Did you know that there are only eight weeks until Christmas and Hanukkah (which begins the evening of December 25th)? Eight weeks of birthdays, anniversaries, engagements, and bridal showers all before the proverbial “Big Day.” In this three part series on gift-giving, I’ll be exploring all the ways tea, and teatime, can inspire joyous celebrations and thoughtful gifts for the ones you love.
And I’ll do it all before you can shake a candy cane at a shopping mall Elf.
If you’ve ever found yourself feeling perplexed about what to buy for an upcoming anniversary, this post is for you. Finding a gift that is meaningful, personal, and memorable can be challenging. To complicate things further, “milestone” anniversaries have special significance. The good news is that the traditional 4th, 10th, 20th, and 25th wedding anniversary gifts are especially well-suited to teatime.
Keep reading for traditional anniversary gift ideas perfect for the tea lover in your life.
4th Anniversary - Fruit or Flowers
The traditional 4th anniversary gift uses fruit and flowers as symbols of renewal and growth. A specially chosen whole leaf blend that features fruity overtones or floral notes makes an exquisite gift. Pictured here is a heady rose heavy black tea I love with a little bit of milk and sugar. Dried fruits and flowers are popularly used in tea blends to impart various flavors and aromas. Many floral blends commonly include rose, lavender, marigold, chamomile or cherry blossom blended with black, green, or white tea. Earl Grey, a classic black tea, features citrus notes from bergamot and is often served with lemon. For those who don’t drink caffeine, botanical blends combine flavors like apple, elderberry, lemon, and orange with spices and herbs like chamomile and mint.
The beauty of a high quality tea blend is that there are so many premium tea providers on the market. You are sure to find the perfect blend. Your local tea shop has two advantages. Firstly, it will have knowledgeable staff who help you work through the wide selection of teas. Secondly, you smell and taste the tea blends and ingredients on site. Some stores will even allow you to craft your own tea blend. What could be more thoughtful than that?
10th Anniversary - Tin
The traditional 10th anniversary gift of tin symbolizes strength and durability. While this gift may sound ordinary, selecting a beautiful tea tin filled with your loved one’s favorite tea is a thoughtful interpretation of this traditional gift.
Tea has been a precious commodity for time immemorial. As you can imagine, tea containers have a wide and interesting history. Tin was a popular material for shipping tea because it was lighter, affordable, and more durable than other materials. Today, many companies offer beautiful tea tin designs. Sites like Etsy have a robust collection of hand painted tea tins in a menagerie of designs. Antique shops also offer branded or commemorative tea tins that make beautiful gifts. The tin pictured above is a prized tin I bought for $4 at a thrift store a few years ago. Once upon a time it was purchased as a souvenir for the coronation of the late Elizabeth II in 1953! This little tin is about 70 years old and a great testament to the strength and durability of the material it is made of. Although not all vintage or antique tins are in good enough condition to be used today, they are thoughtful mementos of a time gone by that can become treasured pieces of decor.
20th Anniversary - China
The traditional 20th anniversary gift of china symbolizes many things. First, it symbolizes beauty. What could be more beautiful than celebrating 20 years with the one you love? A gift of china also represents the care and patience required to cultivate your relationship over such a long period.
Giving a gift of china, at any time, is a generous and thoughtful gesture; however, you don’t need to spend thousands to make an impression with this traditional gift. For example, set the table for tea time (or dinner) with the china you received for your wedding! Whether you cook or have the meal catered, setting a beautiful table with your wedding china is a gesture of patience and care. Alternatively, if you don’t have china, start building a collection together. Select a pattern and brand that speaks to your aesthetic as a couple and purchase place settings for two. Throughout the year you can add pieces to the collection for birthdays, Valentine's Day, etc. While some modern china is dishwasher safe, be sure to check your manufacturer’s instructions. And if you are buying vintage, expect to wash your china by hand (especially if the pattern includes silver or gold leaf details).
25th Anniversary - Silver
The traditional 25th anniversary gift of silver symbolizes warmth, stability and strength.
Sterling silver and silver-plated tea accessories abound. Whether that is a full tea set in sterling silver or a highly-sought after tea caddy spoon, there are a number of unique silver gift ideas for the tea lover in your life. A silver tea strainer is an elegant addition to any tea tray or tea table and most tea lovers would agree that you can never have too many. The tea strainer pictured here was made in England and purchased as a gift at an antique shop in Argentina. Not only is it one of my favorite pieces to use, it always reminds of that special time in a place I love. A set of beautifully engraved teaspoons also makes a thoughtful and personal gift. A pretty silver tray can double for tea in the afternoon and cocktails in the evening. And, finally, for the person who has everything, consider a pair of vintage sugar tongs or (my favorite) a lemon fork. There is nothing quite as special as serving sliced lemon with a bonafide lemon fork… This one is a winner. A lemon fork is easy to spot in antique shops. It has a short handle and only three thin tines. The outer two tines elegantly angle out, away from the center tine, making it easier to pick up and hold the delicate slice of lemon.
So there you have it. A bevy of gift ideas for tea lovers. But remember, no matter what you wind up buying or making for your special day, you make it special. The greatest gift we can give anyone is our time. So enjoy it together.
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