine cup of tea is one of life's true pleasures. We heartily recommend Earl Grey Decaffeinated for the enjoyment it will bring to your tea drinking. This delicately scented, aristocratic blend is an international favorite.

My Review:
Bigelow. Just the mention of the name brings a nostalgic smile to my face. It immediately makes me think Earl Grey, the second tea I ever bought. It is also the real start of my lifelong obsession - some might say addiction. I suspect I am not alone.

This is a bagged tea as have been every Bigelow tea I have ever sipped. I have never seen it in loose leaf. This one also is decaffeinated.

I have finally accepted Bigelow only uses 1.66g in each bag opposed to the 2g they used in my youth. So I chose a smaller vessel than I normally use. I prepared this in a cup with 8oz of just off boiling water. I left the bag in the mug for old times sake. Deal with it.

The brew is dark and fills my senses with even more of the citrusy bergamot aroma that was present in the dry bag. Just like I remembered it.

The sip is a satisfying cup of Earl Grey. The bergamot is smooth and delicious. Even with the bag still in the cup, there is no hint of bitterness. I am amazed, I can taste the tea. The decaffeination process takes a healthy bite out of any tea. The tea bag fannings here do suffer but honestly it is still pretty good.

If you are an Earl Grey fan and in need of a decaf version, this bagged tea is better than it has to be. In fact I rather enjoyed it. Thanks for living up to my memories.

Bigelow, Green Tea Decaffeinated

Bigelow Description:
Decaffeinated Green Tea offers the same delicious flavor of regular Green Tea in a naturally decaffeinated form. Our natural decaffeination process removes 99.6% of the caffeine without sacrificing flavor or the benefits of green tea.

My Review:
I have enjoyed Bigelow teas for decades. Bigelow was the very first brand of tea that I bought on my own as a teenager. In all those years I have never tried their Green tea. In fact, I don't even recall seeing it until recently.

This is a bagged tea and is decaffeinated. I took a deep whiff of the bag as I removed it from the mylar envelope. I was surprised that it had a nice leafy green aroma. Most unflavored bagged teas have very little scent. Nice start.

I placed the bag in my mug and added steaming but far below boiling water. The steep time was a little over three minutes. The brew was a dark green with golden tint.

The flavor reminded me of Tazo Green Tips but this is more subdued. The decaffeination process takes some of the depth out of this tea. That is going to be true of any decaf tea, so it is not surprising here. Other reviews I have seen claimed some astringency. I did not notice any. I am wondering if they used too hot of a water temperature, or possibly over-steeped. My cup is very smooth.

This is certainly not a bad cup. If you are looking for an inexpensive decaf green tea, this could be it. The closest to a negative I can find is the decaf process, though it has its benefits for late night sipping, does make this a fairly forgettable cup - solid, basic, but kind of beige.

Bigelow, Lemon Lift Decaf Tea

Bigelow Description:
Sipped throughout the day, tea quenches, soothes, satifies... and delivers healthful antioxidants. We have blended this tea with just the right amount of lemon and a dash of spice. It is deliciously refreshing hot or iced.

Ingredients:
Decaffeinated black tea, natural lemon flavor (soy lecithin), spice

My Review:
Actually, the picture I selected for this one isn't what I bought. I got this in a variety pack containing 3 bags each of 6 decaffeinated teas - a total of 18 bags. According to the label for Lemon Lift each bag contains 1.9 g of tea. The variety pack, however, contains only 1.67 g per bag. At 1.9 g, most people can use a 10-12 ounce cup and get a decently strong cup. At 1.67 g, I highly recommend using a smaller 6-8 ounce cup.

I did not realize there was a difference in the bag sizes. Always check the net weight and divide by the number of bags to see what you are getting, then size your cup accordingly. I did not do this when I grabbed the box. Upon opening the lid, I knew something was up, as it was only 2/3 full. So I grabbed my 6 ounce Corelle cup for this session.

This smells lemony and spicy. Not as spicy as Constant Comment, but spicy. I never add fresh lemon to hot tea, but this does not really smell like a slice of lemon to me. Its aroma, to me, is more lemon grass. It is a pleasant scent.

In the taste, I catch light cinnamon and something else. I cannot single out the taste of the black tea. It is just part of the mix. As in the scent, this does not taste like a fresh slice of lemon in the tea. It is more like a gooey lemon snack crumb cake or something similar. I liked it for that reason. It is more of a dessert treat without the guilt.

When I first began to buy tea, this is one of the four (all Bigelow) that I would grab. It is still an enjoyable cup.

Bigelow, Perfect Peach

Bigelow Description:
Here's a delightfully different blend with the aroma and taste of fresh, ripe peaches and herbs. Perfect Peach™, with its fresh-from-the-orchard flavor is a delicious treat whether you serve it steaming hot or over ice. 20 individually foil wrapped tea bags per box. 6 boxes per case. Net Wt. 1.37 oz. (38g).

Ingredients:
Rose hips, hibiscus, peaches, natural and artificial peach flavor, spices, orange peel, lemon peel, apples, strawberry leaves, roasted chicory. Gluten free. Caffeine free.

My Review:
This one came my way through various hands. A friend gave it to me after trying it only one time. He got it from his sister who had tried it a couple times. It's not sounding good for this Bigelow offering. Ah well, maybe third time is charm.... Or maybe not... We'll see.

This is a bagged herbal tea. I steeped the bag for an undetermined time... ok, i forgot the cup. It was probably close to 5 minutes. It happens. Since this is an herbal, oversteeping should not be an issue. The aroma is very peachy. It smells promising. The cup is not very peachy looking. It is very dark and kind of purple tinted. That seems a bit strange but this does contain rose hips and hibiscus.

I let the cup cool before taking my first sip. This starts nicely peach with apple and faint cinnamon. Towards the end of the sip the flavor drops off into some darker notes that I can't determine. As it cools more the flavors balance a little more but the tartness of the hibiscus becomes more noticeable.

This is not the worst herbal I have ever tried. It could be greatly improved, in my opinion, by removing the hibiscus. I have noticed true tea drinkers generally dislike hibiscus, so I am not alone. Tisane (or herbal) drinkers apparently don't mind it. Whether you find this good or bad may depend on your tastes. That is always true, I guess, but even more so here. Personally, I don't hate it but I am not a fan.

Bigelow, Ceylon

Bigelow Description:
Premium blend tea is 100 percent Ceylon Black Tea. Made with the highest quality Orange Pekoe and Pekoe Cut Black Tea. Comes in individually paper wrapped tea bags.

My Review:
This is a bagged tea. You can probably find it on your local grocers shelf. That makes it the kind of tea that originally sparked my love for tea.  Everyday tea! Some one should really start a blog about it. That’s a joke. Don’t let ‘em slide by you like that son (said in my best Foghorn Leghorn).

As easy as this tea from Bigelow is to find, I don't recall having ever tried it before. How did that happen?

Ok, so I opened the paper envelope – I haven’t seen a paper envelope in ever – and gave it a good sniff. It actually has a strong pleasant scent.  I heated the water to boiling and then let it cool down for several seconds. The steep was about 2 minutes. The brew turned very dark very quickly. Such is the nature of finely cut tea bag fannings. The bag really plumped up once brewed.

The aroma of the cup is fairly brisk. Surprisingly the cup is much more muted than the scent would suggest. There is not really any bitterness. It is moderately drying. The bag kind of knocks the rough edges off the sip. The downside is it kind of knocks the edges off the aftertaste. I happen to like a nice lingering aftertaste.

This will take milk and sugar well.  If you are just starting out on your tea journey this is definitely not a bad bagged Ceylon. If you are an experienced tea drinker this will work for those tea emergencies. You know, like when your cup is empty.

Bigelow, Darjeeling

Bigelow Description:
Grown on the foothills of the Himalayas, Darjeeling Tea is known throughout the world as the "champagne of teas". 20 individually foil wrapped tea bags per box.

My Review:
I don't remember ever having this before. This is a bagged tea. I have low expectations even though I used to drink Bigelow Earl Grey by the truckload. I opened the envelope and sniffed. The bag smells fruity and of hay. This is a nice start.

I used just below boiling water and steeped for two minutes per instructions. There was a day when I would have used fully boiling water a minimum of a five minute steep. It would have resulted in a strong bitter cup and I wouldn't have known the difference.

Today I got a cup that is fruity Muscat and earthy. This is really pretty good. I am surprised. Steeped correctly this is not bitter. It is lightly drying.

The problem is the bag. It tastes like someone chopped the edges off. Oh why couldn't this be loose leaf so it would have the depth it deserves? If you use bagged tea on a regular basis or when you are in a hurry, this would be a satisfying choice for lovers of black tea. Bigelow can generally be found at your local grocers.

Bigelow English Teatime

Bigelow was my introduction to tea beyond Lipton. Back in the day, I lived on Constant Comment and Earl Grey. This started my Earl Grey addiction. Even liked Lemon Lift and Cinnamon Stick. When I was given a bag of English Teatime it took me back a few decades (even though I have never heard of this particular tea). So I put on appropriate music – BTO’s Sledgehammer and started brewing. First off this appears to be a 2g bag. Most Bigelow is a wimpy 1.6g anymore. Second I did not read the instructions – I steeped for 5 minutes. Should have steeped less. The pucker factor was pretty high. This was followed by a moment of blandness but surprisingly the aftertaste was very pleasant. I don’t drink a lot of unflavored blacks because of the aftertaste. I found this tea enjoyable. I would definitely add sweetener and maybe a bit of milk.

Bigelow Earl Grey

Bigelow Earl Grey is the tea that started my lifelong passion, or addiction whichever the case, for Earl Grey. I used the regular and decaf versions of this black tea in bag form nearly everyday for years. It used to come in a heavy cardboard container with a metal top and bottom. The lid was oval-shaped metal that you had to pry open. Now it comes in an ordinary cardboard box but the bags are individually sealed in foil envelopes. Oh well, time moves on. I haven’t bought it in a few years so I am not sure if they are still using actual bergamot in the blend or if they have switched to flavoring like most companies. The original blend still ranks in my memory as a favorite bagged black teas.

This tea is also responsible for my discovering the bigger world of tea including loose leaf. How did it do that? Well strange as it sounds, it was because I was drinking so much of it, and brewing it incorrectly by the way, that I developed a bad case of acid reflux. Rather than give up tea, I decided to try other types. This led to green tea, which led to loose leaf. None of this journey would most likely have happened if not for my addiction to Bigelow Earl Grey.

I recently found an old box in the back of the cupboard. Even way past the expiration date it tasted so very good. Hello old friend!

Bigelow Constant Comment

I thought for my first review I should start at the beginning of my tea journey.

Originally blended at her kitchen table this is the tea that launched Ruth Bigelow’s tea empire. Founded in 1945 by Ruth Campbell Bigelow, R.C. Bigelow, Inc. is based in Fairfield, CT. Bigelow tea is readily available in almost every super market and super center in America.

This is also the tea that started my passion for tea beyond the Lipton iced tea my family consumes (the Earl Grey addiction came later). This is a black tea with orange peel and spices - mainly clove. If you are just starting out looking for teas or if this is one you just missed, I highly recommend you try this legend for yourself.

*Update- I recently purchased a new box of both Bigelow Constant Comment and Earl Grey. The first of either I had bought in a while. I was sadly disappointed as the brew was very weak and bland compared to my memories of it. In large part the problem was the oversized 12 oz Starbuck's cup I have been using recently. The bigger issue for you to consider is Bigelow has repackaged their teas to contain only 1.65g per bag instead of the 2g bags I remembered. To get the same taste I used to get in an 8oz cup it is now necessary to cut the cup size down to just 6.6oz. Will this hurt Bigelow sales? Stash has used the smaller bag size for years so probably not but I will now find it a little harder to recommend Bigelow tea.