Nothing encapsulates the anticipation of Christmas quite like opening an advent calendar. Nowadays of course, this fun ritual isn’t only for children, with the festive build-up also an opportunity for grown-up advent gifting.
The first advent calendars
In the 19th-century Christians in Europe used chalk marks, candles, 24 segment clocks or homemade calendars to count down to Christmas.
By the early 20th century, the first advent calendars with the now familiar windows with pictures behind were being sold in shops.
Invented by German Gerhard Lang they were inspired by his mother’s tradition of attaching baked treats to cards for each day of advent, though it wasn’t until the 1950s that edible goodies were first added to commercially produced calendars.
Joyful gifting
That joyful Christmas countdown can be made extra special with a thoughtful gift from a friend or loved one.
Our advent calendars give you a myriad of ways to treat the tea-lovers in your life. Your friends and family will work their way into December with 25 carefully curated moments of taste discovery – think warming blends, festive flavours and soothing sips.
And don’t forget, our tea blends are not only made from nature’s finest ingredients but they’re sustainably farmed and ethically sourced.
English Tea Shop Advent Calendar Gift Boxes, available in festive Green, Red or White are cute, compact oblong containers encasing 25 sachets, each numbered by colourful protruding tags. The selection includes our seasonal Revive Me and Energise Me blends.
For the style conscious, gift our unique Triangular Advent Calendars. The decorated box opens to reveal a colourful array of 25 smaller triangular boxes, inside each of which is a tea sachet, so the lucky recipient can taste their way through the festive season.
Again, the decorated Triangular Advent Calendars come in white, green or red and each box of delights has a variety of premium blends from Ceylon Black Tea to sweet Apple, Rosehip & Cinnamon.
Our Christmas Tree Advent Calendars are both fun and extra thoughtful because they combine gifts and decorations in one. When removed, the outer box reveals a semi-octagonal caddy with a pointed top, slotted with 25 mini triangular boxes containing tea bag sachets.
These colourful boxes can even be removed and their top tabs threaded with loops so they can be hung on a Christmas tree. Suitably seasonal blends include Gingerbread Treat and Winter Warmer.
Our charming Book Style Advent Calendar opens to reveal a seasonal tea adventure. Across 25 picture covered boxes inside are multiple blends, turning the Christmas countdown into a journey of discovery worthy of a fairytale.
