It's gift season again, and I'm declaring theme this year: "take care of each other."
Every year I put together a gift guide full of tongue-in-cheek ideas to help you find the perfect teas for your loved ones. This year, I'd like to take a more wholesome and serious route. While 2025 has thrown a lot of fear, danger, and ugliness into many people's paths, I do want to make sure we remember to also notice another side of humanity we've seen come up alongside all those horrors: for every cruelty there is a vociferous upswelling of compassion and empathy. For every community knocked down, there is another at hand to lift up.
We have seen remarkable strength, resilience, and kindness crop up in the face of trauma and difficulties. I want to celebrate all of that, and to help you celebrate the kind, warm, wonderful, heartful folks in your life (yes, including yourself).
So to that end, I present to you...
We all show care in different ways and have varied ways of filling each other's cups. I've pulled a few archetypes from my personal circles (yes, some of these are specific tea shop regulars) and have paired teas to offer warmth and comfort to each personality type. Do you see anyone familiar below?
For the one who rarely rests: Badger's Burrow
We all know a tireless caretaker. Maybe this is the mom friend of your crew, maybe it's a community organizer, the breadwinner of a household or the head of the PTA. This person is always working and hustling to make sure everyone is taken care of, but who takes care of them? We recommend gifting this archetype Badger's Burrow, a cozy homebody black tea with lemon and honey built in. This tea is an invitation to put on fuzzy slippers, crack open a book, rest and recover. A kind reminder that "tireless" is a fallacy and taking care of one's self is worthy work as well.
For the one who always holds space for others: Caged Heart
This archetype seems to always have the wherewithal to hear what others are going through and to offer warmth and uplift without centering themselves. What a gift! In my experience, folks who match this archetype tend to forget to listen to their own insides or hold back any caring energy for themselves. Let's offer them permission to take time alone with their thoughts and feelings in a pot of Caged Heart. This gold-tipped black tea offers major Secret Garden vibes with orange peel, lemon extract, nettle, and a silky honeyed finish. A quiet moment of reflection and energy bolstering!
For the one who offers a seat at their table: Harvest of SolidariTea
By the time you express a need, this person is already opening their hands to you. Anything of theirs is yours without expectation of reciprocation, without keeping of score. This archetype believes that resources are most enjoyed when shared! In fact, when you gift them a bag of Harvest of SolidariTea (our charitea tribute to the beauty and resilience of the Palestinian people), I bet they'll immediately offer to brew up a pot to share. Take them up on it. The best gift you can give this type is something to enjoy together.
For the first to lend a hand: Irish Breakfast
A practical, hands-on sort, this archetype is ready for anything. Burst pipe? They either have the tools and know-how to fix it or the phone number of a great plumber. House fire? Their couch is already made up for you to crash on as long as you need. Stuck at home with Covid? They're already slotting a grocery run for you into their schedule. So how do you repay someone reliable, hard-working, selfless & resourceful? With FUEL. Irish Breakfast is an ideal fit for this personality. No-nonsense, but can be doctored up to suit personal preference with ease. A delicious, accessible, friendly kick in the butt to get things done, just like this lovely friend.
For the one always up for a vent sesh: Critical Blend
There ain't no party like a "let's sit together over a cup of tea and bitch about our problems together in a safe space" party! This archetype fills a very important role: the person you can spill your crankiness and frustration to, who won't judge or think poorly of you, and who will hype you up and give you the sounding board energy you need. Let's take care of this friend with the gift of Critical Blend, a caffeinated throat coat blend of fabulousness featuring purple hue and edible glitter. We're throwing fabulousness on top of medicinal benefit for a chat that can go all night, because that's what kind of friend we all need sometimes!
For the best hugger: Besos de Cacao
What goes best with hugs? Kisses! Besos de Cacao is the perfect complement to your bear hug friend, with its warmth and chocolatey aroma. This archetype is like a human-form compression therapy wrap or weighted vest. When they come in with arms open, you KNOW you're gonna feel better in under a minute. These folks offer physical comfort in a way that is vital and specific, and the tea for them should feel the same. Buy them a bag of Besos and prepare to receive the best hug of your life in exchange for your thoughtfulness.
For the kind shoulder to cry on: I Tell the Moon
When what's needed is a soft touch, a gentle ear, an empathetic heart, this archetype is here for you. They always have time to listen and the ability to make the world's sharp edges feel a bit smoother. How lovely would it be to give them the same sense of comfort and gentleness? We have a tea for that, as you may have guessed. I Tell the Moon is a soft ray of moonlight in a cup: silky white tea and oolong with soothing marshmallow root, bright pops of coriander and fireweed, and a silvery shimmer. If "dear diary" and best friendship and yearning were a tea, it would be this. A perfect gift for the human equivalent of all these qualities!
For the one who makes you laugh: Earl Gay
The best cure for times of gravity are moments of levity, and this archetype is the master of laughter: someone who can always get you giggling when life has you lamenting. They always know the right thing to say, the right funny face to pull, and they are the originator of in-jokes. Return the joy with a creamy Earl Grey full of edible glitter and unicorn sprinkles! After all, whimsy is best when shared!
For the one who checks in just because: Proof of Life
This archetype is always in your texts when things are rough, just to say hi and let you know they're thinking of you. They DM you memes at random and bring you the extra loaf when baking banana bread. You'll never feel completely alone with this person around, and the small touches of warmth and validation they bring to your life are best paired with a tea that tastes like a young garden: hopeful, light and looking toward the future. We recommend the jasmine-lemon-raspberry Proof of Life green tea to best communicate your appreciation!
For the one who pulls you out of the darkness: Warm Wishes
We all experience profound lows from time to time, and it takes connection with someone who carries a specific kind of light and glow in their soul to bring us back to the surface and remember how to breathe again. This archetype is an expert at reminding us that hope is not lost, whether with just the right word or an invitation to take a walk around the neighborhood, they are the master of identifying the ideal path back to the light and holding your hand as you walk forward together. Why not offer them a lantern to help boost their glow? Warm Wishes is a spiced white tea blend full of heart, and just the thing to brighten up your light-bringer.
For the fiercely independent: Gift Cards!
Some friends don't ask for anything, make no demands, they bring love and support to the party simply by existing. How to best show affection and take care of this archetype? By letting them choose for themselves! Gift cards are the eternal "thank you for being you, whatever that looks like today!"
And remember:
We have a great opportunity this year to make our values known by boycotting big box stores like Amazon, Target, and so on. Let's focus our gift shopping this year on supporting indie, community-oriented mom & pop shops and crafting the most connected, personal holiday season ever! Please do drop your gift ideas and favorite small businesses in the comments, and let's bring some glow and kindness to the coming months!
xoxo,
Friday
