Prettywood Tea Journal

It would be interesting to know how Father’s Day came into practice and celebrated worldwide with an equal sincerity and respect as any other significant holidays. Here’s a short history on the holiday, and meaning of the different colors of roses to be worn that Day.

About 4,000 years ago a young boy named Elmusu wished his Babylonian father good health and a long life by carving a Father’s Day message on a card made out of clay. No one knows what happened to Elmesu or his father, but the tradition of having a special day honoring fathers has continued through the years in countries across the world.

The Countries, where the Catholic Church were of significant influence on the culture of the society, Father’s Day is celebrated on St. Joseph’s Day (March 19). However, a more secular celebration which is not associated with any religion is followed in recent times to highlight the increased diversity among people from all over the globe coexisting together in one place.

Father’s Day is celebrated popularly on 3rd Sunday in June in many parts of the world. The idea for creating a day for children to honor their fathers began in Spokane, Washington. A woman by the name of Sonora Smart Dodd thought of the idea for Father’s Day while listening to a Mother’s Day sermon in 1909. Having been raised by her father, Henry Jackson Smart, after her mother died, Sonora wanted her father to know how special he was to her. It was her father that made all the parental sacrifices and was, in the eyes of his daughter, a courageous, selfless, and loving man. Sonora’s father was born in June, so she chose to hold the first Father’s Day celebration in Spokane, Washington on the 19th of June, 1910.

In 1924 President Calvin Coolidge proclaimed the third Sunday in June as Father’s Day. President Nixon, in 1972, established a permanent national observance of Father’s Day to be held on the third Sunday of June. So Father’s Day was born as a token of love and gratitude that a daughter cherishes for her beloved father. Roses are the Father’s Day flowers: red to be worn for a living father and white if the father has died.

We have partnered up with award winning gift basket designers to offer you not only tea but a wide variety of all occasion and gourmet gift baskets!  In honor of this we are offering FREE SHIPPING for all of our Father’s Day Gift Baskets including gifts for the golfer, fisherman, Wine Lover and much more!

Take advantage of this Free Shipping Offer and ENJOY!

I love iced tea!  Can’t wait for the first sign of spring and summer for my favorite drink!…….I don’t know whay I don’t drink it in the winter (probably because we are located in Iowa!).

Because of this we’ve put together a wonderful iced tea gift basket.  All month, receive 10% off…..use coupon code “icedteagiftbasket” at checkout.

A great article on the health benefits of green tea!

An interesting video on the popularity of tea drinking!

http://video.forbes.com/fvn/personalbest/tea-drinking-techies

The weather is turning around, the clocks have been set forward, Memorial Day is two days away and spring has finally sprung! That means that spring and its celebrations are right around the corner.

A cheerful, springy tea gift basket makes the perfect hospitality gift for any warm-weathered party. Alcohol is not always appropriate and chances are you won’t be the only person bringing a pot of lilies. And since springtime can still be a little bit chilly, why not give the warmth of a lovely cup of tea?  Here are our top five beautifully arranged, spring-time baskets perfect to show your appreciation at any spring party.

Perfect Spring Gift for a Hostess

Our Tea for One Gift Set is an elegant way to show lasting thanks to a generous host or hostess.  This tea gift set features a cleverly designed teapot for one, which rests above a matching teacup and saucer.  The lovely teapot is complemented with a selection of teas and a personalized gift card, all placed gently in a gorgeous silk lined gift box.

A Gift Basket of Floral Delights

For a bright, springy thank you, give our Simple Pleasures Tea Gift Basket. Your choice of teas are charmingly arranged in a floral china teacup, surrounded by beautiful silk flowers, packed in cello wrap, and lovingly topped with a hand tied bow.

Blooming Beauty of Tea Gift Basket 

For a more unique and unusual gift capturing the blossoming of spring, our Blooming Tea Glass Tea Set  is the perfect choice. The hardened glass teapot beautifully showcases the tea flowers that slowly ‘bloom’ and infuse the water with delicate tea aromas. Packaged in a lovely navy, floral silk gift box, the gift basket includes two glass tea cups and eight blooming tea flowers.

Timeless Token of Appreciation

If you are looking for a simple token of your gratitude, Prettywood Teas offers the perfect solutions. Our Vintage Tea Box makes a beautiful gift for hosts of either gender. Crafted from Asian-inspired leather and decorated with an Asian landscape and calligraphy, this beautiful box easily holds around 30 teabags. The Wire Teapot Tea Caddy is a charming and cheerful gift for everyone. This 5” tall champagne finished tea caddy is delightfully shaped teapot shape comes with 40 bags of personally selected teas, giving every room a lovely boutique accent.

These are just a few suggestions from our wide variety of tea gift baskets. If you haven’t found the perfect gift here, you’ll be sure to find it while browsing collection of tea gift baskets

Have a wonderful Memorial Day Everyone!  Be Safe……

Mom – she is the woman who has influenced your life the most, and she deserves to be acknowledged not only once a year, but every day.

You have probably resorted to the same old regiment of flowers and candy in the past for Mother’s Day, but isn’t it time to do something a little different for such a special woman? Here are six ideas how you can make every day and Mother’s Day something to remember.

• Pamper Mom

Mom put her children first for years, often forgetting to take care of herself. So why not pamper her with a massage, a pedicure, or indulgent surprise? Our Celebrate Tea Gift Basket really gives you the chance to pamper Mom with some deliciously soothing teas.

·         Acknowledge Mom Year Round

Wasn’t it Mom who always said “It’s the thought that counts?” Don’t just wait until May to tell Mom you are thinking about her. Pick up the phone and just let her know you are thinking about her and how much you are thankful for her. In our busy lives, we often forget to say such meaningful things before it is too late.

·         Take Some Time Out for Mom

As we grow older and establish lives of our own, we often get too busy to spend quality time with our mothers. Take some time out for dates with Mom throughout the year, whether for dinner, a walk in the park or just a hot cup of tea. Our English Elite Tea Gift Basket is perfect for a tea date with Mom. 

·         Random Acts of Kindness

More than just a gift once a year, surprise Mom with small acts of love and appreciation. Mow her lawn, prune the hedges or trim the trees. Wash her car or sweep her walkway. Even small gestures like a note on the door or will certainly brighten her day.

·         Bring Her Breakfast in Bed

Who doesn’t like to sleep in a little longer on the weekend? An old-fashioned breakfast in bed with tea and scones from our Tea Time Made Simple Gift is sure to delight her.

·         Indulge Mom’s Sweet Tooth

Everyone likes a sweet treat now and then, especially with a warm cup of gourmet tea. Our Tea and Truffles Gift Basket is perfect to tantalize Mom’s taste buds.

Mother’s Day is an important holiday because it reminds us all how important Mom is.  Take some time this year to show her just how special she is in your eyes

Hello!  Mother’s Day is right around the corner (May 10), so we are offering a 10% discount on all of our tea gifts and products for all of our Prettywood Tea blog readers! 

Tea Gift Baskets for Mother’s Day

Use  coupon code “prettywoodblog” (without the quotes) at checkout!

Enjoy!

Hello!  Mother’s Day is right around the corner (May 10), so we are offering a 10% discount on all of our tea gifts and products for all of our Prettywood Tea blog readers!  Use  coupon code “prettywoodblog” (without the quotes) at checkout!

Enjoy!

In many parts of the world, brewing tea is a real art form and an important part of the culture. And despite the whirlwind pace of our busy lives, the process of brewing tea can actually be as enjoyable and soothing as drinking it. Let’s look at a few tips for brewing that perfect cup of tea.

Always use fresh, purified water. Nowadays, most cities heavily process drinking water using harsh chemicals such as chlorine. These chemicals can leave a strong smell and aftertaste in water which will taint the flavor of your tea. Harder water will leave a film on top of the tea and on the side of your cup.   Softer, filtered water is ideal. If possible, use filtered or even bottled water when brewing your tea to achieve the purist and most authentic flavor.

Temperature and time matter. Most teas will yield a decent cup when brewed with boiling water for several minutes. However, some teas like green and white will turn bitter when brewed at too high a temperature. Other teas, such as herbal infusions, require a longer steeping time than others. Although you should follow the directions on the package and your own personal taste, here are a few general guidelines:

- Sturdy black teas usually steep for 4-6 minutes in boiling water.
- Oolong teas should be steeped 5-8 minutes at 190°F.
- Delicate green teas are best brewed for 2-4 minutes at around 150°F.
- White teas should steep for 4-6 minutes at 180°F.
- South African Rooibos tea is ideally brewed just as black tea is.
- Herbal teas should be brewed for around 5 minutes. Temperatures vary depending on the ingredients.

Finally, use the correct utensils. Depending on the type of tea you choose, there are particular utensils that make brewing easier and bring out the intended aromas of each tea. No matter what type of tea you are brewing, a thermometer is essential. For loose teas, strainers are available in all varieties, including balls, bowls, bamboo infusing baskets, built-in teapot filters, and tiny cloth bags.

A beautiful teapot and matching tea cups make tea an eye-pleasing experience as well as a tasty one.