08 November 2023 , 17:00
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Gone are the days when an advent calendar involved 24 individual pictures or even small chocolates. The humble tradition seems to get more and more elaborate every year with options aimed at everyone from gamers to gardeners. Meanwhile, beauty advent calendars have become huge business, with some offering massive savings on big name brands, although with some of the most premium options costing hundreds of pounds, prices can soon add up.
If you're looking for something fun that isn't go to eat too much into your Christmas shopping budget, for caffeine lovers at least, a tea or coffee advent calendar is a really good option - offering a warming brew and five minutes of much-needed me-time throughout December.
There are more tea and coffee advent calendars for 2023 than ever before, with prices ranging from £10 to considerably higher - although it’s always worth keeping an eye out for Black Friday deals as retailers try to entice last minute shoppers before December strikes. Here's our Mirror Choice roundup of some of the best.
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Bird and Blend Tea Advent Calendar
Cost: £38
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Available from: Bird and Blend online and via
What you get: 24 different flavours of Bird and Blend tea in individual mini boxes.
Mirror Choice's best tea advent calendar for 2023 was Bird and Blend's version, which was packed with flavours that could have been invented by Willy Wonka (Narin Flanders)Verdict: After a busy year collaborating with everyone from Swizzles (to make ) through to (no, ), Bird and Blend are ending the year on a high with a fantastic calendar to keep everyone smiling throughout December - and with two teabags for each day you can even share the joy.
Packed full of quirky flavours, the calendar felt like it had been put together by Willy Wonka and putting a tea bag in a mug every morning bought a little moment of anticipation - there was never a 'oh, it's just Earl Grey today' moment because even the more 'plain' teas had something a bit extra, like the Chocolate Digestives Tea which mixes Sri Lankan traditional tea with cocoa, liquorice root and fenugreek and, yes, really does have a bit of a biscuity taste to it that will make you grin.
I was pleased to see my absolute favourite B&B tea, Cold Weather Warrior make an appearance. A cupboard staple since I discovered it last year, it’s made with peppermint, eucalyptus, aniseed, lemongrass, echinacea and the tiniest hint of chilli. If you’re feeling a bit run-down or like you’re brewing a lurgy this is a cleansing, fresh and warming hug in a mug.
But there were plenty of new flavours to discover, several of which are now on my list to buy. Most notable were Banana Bread Chai, a Rooibos blend with cinnamon, ginger and freeze dried banana and green tea Treacle Sponge both of which tasted as hearty as the puds they were inspired by.
The calendar also showcases Bird and Blend's special Christmas teas, the returning and much-loved Mulled Cider, 'Tis the Squeezon which is a lovely citrus and clove scented blend and the show-stopping Hazelnut Rocher which evokes flavours of a much-loved box of chocolates.
This is the tea advent calendar I would buy myself and is our Mirror Choice best tea advent calendar for 2023 - it’s not the cheapest but it feels special and even the most fruit-and-herbal-tea loving drinker will find something new to enjoy from within the box.
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Pact Coffee Advent Calendar
Cost: £34.95
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Available from: direct or via
What you get: 25 individual 20g sachets of pre-ground coffees from around the world (because of course you'd want one on Christmas Day).
Pact's Coffee Advent calendar is our Mirror Choice for 2023 and is perfect for caffeine lovers wanting to try some new coffees (Narin Flanders)Verdict: Having tried this coffee advent calendar last year, I have become a Pact convert and get a regular monthly subscription from them that brightens my days working from home. But if Pact hasn’t been on your radar before then this advent calendar is a fantastic introduction.
The calendar contains pre-ground coffee which can be used in cafetieres, Aeropress, a V60 or for drip brewing. As someone who loves coffee but ends up mostly sticking with instant because I hate cleaning out cafetieres, this was a perfect time to bust out a V60 - a tiny mini filter coffee gadget that sits on top of your mug that allows you to brew directly (and can then be dishwashed afterwards). If you’ve not got one yet you can if you order the calendar through .
Each day’s sachet comes with tasting notes, full details of where in the world the coffee has come from and information on the best way to brew it. There were lots of coffees I'd never tried before and learning about them all as I tested them was really interesting and fun. My big discovery here were honey blended coffees with both the Karambi and Musasa honey blends from Rwanda staying in the memory long after I’d finished them with a deliciously syrupy sweetness with a hint of blackberry. I also loved the medium roast El Volcan coffee from El Salvador where the beans are grown in soil fertilised by active volcanoes which had a citrusy taste unlike my usual brew.
While it’s not the cheapest calendar tested, with the coffees being so unusual as well as unashamedly fair trade I think it works out as real value for money. These are the kind of coffees I’d pay £4 a cup for if I was treating myself while out and about, so they felt like a lovely decadent treat and the ultimate caffeine boost.
Whether you love coffee or love someone who loves coffee, this is the advent calendar you need to buy this December if you're serious about your caffeine fix and our Mirror Choice best coffee advent calendar for 2023.
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Whittard Tea Advent Calendar for Two
Cost: £25
Available from: in stores and ,
What you get: A total of 48 teabags - a generous two per day in 18 of the iconic tea brand’s signature flavours, with plenty of black tea blends as well as lighter fruit, herbal and green tea options..
Verdict: If you’re a fan of traditional teas then Whittard’s hefty advent calendar is definitely one worth considering. The display box is sturdy and well designed and looks impressive. The packaging was all plastic free which was a nice touch as was the ceramic teabag holder that sits in the drawer on day one alongside the teabags.
There is a good mixture of teas, with seven black tea blends ranging from traditional Earl Grey and Darjeeling through to two special festive teas, a breakfast version and an all-day Christmas Tea which had a wonderfully warming clove and citrus zest that made it feel festive, although I found I didn't need to have milk with it.
Elsewhere there's a single green tea, six herbal teas (three of which are organic) and four fruit infusions.
I loved the mulled wine flavour tea which definitely did evoke the flavours of the Christmas staple. Peach, raspberry and rose was also an unusual combination that I really liked and would buy again, a light and fragrant brew with undertones of Turkish delight without smelling too floral.
At £25 - a considerably lower price point than Whittard’s offering for last year - this is still more premium than some of the other options we tested but it feels luxurious. The fact it comes with two tea bags a day is lovely for sharing and is the kind of thing I’d consider giving as a gift to family members who want a treat through December and are less excited by Christmas hampers and other more traditional foodie gifts.
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Nespresso Friends Christmas Coffee Advent Calendar 2023
Cost: £21.99
Available from:
What you get: 24 Nespresso compatible pods in a range of flavours - although beware, you get some repetition through the month so if variety is what you’re after you’d be better with something else.
Verdict: This cheerily boxed Friends-themed advent calendar contains eight different types of coffee in Nespresso style pods although if you're keen on funky flavours then you're going to be disappointed that three of them are the pretty-standard espresso intense, dark roast espresso and lungo coffee flavours.
That said, there are some more unusual options, with cinnamon, choco cherry, creme brulee, caramel toffee and English pudding flavoured options also appearing from behind the Central Perk doors throughout the month.
I was very suspicious about what English pudding actually was, but it ended up being the barest hint of Christmas pudding - think raisins and a hint of citrus. The cinnamon coffee was lovely though and the other options are great for coffee fans who want a sweet brew without adding sugar.
If you’re the kind of coffee drinker who rejoices when all the Christmassy flavours get released at Costa or Starbucks, then this is actually a really good option, not least because last year it was reduced on Black Friday on Amazon so it’s worth keeping an eye out for deals.
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Ahmad Tea 24 Days of Tea
Cost: £13.99
Available from: , Ahmad's website and other retailers
What you get: 24 tea bags wrapped in individual foil sleeves. Flavours ranged from traditional tea through to green, herbal, floral and spicy flavours.
Verdict: If you’re looking for a simple and reasonably priced tea calendar this is our top pick. It comes with plenty of the usual blends you’d expect, including English Breakfast, Darjeeling and Ceylon so traditionalists are catered for but within the pleasingly wide range there were some new flavour combinations that I hadn't had before. As someone who loves both peppermint and lemon I was a bit perplexed to realise I’ve never had a fruit tea that incorporates them both, especially as Ahmad’s version was wonderfully refreshing and zesty and made me sad I couldn’t buy a full box of them for my cupboard.
If you’re a fan of spicy, warming teas for winter then there are plenty of cinnamon, cardamom and Chai Spice options which basically felt like warming, soothing, health in a mug.
While it's lovely to buy pricier, more swish looking advent calendars, Ahmad’s version is reasonably priced, has minimal packaging, won't take up space on the side and will give you a refreshing pick me up every day without costing a fortune.
With it being available , this is another option it’s worth keeping an eye out to see if it’s reduced as part of any .
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Bonne Maman Tea and Jam Advent Calendar
Cost: From £27.99
Available from: for a limited time at £27.99 or via including delivery and a gift box of three full-size jars of their most popular festive flavours.
What you get: 17 mini jars of unusual flavours of jam and spread created especially for this advent calendar and not available elsewhere, along with six herbal teas and a surprise gift for Christmas Eve (spoiler: it's an adorable wooden Bonne Maman Christmas tree decoration).
Tea and jam advent calendar anyone? It might be a more unusual choice, but our reviewer loved zhuzhing up her breakfast toast with the Bonne Maman calendar (Narin Flanders)Verdict: If, like me, your breakfast of choice is a cup of tea and a slice of toast then this advent calendar is going to blow your mind. Packed full of unusual and delicious options to replace your usual jam of choice this is the advent calendar I didn't think I needed but absolutely loved when I started working through it.
Some of the more standard flavour combinations are in there but the highlights of this calendar are the flavours you've never tried before - although expect some pangs that they aren't available in bigger jars. I for one feel sad I will never get to eat pineapple and ginger spread again.
Other highlights include cherry with pink peppercorn and Nutella-style chocolate spreads including an amazing raspberry and dark chocolate version which the kids found a bit much, but grown ups absolutely adored.
While there were a few I'd quite happily never have again, apricot and banana in particular was a consistency that didn't appeal, overall this was a shift from the norm and something really fun for the festive season.
Jars of Bonne Maman jam are in our cupboard already so I wasn't expecting to be particularly giddy about this but the sheer variety was so much fun. If you want to start every day of December with a smile this might be just the option to do it.
The mini jars are the same size as ones you get in a hotel buffet which adds a slightly posh element to breakfast time but also, handily, means that if like me you don't go mad with the amount of jam you put on your toast you can easily make a jar last a couple of days or share with the rest of the family.