Every year since Vanilla Beige began, I’ve done a DIY Advent Calendar for the kids. However, why should the kids have all the fun! Here are three grown-up Advent Calendars 2019 that are all for me!
Now I know that there are a few alcoholic Advent Calendars 2019 out there and they look fantastic, however, I’m not a drinker so I based my selection on a few criteria. Firstly, it had to be edible, drinkable and definitely not full of little plastic things that I would never need or use. It also had to be packaged beautifully and contain something I loved.
Trust me, all the gorgeous Beauty Advent Calendars 2019 were a huge temptation but with most having a higher price tag, I decided to go with these (two under $50 and one under $100). Here we go! The three Advent Calendars 2019 for grown-ups that I selected to review.
Hook Coffee – 24 Coffees to Christmas (from SGD$43.60)
How cute is this box full of 24 coffees? I just love the sweet illustrations! While coffee is often modernist and minimal when it comes to design and packaging, Hook Coffee has gone the opposite way. Their brand uses fun, vibrant designs and descriptive names for their coffees. They still inform you of the coffee origin as well as acidity, process method and producer so serious coffee drinkers, drink your heart out. But this is a totally approachable way for people who just love a good cup of coffee.
Perhaps the element of surprise is not there for each day. I myself enjoy the anticipation and surprise of what is behind the number of the day (the only kind of surprise I like, in fact). The set comes with all the coffees in a box and each sachet is easily accessible at any time. However, they give you a pretty poster with the number of the day and which coffee goes with each day. They also give you a sheet of stickers. These are just too cute and maybe the only thing I share with my 12-year-old from this Advent Calendar.
I’m loving all the creative, descriptive ways they’ve named their coffees. I mean, “Cake Middleton”! Who thinks of that? I think it’s so clever and really takes the cake… pun intended. Each coffee comes in a sealed sachet (to maintain freshness) and you don’t need any brew gear at all because they’re the wonderful, life-changing coffee drip bags that I love so much. Just tear open, hang over your cup, pour and enjoy!
Currently, Hook Coffee has some fantastic pre-order deals so get in quick and order these. And let me know which coffee is your favourite.
T2 Tea – Christmas Countdown (SGD$40.00)
This was the first Advent Calendar I ever got myself and I was delighted last year when it arrived on my doorstep. I debated ordering it again this year but in the end, I couldn’t resist. A vibrant, colourful design covers the box and you know what, it just makes me happy.
The T2 Tea Christmas Countdown comes in both loose leaf and teabag, something I didn’t realise when I ordered. It opens like a special book and inside all the numbers are presented in non-chronological order. I suppose that keeps things interesting when looking for the day you are on.
Each numbered door is perforated for easy access and behind the door is a beautiful sachet of tea or tisane. As you know T2 is one of our favourite tea brands and you can find out more about them in our tea stories. The teas are all described on the back so you know what they are, but they are alphabetically listed and not in order of appearance. Hooray! A little surprise for every day.
If you get the loose leaf version as I did, you’ll need a way to brew your tea. This works for me because I am obsessed with teacups, teapots, just anything pretty that I can use to make hot drinks. T2 has you covered here as well. Any of their teaware would make a wonderful Christmas gift.
You can order the T2 Advent Calendar online (in loose leaf or tea bag) or at one of their retail locations. Right now there is free delivery for online orders over $60 – perfect to order an Advent Calendar and a little teacup to go with it. Please let me know if there was a particular tea you loved the most.
Zotter Chocolate from Hello Chocolate – Handgeschöpfter Adventkalender (from SGD$87.30 on sale for a limited time)
I believe (and please correct me if I’m wrong) that handgeschöpfter means hand made and you can expect no less from a brand like Zotter Chocolate. We once did a chocolate tasting of their bars and the quality was exceptional. This was the Advent Calendar I just HAD to have (and hide from my children)!
The beautiful box is presented in a sleeve that you slide off to reveal the numbers for the day. Like the T2 box, Zotter keeps things interesting by listing the numbers non-sequentially. I’m going to love the search for each day. I think the illustrations are just adorable and I love the gold-foiled hanging stars in the design. It really makes this Advent Calendar feel special and luxe.
I’ll need to make this a ritual each day, opening the “doors” on this one. First, I’ll crank up the aircon so it’s nice and cold. Then I’ll brew myself a cup of tea or coffee (because, you know, I have one of each for each day). Lastly, I’ll relish opening each perforated section to see which hand-scooped chocolate is revealed..
Zotter lists all their chocolates on the back in order of appearance but I’m going to do a Forrest Gump, saying “Life is like a box of chocolates…” and I don’t want to know what’s inside. Therefore, I won’t be looking at which order the chocolates are in.
All I can say is, for the sake of this review, I had to open a door (or two or three) and the chocolates inside, each individually foil wrapped and perfectly sized for each day, are absolutely divine.
You must check out the selection of exquisite bean to bar Christmas chocolates and gifts available at Hello Chocolate. I picked up a few extra items for myself or to gift… who am I kidding, they’re totally for myself! Right now their Christmas selection is on sale so get in quick and let me know if you grab a bar that you fall in love with.
There you have it, my three Advent Calendars 2019 for grown-ups that I am going to love exploring this December. Have you got any other Advent Calendars that you’re loving? Let me know in the comments below.
Vanilla Beige may contain affiliate links which means we may get paid a commission when you order through our links. We were not paid to write these reviews and our views are honest and personal opinions. Each of these Advent Calenders were personally selected and purchased by ourselves.
