Christmas Gift Guide for Tea lovers

1st December 2009

Whether you're buying for friends, family, partners or colleagues we've found the perfect Christmas gifts for the tassophile in your life!

As well as presents that can be concealed in bright wrapping paper and tied up with shiny ribbon, why not invest in a voucher for afternoon tea at your nearest member of The Tea Guild? Many members of the prestigious Guild offer pre-paid vouchers for their afternoon tea. It's a thoughtful gift for your tea-loving friend as it's an event they'll be able to look forward to long after the excitement of Christmas has faded. And if you're really clever you'll ensure that they take you with them for tea, so you get to enjoy the treat too! Click here for a list of The Tea Guild's members.

The Tea Guild's winner of The Top London Tea Award 2009 - The English Tea Room at Brown's Hotel has come up with an ingenious way for tea fans to totally immerse themselves in afternoon tea, from kitchen to table. Head Pastry Chef Fabien Ecuvillon is hosting intimate Tea-Torials where a select group of six guests will join him in the kitchen and be initiated in the secret of the hotel's award-winning scones, sponges and macaroons. You'll then indulge in the full afternoon tea, accompanied by Fabien, before being gifted with recipes and sweet treats to take home. To book a place call the hotel on 020 7493 6020. If you're gifting this experience to a lucky friend, make sure they promise to whip you up some scones on their return!

For anyone that loves the afternoon tea experience, what better gift than The Tea Guild endorsed AA Guide to the UK's best teatime treats? Challenge the recipient to see how many of the venues they can visit in a year. We recommend cycling between tea rooms to burn off the calories from all that cake (although remember that tea itself is virtually calorie-free so this will assuage any cake-related guilt!) Click here to purchase a copy now!

Some experts dispute the usefulness of the traditional tea cosy, but whatever the science behind the brewing, who can deny this striped, crocheted cosy's cuteness? Ideal for adding some fun to the tea-tray on a dull January afternoon. From Cath Kidston

Teatime accessories don't have to be quaint and kitsch. This ceramic sugar and creamer set in chic semi-gloss finish is the ideal addition to any slick, modern or contemporarily-designed home and ideal for your glamourous, city-dwelling friends. From FabStuff.net

Guests as any of the six Yorkshire branches of Betty's tea rooms will be inspired to see a range of unusual teapots, collected by the owners of this family business over the years. You can own a piece of the action with this generously-sized mug designed by renowned illustrator Matthew Rice and inspired by the collection. Visit Bettys By Post to buy.

Give junior tea fans an early start with this adorable wooden tea set. Perfect for celebrating dolly's birthday or for playing with at the teddy bear's picnic. Sweet! Available from Cox & Cox.

Unfortunately every cup of tea has a downside - the washing up! Although we hasten to add that if you do the dishes with one of these French Cotton Stripe tea towels from chic interiors brand Re-found Objects, it won't be half the chore it could be! Available from Re-Found Objects.

Catch all the leaves from the pot and add something special to the tea table with this elegant Celtic-knot inspired tea strainer. A drip-catcher cup is also included. Available from kitchen gadget heaven, Lakeland.

Crafty tassophiles will love this quirky vintage fabric from the 1950s. Illustrated with kitsch pictures of chairs, tables and a bright yellow tea-set it would make a lovely tablecloth for your tea table. From vintage fabric store DonnaFlower.com

A bottle of perfume is the fail-safe Christmas gift for any girl on your list. But instead of buying a refill of her usual fragrance try one of these scintillating scents, new to the perfume world this year...

Elizabeth Arden's Green Tea Revitalize collection harnesses the refreshing powers of the brew for a scent that is as uplifting as a cup of green tea! As soon as you spray the scent your nose will be met with a blast of citrus sweetness (with the addition of refreshing lemongrass and watermint) before the fragrance settles down with green tea notes that continue to add a light airy sensation to the scent - and your skin. As well as the perfume there are several beauty spa products in the range which utilize green tea's naturally high levels of antioxidants to protect and smooth your skin from aging free-radical agents. Click here to find your nearest stockist.

Escale a Pondichery, Christian Dior's new fragrance, was inspired by the Indian province and mixes flora native to the area - jasmine, sandalwood and black tea - for a heady scent. If you're not planning an exotic escape an exhilarating spritz of this perfume is the perfect substitute. Wish you were here. Click here for stockist information