If you’re a coffee lover like me, it can sometimes be hard to relate to your tea-drinking friends and their caffeine-source preferences. The lightly flavored hot water has never quite been for me, with the exception of when I’m sick or when my dad, a self-proclaimed tea expert, makes one of his fancy teas. And thanks to my tea expert father, over the years I’ve learned a thing or two about teas and what might come in handy for a tea drinker. Tea lovers are often hardcore fanatics, and a tea-related gift will always be appreciated. If you’re unsure where to start, here are some perfect tea gifts that will leave the tea lover in your life perfectly caffeinated.
The Perfect Mug
Regardless of whether your drink of choice is coffee or tea, you can probably relate to having the perfect mug. It’s that one particular mug that you reach for in your cabinet when it’s time for your morning caffeine – or any other time in the day you need a boost. It’s the mug that ranks above all others in your home. It’s simply The Mug. So, naturally, one of the best tea gifts you can give to your tea-loving friend is the perfect mug. For many, The Mug is simply one that they’re attached to due to its intrinsic value. Maybe it was a gift at one point or maybe a purchase from a vacation. But personally, when someone gives me a mug, I’m elated, and I often end up favoring that mug over all others for quite a while.
That being said, there’s no formula to finding the perfect mug. I think where you got it from matters more than the mug itself. But if you need some ideas, consider what your tea-loving friend might like. Is it one with a unique shape or style, like a clear, double-walled mug with a shape formed by its interior wall or with a design on the outside? (See the cute heart-shaped double-walled mug below). Or would your friend prefer a simple mug with a cool story, like the one you picked up on a vacation in a locally owned shop, or one you got as a souvenir at a sporting event? Or, maybe, your friend loves mugs with a little message on them, whether it be cute or inspiring. “The Mug” for me at home says “Coffee Before Talkie” … a little corny, not typically my style, but it’s the perfectly shaped mug and my mom gave it to me. It’s been years since I’ve poured my coffee in a different mug. You, too, can provide “The Mug” for your tea-loving friend. You can’t go wrong by trying!
Tea Subscription
Whether your friend is interested in trying as many teas as possible or they have a couple of favorite kinds that are mainstays in their home, a tea subscription is the perfect tea gift that works for both. You simply buy the one-year subscription, and then each month they get to choose a few teas that they either want to try or know they already love. They’ll be sent enough tea to get them through the month, plus extras like reusable tea filters and notes on each tea with steeping instructions to make the perfect cup. Plus, what else can you give someone that gives them a new gift each month? In terms of a tea gift, it’s perfect. Give your friend something to look forward to each month. We certainly could all use that.
Tea Sets
Tea sets are yet another gift for a tea lover that you can’t go wrong with, and there’s one for every occasion. Wanting to send a “get well soon” gift to a friend? There’s a set for that, packed with soothing teas and immunity-boosting teas. If it’s a birthday or you’re looking for the perfect Father’s Day gift, you can send along a tea set packed with varieties of their favorite type of tea, like an Earl Gray tea set containing several different kinds of Earl Grays, all with different nuances and from different places. If they’re a brunch-lover, there’s a brunch tea set with a handful of the perfect teas to pair with their brunch experience. If it’s for your significant other, there are tea sets with all the romantic aromas you can imagine. You name the occasion, and there’s a tea set for it. And if you’re not a tea expert yourself, there’s nothing to worry about – the perfect tea combinations are already selected for you.
Handy Tea Paraphernalia
If the person you’re gifting to already has a cabinet packed full of teas, and a new set seems like it would just get lost, then there are still plenty of tea gifts you can give them that they’ll appreciate.
- Loose leaf tea bags. Loose leaf tea is often preferred by tea-lovers, but it requires some extra equipment and can be less handy (and much less portable) than a simple tea bag from a box. That’s where loose leaf tea bags come in. They’re simply empty tea bags that you can pack yourself with loose leaf tea, so if you’re on the go, you don’t need to wait for the loose leaf tea to steep at home. It’s just as portable as any old tea bag, but it’s packed to perfection by the drinker themself.
- A high-quality teapot. Tea drinkers will always appreciate a new teapot, and not all teapots are made equal. A good teapot is for more than just its function and practical uses. It’s also a decoration, often living on the stove (even when not in use) for everybody to see. Ceramic teapots are particularly trendy right now, as are teapots with unique shapes and spouts.
- An electric tea kettle. Perfect for the busiest of people, or those who simply don’t like to wait for more than a minute for their hot water to heat up, an electric tea kettle will have water boiling before you can count to 100, skipping over the minutes that a traditional teapot takes to heat up its contents. A lot of tea lovers have both traditional teapots and electric ones – and those who don’t yet have an electric one might not know what they’re missing. The convenience is unmatched.
The right travel mug. It can be tough to find the right travel mug for the right person. Some want an insulated metal one that keeps their tea piping hot for hours. On the flip side, some may want one that you can reheat in the microwave, which is more difficult to find as many travel mugs are either made with metal or with paint that can’t be microwaved. If you land the perfect one, they’ll never leave it behind.