Tea Drinker's Holiday Gift Guide (5 Picks, Caffeine-Free to Matcha)
The tea person in your life is slightly easier to buy for than the coffee person, but not much. They probably have a specific tea collection. They probably have a kettle they like. They probably have opinions about water temperature and steep time.
This gift guide is the version we wish someone had sent us when we were the tea person on someone else's list. Five picks, all under $35, that work for most tea drinkers. Some from our catalog, some from other places we trust.
The 5 picks
1. Our Matcha — $24.99
For the tea person who's been curious about matcha but hasn't committed to a $40 tin. Our matcha-style loose leaf is a leaf-based green tea crafted to deliver matcha's flavor profile (umami, vegetal, clean finish) without the powder or the bamboo whisk.
If they already drink matcha, they probably have a tin they love. Skip this pick.
If they don't yet, this is the entry point. Brews in any teapot or French press. 1oz bag brews ~28 cups. The bag is resealable.
If they want ceremonial-grade matcha (the expensive kind), we'd point you toward a specialty matcha importer — we don't carry that tier yet.
2. Our Hibiscus Berry Tea — $18.99
For the tea person who drinks caffeine-free. Our hibiscus berry blend is a fruit-forward, naturally caffeine-free herbal. Notes of hibiscus, rosehip, berries. Brews hot or iced. The color is a deep ruby red.
This is the bag we'd give to someone who wants to wind down in the evening. No caffeine means they can drink it at 8 PM and still sleep.
If they're sensitive to caffeine or just prefer evening tea, this is the safe pick.
3. Our Jasmine — $19.99
For the tea person who likes green tea but wants something more interesting than plain sencha. Our jasmine blend is a green tea scented with jasmine flowers. The floral note is light — not soapy, not perfume-y — and it pairs well with the green tea base.
This is the bag for someone who wants to graduate from plain green tea to something with more character.
4. A nice teapot — $25-35
If the tea person is using a stovetop kettle and a strainer, a proper teapot is the upgrade. Ceramic or cast iron, holds 16-24oz, has a built-in strainer.
A few options:
- For ease of use: A basic ceramic teapot with a stainless steel mesh strainer ($25-30). Looks good on a counter, easy to clean.
- For ceremony: A small cast iron teapot (tetsubin) ($30-50). Heavier, holds heat longer, looks beautiful.
- For one cup: A single-cup infuser mug ($15-25). Glass or ceramic, with a built-in strainer. Good for the office or a quick morning cup.
Any of these work. The ceramic teapot is the most flexible pick.
5. A water temperature kettle — $30-50
If the tea person doesn't have a variable-temperature kettle, this is the gift. Most tea people use boiling water for everything, which is wrong for green tea (too hot, brings out bitterness) and slightly too hot for white tea.
A variable-temperature kettle lets you dial in 175°F for green tea, 195°F for oolong, 212°F for black. The tea tastes noticeably better at the right temperature.
Options:
- Budget: Any electric kettle with a temperature dial. Most are in the $30-50 range. The exact brand matters less than the feature.
- Mid-range: The Bonavita variable-temp kettle (~$100). Or the Cuisinart CPK-17 (~$80). Both work.
- Premium: The Fellow Stagg EKG (~$165). Same one we recommend for pour-over. Variable temp, holds temp for an hour, looks great.
If you're trying to keep the gift under $35, the budget kettle works fine.
How to choose (tier by recipient)
- Someone who drinks herbal tea in the evening: the Hibiscus Berry Tea (pick 2)
- Someone who's curious about matcha: our Matcha (pick 1)
- Someone who drinks green tea daily: our Jasmine (pick 3)
- Someone who uses a kettle and strainer for everything: a teapot (pick 4)
- Someone who brews everything with boiling water: a variable-temperature kettle (pick 5)
What we're skipping (and why)
A few common picks we left off:
Loose leaf sampler sets. Most tea people already have their preferences. A sampler set is generic.
Tea books. Most tea books are either too basic or too academic.
Tea subscription services. Same skepticism as coffee subscriptions. Most are bulk blends with marketing.
Decorative mugs. Most tea people have mug preferences.
Expensive single-origin teas. Our catalog doesn't include rare single-origin teas (we focus on blends we can source reliably). For the tea person who loves high-end single-origin pu-erchs or gyokuro, we'd point you to a specialty tea importer — Yunnan Sourcing, Teavivre, or Harney & Sons for high-end.
A note on shipping
If you're ordering from us for the gift, place the order by December 15 for delivery before Christmas. We ship every Thursday — orders placed after Dec 15 might not arrive in time.
We can ship directly to the recipient if you include their address at checkout. No pricing info in the package.
For more on shipping deadlines, our holiday shipping post walks through the dates. And if you're buying for both a coffee person and a tea person, our coffee lover's gift guide is the companion post.
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If you're ordering from us — every bag you buy helps fund animal rescue efforts through our partnership with ASPCA, Best Friends Animal Society, and local shelters. The gift does double duty: something the recipient will actually use, and support for organizations doing rescue work.
Brew slow. Sip slow. 🫖
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P.S. If you're not sure what the tea person drinks and don't want to ask, get them the Hibiscus Berry Tea. It's caffeine-free, works hot or iced, and most tea drinkers enjoy it. The safest pick from our catalog.