Vegan, Fairtrade and Tea Advent Calendars for Christmas 2026

Advent calendars have come a long way from a few chalk marks on a door. This year our shelves hold vegan and dairy-free chocolate calendars, a Fairtrade option, a box of grown-up truffles and four tea advent calendars for anyone who would rather start the day with a cup than a chocolate. Below you'll find a short history of the tradition and a guide to every calendar we have in stock.

Where the advent calendar comes from

Counting down to Christmas began in 19th-century Germany. Protestant families marked the days in simple ways, such as chalking 24 lines on a door and rubbing one out each morning, or lighting a candle every evening.

The first printed advent calendar is usually credited to Gerhard Lang, a printer from Munich. As a boy, his mother made him a board with 24 small sweets fixed to it so he could take one each day. In 1908 Lang printed his own version: a card of 24 pictures that children could stick on day by day. Calendars with little doors followed a few years later and quickly became popular across Germany.

Chocolate came much later. The first mass-produced chocolate advent calendars appeared in 1958, and they reached British shops in the early 1970s.

Advent Sunday falls on 29 November in 2026, but most calendars, including all of ours, begin on 1 December.

How to choose an advent calendar

• Chocolate or tea? Children usually want chocolate. Many adults now prefer tea or a few really good truffles.
• Dietary needs. Several of our calendars are vegan and free from dairy, gluten or soya. Others contain milk, wheat or nuts, so read the notes below and check the label when it arrives.
• Caffeine. Some tea calendars are completely caffeine-free. Others include black or green tea.
• Number of days. Most calendars finish on Christmas Eve. The English Tea Shop calendar runs to Christmas Day.

Vegan and dairy-free chocolate advent calendars

Moo Free White Advent Calendar, 70g

Moo Free make their white chocolate with cocoa butter and rice in place of milk, so it tastes sweet and creamy with no dairy at all. The calendar holds 24 chocolates and is vegan, gluten free and soya free. The packaging is made from recycled plastic and can be recycled with other plastics. A sensible choice for families managing allergies.

So Free Vegan White Vanilla Advent Calendar, 110g

So Free is made by Plamil, a family business that has produced vegan chocolate for decades in its own dairy-free and gluten-free factory. This white chocolate is mellow and gently vanilla, made with cocoa butter, sugar and rice.

Mummy Meegz Advent Calendar, 72g

Mummy Meegz use gluten-free oats instead of milk, which gives their chocolate a rich, smooth texture. There are 24 chocolates and the calendar is vegan and gluten free. It contains oats and may contain egg, milk, soya and tree nuts.

Fairtrade chocolate advent calendar

Divine Milk Chocolate Advent Calendar, 85g

Divine's Fairtrade milk chocolate is made with cocoa grown in Ghana. The company is co-owned by Kuapa Kokoo, a cooperative of Ghanaian cocoa farmers, so the people who grow the cocoa have a share in the business. Contains milk.

Luxury truffle advent calendar

Monty Bojangles Marvellous Dusted Truffles Advent Calendar

Each window hides a cocoa-dusted truffle in one of six flavours: Choccy Scoffy, Orange Angelical, Cookie Moon, Berry Bubbly, Popcorn Carousel and Flutter Scotch. Expect candied orange, crunchy cookie, salted popcorn, butterscotch and raspberry with popping candy. Suitable for vegetarians but not vegans. Contains milk, soya, wheat and barley, and may contain nuts, egg and sesame.

Tea advent calendars

A tea advent calendar makes a calm start to each December morning and a good present for anyone cutting back on sugar.

Clipper Organic Tea Advent Calendar, 45g

Twenty-four organic tea bags made up of two each of twelve Clipper blends. Daytime teas such as Lemon & Ginger and Mango Citrus sit alongside evening blends like Chamomile & Peach, Snore & Peace and Nighty Night.

Yogi Tea Organic Advent Calendar 2026, 46g

Twenty-four organic herbal and spiced blends inspired by Ayurvedic tradition. Every tea bag tag carries a short message to read while the tea brews. Some blends contain green or black tea, so not every day is caffeine-free.

Pukka Tea Advent Calendar, 24 sachets

Organic, ethically sourced and caffeine-free from the first door to the last. If you like a cup in the evening, this is the one to choose.

English Tea Shop Tea Advent Calendar, 25 bags

Twenty-five numbered sachets of organic tea, so the countdown carries on to Christmas Day. Inside are 13 seasonal blends including Gingerbread Treat, Festive Spice, Winter Warmer and Berry Rooibos, made with black, green and white teas, rooibos and botanicals.

Looking after your calendar

Keep chocolate calendars in a cool room and away from radiators. Warmth softens chocolate and can leave a dusty white bloom on the surface. It is still safe to eat, but it doesn't look as nice.

If you are buying for a household with different diets, two different calendars side by side means nobody misses out.

You'll find all of these in our Christmas collection, alongside festive food and gifts. Some calendars are in short supply, so order early if you have one in mind.

Advent calendar questions

When do you open the first door of an advent calendar?

Most advent calendars start on 1 December and finish on 24 December. Some, like the English Tea Shop calendar, have a 25th door for Christmas Day.

Which advent calendars are vegan?

The Moo Free White, So Free White Vanilla and Mummy Meegz calendars are vegan.

Is there a caffeine-free tea advent calendar?

Yes. Every sachet in the Pukka Tea Advent Calendar is caffeine-free.