How To Make A Mug An Extra Special Gift
I think mugs are a great gift, everyone needs one and when you don’t know what to get someone it’s perfect!
Sometimes a mug is not enough and what I have done for friends and family in the past is put together a coffee / tea / hot chocolate gift package.
Here are some suggestions of what you could include by independent, small businesses and based on either my own shopping experience, people I know through the Indie biz world or I have been recommended.
Gifts for those who like to Par-TEA!
Independent Tea Companies
Treat them to some loose leaf tea or a starter kit from Very Craftea. You can even gift a subscription.
Their packaging is bio-degradable and the tea is sourced from one supplier who gives 50% of their profits to address the issue of educational development in and around the under-served tea growing region of Darjeeling.
Image Source Very Craftea
Katie from Nauteas blends her own teas inspired by her travels. You can create a gift set with a choice of two teas or personalise a tea caddy for an extra special gift.
Great for new Mums. This tea brand was created specifically for new Mums by Marina, using her MSc in medicinal plants and knowledge of herbs and natural remedies to make the challenges of motherhood a little less stressful one cup of tea at a time. Organic, plastic free and ethically sourced. There are also teas suitable for the kids.
Something to go with their cuppa
Biscuits are the perfect partner for a cup of tea
Sweet Wot Nots kindly sent me some yummy goodies including their amazing Granny Franny's shortbread. It was probably the best shortbread I've ever had (they have not paid me to say this!).
If you want to send personalised or decorated biscuits check out Honeywell Biscuit Co. I gave their biscuits to my Mum for her birthday and they looked too pretty to eat. They also do a tea and biscuit subscription
Coasters
Every mug needs a coaster, right?!
You can buy the Par-Tea mug and two coasters as a set for £16.
The Time to Par-Tea coaster is also available separately here.
Coffee lovers
Independent Coffee Companies
Give them the gift of a specialist coffee subscription by Perky Blenders
Perky Blenders is family run and in the last few years, they’ve been featured in the Indy Best’s ‘Best Coffee Subscription Services,’ and have recently won two Time Out Awards as the ‘Best Coffee Place’.
Lomond Coffee x Cat Food Cakes
Image source Cat Food Cakes
Lomond Coffee is run by two sisters who are coffee roastery specialists and have two cafes in South London. They have just developed a special blend to go with Cat Food Cakes signature brownies, which are amazing!
Cat bakes handmade treats for mail order and also has a subscription box. I have had a few of her cakes and they are divine!
Check out the rest of Lomond Coffee blends here.
Something sweet with their coffee?
I don’t know about you but I think coffee and chocolate go together perfectly (as well as brownies!).
Amarachi is the first bean to bar Chocolatier in London. She makes everything with coconut sugar and lucuma, a fruit from Peru, so no nasties or refined sugar.
Amarachi uses high quality beans that are responsible sourced and she knows which farm they have come from.
Coasters
And of course I have coasters to go with the coffee mug! You can also buy them as a gift set
Hot chocolate Lovers
Such Sweet Wot Nots kindly gifted me their luxury hot chocolate spoons. They were so yummy, the chocolate is so smooth and rich. The spoons are wooden so they can be recycled. I added the cream because if you are going to go luxury you need squirty cream, right?!
Using real chocolate is the only way to make a hot chocolate now in our house!
Other ideas to add to make the gift of a mug more fun and special
Hot drink stirrers
I love these Alcoholic hot drink stirrers by Holly’s Lollies, you can add them to coffee, hot chocolate or a hot cocktail!
Perk U Latte have a selection of non alcoholic sugar spoons. A twist on traditional coffee syrups, adding a bit of fun to coffee.
Or, you can simply fill a mug with their favourite sweets.
I hope this has given you lots of ideas to make a mug a more fun and special gift.
Disclaimer: The Shortbread and Luxury Hot Chocolate Spoons were kindly gifted to me by Such Sweet Wot Nots and the Lomond Coffee and Brownies were gifted by Cat Food Cakes. Neither have asked or paid me to feature them in this blog post.