Finding the perfect gifts for tea lovers in the UK can be tricky – will they like Earl Grey or do they prefer herbal? Do they already have enough loose leaf tea?
As a dedicated tea enthusiast, I’ve curated the best gifts for tea lovers that go beyond just another box of teabags (yawn). From unusual tea gifts that will surprise and delight, to practical tea accessories every tea lover needs, this guide features quirky tea gifts available from British retailers.
Whether you’re shopping for Christmas gifts for tea lovers, birthday presents, or just want to treat a fellow tea enthusiast, I’ve found unique options that any tea lover would be thrilled to unwrap.
All of these gifts are available in the UK, and I’ve tried to stick with familiar brands to support British businesses.
Best Tea Gift Sets UK
An all-round great gift for any tea lover is a gift set. The best tea gift sets include a little of everything – tea, tea ware, accessories and some nibbles. Here are my top picks.
Whittard’s Best of British Gift Box
- Great for: Anyone who loves biscuits and a cuppa
- Price range: ££
Whittard tea gifts are always a good idea. The Whittard Best of British Gift Box contains 3x mini caddies of Piccadilly Blend, Chelsea Breakfast, and Covent Garden Blend. It also has a tea infuser (so it’s safe to give to someone who hasn’t brewed loose leaf tea before) and triple chocolate biscuits.
It’s one of the nicest themed British tea gifts that works for birthdays, anniversaries, etc.
If you know that your tea lover is a fan of a specific tea type, then Whittard also do gift sets that I recommend. Check out the Classic Blends set or the Famous Tea Collection.
New English Teas Vintage Victorian Luxury Tea Set
- Great for: tea lovers who want a traditional experience
- Price range: ££
If you want luxury tea gift sets without the luxury price tag, New English Teas are a go-to. I’ve selected the Vintage Victorian Tea & Biscuits gift set to feature on this list, but they have so many different gift set options on their site.
This set includes biscuits and two types of Ceylon lack tea in ornate tea tins. It’s premium tea gifts like this that really make you say “wow” when you open them. As a bonus, the recipient can reuse the tea tins for storing their own tea and homemade biscuits once the set is finished!
Teapro Premium Matcha Tea Gift Set
- Great for: green tea lovers who want to get into matcha
- Price range: £££
Not all tea gift sets are about traditional breakfast tea and biscuits! Teapro, one of my favourite British indie tea brands, has this fabulous matcha tea gift set. It includes the traditional matcha bowl, bamboo whisk and whisk stand, and bamboo tea scoop. You can also choose to upgrade the gift set to include some of their delicious ceremonial grade matcha and a seive (the key to lump-free matcha).
You can buy this matcha tea gift from Teapro directly or find their Amazon UK store. Either way, the service is excellent. And if you aren’t sure whether your tea lover knows how to make matcha – fear not. Teapro offer a matcha tea box that has all the educational info they could need.
Devon Cream Tea Gift Set Hamper
- Great for: when you want more food than tea in your gift set!
- Price range: ££
If you are looking for quintessential English tea gifts, you cannot go wrong with a Devon cream tea set. This hamper contains everything you need to have a delicious afternoon tea, with freshly baked scones, clotted cream, strawberry jam and Devonshire teabags.
Some tea lovers are already swamped with teas to try and have shelves full of teaware. For those people, this gift is perfect. It’s a delicious afternoon tea experience without the cups, plates and teaspoons weighing it down.
These traditional tea hampers (serving 2 or 4 people) are available from Devon Hampers and you have the choice of a standard box, printed box, or wicker hamper.
Unusual Tea Gifts & Quirky Accessories
If your favourite tea person already has shelf upon shelf of delicious teas to drink and tea-ware to drink it from, one of these quirky tea gifts might be more what you’re looking for!
Tea-Themed Art Print
- Great for: The home décor lover who’s always on Pinterest
- Price range: £
I am a huge fan of this kind of tea wall art gift. I actually have a trio of tea-themed quotes framed on my walls at home. They look fantastic with a modern and minimalistic décor theme!
This Here for the Tea Frog Art Print is created by Honey Studios. You can choose from A3, A4 and A5 sizes, and either red or pink bordering. Add a simple frame from Amazon and insert this 230gsm poster grade matt paper print to create a fun and interesting gift for the tea lover in your life.
Peter Rabbit Novelty Tea Collectibles
- Great for: Anyone who loves Peter Rabbit and novelty gifts
- Price range: ££
New English Teas are the best tea company around if you want cute tea tins, caddies, and authentic licensed designs. From Alice in Wonderland to Peter Rabbit, you can find some heart-warming gifts on their official website. My top choice is this large tea caddy (it holds 80 teabags of New English Teas’ Assam and Nilgiri blend) which comes with a stuffed Peter Rabbit toy.
If you need a gift that has a generous pinch of whimsy, or a collectible gift that will be held onto for years, then New English Teas have got your back. While they do sell a lot of royalty and British-themed items aimed at tourists, I discovered in my New English Teas reviews that their loose leaf actually holds up to a pretty good standard.
Chocolate and Tea Gift Boxes
- Great for: Anyone with a sweet tooth
- Price range: ££
Chocolate and tea is such a great pairing (I’ve actually got a whole guide to this food pairing in the works) and it makes a lovely gift. The Wellbeing Chocolate and Herbal Tea Gift Set by JustBe Botanicals features 6 different chocolate bars (2 dark chocolate, 2 milk chocolate, 2 white chocolate) and a pouch of their tasty herbal tea blend – a mix of hibiscus, rose and jasmine.
Each chocolate bar contains botanical ingredients to make it chocolate with a purpose. I’m most interested in their Happy chocolate bar (white choc, pink grapefruit and lime) and their Active chocolate bar (milk choc, vanilla, spearmint and cloves).
Grim Steeper Novelty Tea Infuser
- Great for: Tea drinkers with a sense of humour
- Price range: £
If the tea drinker you are buying a gift for doesn’t fall into the “grandma” category or the “whimsical herbal tea lover” category, they might be interested in this quirky tea gift. The Grim Steeper (yes, really) is an affordable and funny tea gift that’s ideal for loose leaf tea drinkers.
The infuser is made from BPA-free silicone which means it’s fine to go in the microwave when they reheat that forgotten cuppa, and it can go in the dishwasher too. Thankfully it comes in a square box so you can wrap it easily.
Glass Mushroom Mug and Saucer
- Great for: whimsical tea drinkers
- Price range: £
Funny tea mugs aren’t limited to dad jokes and gross innuendos! This mushroom mug and saucer set is fun and cute without being lewd. If you want a whimsical tea gift that won’t cost the earth but still packs a “wow” factor, this is it. The Glass Mushroom Mug and Saucer is made by Penny Rose Home & Gifts on Not On The High Street.
By the way, when it comes to novelty mug gifts there is no shortage of options. If the mushroom theme isn’t quite right, try:
- Hand-painted flower mug
- Gold and pastel hygge houses mug
- Colour match mug (great for those super picky tea drinkers)
- Witches brew stoneware mug
Tea Subscription & Experience Gifts
If you want to make an impact, you might want to consider monthly tea gifts or tea experiences that treat the recipient to more than a measly mug. Here are my top choices.
Twinings Tea Masterclass (London)
- Great for: history lovers as well as tea lovers
- Price range: ££
If you want a tea experience, this is the one. Twinings’ Tea Masterclass is a special experience hosted in their flagship store 216 Strand in London. Pack your bags, get on the train, and make a whole weekend out of it! Alongside the Twinings tea experience, London is home to Whittard’s prestigious Regent Street store and you can’t go wrong with afternoon tea at the Ritz.
This tea experience gift includes 2 hours of learning about tea, tasting different tea types, and practicing your professional slurping. Your recipient must be over 18 to attend and the voucher is valid for 14 months so they have plenty of time to choose a date for their Twinings tea experience.
Teapro Journey Tea Subscription Gift
- Great for: Tea explorers and adventurers
- Price range: £££
Some people love to browse the shelves of herbal teas and cool blends at the supermarket, but this gift will expand their horizons and help them discover some delicious and high-quality teas that can’t be found at Tesco! Teapro’s Journey Tea Subscription allows you to gift 12 months of subscription boxes to your friend or family member.
In each box, the recipient gets to explore a world of tea, with helpful educational guides and even £100 worth of gorgeous teaware along the way. I have reviewed all of the Teapro boxes on the website (including a yummy rooibos subscription box) so check those out if you are unsure!
Under £10 Stocking Fillers
Most of my gifts so far have been between £10 and £50 – although those prices will change over time, so don’t take my word for it. If that’s a little too high for you, then check out these smaller gifts all under £10. They’re great as tea stocking fillers!
- Book Lover Gift – features a range of teabags in handsewn paper envelopes printed with your favourite literary quotes.
- English Tea Shop Wellness Collection – you really get a lot for your money with this set of wellness-themed teas.
- “Tea and a Friend” Enamel Pin – a sweet little gift for a great friend who loves to drink tea. I would love to receive this as a gift.
- Whittard Tea Time Infuser – it’s tiny but incredibly thoughtful. It’s a brilliant gift for anyone who drinks loose leaf tea leaves.
- English Tea Tin Gift Set – if you’re sending your tea gift abroad, this is a great option. The English-themed tea tins (including a double-decker bus and red phone box) are always a hit.
