This year’s gift guide is a bit early because we think it’s smart to get started on any online shopping now. Actually, I do usually kick off my Christmas shopping at the fall craft festivals, but even if you are typically more of a last-minute holiday shopper, you might want to make an exception in 2020. Between the pandemic, the mail-in voting and the USPS reductions, the world may have shipping issues, but that will not stop us from spreading joy to our loved ones with the perfect tea gift! We’re excited about our great finds for afternoon tea-goers this year, but also suggest visiting our Tea Books and 2019, 2018 and 2017 gift guides for more gift ideas.

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Bonus Idea: Send the Gift of Afternoon Tea

Before we jump into our favorite tea gifts in 2020, here’s a suggestion that has become widely available this year (silver lining of the quarantine): afternoon teas to-go. If specialty food items are preferred by your friend or family member, either check our Afternoon Tea Directories to see if their local tearoom delivers afternoon tea, or peruse our compilation of Online Tea Shops to find companies that ship tea + teaware + treats nationwide. These could include a full afternoon tea menu with loose leaf tea, a cream tea with fresh-baked scones, and even china teasets with your tea menu.

Gifts for Afternoon Tea Aficionados

1. Kimberly Shaw Teacup Cards

Why This: Every hand-painted Kimberly Shaw teacup greeting card comes with a delicious Harney & Sons teabag nestled inside. With more than 50 unique teacup designs for Christmas, Birthday, Friendship, Sympathy, Wedding and more, her website is a delight simply to browse her beautiful illustrations. You might send these individually as token gifts, or in bulk for a tea lover to use as her stationary throughout the year.
Find It: $3.50 each, here

2. Teacup Totes by Set to A Tea

Why This: Made in New Hampshire, these fabric drawstring pouches are designed to safely transport your favorite teacup, saucer and tea accessories for an al fresco teatime or BYO tea party. A matching mug mat keeps your china from chipping and the reversible tea tote lets you choose whether you’d like your double pockets on the outside or inside.
Find It: $25 here

3. “The Collectible Teapot & Tea Calendar”

Why This: For more than 20 years, Workman Publishing has been delighting tea lovers with its annual teapot calendar. Every year this calendar features 12 new, unique teapots, and if you get very lucky, you sometimes find them reproduced as puzzles. Very popular with tea lovers everywhere, each new month will delight the recipient with a new tea scene.
Find It: $14.99 here

4. Collapsible Electric Kettle with Case

Why This: For tea drinkers, this compact, travel-ready electric kettle is a great alternative to the hotel room coffee maker. Avoid that stale-coffee-flavored water, and boil up 16 oz. of fresh water in 2 minutes. It can be adjusted at the base to work with 110 or 220 voltage, and comes in black, blue, white, pink or red.
Find It: $45.89 here

5. Lace Parasols

Why This: The lace parasol was a signature fashion piece of the Victorian lady, during whose era afternoon tea was born. These lacy confections provide shade and ornament to a lady as she strolls to a garden tea, and are also perfect accessories for Downton Abbey themed tea parties. These come in a variety of solid and mixed colors, and patterns.
Find It: $28 – $66 here

6. Electric Knife by VonShef

Why This: One of the tricks of the trade, the electric knife allows the home tea party hostess to serve tea sandwiches with a clean-cut edge. This one is corded for steady power, includes two blades for slicing meats or breads, and comes with a storage case.
Find It: $37.99 here

7. Cupcake Wrappers by L’Amour Designs

Why This: Cupcakes are standard at many an American tea party, especially for kids. These laser-cut paper wrappers are designed in California and can be ordered both for mini and full-size cupcakes, in a variety of patterns and colors, to add elegance to your tiered tray presentation.
Find It: $13 – $26 here

8. Tea Leaf Reading Kit by Lovejoy’s Tea Room Redwood City

Why This: Whether for a Halloween or Harry Potter tea party, or just for fun, this tea leaf reading kit could be the start of your journey into divining hidden messages at the bottom of your teacup. A centuries-old practice, tasseography (or tasseomancy) — the art of interpreting your tea leaves — was also considered a credible method of fortune telling around the globe. Lovejoy’s kit includes everything you need to get started except the water: teacup, black tea, dictionary of symbols and instructions.
Find It: $24 here

9. Decoupage Glass Earrings by The Divine Iguana

Why This: These teapot and teacup earrings are handmade in Michigan, as goodly sized studs. Your tea friends that love romantic or whimsical tea settings will appreciate the footed green teapot and drawn floral patterns of this teaware.
Find It: $15.50 here

What’s On Your Wishlist?

Tea friends, tell us what you think! Reminder, you’ll find many more gift ideas from us, in our past gift guides. If you have a recommendation for the perfect gift for a tea lover, please let us know in the comments below, and happy shopping!