In search of the perfect tea gift, but you don’t know where to start? One Google search and you’ll be overwhelmed with chai, matcha, chamomile, iced teas, English teas, green teas, oolong, peppermint and the list goes on. So where do we start?
A cup of tea inspires calm and serenity. It’s the perfect sip to end a long day, and for many, it’s the ideal way to start the morning in lieu of coffee. Studies have shown that the beverage offers many health benefits, and it’s an age-old favorite available in thousands of different flavors and interpretations. Is it any wonder that so many people love it? If you have a few enthusiasts on your list, keep these gifts for tea lovers in mind.
The Basics
Customized Teapot
What do you need to make tea? Well, first you need a teapot but odds are that tea lover of yours already has one. So let’s move on right? Wrong! You can never have too many teapots and I’m sure they would enjoy a little extra holiday decor in the form of this Christmas Teapot. Since they sent you down a rabbit hole in search of their gift, you could give them this beautiful Alice in Wonderland Teapot. What’s more fitting than the Mad Hatter showing up to your own tea party. The teapot possibilities are endless. Just remember, we’re all mad here!
Cost: $37.95. Customize your tea drinkers tea set with this Monogram Initial and Family name teapot. This great gift is sure to be a hit with them!
Clean Cup, Clean Cup, Move Down!
Monogrammed Nutcracker Tea Mug
If your connoisseur is a regular mad hatter and believes “it’s always tea time”, they’ll need plenty of cups. Do they drink tea like it’s some sort of medication? Well, you just picked up their prescription! Maybe you’re friends with Ross Geller, and you need the perfect paleontologist mug. Need a mug that’s sure to remind them “pinkies out”? Well your lady or lord is sure to feel like royalty with these lady of the manor and lord of the manor teacup options.
Cost: $18.30. Ring in the holidays with this Nutcracker themed mug. Personalize it with your tea lovers initial to really make their day.
The Absolute Best Way to Travel is by Hat
Tired of the Alice in Wonderland references yet? Well buckle up, traveling by hat can get a bit messy. A cup of tea can be tough to take on the go, whether they’re spilling it or they take the first sip and the cup of tea is already cold. Make your traveler’s life easier with this stainless steel travel mug. No more showing up late to those important dates because they had to swing by their local cafe and pick up a cup of tea. Now they can fill it up at home and get on the move. The mug is also designed with a spill-proof lid and the ability to keep things hot, which makes it a practical choice.
Cost $26.35. Buying them the prescription mug? Add this for when they’re on the go.
Just a Half a Cup if You Don’t Mind
So your tea lover is more of an Alice when it comes to tea parties. Well, a great gift would be a sampler or a subscription. Whether it’s a loose tea leaves sampler or a gift box with tea bags, it’s sure to mix things up at any tea party. The Dollar Tea Club is a fantastic place to start. They have three different tea plans depending on how much tea your recipient drinks. To make things easier, if you are unsure of what your tea drinker is fond of, they have a gift subscription plan. With this plan, you can set a duration of 3 months, 6 months, or one year, and you can change the amount they will receive. Prices start at $60 for the 3-month plan and vary depending on what you choose. Keep in mind, you may need to buy a tea infuser or strainer if you decide to get them loose leaf tea.
Cost: Prices start at $9.95. Harney & Sons offer plenty of Tea Samplers, some even come in a beautiful tea chest for your tea aficionado to keep and refill. It’s the gift box that keeps on giving.
Since We’re on the Subject, Let’s talk Accessories
A tea infuser is used with loose leaf tea or dried tea leaves. With the infuser, you can begin “steeping” or brewing in a tea mug or tea kettle. Tea infusers may also be referred to as a tea ball, tea maker, or tea egg due to the shape most take. Okay, enough lessons for now. If you’re purchasing any loose tea leaves than I suggest buying your tea lover a steeping apparatus so they can get right into their tea making without any hiccups.
Cost: $4.59. English Tea Store offers a wide variety of tea accessories for every kind of tea lover out there!
No Tea Party is Complete Without Cookies
Dream Big Sugar Cookies
Tea and cookies are a match made in heaven. Name a better duo, but not just any plain cookie or biscuit package will do. Surprise your lucky tea lover with a personalized batch of sugar cookies. Write a message on them or slap an embarrassing photo of them on there. These cookies are sure to spice up their next tea tasting party!
Remind them to dream big while they dunk a dozen shortbread cookies. Hopefully their dream isn’t dunking them all at once!
Nothing Wakes Them Up More Than the Smell of Tea
Some people just enjoy that sweet aroma of their tea. So what better gift than a fragrance that emulates that morning cup of tea? Demeter has a variety of tea scents. earl grey, hibiscus, chai tea, green tea, chamomile, grapefruit, coriander are just a few they have listed on their site.
Price: varies with size. Help them relieve some stress or just breathe in the fragrance of their favorite teas.
Who Doesn’t Love Apparel
Is your tea drinker someone who has a high standard when it comes to tea tasting? This “Tea Snob” t-shirt will surely make them laugh and maybe make them consider pulling back when it comes to leaving that two star review. Maybe they need a new favorite “tea” shirt, yeah we know that was corny.
Cost $18.95. Thinking about that “Tea-Rex” mug? Well here’s the perfect “Tea-Shirt” to go with it.
A Brewing Kit Means Endless Tea Parties
If they really enjoy kombucha and enjoy a little DIY, then it only makes sense to gift them with a brewing kit. Not only will it help them save money, but they can also prepare some for you! Look for a comprehensive kit that contains at least a covered brew jar, culture, starter, ingredients, and a temperature gauge to monitor progress.
Cost: $45.00. The Kombucha Shop provides everything your new tea maker needs to get started and be successful with their first batch. Their customer service will also be happy to assist them if they feel lost at any point during their brewing experience.
Shop for Mugs on Zazzle
Whether it’s an herbal tea gift set, a strainer, a glass tea cup, or a personalized mug, this list of gift ideas will hopefully help you find that perfect gift to make that special tea drinker of yours find their perfect cup.
Feel free to share in the comments what you’re getting the tea lover in YOUR life this holiday season!
Editor’s Note: This post was originally published in October 2019 and has been updated for accuracy and comprehensiveness.
Nicole is our Content Strategist. She enjoys long walks to Taco Bell, rollerblading into the sunset, and eating Reese’s Cups for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Find her writing about iPhone cases, holiday card messaging and even music festival tips!
If your tea loving friend or family member likes getting bulk loose-leaf tea, getting them a beautiful air-tight canister for storing the tea is a great idea. Also, there are lots of super-cute tea infusers, such as ones that are shaped like an animal that hangs off the edge of your tea cup. A tea ball or stainless steel infuser also works. I really like the clear borosilicate glass teapots, since you can watch the tea brewing inside. If your friend prefers tea bags instead, a teabag organizer is always great! And add a teabag squeezer to make sure they get every last drop of flavor out of their bags.
For tea drinkers who like bagged-teas, I suggest making the gift complete my adding your person’s favorite tea-bag brand or flavor as well! Especially at the holidays—tons of fresh seasonal flavors!