There are many beneficial health factors when you drink loose-leaf tea. Green tea is known for a huge range of health benefits such as boosting immunity when sick, enhancing weight loss, and cleansing the body. But what if we told you that green tea is not the only ‘miracle’ tea out there?

The Persimmon Tree® offers a large selection of flavorful teas, some of which provide more health benefits than others. As the trees begin to turn, we are faced with different health risks. Flu season is passing, but as Spring approaches with it’s warmth and beauty, along with it comes nasty allergies. But fear not! We have rooibos by our side.

Rooibos tea is unique in that it derives from the South African rooibos shrub (Aspalanthus linearis), unlike the Camellia sinensis plant where black, white, green and other teas comes from.

This naturally caffeine-free tea contains many antioxidants, the fighting soldiers that battle harmful invaders that enter our bodies. It has been said that the longer rooibos tea is brewed, the more antioxidants it will release. With its natural gift of vitamins (potassium, magnesium, zinc, and cooper), rooibos has all the qualities that make it the perfect any-time tea, for children and adults alike.

Decreasing allergy-related discomfort, slowing down the signs of aging, and and lowering blood pressure (and let’s face it, we could use it during tax season!), are three of the qualities that make rooibos a hero in our eyes!  The Persimmon Tree® offers a delicious selection of rooibos teas and blends, including natural Rooibos, Peach Picnic, and Mint Chocolate Chip,  yum!

With free shipping on every order, getting tea to your door has never been easier! Try some now, and enjoy and healthier, happier Spring!

Have you ever thought about who invented this container that allows us to brew and serve our favorite beverage? The tale behind the teapot is pretty fascinating.

Available  in various shapes, sizes, colors, and materials, the teapot not only brings us pleasure, but it also upholds a variety of ancient traditions from around the world. Hey, it even has a song made after it; “I’m a little teapot short and stout, here is my handle…” well, we know you know the rest.

But where did it originate? This is a debatable subject as tea drinking has been around for centuries in many cultures across the globe. Some historians believe that the teapot was created during the Ming Dynasty, in China (1368-1644) when soaking leaves or herbs became well known amongst the people. The enriched land provided a sediment known as zisha, purple clay, which prompted the creation of pottery; hence, the invention of the teapot arrived. But this vessel was not used in the form we think of today; instead an individual would drink directly out of the spout. There are scholars that disregard this idea, stating that the Chinese infused their teas in the cups they drank from.

China may have gifted Europe with their first batch of tea, but plenty of historians believe that Europeans invented the teapot by combining Islamic and Chinese cultural tools. The Chinese exported their teas to Europe in wine vessels to prevent breakage, leading the Europeans to assume that they were meant for the tea. Thus, another theory of the teapot’s origin arose.

No matter which side of the fence you are on, we can all acknowledge that the teapot was a clever and useful invention that has evolved throughout the ages. Materials have included clay, porcelain, and metal; and forms have varied from simple bulb shapes to animals such as squirrels, monkeys and elephants. Spouts have been modified from long to short, and options such as infusers have been added. Silver teapots came about when Queen Victoria demanded to have her tea served from something silver to show royalty. These days, teapots come in a multitude of shapes, sizes, and finishes, but their simple function remains the same.

Let’s celebrate the teapot by brewing any one of  The Persimmon Tree’s delicious (not-to-mention very healthy) loose-leaf teas, and sharing it with our friends, family and coworkers.

As busy people, we’re often looking for opportunities to get out of the house to visit with friends, have alone time, or explore. Tea houses or tea rooms are a great place to go when you want to relax and try something new. They are all over the world and are extremely popular in many cultures, and are centered around one main purpose, enjoying tea!

In the Far East, a tea room is similar to an American café where many people meet friends to socialize and have a warm cup of tea. In the Middle East, they offer different forms of entertainment for their customers such as music, poetry, or hookah. In England, scones with jam and clotted cream accompany your pot of tea, and here in the States you’ll find all kinds of tea houses with different styles and influences; some of which serve both tea and coffee, others exclusively tea.

Whatever your style, turning your own house into a tea house for friends and family is a fun and easy way to entertain. Why not steep your favorite Persimmon Tree® teas in your own home and enjoy them in your own living room, garden, or maybe your own tea room creation! You could throw a tea party with gorgeous table decor, mini sandwiches, desserts, the works!

The Persimmon Tree® appreciates tradition, culture, and tea drinking in every form it is presented, and our loose-leaf tea is ready to be a part of your tea tradition! You can view our fine selection of loose-leaf teas and teaware at www.persimmontreetea.com.

Dr. Mehmet Oz, MD, one of America’s most well-known cardiac surgeons, Vice-Chair and Professor of Surgery at Columbia University, and host of the Emmy Award-winning Dr. Oz Show, equips his audience and avid fans on a daily basis with expert advice on health issues of every kind.

On multiple occasions Dr. Oz has talked about the many health benefits that tea has to offer. Peppermint tea, a Persimmon Tree® favorite, was introduced on the Dr. Oz show as an herbal product that works wonders on digestive problems by breaking down fats and working as a pain reliever in the stomach to decrease the feeling of nausea. The oils in peppermint can relieve inflammation, not only in the digestive tract, but on the skin as well. Along with its many medicinal properties, Peppermint also has a great taste and aroma. If you suffer from digestion problems, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), nausea, flatulence, diverticular disorders, heartburn, herpes outbreaks, bad breath, muscle aches, chronic pain, congestion/coughs related to colds or allergies, mild asthma, stress, or frequent headaches or migraines, try to include peppermint tea in your daily routine and you will reap the benefits!

Dr. Oz has also talked about other types of tea and their respective benefits for serious diseases. Black tea can help prevent diabetes, white tea helps protect the body from colon cancer, and green tea can put off Alzheimers. Dr. Oz explains how the various properties in each type of tea help to combat a multitude of other medical issues. The best part about improving your health is that you can do so with very little effort. The huge selection of teas that The Persimmon Tree® carries are naturally healthy and easy to order. With a few clicks you can have organic tea and teaware at your doorstep in no time!

The Persimmon Tree® supports Dr. Oz’s desire to make being healthy an easy and achievable goal. From headaches to cold toes, Dr. Oz has a way that tea can cure these troubles. For further reading on the subject, each of our teas’ health benefits are listed right there on our product pages; you can also view articles and facts on tea via the Dr. Oz website.

It’s nearing the end of the year, and yet some of you (and you know who you are!) may still be procrastinating when it comes to meeting the weight loss goal you set yourself as part of your new year’s resolution! But it’s not too late! You can make things a little easier and boost your weight loss efforts before the 2012 countdown begins! Drop all the extreme dieting and expensive weight loss fads because we have a natural solution that’s been around for centuries, is inexpensive, and best of all, tastes delicious! Yep, you guessed it, TEA.

Green tea is known for its natural antioxidants and metabolism-boosting properties, and pu-erh tea for its medicinal properties and weight loss effects. The Persimmon Tree® offers many green and pu-erh teas that can help you meet your weight loss goal while satisfying your taste buds, such as our Coconut Cacao pu-erh tea or our Green Caramel green tea.
Along with a balanced diet and simple exercise regime, drinking loose-leaf tea (especially in the green and pu-erh varieties), will help you burn more calories and melt away unwanted fat.

With over 60 delicious and healthy teas to choose from, it’s easy to find something for everyone at our online store, and our gift sets are a terrific way to share the love of tea and good health with family and friends.

We are currently offering a whopping 30% OFF ALL GIFT SETS and FREE SHIPPING on orders over $50! But hurry, offer ends 12/31/11.

And cheers, to a healthier, happier you!