A tea advent calendar turns the countdown to Christmas into a daily ritual: 24 little doors, each hiding a different tea to brew and enjoy. It is one of the cosiest ways to mark December, and it makes a thoughtful gift for any tea lover. You can see the current selection in our Christmas calendars collection.
What is a tea advent calendar?
An advent calendar is a special calendar with 24 doors or windows. Starting on the 1st of December, you open one door each day to reveal a small surprise in the countdown to Christmas. In a tea advent calendar, every door hides a different tea, so you get to taste a new blend each morning all the way to Christmas Eve.
A short history of the advent calendar
The word advent comes from the Latin adventus, meaning coming, and refers to the period of 24 days before Christmas. The tradition can be traced back to 19th-century Germany, where Protestants marked the days leading up to Christmas with a chalk line, a daily candle or a religious picture.
The printed advent calendar owes much to Gerhard Lang. As a child, his mother made him a homemade calendar of 24 pictures. When he grew up to become a printer, he began producing cardboard advent calendars and introduced the little doors that open one per day. By the 1950s, companies around the world had widened the range of treats hidden behind those doors, from chocolate to, of course, tea.
How to choose a tea advent calendar
The best tea advent calendar depends on who you are buying for. A few things to weigh up:
- Variety of blends: look for a mix of black, green, white and rooibos teas so there is something for every mood and time of day.
- Caffeine: if it is for the evening or for children, check that there are plenty of caffeine-free rooibos and herbal options.
- Loose leaf or bags: pyramid tea bags are convenient, while loose leaf suits a more dedicated tea drinker.
- Design and theme: a charming design, such as a Moomin calendar, makes the daily ritual feel extra festive and gift-worthy.
Nordqvist tea advent calendars
Our calendars pack 24 surprises into one festive box. The much-loved Moomin tea advent calendar offers an assortment of 24 teas spanning black, green, white and rooibos, with a new flavour behind every door. For a more grown-up gift, our deluxe calendars hold 24 Nordqvist pyramid teas in an elegant design, pairing each blend with a daily tea aphorism.
The teas in our calendars are chosen to surprise and delight, with aromas and flavours that suit the season. If you would rather build your own festive selection, browse the full Christmas teas collection alongside the calendars.
Frequently asked questions
What is a tea advent calendar?
A tea advent calendar has 24 doors, each hiding a different tea. You open one door a day from the 1st of December as a countdown to Christmas, tasting a new blend each morning.
How many teas are in an advent calendar?
Most tea advent calendars contain 24 teas, one behind each door. Nordqvist calendars typically include a mix of black, green, white and rooibos blends.
When do you start a tea advent calendar?
You start on the 1st of December and open one door each day until Christmas Eve on the 24th, following the traditional advent countdown.
Are tea advent calendars caffeine free?
Not entirely. Calendars usually mix caffeinated black and green teas with caffeine-free rooibos and herbal blends, so check the contents if caffeine is a concern.
Where does the advent calendar come from?
The advent calendar tradition began in 19th-century Germany. The printed version with daily doors was popularised by German printer Gerhard Lang in the early 20th century.