A tea gift set: how to choose one that hits the mark
Three questions to help you choose a tea gift set: what the person drinks now, whether the set comes with instructions and whether the tea is fresh.
1 min read, 14 October 2026
Tea makes a good gift because it gets used rather than put away on a shelf. To get it right, you only need to answer three questions.
1. What does the person drink now?
- Black tea from teabags: start with black loose-leaf teas, such as Dian Hong or Darjeeling, or with a set of several teas to compare.
- Green tea: go for Japan. Sencha, hojicha and genmaicha show three different sides of green tea.
- Coffee: matcha. A set with a bamboo whisk makes a small daily ritual.
- You don't know: choose a set with a little of several kinds.
2. Does the set include instructions?
Loose-leaf tea brewed with boiling water is a disappointment. A good set has a brewing card with the amount of leaves, the temperature and the time for each tea.
3. Is the tea fresh?
Look for the harvest date, not just the best before date. Green tea from two years ago will taste flat, even in a beautiful box.
Our sets
- Japan Starter Set: three Japanese teas, 50 g each, for someone who likes green tea or wants to start with it.
- Explorer Set: six teas from four countries, 20 g each, for when you don't know what tea someone likes.
- Matcha Set: ceremonial matcha with a whisk, scoop and bowl.
Each set comes with a brewing card and a box with a card for a personal message. For businesses we put together Christmas gift boxes with your logo. Not sure what to choose? Take the “Find your tea” quiz.
