Gifts For the Iced Tea Lover

Is there an iced tea lover on your gift list? A tea related gift would be the perfect way to remember them on their birthday or just because! And, it's never too early, or too late to shop for Christmas. Iced tea lovers will be thrilled to know that you remembered their favorite beverage - any time of year!

A lovely gift that has the potential to last all year long would be a subscription to a Tea of the Month club. Most clubs have subscriptions for six and twelve months, while some also offer a one month membership, supposedly so someone could try out the novel idea of having a type of tea chosen for them and delivered to their door. With the six month or longer subscription, the recipient would be able to sample all types of varieties, from black to green, white to oolong, plus favored as well. All of the varieties received would make delicious iced tea!

How about a sampler? Many different sizes and varieties of samplers are available, any of which would make a very thoughtful gift. You can choose all black whole leaf varieties that are beautifully packaged. Some of these come with a special type of mug that has a built in infuser with which to brew right in the mug. One serving is the perfect amount to sample as iced tea, so a mug like this would be a very welcome gift.

Tea kettles make thoughtful gifts that would get a lot of use. Even with iced tea, boiling water is required! You can choose from a classic whistling kettle that holds two quarts of wa

er, a stainless steel kettle, a small "personal" sized kettle that boils enough water for one glass of iced, or a modern electric kettle that can have your water at just the right temperature even faster than a microwave could! Then, there are electric makers, some made just for preparing iced tea, and some that are made supposedly for hot beverage only that could also be used to brew a delicious glass of iced tea.

A tea pot would be a delightful gift. Many people brew the drink they will consume as iced tea in teapots to make sure that it is prepared properly. There are small teapots that will brew just enough for two cups, and then there are larger teapots that are so lovely that your gift recipient will place them on the table to be admired when serving! Teapots come in all colors and many patterns, and in different types of ceramics, plus cast iron, terracotta clay, bone china, and clear glass. Some are dishwasher and microwave safe, and some are not, so be sure to advise the person receiving the gift of the type pots they now own. This way, they will know how to best take care of it, and will have a reminder of your generosity for many years to come.

A gift basket is always fun, both for you and the recipient. If you are selecting what will go into the basket, plus selecting the basket, too, you can specially tailor the basket to your friend or relatives iced tea drinking tastes. Of course, you can also purchase many lovely gift baskets that are already filled with tea delights, and that is fine, too. There are so many varieties of these that you might have a hard time making up your mind as to which one to choose to give as a gift!

A pitcher would be the perfect gift for the iced tea lover. You'll fine them in many sizes, shapes and colors. Some are quite ingenious, and have a filter for loose leaves so you can steep your brew right in the pitcher, then let cool, add ice and pour your tea over ice. The filter also serves as a built-in strainer, so your gift recipient will have no worries about getting used leaves in their drink! This filter compartment can come in very handy when making iced tea from high quality loose leaves, for you can reuse the leaves to prepare more iced tea with no loss of flavor or strength.

There are many other tea-related gift items you could choose to gift a loved one with, such as iced tea spoons, iced tea glasses, or even an ice crusher. Whatever you end up choosing is sure to be a hit with any iced-tea lover!

Jon Stout is Chairman of the Golden Moon Tea Company. For more information about Iced Tea, tea clubs and green tea go to the Golden Moon Tea web site.