20+ great gifts for tea drinkers
Plus, get a free copy of BEVY, my print mini-magazine!
Tea drinking has a culture (well, many cultures) all its own, so it stands to reason that tea drinkers are a bit of a different bunch as well. And since the US doesn’t really cater to tea drinkers - most of us have had the experience of ordering a cup of tea while out and receiving a sad paper bag floating in a mug of lukewarm water - those of us who prefer camellia sinensis to coffee always appreciate when someone gives tea (and our love of it!) the appreciation it deserves.
Below are more than twenty gift ideas for tea lovers at a variety of price points: (some links are affiliates.)
Reading for tea lovers
Infused: Adventures in Tea A by Henrietta Lovell. I devoured - or should I say, gulped? - this book last month and couldn’t wait to recommend it here. Author Henrietta Lovell is obsessed with tea, and in this part-memoir, part-travelogue, she shares the adventures her love of tea has taken her on across the globe. I loved learning about the places she’s been, the teas she’s tried, and the business her passion led her to start. I learned a lot and smiled from cover to cover. Buy Infused on Bookshop.org to support indie booksellers, or on Amazon.
The Art of Tea: Recipes and Rituals, by Jordan Marxer. If the tea-lover in your life enjoys tea in the British tradition (think floral china and tiered platters of tiny sandwiches) this book - with recipes, presentation tips, and sumptuous photo spreads - is must-have eye candy for the coffee table. Buy The Art of Tea on Bookshop.org to support indie booksellers, or on Amazon.
BEVY magazine. I’ve put together a beautiful 20-page illustrated mini-publication for tea lovers and creative souls, and I’m so excited to offer it to the world. Every BevyBox comes with an issue of BEVY, but I’ll also mail a copy, completely free, to the first 50 people to share this post. (See footnote for details.)1
Teaware & Accessories
Tea mugs and teacups are my love language, and tea accessories make brewing up a cup even more delightful! Here are some to consider:
Knitted tea cozy - keeping teapots warm since before there were electric kettles! I love the rustic, old-fashioned aesthetic and the practicality.
Tea measuring spoon. A dedicated spoon just for tea leaves can really elevate a home tea ritual. I also love this set of golden floral-shaped spoons.
Tea for One nesting teapot/cup combos are just too cute. I like this mod yellow set too.
David’s Tea Nordic mug: I own several of these mugs. They’re generous-sized, come in different fun prints, and include both a lid and an in-mug strainer.
These modern, minimalist mugs from Mora also feature a strainer and lid, and (unlike many of David’s mugs - I’ve learned from experience) are dishwasher-safe.
A mug strainer is an inexpensive way to convert any mug into your friend’s favorite tea-delivery device.
Shared Tea Experiences
Tea lovers adore sharing their favorite teas and tea experiences with an enthusiastic friend, especially an open-minded beginner. Just think of all the times the tea drinker in your life has probably accompanied you to a coffee shop for another disappointing paper cup of gray water. Try stepping into their world for a little while - you may be surprised at how much you love it! Teamap.com offers a searchable directory of tea rooms so you can find one in your area. A note that afternoon tea often requires a reservation, so plan ahead.
Teapots & Kettles
Kettles and teapots are a tea drinker’s workhorses, and an upgrade can elevate the entire at-home tea experience:
Porcelain Teapot with Strainer - I carry this cheerful little pot in my brick-and-mortar store, and have been impressed with its heft, quality and overall look.
Stovetop-Safe Teapot & Kettle - Most teapots are not stovetop-safe, meaning you need to heat up the water in another kettle, then pour it into the pot, over the tea leaves, to infuse the tea. This is one of a handful of readily-available teapots I’ve found that claim to be stovetop-safe, meaning you can do the whole shebang in one receptacle. While I prefer the control of pouring from the heating vessel into a separate pot for infusing (or more often, simply infuse right in my mug), I can definitely see a time and place for an all-in-one option.
Single-Cup Dispensing Infuser - I’ve been eyeballing these neat little devices since watching the staff at my favorite local tea house make their tea. The tea infuses in the vessel, then, when it’s placed on top of a mug, the tea is released into the mug while the leaves strain out.
Electric Kettle -A basic electric kettle has come to be one of my favorite and most-used kitchen appliances. I like a vintage look: Haden’s entire kettle line is gorgeous, and you can color-coodinate your kettle with your toaster and other small appliances. I’ve also been eyeballing this Hazel Quinn beauty for a while now.
Electric Tea Maker - While my routine of heating water in a kettle and pouring over the tea works just fine for me, every now and then I meditate on the benefits of an electric teakettle that heats the water to the exact temperature for the type of tea you’re making, infuses the tea, stops the brew at just the right moment, and then holds the tea at a perfect temperature until you’re ready to drink it. This cool-looking Vianté model is relatively affordable, but I’ve also heard rave reviews of the Breville Tea Maker, which has nearly twice the capacity and holds the brewed tea at its ideal temperature for a full hour. At nearly $300, the Breville is a splurge - I’m not sure I’d appreciate the bells and whistles enough for it to be worthwhile, but a gadget-loving tea drinker might just love it!
Tea by mail
Tea drinkers love exploring new-to-them teas, and if there isn’t a good tea shop nearby, mail-order tea companies and subscriptions can be the next-best thing.
Plum Deluxe Tea Club - this subscription sends one quality tea per month so that you can explore without overwhelm.
Art of Tea - a 6 month subscription includes 2-4 ounces of artisan tea each month.
BevyBox - No subscription needed! This is my one-time, customized and carefully-curated gift box for tea lovers and creative souls. Choose from the Just Sips box, which includes a selection of my favorite teas and a tea accessory, or the Sip & Stitch box - which includes a selection of tea, a tea accessory, and craft supplies!
Boxes are customized to your tea and craft preferences, and include the holiday issue of BEVY, a beautifully illustrated mini-magazine that includes articles, essays, and journal prompts to help you tap into cozy, creative comfort this holiday season.
I hope this gift guide has given you some inspiration as you’re shopping for the tea lover you love. Tea drinkers, I’d love to hear from you, too: what gift would make you smile this holiday?
A “share” can mean anything: restack this post on Substack, share it on social media, forward this email to a friend, send it as a text, etc; then take a screenshot and email it to hello@theteasmade.com, along with your mailing address by December 7. If you’re one of the first 50 to respond, I’ll put your copy of BEVY in the mail by December 15! Open to residents of the US and Canada only.
So many great ideas here, Meagan! 🫖
Also- I bought myself a fortnum & mason tea and biscuit advent calendar. It comes with two bags of tea and two biscuits per day!