Bigelow tea is the American, family-owned brand behind those individually foil-wrapped bags you see lining supermarket shelves around the world, and behind the famous spiced black blend called Constant Comment. The company, formally R.C. Bigelow, Inc., was founded in 1945 and is still run by the founding family, now in its third generation. This guide explains where Bigelow came from, what its range actually covers, and what genuinely sets it apart from the other big names on the tea aisle.
What is Bigelow tea?
Bigelow tea is a specialty tea brand made by R.C. Bigelow, Inc., a privately held, family-owned company headquartered in Fairfield, Connecticut. It is one of the largest specialty-tea companies in the United States, and unusually for a brand of its size, it has never been sold to a multinational. The family still owns it outright and still blends and packs its tea in the US, at plants in Connecticut, Idaho, and Kentucky.
The brand is best known for two things: the spiced-orange black blend Constant Comment, and the foil pouch that wraps every single tea bag. That foil wrap is the signature you can spot from across a kitchen, and it does real work, which we will come back to below.
The R.C. Bigelow story: from a New York kitchen to a national brand
The brand begins with one person. In 1945, Ruth Campbell Bigelow, an interior designer working out of her New York City home, set out to make a better cup of tea than the bland commodity tea on offer at the time. Working from an old colonial recipe, she blended black tea with orange peel and warm spice until she had something distinctive.
When she served it to friends, they could not stop remarking on it. The "constant comments" gave the blend its name, and Constant Comment tea launched the company that became R.C. Bigelow, Inc. As the business grew, Ruth and her husband David moved it out of the city to Connecticut, where the company is still based today.
Three generations later, Bigelow is led by Cindi Bigelow, Ruth's granddaughter, as president and CEO. The original Constant Comment recipe has famously stayed a family secret, known to only a couple of people. That continuity, one family, one recipe, kept in-house for decades, is a big part of how the brand presents itself: a heritage American tea house rather than a faceless label.
The Bigelow range, explained
Bigelow makes well over fifty varieties, but they sort cleanly into a few families. If you understand these groups, you can navigate the whole wall of boxes quickly and pick what suits you.
Black teas
This is the brand's heartland. Constant Comment tea sits at the top, that black tea cut with orange rind and spice, but the black range also covers everyday staples like English Teatime (a brisk, full-bodied breakfast-style blend) and a classic Earl Grey scented with bergamot oil. If you want the broader context for this style, see our explainer on what black tea is and the dedicated guide to Earl Grey tea.
Green teas
Bigelow green tea is a major part of the line, from a plain Classic Green to flavored versions such as green tea with mint or with lemon, and even a green-tea take on Earl Grey. These tend to be approachable and lightly handled rather than grassy or austere, which makes them an easy entry point for newer green-tea drinkers.
Flavored and dessert teas
Beyond the classics sit sweeter, more aromatic blends built around fruit, citrus, vanilla, and dessert-inspired flavors. These are the teas people reach for as an after-dinner treat or a caffeine-light afternoon cup, and they are a big reason the brand reads as friendly and accessible rather than purist.
Herbal and wellness blends (caffeine-free)
Because herbal teas contain no true tea leaf, they are naturally caffeine-free, and Bigelow leans into this heavily. Blends such as Sweet Dreams, Cozy Chamomile, and I Love Lemon are the evening-and-comfort side of the range. The brand also runs a "Benefits" line of function-themed herbal blends. As with any herbal tea, these are enjoyable beverages rather than medicine; if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, taking medication, or managing a health condition, it is sensible to check with a clinician before leaning on any herbal blend regularly.
Organic: the "steep by Bigelow" line
Bigelow's organic and ethically sourced range is sold under the "steep" name. It is aimed at shoppers who want a certified-organic option from a brand they already recognize, without moving to a niche specialty label.
| Range | Example blend | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Black tea | Constant Comment, English Teatime, Earl Grey | The brand's core; Constant Comment is the signature spiced-orange blend |
| Green tea | Classic Green, Green Tea with Mint | Approachable, lightly flavored; easy starting point |
| Flavored / dessert | Fruit, citrus and dessert-style blends | Sweeter, aromatic; good as an after-dinner or afternoon cup |
| Herbal / wellness | Sweet Dreams, Cozy Chamomile, I Love Lemon, Benefits line | Caffeine-free; the evening and comfort side of the range |
| Organic | steep by Bigelow | Certified-organic option under the Bigelow umbrella |
The Charleston Tea Garden
One detail that genuinely sets Bigelow apart: the company owns the Charleston Tea Garden in South Carolina, one of the only working tea farms in the United States. Most tea sold anywhere in the world is grown in Asia and Africa, so an American brand owning American-grown tea is a rarity. The garden does not supply the leaf for Bigelow's everyday supermarket blends, but it gives the brand something almost no competitor has: a real, visitable tea estate on home soil.
What sets Bigelow apart
A few things explain why Bigelow holds its place against giants on the tea aisle.
- The foil pouch. Every Bigelow tea bag is sealed in an individual foil overwrap. Tea fades when exposed to air, light, and moisture, and the foil is a barrier against all three, so the bag tastes fresher and more aromatic when you finally open it. It is the brand's most recognizable feature and a real freshness advantage over paper-enveloped or loosely boxed bags.
- Family ownership and a single secret recipe. Constant Comment has been made to the same closely guarded formula since 1945, by a company still controlled by the founding family. That continuity is rare at this scale.
- Wide availability and approachability. Bigelow is easy to find in supermarkets across the US and in many countries, and its flavored and herbal blends are friendly rather than intimidating. It is a brand built to be picked up by anyone, not just dedicated tea hobbyists.
How to choose a Bigelow tea
If you are standing in front of the box wall, a few quick questions narrow it down fast:
- Want caffeine or not? Black and green teas have caffeine; the herbal/wellness blends are caffeine-free, so they suit evenings.
- Classic or flavored? For a traditional cup, start with English Teatime or Earl Grey. For something distinctive, Constant Comment is the brand's calling card.
- New to green tea? The lightly flavored green blends (mint, lemon) are gentler than a plain green and a good on-ramp.
- Want organic? Look for the "steep" line.
- Comfort cup? Sweet Dreams and Cozy Chamomile are the herbal go-tos.
How Bigelow compares to other big tea brands
Bigelow sits in interesting company. Compared with a mass-market giant like Lipton, Bigelow positions itself a notch up as "specialty," with a wider spread of flavored and herbal blends and that freshness-sealing foil wrap; you can read more in our Lipton brand guide. The trade-off is the usual one: a recognizable, supermarket-friendly brand is more about consistency and variety than the single-estate character of a small specialty roaster or tea house.
The bottom line
Bigelow is the rare big tea brand that is still family-owned, still American-made, and still defined by a single 1945 blend and a foil-wrapped bag. Whether you start with the spiced orange of Constant Comment, an everyday Earl Grey, or a caffeine-free chamomile, it is an easy, dependable brand to explore. To go further, browse our overview of the main types of tea and see how a household name compares with the rest of the aisle before you decide what to brew next.