Tea under the Christmas tree: 7 Tips for tea-themed presents

Picking a useful Christmas gift is no science – you just need to know your target well. Tea is an incredibly versatile present, from rare varieties to handy accessories that can make brewing your favorite tea even more pleasant. We’ve compiled a handful of tips into seven distinct categories based on the type of tea-lover you have in mind, so you can easily orient yourself and pick the perfect gift.

Christmas blends – a safe bet

Unsure of your giftee’s preferences? Afraid of making the wrong choice? Then put all your proverbial eggs into our Christmas sample sets. Christmas Sample Set has nine special tea blends inspired by festive flavors, just like Tea Compass.

To decorate the table on Christmas Eve, we recommend Magical Christmas tea – 200g tin full of advent tea. And a pleasant gingerbread aroma will be provided by Honeyed Gingerbread while our Nutcracker tea will put you in a festive mood.

Rare teas for the sophisticated

Those who are really into the essence of tea won’t be satisfied with just any convenience store bag of leaves. They’re interested in the origin of the tea leaves, the way they were handled, and what kinds of stories they hide. For them, tea is more than a hot beverage – it’s a garden of peace, a moment when they can just press pause and enjoy the present moment.

We recommend China Yunnan Queen of Pu Erh, a tea which has been maturing for incredible five years. The infusion is dark mahogany and tastes earthy, with notes of mint and licorice. Pu Erh is, in a way, similar to wine – the older, the better.

A similarly amazing alternative is China Sheng Green Pu Erh Beeng Cha, a pressed tea cake with an impressive 357 grams. It has a fruity and earthy taste with a refreshing astringent tinge and comes from the Yunnan province where local growers take care of old tea trees with respect to tradition. This green Pu Erh doesn’t undergo the usual fermentation process, but is left in warm and humid environments which help it develop a specific taste profile.

Oolong lovers will be interested in Jin Xuan Milk Oolong from the Taiwanese Bei Shan. It’s produced in tea gardens located at altitudes of around 1,000 meters and has a breathtaking flavor full of floral notes. And brewing it repeatedly slowly uncovers even more layers to the taste.

Devout tea experts might love our Legendary Japanese Teas Sample Gift Set, with nine green teas from traditional, long-established farms. It includes Organic Japan Gyokuro Hisui, Organic Japan Matcha Uguisu, Organic Japan Kukicha, and more. Teas that fancy also require proper tools such as a Gaiwan, or a chinese cup with a lid, which will help your giftee prepare tea the way Chinese tea masters have been doing for thousands of years.

Established classics for the regular enjoyers

Not everyone is into exotic rarities. A lot of people prefer familiar flavors that have followed them for a long time and which they love to revisit regularly. It could be a black breakfast tea, an afternoon sencha, or an evening fruit infusion.

Ceylon FBOPF Silver Kandy is a black tea that’s exclusively harvested by hand. The infusion is surprisingly full and unexpectedly sweet. Japan Sencha Ogasa is a representative of the classic green tea from Shizuoka, where it’s been cultivated since the 13th century.

Fruit infusion lovers will find joy in Cherry Heaven. Sweet and sour black cherries, honey-sweet raisins, and acidic currants blend together into a refreshing drink no matter if it’s served hot or iced. If you’re still unsure, we’d recommend our For a Good Mood Gift Tin. Moreover, Round Tea Infuser made from stainless steel is a practical accessory for a quick and easy tea brewing right in the mug.

Healthy and easy for the wellness enthusiasts

Wellness is about balance. About taking care of your body and mind in a way that makes you comfortable. Herbal blends, Ayurvedic teas, or detox variants not just taste amazing but also give you that cleansed, peaceful feeling long after the last sip.

Start with Ayurvedic & Wellness Teas Sample Gift Set. In it you’ll discover teas such as the Yogi blend or Ayurvedic Tulsi tea. For a boost in immunity, we recommend Impenetrable Immunity, an herbal blend with moringa, vervain, and lemongrass. Thanks to its rich vitamin, mineral, and antioxidant content, moringa is slowly reaching the status of a superfood.

Ladies will certainly be interested in Skin & Hair Tea, which blends yerba maté, licorice, mint, nettle, cinnamon, ginseng, fennel, and aloe. This tea supports healthy complexion and hair, all thanks to the vibrant range of vitamins and minerals. For those who need some peace in their life, try Harmony of Body & Soul Gift Tin, which contains green tea complemented by mango and blueberries.

A suitable choice is also Herbs for Relaxation, a wellness tea with green rooibos as well as honeybush, orange, and blackberries.

Energy in every sip for the active

Those who exercise expect a range of things from their tea – like energy, hydration, and quick recovery. And yerba maté is the perfect candidate for such tea, because it releases the caffeine content slowly and guarantees a long-lasting strength to fuel their activities as well as a rich content of vitamins and minerals.

Ideally, you should begin with our Yerba Maté Sample Gift Set. It contains nine varieties of yerba maté, so your giftee will be able to sample a wide range of flavors and find the perfect one. Yerba Maté Energy contains guarana and lemongrass along with marigolds and cornflowers. For those who exercise and need more hydration, reach for Yerba Maté Fitness.

To make drinking maté an authentic experience, you’ll need to provide some special tools. This Ceramic Marbled Maté Gourd can hold 350ml and is an elegant vessel with a dark enamel that’s sturdy and easy to maintain. A maté gourd should come with a Bombilla with Two Rings – a decorated, stainless-steel straw that’s used to filter out the leaves.

Teas for travels

Travelers look for simplicity. They want things that are compact, easy to pack and even easier to use. And they still want their tea to taste delicious. The most practical accessory for travels is Medium Paper Filters, which are biodegradable and fit into any luggage.

Wrap them in gift paper along with some Jasmine Green Tea, the Chinese classic from the Yunnan province. Jasmine flowers are picked at the break of dawn and kept cool before they’re placed in batches of green tea where they bloom in the evening; the green tea then slowly absorbs their intense aroma. For something sweeter, try getting Angelic Fruit, a fruity green tea. Or just present your loved one with our Tea Compass Sample Gift Set.

For Matcha lovers

Matcha and Christmas? A surprisingly nice duo. While the snow is falling, a creamy foam forms in the cup and the aroma of matcha is spreading through the entire house. To give matcha is to give peace, a moment for oneself, and the return to a simple living. Start off with Cool Matcha Strawberry & Vanilla, provided in a 40g gift tin. This premium Japanese matcha from Kyoto with a dash of natural flavoring is suitable not only for the traditional preparation, but also for mixed drinks and desserts.

For the most quality-oriented matcha consumers, we offer Organic Japan Premium Ceremonial Matcha. And don’t forget that to make matcha, your giftee needs the proper accessories. Matcha Whisk Chasen is a handmade bamboo whisk for the perfect, foamy drink. And they’ll also need a traditional Matcha Bowl Chawan, where they can whisk the powdered green tea up.

The last accessory is a Bamboo Matcha Spoon Chashaku, created with the purpose of perfectly measuring and spooning matcha powder.