I am a little obsessed with tea, so this is sort of a selfish list. I am hoping my husband will see it and buy all of the items on this list for me! I drink tea daily by the bucketful, and my favorite kind of tea is a straight black tea (English Breakfast), served hot, with a little skim milk and agave nectar. I’ll drink iced tea too, but it’s not the same thing, and I am not a fan of herbal teas with the exception of an occasional glass of mint tea. My tea needs to be served very hot, in a tall thick glass, not a tiny teacup. As you can see, I’m pretty picky about my tea, and I’ve found that most tea lovers are the same way. Coffee lovers get way more press but probably not nearly as much pleasure, in my opinion. After all, coffee is about winding up and tea is about winding down. It’s about serenity. Tea lovers are generally fond of anything tea-related, as long as it’s not too corny or stodgy or matronly, and we are diverse group, from zen types who drink their green tea out of sparely elegant earth-toned mugs, to those who prefer a proper English tea with all the trimmings. This list should have something on it to appeal to every tea lover on your list, and for every budget.
1. Raj Teapot, $35: This gleaming silver teapot is like a tea service for one, with a stackable sugar and creamer on top. Ingenious and beautiful.
2. Whistler Cork Tea Service, $9-$22.50: This unusual, retro-modern set is made in Portugal of traditional materials like ceramic and cork. A real conversation piece, this eyecatching set is also refreshingly affordable.
3. Tea Canisters, $20: This stackable canister has two lidded compartments, and is designed to stylish hold your stash of loose tea.
4. 100-Year Commemorative Teacup Sets by Royal Albert, $150: I have a dream of setting a table with beautiful, mismatched pieces of vintage china. These sets could be the beginning of my collection. Each set of five cups and saucers commemorates a 40 year period.
5. Tea-Themed Ornaments, $9.99-$30: I am grouping these together because there are tea lovers, and then there are tea lovers who love tea-related tchotchkes. If someone on your list falls into the second category, then these may be just what you are looking for. The Wedgwood blue teapot ($30) and cup and saucer ($30) are delicate and classic, while the crystal pair (teapot, cup and saucer) from The Paragon catalog add a little bit of sparkle.
6. Hot & Cold Silver Drink Dispenser, $299: These antique beverage dispensers used to hold coffee for debutante balls in the South. It can serve hot or cold drinks beautifully, but I think it is ideal for keeping a big pot of tea hot a large gathering. And no two are exactly alike! A silver sugar and creamer duo ($59) is also available.
7. Holly & Berries Tea Sugars, $15: A pretty paper lace box holds sugar “cubes” shaped like holly and berries, a festive addition to any holiday tea! Fancy Flours also has beautiful teacup and teapot shaped cookie cutters for $20 each, and tea-infused chocolate teacups in flavors like Earl-Grey lavender with dark chocolate, $15. Yum!
8. Franz Phoenix Teacup and Saucer, $99.95: This sculptural, handcrafted set is made of chinese porcelain and makes a striking gift.
9. Antique Tea Party Chandelier, $1799: For a truly extravagant, and memorable gift, present this showstopping chandelier, which features vintage teacups, sivlers spoons, trays and teapots that date back half a century.
10. Teapot Pendants, $288: Cool conversation-starters, these white ceramic teapots (three styles are available) serve as funky, functional pendant lights. This One-Lump-or-Two lamp, $198, continues the theme.
11. Little Red Riding Hood Tea Pot, $48: This set is cute enough for a child’s tea party but funky enough that you’ll want to save it for yourself! And it’s functional too! The fairy tale character’s head serves as a cup, and her hat is the lid. A must have!
12. Willy Nilly Teapot, $298: Jono Pandolfi creates freeform, fantastical pieces that would be right at home in Neverland.
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