Gifts for Afternoon Tea Lovers

Happy Holidays from all of us at Destination Tea! We love this season of giving, especially because it gives us the chance to patronize local craftswomen and small businesses. Without further ado, here are six fabulous gift ideas for someone you love who loves afternoon tea (and if that someone is you, please forward these suggestions to the appropriate elf).

1. Homemade Scones from Vermont

Details:  The homemade scones from Rose Arbour Tea Room in Chester, Vermont are DIVINE! These large three-inch-round lovelies are all things wonderful about a scone:  they break into soft, slightly flaking morsels, buttery with a touch of salt and just a hint of sweetness. Ship them anywhere in the continental U.S., where they’ll arrive ready to freeze or to warm and enjoy (just try and resist immediately devouring them).
To Order:  Call Suzy Nielsen at 802-875-4767 or visit www.rosearbourteashop.com; Purchase by the half-dozen at $3 per scone, plus shipping

2. Handmade English Clotted Cream from North Carolina

Details:  Amanda Fisher has brought authentic recipes from her hometown Devon, England, over the pond to Chapel Hill, North Carolina, where she founded The Blakemere Company. Using cream from local NC farms, Amanda makes the U.S.’s first handmade English clotted cream. “Unlike creme fraiche which is set with a culture, our cream is not sour or tangy but is thick with flecks of yellow buttery “crust”.  Quite literally, ‘Cream to the Power of 10!'”
To Order:  Business closed in 2020.

3. Monthly Tea Subscription (or one-time gift) from Georgia

Details: Just Add Honey’s Brandi and Jermail Shelton source and blend their line of teas using local and organic ingredients. The results are delicious, creative blends, which they serve in their downtown cafe and at their afternoon teas. But should non-Atlantans miss out? No, ma’am. We recommend the tea and honey box, which comes with 3 exclusive teas in 1 oz. servings from tea fields around the world, small-batched honey from U.S. beekeepers and a treat; either as a one-time gift, or as a monthly subscription. “Each box contains information about the origin of your tea {so you can impress your friends later}!”
To Order:  Online, $27.50 for one tea and honey box

4. Vintage Cake Dome with Pottery Stand from Georgia

Details:  Terrie Ponder Watch of Cardinal Lake Pottery finds vintage glass cake dome toppers and then creates pottery stands to fit them. No two are alike, but they are all gorgeous, and come in a variety of patterns and glazes, which you may select if you contact Terrie with a custom order request. We could see this unique cake dome becoming a family heirloom, for setting out Grandma’s famous scones when guests come to call.
To Order:  Online gallery or contact Terrie at terrie@cardinallakepotter.com or 678-984-9549, $65 large cake dome; $35 small dome server

5. Tea Hats and Fascinators from Utah

Details:  We like afternoon tea to be fun, fabulous and affordable, and that’s why we like Julia Bee’s line of handmade fascinators and tea hats. Especially helpful in her Etsy shop is that you can search by color, from many styles. The only difficulty might be choosing just one!
To Order:  Online, styles ranging from $20 to $50

6. Tea Wallets from New Hampshire

Details: Thistledown Cozies’ handmade tea wallet comes in multiple patterns and makes the perfect stocking stuffer for us tea travelers because its ten compartments accommodate all the trappings of a delicious steep. You can neatly tuck teabags and sweeteners into this 3″x5″ wallet to prepare and share your own favorite tea-on-the-go, wherever your destination tea adventures take you. Have tea wallet, will travel!
To Order:  Online from The English Tea Store, $12.59 plus shipping