Lunar New Year Gifts 2025: Thoughtful Presents for Loved Ones

Striking for the Year of the Snake, this twisted gold ring wraps around the finger for a bold, festive statement. During our review, the 18K gold plating gave a luxe glow at a friendlier price, and the handmade variations made each piece feel personal. Just note it’s stainless steel with plating that can wear over time and it’s a final sale with no returns. Our experience shows sizing isn’t adjustable beyond listed sizes, so double-check measurements before gifting.

This petite Pandora Snake Mini Charm is a subtle nod to the Year of the Snake, ideal for bracelets or a delicate necklace stack. During our review, the polished sterling silver delivered a bright, durable finish, and the compact size made layering effortless. That small scale can be fiddly to attach and the minimalist design lacks gemstones, which some gift recipients may prefer. We recommend buying directly from Pandora or trusted retailers to avoid authenticity questions that pop up with secondhand listings.

These Milk Chocolate Caramel Squares are a crowd-pleasing sweet for Lunar New Year snack trays or hostess gifts. In our testing, the smooth, creamy milk chocolate pairs beautifully with a soft, gooey caramel that doesn’t cling to your teeth. We did see occasional reports of bags arriving with crushed or melted pieces, especially from third-party sellers. Our tip: buy from a reputable source and verify the bag size and quantity to avoid confusion across assorted listings.

A clever, zero-wilt alternative to fresh blooms, the LEGO Flower Bouquet makes a striking display that lasts well beyond Lunar New Year. We found the build satisfying but fiddly, with many small, repetitive subassemblies and some delicate stems that can come apart if handled roughly. The arrangement can be top-heavy, so choose a stable, appropriately sized vase for display. On the plus side, the set includes rare elements that builders will love repurposing in future creations.

For friends resolving to hydrate in the new year, the Stanley Quencher H2.0 kept ice water cold for hours in our testing, and its tapered base fits most car cup holders. The stainless steel build is dishwasher‑safe, though the removable straw and narrow parts can be fiddly to clean thoroughly, and the FlowState lid still isn’t leakproof if the tumbler tips. At $45, the 30/40‑ounce sizes offer huge capacity but get heavy when full; we found it best for desk, gym, and road‑trip use rather than tossing in a bag.

The Instax Mini 12 is a fun pick for Lunar New Year snapshots—its simple twist‑to‑on lens and updated auto flash gave us more consistent results across rooms during our review. It’s also one of the more affordable instant camera entries at $93.95, though there’s no way to disable the flash, and you won’t find manual controls or creative double exposures. We found film costs add up over time, so budget for refills, but the ease of use and instant prints make it a charming gift for family gatherings.

For under a hundred, the Soundcore Space One impressed us with adaptive ANC that tames office chatter and commute noise without killing detail. In our testing, LDAC support and the companion app’s robust EQ and HearID tuning made it easy to dial in a satisfying sound. Real-world battery life fell short of the 40-hour ANC claim, and the shallow ear cups can challenge comfort and seal. During our review, the mic sounded thin in busy environments, so it’s better for listening than calls.

Looking to modernize a relative’s home inexpensively, we found the TP‑Link Kasa Smart Light Switch a steal at $11, with quick app setup and smooth voice control for routines and automations. Installation was straightforward in our testing when a neutral wire and enough box space were available, but homes without neutrals may need rewiring or a different model. Note there’s no dimming—it’s on/off only—and some users report reliability hiccups years down the line, yet for basic smart control this remains one of the best low‑cost upgrades.

If you love exposed fixtures, the Philips Hue Filament A19 nails the vintage Edison look while offering dimmable warm-to-cool white ambiance. In our testing, Bluetooth control worked out of the box, and pairing with the Hue ecosystem unlocked reliable automations and scene tuning. Just know full features require a Hue Bridge and the bulb costs more than generic smart options. Our experience shows filament-style glass can be fragile and may have minor cosmetic blemishes, so handle carefully and inspect on arrival.

As a budget-friendly smart home gift, the TP-Link Tapo Wi-Fi Smart Plug is just $10 at Walmart and Matter-certified for Apple HomeKit, Alexa, Google Assistant, and SmartThings. In our testing, the compact design made it easy to fit two per outlet, and the Tapo app kept scheduling and automations painless - great for timing Lunar New Year lanterns or lamps. Be aware the status LED is quite bright in dark rooms, and some users report occasional Matter/Alexa pairing hiccups and rare long-term relay failures, so reserve it for non-critical gear.

Luxe from the moment you open the tin, TWG’s 1837 Black Tea delivers a berry-and-caramel profile that many guests find memorable. In our testing, using a generous scoop and a slightly longer steep prevented a weak cup and unlocked the layered sweetness. It’s considerably pricier than everyday loose-leaf, so reserve it for special gifting or celebratory pours. If you prefer unflavored teas, note some buyers question added flavorings and ingredient labeling, despite the undeniably elegant, double air-tight packaging.

For tea toasts during Lunar New Year, we loved how the Hario Chacha Kyusu Maru’s large stainless‑steel infuser let leaves fully unfurl, and the borosilicate glass shows the infusion beautifully. Cleanup is easy—it's dishwasher‑safe—but the glass is more fragile than ceramic or metal, and the smaller 300–700 ml sizes won’t satisfy bigger gatherings. During our review, we found the mesh a touch coarse for very fine or dust‑grade teas, yet for everyday green, oolong, or scented blends, it’s a delight at $26.99.

Diptyque’s Baies is a classic for a reason: the blackcurrant-and-rose blend smells sophisticated and throws strongly enough to perfume a room without smelling synthetic. In our testing, the elegant glass vessel doubled as chic decor after burning, which makes the premium feel last. That premium price is real, and smaller sizes are steep on a per-ounce basis. If you prefer clean or woody scents, this fruity-floral profile may read too sweet, so consider gifting to someone who loves florals.

An auspicious pick for Lunar New Year, this compact money tree from Arcadia Garden Products looks lovely on desks or side tables, and the low $19.64 price makes it an easy, thoughtful gift. Ours arrived well packaged in testing, but transit stress and cold can still cause leaf drop, and some buyers receive damaged plants—so time delivery to avoid freezing temps. The 4‑inch grower pot is fine initially; we found repotting into a slightly larger container after acclimation helps long‑term growth and keeps this resilient houseplant looking full.

For compact kitchens cooking Lunar New Year favorites, the Always Pan 2.0 impressed us with versatile 8‑in‑1 functionality—steam dumplings, sauté veggies, then pop it in the oven up to 450°F. It’s lightweight and induction‑compatible, making it easy to maneuver, but our experience shows the nonstick lasts longest with low‑to‑medium heat and gentle tools—high‑heat searing isn’t its strong suit. At $89.90, it’s a stylish gift; just note the exterior and handle can stain or get hot, so use care and treat it like your favorite nonstick.

Light, airy, and gift-ready, Jo Malone’s English Pear & Freesia candle brings a fresh blend of juicy pear with delicate florals that suits living rooms or entryways. During our review, the presentation felt luxurious for gifting, though the scent throw and longevity were moderate rather than room-filling. It also sits at a premium price tier compared with mainstream candles. If anyone in the home is fragrance-sensitive, our experience shows this aroma can occasionally trigger headaches, so burn time and placement matter.

Preparing for Lunar New Year visits, the Nest Grapefruit Reed Diffuser gave us a bright, uplifting citrus lift for weeks in testing, without the hassle of lighting or open flames. We liked its etched, reusable glass vessel and the ability to dial intensity by adding or removing reeds, though at $62 it’s a premium pick and some refills can smell milder. If you prefer candles or wax warmers, this format may not be your favorite, but our experience shows it’s an elegant, low‑maintenance way to keep entryways welcoming.

Dry winter lips don’t stand a chance—during our review, Laneige’s Lip Sleeping Mask delivered intensive overnight hydration that left lips noticeably softer by morning, and the flavors add a fun, gift‑worthy touch. A little goes a long way, so the $12.29 jar can last months, but the thick texture can feel heavy, and fragrances may bother very sensitive lips. If you prefer unscented medicated balms, this isn’t the cheapest option; for nightly pampering ahead of holiday photos, though, we found it a reliable, smoothing treatment.

For a luxe self‑care gift, the Slip Queen Pillowcase’s 22‑momme mulberry silk felt wonderfully smooth in our testing, creating a low‑friction surface that’s gentle on hair and skin overnight. We appreciate the invisible zipper that keeps it put and the machine‑washable care, which makes maintenance less fussy than many delicate silks. It is pricier at $78.29 and can feel slippery—some pillows shift—and a minority report wear after repeated laundering, but as a pampering Lunar New Year treat, it’s an elegant upgrade.

Lindt Lindor Milk Chocolate Truffles feel instantly gift-ready, with individually wrapped pieces and that signature, melt-in-the-middle center. We found the creamy filling luxuriously smooth and dangerously moreish—portioning a few at a time helps, especially during festive gatherings. Compared with basic chocolates, they run pricier, and smaller bags can contain fewer pieces than you might expect. For Lunar New Year bowls or last-minute thank-yous, though, the polished packaging and consistently rich flavor make a small splurge feel worthwhile.

For a festive crowd-pleaser, Ferrero Rocher’s layered milk chocolate and hazelnut flavor felt indulgent in our testing, and the elegant gold box looks instantly gift‑ready for Lunar New Year calls. Individually wrapped pieces make sharing easy with family, though the 12‑count box can feel small for larger groups, and some tasters found the sweetness higher than typical candies. At $6.99, it’s pricier than budget chocolate, but we’ve found buying two boxes solves portion concerns and preserves that upscale presentation friends and hosts appreciate during seasonal gifting.