More Gifts for Tea Lovers

My last gift guide for tea lovers focused mainly on tea gear. This time around, I'm going to share some of my favorite teas and focus on the experience of tea.

Celandon Tea Mug: I love vintage Jadeite glassware, and this mug, while ceramic, reminds me of my Jadeite. It comes in a couple of different styles --I can't decide which one I like best.

Matcha Set: My daughter uses this set every day to prepare her iced matcha latte.

Harney & Sons Soho blend: I buy the loose-leaf version, but for a gift, the sachet tea bags in a tin are a nice presentation (especially if it's a first-time purchase).

Builder's Tea: This is my youngest daughter's favorite black tea.

Stash Spiced Chai: My favorite Spiced Chai tea bag. My second favorite is Twinings Chai.

Spiced Masala Chai Blend: My favorite loose-leaf Chai blend.

A quick note about Chai blends: Many companies offer multiple varieties of chai: herbal chai, rooibos chai, decaf chai, double spiced chai, holiday chai, french vanilla chai (I personally can't stand the flavor or aroma of french vanilla). So pay close attention to which one you're purchasing. Tea drinkers can be picky about their tea, and if you find a favorite, you'll want to be able to purchase the "right" one again.

Autumn Cranberry Black: This is a lovely tea for fall.

Blackberry Black: Blackberries are one of my favorite fruits. Many blackberry teas include sage or some other flavor in the blend, which I don't care for at all. This one is really nice either hot or iced.

Green Paradise: This flavored green tea was very popular in the tea room.

Tea Tasting Journal: This journal is a place to keep your notes on the different teas you experience.

Lemon Curd to accompany scones.

Scone Cookbook: There are a variety of scone recipes in this cookbook, including one of mine from the tea room.

Scone Pan: I'm always going to choose cast iron over non-stick, and this pan will look nice hanging on the wall when it's not baking their favorite tea time treat.

Tiered Tea Stand: I hesitated to share this last one because they've become difficult to source (I do sometimes find them at thrift stores), and I think the price of these has gone crazy over the last few years. This style is much sturdier and more stable than the ones that feature a single column through the center of the plates. If you prefer the look (and price) of the single-column versions, you might consider this one, as it appears to be sturdier and more substantial than the typical ceramic plate versions.

If you're looking for a good tea book, I've curated a list of books about tea and teatime, and books that feature tea or tea rooms as part of the storyline.