A Review of Bigelow Organic Green Tea
Posted by Robert / July 10, 2014
The Bigelow Tea Company opened its doors in the late 1940’s, having been founded by Ruth C. Bigelow. The first tea sold by the company was based on a recipe Ms. Bigelow called “Constant Comment” tea. Currently, the Bigelow Tea Company sells more than 50 types of tea, including its Organic Green Tea, which is one of the most popular types of tea in its product line. The company also sells black and herbal teas, which are blended in Fairfield, Connecticut, the birthplace of the business. Bigelow Tea is still family owned today and, and along with being the number one tea company in America, it also has the distinction of owning the only tea plantation in America, located in Charleston South Carolina.
In addition to getting a superior product from a proven company, the Organic Green Tea grown by the Bigelow Tea Company is curated by tea farmers who are committed to using all-natural fertilizers that are free from additives and synthetic pesticides, making it safer to drink. The tea is certified as 100% organic by the USDA Organic and QAI Organic Industry and has achieved the highest standards available for organic foods today.
While Constant Comment is still an extremely popular tea, Bigelow Organic Green Tea is one of the company’s best sellers. Many Bigelow Green Tea reviews extoll the health benefits of this tea, as it is rich in antioxidants that work to protect the body from damaging free radicals that can trigger many different diseases. However, the healthful properties of this green tea are just one reason why Bigelow Organic Green Tea is a highly recommended beverage.
Flavor and Nutrition
Many tea drinkers choose green tea because of its delicate flavor. It is typically weaker than other types of tea, making it easier on the palate than some of the other teas that tend to have a bitter flavor. Bigelow Organic Green Tea comes packaged in airtight containers that seal in the fresh, natural flavor of the tea. While many green teas can be “grating” and “raspy,” according to reviewers, Bigelow’s version is soothing and comforting. This tea can be served hot or cold and, for additional flavor, Bigelow’s Green Tea with Lemon provides an additional zest to the original product.
Bigelow Organic Green Tea can also fit into any eating plan, as it has zero calories, zero fat, zero sodium, and zero carbohydrates. This product is a refreshing drink that provides significant health benefits regardless of what type of diet the drinker is following. This tea is also gluten free and certified Kosher for people who follow those specific dietary restrictions. Green tea is an excellent alternative to soft drinks and other beverages that add empty calories without any nutritional benefits.
General Green Tea Benefits
Although most physicians and nutritionists recommend that pure water make up most of a person’s daily fluid intake, green tea is often suggested as a supplemental beverage that can provide additional health benefits. Green teas, including Bigelow Organic Green Tea, contain significant amounts of EGCG, a powerful antioxidant that has been proven to reduce the risks associated with stroke and heart attacks. In addition, EGCG has been shown to lower the risk of getting glaucoma and high cholesterol, increase fat oxidation, improve exercise performance, and may help prevent obesity.
Green tea naturally contains the most amount of EGCG of any type of tea, but not all green teas contain the same amount. Bigelow Organic Green Tea contains approximately 250 milligrams of catechins, which is the name for the collective group of antioxidants present in tea. Of these catechins, EGCG makes up one third of the total antioxidants in green tea. It is important to note that fresh tea, like Bigelow Organic Green Tea contains significantly more antioxidants than bottled teas, including Diet Snapple Green Tea, which contains almost no EGCG at all.
Bigelow Organic Green Tea Advisement
Bigelow Organic Green Tea is loved by reviewers and hailed by nutritionists as a way to combat free radicals in the body. However, in a surprising study conducted by an independent laboratory, Bigelow tea was found to contain between 2.24 and 2.5 micrograms of lead per individual serving. This lead is not added to the product, but is instead found in numerous botanical products that obtain the lead naturally from the ground. In fact, green tea plants have been proven to absorb lead at higher rates than other plants.
Lead is not necessarily harmful, especially in the small amounts that are present in Bigelow Organic Green Tea, but it is still important to be aware that it is in there. Brewing the tea filters out the majority of the lead, so as long as the leaves aren’t chewed, the lead is probably not dangerous for most consumers. Moreover, while some tea bags are manufactured with synthetic polymers, like nylon and PVC, you should be aware that these compounds can leach into your tea. Bigelow Organic Green Tea does not use these synthetic products when making its tea bags, so drinkers should not be at risk when consuming this tea.
Certainly, not every reviewer has had a positive experience with Green Tea from Bigelow. However, their comments are rarely about the product itself. Rather, they complain about the higher cost of Bigelow tea and the smaller portions. Still, most reviewers agree that Bigelow Organic Green Tea is worth the higher price tag in the end because of its wonderful flavor and abundance of healthful benefits.