Checklist · 11 picks · 5 categories
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Tea people usually have favorite teas already, so the safest gifts are the gear around the cup. A good infuser or a gaiwan suits loose-leaf drinkers, and a matcha set with a frother covers the latte crowd. A Zojirushi mug or bottle keeps tea hot for hours, and a candle and throw make the cozy version of the gift. The splurge is a kettle, especially a variable-temperature one for green and white tea. Every pick is already on another list of mine, where I explain why it made the cut and name the outlet that recommends it.
Who this is not for. Skip this if they only drink tea bags and don't want gear; a tea sampler or a mug works better.
means three independent outlets recommend a pick, means one, and limited evidence means none has yet. I research these picks. I have not tested them myself. How I pick · Broken link, wrong price range or an outdated pick? Tell me
| Pick | Tier | Price | Best for | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fenshine Stainless Steel Tea Infuser | budget | under $15 | anyone who drinks loose-leaf tea | 1 outlet |
| Norpro 2-Inch Mesh Tea Infuser Ball | budget | under $15 | a tiny add-on gift | 1 outlet |
| Ling BaoBao 200 ml Gaiwan | budget | $15-25 | the oolong or pu-erh fan | 1 outlet |
Best tea infuserbudget pick · Basket
Best for anyone who drinks loose-leaf tea
Serious Eats' best basket-style infuser: easy to fill and clean, keeps even tiny leaves out of your cup, and sits steady on the mug.
Heads up. Serious Eats gives no drawback detail for this one
1 outlet. Serious Eats best basket-style tea infuser.
under $15
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budget pick · Ball
Best for a tiny add-on gift
Serious Eats' favorite ball infuser: easy to open, fill and fish out by its chain, with a tiny ceramic teapot charm on the end.
Heads up. Hand wash only
1 outlet. Serious Eats best ball tea infuser.
under $15
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budget pick · 200 ml
Best for the oolong or pu-erh fan
Serious Eats' porcelain gaiwan pick: a lidded bowl and saucer that a tea house owner calls her go-to for brewing oolong and pu-erh.
Heads up. Serious Eats gives no drawback detail for this one
1 outlet. Serious Eats porcelain gaiwan pick.
$15-25
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Best matcha setmid pick · Set
Best for the matcha latte regular
A Serious Eats writer's pick for starting matcha: a bamboo whisk, scoop, whisk holder and a bowl to whisk in, for smooth, clump-free matcha.
Heads up. The bamboo whisk isn't dishwasher-safe
1 outlet. Serious Eats matcha whisk and bowl pick.
$25-50
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mid pick · 17 oz
Best for chai and matcha lattes at home
Serious Eats' favorite frother for tea lattes: several heat and foam settings and silky foam that holds up when poured over matcha.
Heads up. Serious Eats gives no drawback detail for this one
1 outlet. Serious Eats favorite frother for tea lattes.
$50-100
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Best travel mugmid pick · Compact
Best for tea that stays hot through class
Coffee was still hot after 8 hours in reviews. Safe to toss in a bag with your laptop.
Heads up. More expensive than most mugs
1 outlet. Wirecutter top pick.
$25-50
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mid pick · 1 L
Best for a full liter of tea for the day
Serious Eats' thermos for tea: it kept water above 175°F for six hours in reviews, doesn't leak, and the lid doubles as a cup.
Heads up. Hand wash only
1 outlet. Serious Eats thermos pick for hot tea.
$50-100
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Best candlemid pick · Gift-box
Best for a tea-and-a-book night
Candles named after famous authors, with scents like old books, tobacco and tea.
Heads up. Scents can be subtle
Limited evidence. No outlet has named this one yet. It is here as a reasonable option, not a reviewed one.
$25-50
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splurge pick · Big box
Best for curling up with a cup
The famously soft throw that stays soft wash after wash.
Heads up. Pricey
1 outlet. PureWow 96/100 editor score.
$100+
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Best tea kettlebudget pick · Stovetop
Best for a pretty kettle for the stove
Serious Eats' great budget-friendly stovetop kettle: nearly the same materials and design as its winning Le Creuset, for a bit less.
Heads up. Heats slower than the Le Creuset, and the lid was stiff at first
1 outlet. Serious Eats best budget stovetop kettle.
$50-100
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splurge pick · 0.9 L
Best for the serious green and white tea drinker
Serious Eats' best electric kettle for tea drinkers: set an exact temperature for green, oolong or black tea, and it holds it for up to an hour.
Heads up. Smaller capacity, and slower than the Breville Smart Kettle in reviews
1 outlet. Serious Eats best electric kettle for tea drinkers.
$100+
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Gear they'll use with every cup: an infuser, a travel mug that keeps tea hot, or a matcha set. A variable-temperature kettle is the big upgrade for green and white tea drinkers.
Only if you know what they like. Tea is personal, so the gear here is safer. If you do add tea, a sampler from a shop they already like is the easy route.
It is less useful if they only drink tea bags and don't want gear; a tea sampler or a mug works better.
No. I have not reviewed them. I read published reviews and name the outlet on the pick.
Budget is the cheaper one that still does the job. Mid is what most people should buy. Splurge is only if you will use it often.