Prettywood Tea Journal

Mother’s Day is early this year: Sunday, May 9th.  Share a cup of tea and a smile with your mom, wife, sister or daughter.  Send all the mom’s in your life a tea gift basket or tea bouquet.

Mom’s have a way of always being there when you need them.  This year, take a few minutes to think about the times your mom was there for you, and let her know you remember.  Read through this short list and allow yourself to relive some special moments, then give your mom a call and share the memories.

Think back to the time when…

Your mom was there when you lost the big game.
Your mom was there when you got into a fight with your best friend.
Your mom gave advice you didn’t want to hear.
Your mom noticed when nobody else did.
Your mom took you for a drive just because.
Your mom made that special meal you just loved.
Your mom listened when you had to keep talking.
Your mom talked when you needed to listen
Your mom held you when you cried.
Your mom held you when you laughed.

Think back to that time when you thought the world was going to end, and your mom somehow made things better.

Take a few minutes to let your mom know that you’ll never forget her.  Send her a special tea gift basket, tea bouquet or tea gift and make her smile. 

A tall glass of fresh-brewed iced tea does more than cool you off on a sultry summer day.

For more than 4,000 years, people have been turning to tea - a beverage with a list of benefits longer than a bride’s thank-you-note list. Tea is the world’s second-most popular libation (right after good old water).

In fact, the U.S. guzzles more than 55 billion cups a year. (Canada consumes about 9 billion cups, but Canadians drink more per person than their counterparts in the United States.)

No wonder: In addition to its ability to cool you down, calm you down and perk you up, a tall glass of iced or a comforting cup of the hot stuff can fight disease and help you slim down.

The latest on tea may be one of its best attributes yet: Its ability to improve mental focus and clarity.

Tea is nature’s major source of the amino acid L-theanine. If you haven’t heard of L-theanine before, you will soon - it’s already being added to Gatorade Tiger and some varieties of Vitaminwater and SoBe Life Water.

When paired with caffeine, this wonder compound decreases alpha wave activity in your brain.

That’s good, because when you’re trying to focus on a challenging task - say, figuring out how to turn on Wii bowling when your kids aren’t around to help you - fewer alpha waves equal greater concentration. In fact, downing two to three cups of tea within an hour or two of each other (the amino acid goes to work within 30 minutes) have been shown to make people more alert and focused. L-theanine has another upside: It makes you feel more relaxed and less stressed, which is why tea doesn’t give you that jittery feeling you get from other caffeinated drinks.

But that’s not the only compound that does your health good.

Made from the leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant, tea is loaded with flavonoids, compounds that help you stomp out disease-causing free radicals. Those health-promoting flavonoids (there are between 140 and 300 mg per cup of tea) are also what give tea its characteristic bitter taste.

So when you pour yourself any kind of tea - white, black, green or oolong (just not the herbal stuff), it’s also helping your health in these ways:

IT REDUCES YOUR RISK OF HEART ATTACK AND STROKE

Flavonoids in tea decrease lousy LDL cholesterol and improve the elasticity of your blood vessels. Downing three cups a day(8 ounces each) may cut your risk of heart attack and stroke by 11 percent and 21 percent, respectively.

IT’S GOOD FOR YOUR PEARLY WHITES

Tea is rich in fluoride, needed for strong bones and teeth. Drinking tea has been shown to decrease plaque. That’s not just good news for drill-phobes. The same plaque that causes tooth decay can contribute to the plaque in your arteries.

IT HELPS YOU STAY SLIM

Not only is tea calorie-free, the green tea compound epicatechin gallate (aka EGCG) helps keep you from packing on fat and helps fire up your metabolism. Prefer Chinese oolong? It can increase your calorie burn by 3 to 4 percent for up to two hours.

PREVENTING CANCER

In the lab, green tea has shaped up to be a nemesis to colon, liver, breast and prostate cancers. Among humans, Asians who regularly guzzle green tea have fewer instances of bladder, colon, stomach, pancreatic and esophageal cancers.

from the Idaho Statesman

Scientists claim to have proved what generations have long known - a cup of tea is good in times of crisis.

Researchers have discovered that the traditional cuppa can have a “significantly” calming effect.

Volunteers were placed in a stressful scenario, and those who did not drink a cup of tea immediately afterwards showed a 25 per cent rise in anxiety. Others who were given the hot beverage showed a four per cent reduction in stress levels.

Dr Malcolm Cross, of City University London, who carried out the research, said: “Drinking tea - particularly during times of stress - is at the very core of British culture. This study shows the effects it has on our bodies and brains and may explain why we instinctively turn to tea in times of need.”

E#xcerpt From the Mirror News in the UK

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!