Bigelow Tea Settlement Offers California Buyers Cash Payments Over Made in USA Tea Label Claims

New to ClassAction.org? Read our Newswire Disclaimer

A new class action settlement worth up to $6.5 million offers California consumers cash payments to resolve a lawsuit that alleged R.C. Bigelow, Inc. falsely and deceptively labeled certain tea products as “Manufactured in the USA 100% American Family Owned.” 

Don’t miss out on class action settlement news like this. Sign up for ClassAction.org’s free weekly newsletter. 

The Bigelow tea settlement received preliminary approval from the court on October 5, 2026. 

Eligible for the settlement are all individuals who bought any 18- or 20-count box of the following Bigelow tea products, labeled as “Manufactured in the USA 100% American Family Owned,” at a retail store in California from October 17, 2017 to July 31, 2023: 

-       Earl Grey Black Tea Caffeine;

-       Green Tea Caffeine;

-       Constant Comment Black Tea Caffeine;

-       Green Lemon Tea Caffeine;

-       Vanilla Chai Black Tea Caffeine;

-       English Tea Time Black Tea Caffeine;

-       Spiced Chai Black Tea Caffeine;

-       French Vanilla Black Tea Caffeine; or

-       Vanilla Caramel Black Tea Caffeine.

The official Bigelow tea settlement website can be found at TeaClassAction.com. 

Bigelow tea settlement class members who file a valid, timely claim form with proof of purchase can receive $0.50 per product, for a maximum payment of $20. 

Class members who file a claim form without proof of purchase can receive $0.50 per product for a maximum payment of $10. 

For the purpose of the settlement, “proof of purchase” means receipts, copies of receipts, paid invoices or other similar forms of documentation evidencing purchases of covered Bigelow products at a retail store in California during the relevant time period. 

If the aggregate value of all valid claim forms exceeds the $2,548,187 class judgment amount (i.e., the $2,360,744 award handed down by a California jury in April last year plus two years of interest), class members’ payouts will be reduced on a pro rata (proportional) basis. If the aggregate value of all valid claims is less than the class judgment amount, class members’ payouts will be increased on a pro rata basis, up to a maximum of $20 for claims without proof of purchase and $40 for claims with proof of purchase.

To file a Bigelow tea settlement claim form online, class members can visit this page and enter the unique ID found on their copy of the settlement notice, if they have one, or click “Next” if they did not receive a unique ID. Alternatively, class members can download a PDF claim form to print, complete and return by mail to the settlement administrator. 

All Bigelow tea settlement claim forms must be filed online or by mail by February 8, 2027. 

The court will decide whether to grant final approval to the Bigelow tea Made in USA settlement following a hearing on May 17, 2027. Settlement money will begin to be distributed after the deal receives final approval and any appeals are resolved. 

The Bigelow tea lawsuit alleged that R.C. Bigelow, Inc. falsely and deceptively labeled certain tea products as “Manufactured in the USA 100% American Family Owned,” when in fact the products are comprised solely of foreign-sourced and -processed tea.

“Had Plaintiffs and other consumers known the truth (i.e., that the Bigelow tea products are not American-made), they would have paid less for them or they would not have purchased them at all,” the complaint argued. “As a result, Plaintiffs and other consumers have been deceived and have suffered economic injury.” 

In April 2025, a California jury awarded the plaintiffs more than $2.36 million in damages after finding that Bigelow violated California law by falsely touting certain tea products as “Manufactured in the USA 100%.” Bigelow appealed the judgment, but the appeal was dismissed without prejudice by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in July 2026. 

Looking for the class action lawsuit definition? We’ve got you covered.