Gifts for colleagues

A closer look: Long best-before dates mean it can be bought well ahead and tucked away until the day, and the tartan sleeve saves any wrapping. Add a favourite mug for a fuller present, or take it along when visiting so the kettle can go on and the box can be opened together.

Why we picked it: Edinburgh tea, Scottish shortbread and Walkers biscuits, gift-boxed for two. Ready-made for a cuppa and a catch-up.

• Brodies Edinburgh tea
• Scottish shortbread
• Walkers biscuits
• Gift boxed for two

What owners say: A nice selection, lovely tea and very good value. The Walkers biscuits are a hit.

A closer look: Two to five can play, and the first to lay down three complete property sets in different colours wins, so it works for a couple on the sofa as well as a table of colleagues. Reference cards remind everyone what they can do on their turn, which stops first-timers slowing the game down. The box says 8 and up.

Why we picked it: All the scheming, stealing and gloating of Monopoly, in about 15 minutes. Office lunch breaks will never be the same.

• Swap, steal and scheme
• 15-minute games
• Easy to learn
• Pocket size

What owners say: A great take on Monopoly: quick, easy to pick up and hours of fun.

A closer look: Switching off takes a moment to learn: hold the button for 3 seconds, or, after it’s been on for 8 seconds, press it once. It remembers the last brightness used, and on low a 2-hour charge gives up to 5.5 hours of light. At 66mm long it barely adds bulk to a set of keys, and it copes with rain.

Why we picked it: Tiny, bright and charges by USB, so there’s always a torch on the keys for finding the front door lock.

• 3 brightness modes
• USB rechargeable
• Charge indicator
• Keyring clip

What owners say: The perfect everyday pocket torch, bright enough to see the way home.

A closer look: Two ribbon markers keep today’s page and a running to-do list open at once, and the expandable pocket holds receipts, stickers or spare sticky notes. The dots sit 5mm apart on ivory paper, a light guide for neat tables and habit trackers without committing to lines. As a Secret Santa, it suits almost anyone in the office, from the planner to the doodler.

Why we picked it: Thick 120gsm paper that pens don’t bleed through, in a smart hardback. For bullet journals, to-do lists or doodling in meetings.

• A5 hardback
• 180 dotted pages
• Thick 120gsm paper
• Elastic closure

What owners say: Lovely thick pages with no bleed-through, and it looks smart on a desk.

A closer look: On the first light, let each candle burn until the melted wax reaches the edge of the tin, usually an hour or two, which stops it tunnelling down the middle. Trim the cotton wick a little before relighting, and once a candle is finished, the patterned tin is handy for hair grips, buttons or paper clips.

Why we picked it: Four soy candles in lavender, fig, spring and lemon, each burning for over a day, in a gift box with a card.

• 4 soy wax candles
• Lavender, fig, spring, lemon
• 25–30 hours each
• Gift box and card

What owners say: Beautiful scents and pretty tins. Owners say the people they gave them to were delighted.

A closer look: The front lip takes devices up to 18mm thick, so most phones can stay in their cases, chunky ones included. Bigger screens between 6 and 8 inches sit more steadily sideways, while smaller phones are fine either way up. A Kindle or a Nintendo Switch fits too, handy for reading over lunch or gaming on a train table.

Why we picked it: Solid aluminium, folds flat and holds a phone at the perfect angle for video calls and recipes.

• Aluminium
• Folds flat
• Adjustable angle
• Fits phones and small tablets

What owners say: Sturdy, versatile and works in portrait or landscape.

A closer look: At 30ml, each tube is small enough to go straight into the clear liquids bag for a flight. The orange blossom scent is fresh rather than heavy, and the tubes come in a mix of leopard and rose prints, made with half recycled plastic and packed in a card box.

Why we picked it: Three pretty handbag-size tubes with shea and cocoa butter. A little bit of Cath Kidston cheer for a few pounds.

• 3 × 30ml
• Orange blossom scent
• Shea and cocoa butter
• Vegan

What owners say: A lovely scent, soft non-greasy feel and great value. Perfect for handbags.

A closer look: The sizing covers women’s UK 5 to 11 and men’s UK 4 to 10, a safe bet when you don’t know someone’s shoe size. The reading socks hide a message on the sole, which only shows when feet go up on the sofa. They’re machine washable, and turning them inside out first helps keep the pattern crisp.

Why we picked it: Lots of designs, from book lovers to dog people, in a gift box. Pick the one that fits the person.

• Gift boxed
• Soft cotton blend
• Lots of designs
• One size fits most

What owners say: Cute, comfortable and soft, and they always get a laugh.

A closer look: Everything comes ready ground, so it won’t suit a bean-to-cup machine that grinds its own beans; check how they brew before buying. Brew each origin the same way, one at a time, and the differences between, say, Brazil and Ethiopia really stand out. Once a pack is open, fold it tight, clip it and keep it in a cool cupboard.

Why we picked it: Six single-origin coffees from around the world, so he can work out whether he’s a Colombia man or an Ethiopia man.

• 6 single origins
• Ground, ready to brew
• Vacuum-packed
• Gift box

What owners say: Great variety and lovely fresh taste, and it looks smart enough to give as it is.

Heads up: The bags are tasting size (50g each), so it’s a sampler rather than a month’s supply.

A closer look: Loose leaf needs something to brew it in, so adding a simple tea infuser or a small pot with a strainer means the first cup can be made straight away. A lovely choice for friends overseas or anyone fond of London, and once emptied, the little tins end up holding spices, sweets or paper clips on a shelf.

Why we picked it: Six little tins shaped like London landmarks, from Big Ben to a red phone box, filled with loose-leaf English tea.

• 6 collectable tins
• Loose-leaf tea
• Big Ben, phone box, post box
• Reusable tins

What owners say: Lovely tea and charming tins that look more expensive than they are.

Heads up: The tins are small, so it’s a tasting set rather than a big stash.