The 13 Best Gifts for Tea Lovers

There’s never a wrong time of day to enjoy a cup of Earl Grey or oolong during the chaotic holiday season, which is why the best gifts for tea lovers are also some of our favorites to give and receive. This time of year, I’ve been known to start my morning with a pot of strong English Breakfast or an Oolong, only take a break from my shopping a few hours later to treat myself to a hōjicha latte with frothed oat milk and a generous sprinkling of cinnamon. In the evenings, I gravitate towards lighter-bodied green teas, like Japanese sencha and gyokuro.

As the second-most consumed beverage in the world, tea as a category is vast and varied. Identifying what you like is a process much like tasting wine; once you’ve sniffed and tasted what’s in your cup, you can start to narrow down the different regions and varietals that appeal to your palate the most.

Whether you opt to make a pot of loose-leaf tea for company (or, in the case of many oolongs and botanical teas, a second or third brew using the same leaves), I’m here to help you give a gift that gradually brings your family’s coffee fanatic closer to the tea end of the spectrum, or encourages that ultra-busy friend to take a moment to enjoy the ritual of steeping and sipping.

Skip straight to some of our best gifts for tea lovers:

Maybe you have someone in your life who’s trying to get more into tea but doesn’t know how to tell a Jasmine apart from an Oolong; or maybe, you just know a tea enthusiast who also craves the luxury of choice. Either way, this sampler box from Parisian purveyor Kusmi Tea is packed to the brim with sachets (no pot or strainer necessary) of herbal, green, and black tea blends. The infused black tea blends can easily replace a morning cup of coffee, while the “Be Cool” blend of lemon, verbena, mint, and licorice is ideal for winding down after a long day.

Sliding open a box of neatly organized, blooming tea bulbs from The Qi is almost as delightful as popping one into a pot of hot water and watching the bloom gradually unfurl. Made using a hand-picked assortment of green tea leaves, Osmanthus flowers, and lilies, each bulb produces three cups worth of honeyed, soul-soothing herbal tea with medium caffeine levels. Need an extra few minutes of relaxation? Each bulb is good for two re-steeps to help you prolong the ritual of tea time.

These hand-blown borosilicate glass teaspoons are about to become the most versatile pieces of cutlery you own. We recommend using them for drizzling honey or sprinkling sugar in a cup of tea, but they’re also ideal for stirring up a classic Negroni or serving dips and sauces on a charcuterie spread. Plus, the mix-and-match vibe in each set of four keeps any tablescape from feeling too stuffy.

This ultra-luxurious tin of Wedding Imperial black tea from iconic French teahouse Marriage Fréres—which has been in the business since 1854—is bound to entrance anyone who sniffs it. Sure to appeal to (but still surprise) fans of a classic cup of English Breakfast or Earl Grey, the malty, chocolatey Assam tea leaves make this tea especially ideal to enjoy alongside gooey cinnamon buns, stacks of pancakes, or other holiday brunch favorites. Plus, the black, airtight tin is chic enough to display and re-use.

Your kettle is one appliance that should be attractive enough to display on your stovetop, and this stainless steel offering from Italian design house Alessi is one you’ll want to show off. The newer, smaller-capacity offering (the original is almost twice the size) is perfect for afternoon brews for two. Choose between teal and sunshine yellow handles, and don’t underestimate the cuteness of the bird-shaped whistle. For extra gift-giving brownie points, you can also add up to 9 characters of engraving.

Can a sugar bowl be brat? This cheerful piece from artist Sophie Lou Jacobsen adds a touch of whimsy to any tea tray and is made of sturdy borosilicate glass to withstand the test of time. For those who don’t take sugar with their tea, it’s also a perfect vessel for storing hard candies or packets of honey; you could even use it to corral those loose tea bags at the bottom of your pantry drawers.

One of my most tried-and-true stocking stuffers, these DIY teabags from Art of Tea are a great way to share some of my most treasured loose-leaf teas with folks who haven’t yet (for reasons I can’t understand) invested in a teapot. Packing a few of these in my travel tote is also a great way to avoid succumbing to the dreaded hotel or airplane stale tea bag scenario, and there’s something just a little bit luxurious about enjoying a cup of Marriages Fréres on-the-go instead of, say, Lipton.

Few handheld milk frothers are as efficient and dependable as this one from Blue Bottle, which you likely know for its cold brew and sleek cafés. With three replaceable heads that give you superfine, fine, or regular foam and a sticky wall-mount that makes it easy to store beside your tea or coffee station, this is the ideal stocking stuffer for matcha latte or London Fog fans. It’s also surprisingly quiet when used, and works just as nicely with whole cow’s milk as with plant-based barista favorites like oat milk and macadamia nut milk.

If you haven’t tried hojicha before, consider Flowerhead’s Deep Steep tea bags the best new excuse to try matcha’s increasingly popular cousin. This roasted green tea has a naturally earthy and savory flavor profile, and the addition of roasted corn and barley adds extra layers of umami to each cup. Best of all, Flowerhead’s poppy branding is cute enough that you don’t need to worry about gift wrap.

While we fully support using an aesthetically pleasing glass teapot as a centerpiece when entertaining, the reality is that nothing rivals ceramic in terms of keeping your tea warm for an extended period. This minimalist option from Japanese tableware brand Kinto is the ideal size for two people, and the short spout reduces the risk of pesky drips and tea stains. The Moss Green glaze is especially unique (we’ve yet to come across another teapot in this shade), and each comes with a dishwasher-safe stainless steel strainer.

If you’re bored of the same old selection of black teas, this variety pack of post-fermented tea is a favorite of BA’s Commerce Editor Carina Finn. “I love that it it comes with a wide range of caffeine levels, from caffeine-free rooibos to delicate green teas and bold black tea options,” she says. Her favorite is the naturally sweet Moonwalk black tea, which has notes of honey and pear.

Once you get into tea, you’ll learn that different leaves call for different brewing temperatures. This temperature-control kettle from Fellow made in collaboration with Great Jones is one of our favorite tools for making a perfectly brewed pot of delicate sencha or jasmine tea. The deep green hue and contrasting mustard yellow knob make this piece stand out on any countertop, and the thin spout makes spills and drips a non-issue.

While many self-heating mugs look clunky and, well, techy, this ceramic option from OHOM feels like it could be a treasured piece you’ve owned for years. It’s dishwasher safe and comes in a few muted colorways (we’re especially partial to the Rosey Apricot, which is a soft terracotta), and the heating base can also serve as a wireless charger for your phone or headphones. Have to run to a meeting or call? The base automatically turns off after an hour, so that’s one thing you don’t have to worry about.