Quick Summary: Five practical gifts for tea enthusiasts, from electric kettles with temperature control to portable tea infuser thermoses. Includes a recipe for hibiscus tea (Agua de Jamaica) that works hot or cold. Whether your gift recipient is new to loose leaf tea or a longtime connoisseur, these items make brewing easier and more enjoyable. Cook time: 20 min | Serves: 4
Looking for something to give the tea lover in your life? At HeathGlen Organic Farm, I blend and sell loose leaf teas at the St. Paul Farmers’ Market, so I know what makes tea brewing easier and more enjoyable.
These five gifts work for beginners just starting their tea journey or longtime connoisseurs looking to upgrade their setup. I’ve also included my recipe for hibiscus tea, a tart, bright pink herbal tea that’s popular in Mexico as Agua de Jamaica.
Jump to: RECIPE for Hibiscus Tea | Gift Ideas | “True” Tea vs Herbal Tea | FAQ
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Top 5 Gifts for the Tea Lover
Best Electric Kettle for Tea
This steel and glass kettle below is the electric kettle I use. I’ve had it for years and love that it is simple to use but gives you all the options you need for brewing different kinds of tea.
Features:
- 6 Preset Temperatures;
- One-touch Controls with Blue LED Indicators;
- 30-Minute Keep Warm Option;
- Blue Backlit Water Window,
- 360° Swivel Cordless Connector;
- Stay-cool Nonslip Handle;
- Auto Shutoff and Boil Dry Protection
Herbal Tea Blends (Tisanes)
We have used the herbs from our organic farm to blend 24 premium teas, 8 of which are tisanes without caffeine. They have been blended for both wellness attributes and for flavor.
Currently however they are only available locally at the St. Paul farmers market. For shopping online I really like Tea Forte or Tea with Tae.
Best Glass Teapot for Loose Leaf Tea
As folks get more and more into the art of brewing a good cup of tea, they often switch from tea baggies to loose leaf teas. To give your loved one a head start, you can gift them this handy loose leaf tea pot.
This is my go-to teapot, as it makes just the right amount for me to enjoy 1-2 large mugs (it is 20 oz) of freshly brewed tea.
Although it’s technically nothing fancy to look at, it is made from healthy and durable borosilicate glass. This thickened glass is lighter than the normal glass, but durable and stable and 100% lead-free, BPA-free. It won’t crack when you pour hot water in it – in fact, it can also go in the dishwasher, microwave or directly on the stovetop.
I also like the stainless steel filter which has a fine mesh to prevent any tea leaves from escaping and is easy to clean.
Best Tea Infuser Thermos for Travel
If you want to travel or hike with your favorite tea, this stylish Pure Zen portable tea infuser thermos, has been designed especially for the serious tea aficionados.
With Pure Zen, your loved one can have the perfect cuppa anywhere, whether on the hiking trails or around a beach bonfire. It is travel-friendly and leakproof with a travel sleeve for easy carrying.
There is no plastic and no waste. It is made with 100% reusable and washable materials, a thick double wall glass, a beautiful bamboo lid, and a stainless steel filter
What Is the Difference Between True Tea and Herbal Tea?
You’ve seen me mention tisane a few times. If you weren’t sure what that is: it’s just a fancy word for herbal tea! It’s used because officially, a tisane isn’t a “true” tea.
The word ”tea” is actually reserved for blends made with actual leaves of the tea plant (Camellia sinensis), like those containing black, green, or oolong tea.
Don’t let this fool you into thinking that tisanes are somehow inferior. Most tea connoisseurs love a nice herbal tea from time to time.
There are endless variations, and the nice thing is that they don’t contain caffeine. This makes them perfect to have in the evening.
If you like to grow your own, it’s also much easier to grow your own herbal tea garden than to try to cultivate and dry true tea plants.
How to Make Hibiscus Tea (Agua de Jamaica)
This super-easy recipe found below in the recipe card is for a hibiscus-flavored herbal brew and is a breeze to make.
The result is a festive, bright pink concoction with tangy cranberry notes.
Hibiscus tea likely originated in sub-Saharan Africa, but it’s also immensely popular in Mexico and the rest of Central America.
In Mexico, it’s referred to as Agua de Jamaica (Jamaica water) and usually served cold. One of my favorite Mexican drinks!
If you have a Mexican supermarket nearby, they’re almost guaranteed to carry dried hibiscus flowers. All you have to do with these is place them in boiling water and then strain.
Amazon also carries my favorite brand of hibiscus flowers if you want to order online.
Serve as you prefer: hot or cold, with or without sugar.
More Gift Ideas (for Gardening, Seafood or Mexican Food)
You can find other inspired ideas for gifts for family and friends with special interests on this site!
- Anyone who loves gardening will appreciate these specially chosen gardening gifts.
- For seafood lovers and home cooks, these gifts aim to please!
- And for those who love Mexican food, surprise them with a unique thoughtfully chosen gift.
FAQ
True tea comes from leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant and includes black, green, white, and oolong varieties. Tisane is the technical term for herbal tea, which is made from herbs, flowers, roots, or spices and contains no actual tea leaves. Tisanes are naturally caffeine-free.
Different teas release their best flavor at different temperatures. Black tea needs boiling water (212°F), while green tea tastes bitter if the water is too hot (185°F is ideal). An electric kettle with temperature presets takes the guesswork out of brewing.
Yes. A simple tea infuser ball or basket that fits in a mug works fine. However, a teapot with a built-in strainer makes brewing multiple cups easier and gives the leaves more room to expand.
Hibiscus tea is tart and cranberry-like with a bright, deep red color. It works well hot or cold and pairs with cinnamon, citrus, or ginger. In Mexico, it’s traditionally served cold as Agua de Jamaica.
Hibiscus concentrate keeps in the refrigerator for up to one week. Dilute with hot or cold water when ready to serve.
If you want to explore the world of teas and tisanes, check out this Complete Guide to Teas. It includes information on how to grow a tea garden, types of tea, brewing times and temp., recipes for blends, caffeine amounts, and much more.
Homemade Hibiscus Tea (Agua de Jamaica)
Equipment
- Strainer
Ingredients
- 1 cup dried hibiscus flower
- 4 cups water
- ½ cup sugar (optional)
- ice (optional)
Instructions
- Pour the water into a pot and bring to a boil.4 cups water
- Once the water boils, turn off the stove and add the hibiscus flower.1 cup dried hibiscus flower
- Leave the hibiscus flower to steep for 10-15 minutes. The water should be a deep red in color and be very fragrant.
- Strain the flowers from the water, giving them a good squeeze to get all the liquid out.
- Pour the result in a large jar and add the sugar. You now have hibiscus flower tea concentrate to enjoy hot or cold.1/2 cup sugar
- For hot tea: mix 50% hibiscus concentrate and 50% hot water. Optionally, add a slice of lemon or orange to serve.
- For iced tea: mix 50% hibiscus concentrate and 50% cold water. Pour over ice.ice
Notes
- For a different hibiscus tea, you can add a stick of cinnamon with the dried flowers. Some even add a clove, some nutmeg or cardamom.
- Instead of granulated sugar, you can use piloncillo if your local Mexican store carries it. These blocks of cane sugar have a deeper flavor.
- If you don’t want to use sugar at all, just go for your favorite alternative sweetener or leave it out entirely.
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