For as long as I can remember my mom has brewed Bigelow “Constant Comment” Tea for her guests around Christmas time. I have many memories of the sweet and spicy aroma filling the air as she brewed it! It just smells like Christmas to me and it is not the same without it! “Constant Comment” tea has always been her favorite and it’s a tradition that she has passed along to my sisters and I.
To keep up with tradition I had a Christmas Tea Party with Bigelow “Constant Comment” Tea this year! Christmas can be full of such hustle and bustle so I wanted a get together that would be relaxing. The Bigelow brand of teas is always smooth and soothing! Along with the Bigelow “Constant Comment” tea I had Bigelow Cinnamon Stick Tea and Bigelow “Vanilla Chai” Tea. As you can see from the picture; Bigelow has their teas packaged in foil. This extra step really makes the tea taste fresh all the time! I purchased all of the Bigelow tea from my local Walmart and you can see my shopping trip on Google Plus.
I had rock candy for my guests to stir their tea with if they wanted a their tea sweet. The pic below is my teacup. I had the “Constant Comment” tea with a red Rock Candy Stirrer. It tasted SO good! I am craving another cup right now! I love how the tea has such a calming effect on me. I love the hints of orange and spice in it because they pair perfectly together! This is a tea that I drink throughout the colder seasons when I need something to warm me up!
Everyone loved the rock candy because you could just stir until you had the desired amount of sugar! Some also enjoyed the tea without any sugar. My mom always says that the “Constant Comment” tea is the ONLY tea that she will drink with sugar, but she likes it equally both ways! I have to admit that I am just like her… I love this tea hot , cold, sweet or unsweet. It’s simple divine any way that you choose to make it!
Since I was going for “tradition” I wanted to keep that theme going with all the treats. Rock candy, striped soft peppermint sticks, and ribbon candy all adorned the table! I also made Valencia Orange Scones with “Constant Comment” glaze, Cinnamon Tea Bag Cookies and Chex Mix too!
The Valencia Orange Scones with “Constant Comment” Glaze were wonderful! Not everyone even knew what a scone was before they came, but they are all officially hooked now! Just FYI: scones are a soft biscuit type dessert and they are just heavenly paired with tea. I made these scones mini sized, but they can be made any size that you want. {Recipe is at the bottom of post}
Another big hit was the Cinnamon Tea Bag Cookies! Aren’t they SO cute? Everyone loved how festive and perfect for the occasion they were! {recipe is at the bottom of post}
My Kare Bear loved her choice of tea! She picked the “Constant Comment” tea!
Pinkie Pie dug right into the scones. Everyone mentioned how the little bit of Bigelow “Constant Comment” tea in the glaze really made the favor great!
J really liked the tea as well. She wasn’t too sure about drinking it at first (she’s not a big tea drinker), but enjoyed it after she tried it!
I was so happy that my mom enjoyed the scones with her tea. I had her in mind when I was making them! She had the “Constant Comment” tea with them… of course!
My sister is also a “Constant Comment” girl. She drinks hers unsweet and loves it that way!
Bri loved the Bigelow Chai tea and drank it sweetened with the rock candy! She was ready to try anything and really loved this tea!
Vanilla Orange Scones
Ingredients
- 3 cups all purpose flour
- 1 stick butter cut into 8 Tablespoons, 1/2 cup
- 3/4 cup plain yogurt
- 1/4 cup orange juice
- 1 Tbsp . Valencia Orange peel zest, I uses the McCormick dried version, but you can use fresh orange zest and it doesn't have to be Valencia
- 1/4 tsp . salt
- 1/3 cup of sugar
- 1 egg
- 3 tsp . baking powder
- Constant Comment glaze, see this recipe in the notes
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl combine the flour, baking powder and salt. Mix well and then add the butter. Break the butter up by cutting it in or breaking it with hands until butter broken into pea sized lumps and mixed with the flour. In a separate bowl combine the rest of the ingredients and cream them together. Slowly mix in the liquid mixture to the flour mixture and combine until it forms a lumpy, but well mixed ball.
- Take out baseball sized pieces of the newly formed dough and press it down on a well floured surface. Make a small circle shape about 1 inch thick and cut it into 4 wedges. Repeat until all the dough has been cut. Place the scones onto a baking sheet and bake for about 12-15 minutes at 350 or until the scones are starting to turn golden brown. Let them cool and then top them with the glaze (see notes for the glaze)
Notes
For the glaze you will need 1/2 cup of hot milk, 2-3 bags of Bigelow "Constant Comment" Tea Bags, vanilla extract, 1/8 tsp. of salt and about 1-2 cups of powdered sugar. Seep the tea bags into the milk until it reaches a brown color. Mix the rest of the ingredients into the tea/ milk until it reaches a creamy consistency. Lightly pour this mixture over the scones and let it set up for a few minutes before serving.
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Nutrition Information
Serving Size
1 gramsAmount Per Serving Unsaturated Fat 0g
We all really enjoyed the Christmas Tea Party with Bigelow Tea! I feel great knowing that the Bigelow brand is family owned and operated. They really take pride in what they do and it shows in every tea bag. This is a tradition that I want to pass down to my kids. I think traditions like this are great because it helps us stay connected as a family and make great memories together. Do you have any traditions that you would like to pass down to your children? Share them here!
“I am a member of the Collective Bias® Social Fabric® Community. This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias® and Bigelow Tea #CBias #SocialFabric #AmericasTea All Opinions are my own!”
Linda
Monday 16th of September 2013
I was just browsing through some of the ideas you have here and think I have found some wonderful ideas for Christmas presents on a budget. We really enjoy making gifts for loved ones and I found great things to make and put together gift baskets with.
Thanks for sharing such wonderful ideas and recipes.
Bigelow Tea Love {a Teacup of Memories}
Friday 29th of March 2013
[...] (my mom holding her Bigelow Constant Comment tea) [...]
Heather H.
Monday 14th of January 2013
What a sweet idea! I dip marshmallows into my peppermint tea. Will have to try rock candy!
Rachel
Wednesday 16th of January 2013
Thanks, Healther! It's so good... I hope you do! Marshmallows sound great for peppermint tea... yum!
Kelly Stilwell
Sunday 13th of January 2013
This makes me want to have a tea party! I love Bigelow tea! Your pics are gorgeous!
Rachel
Wednesday 16th of January 2013
Thanks so much, Kelly!
Jenna Wood
Sunday 13th of January 2013
Rock Candy Tea stirrers, what a great idea!
Rachel
Wednesday 16th of January 2013
Thanks, Jenna!