Microplane zester
A superior zester is a cook’s best friend, and these from Microplane have been all jazzed up to add a splash of colour to your kitchen. Perfect for grating cheese, ginger, garlic, and citrus zests as well as nutmeg and other spices – once you try these blades, you’ll never go back. A great gift for someone who has recently discovered joy in cooking and needs a toolkit upgrade. Available from Harts of Slur (£19.75).
White soy
For the cook who has everything, give the gift of white soy sauce. Made with a higher percentage of wheat than traditional soy sauce – 90% wheat to 10% soybeans – it has a deep and delicate flavour but a pale colour that doesn’t overpower more delicate ingredients such as raw fish or vegetables in broths and soups. A luxurious ingredient they might not ordinarily take the plunge on. Available from Sous Chef (£7.99).
Tracklements Festive Four
Chutney really comes into its own at Christmas. There’s cheeseboards galore, the canapés and sausage rolls, and of course: the all-important Boxing Day spread. This four pack of chutneys is packaged in a delightful gift set, and includes Tracklements (the chutney masters) Christmas spice chutney, spiced plum chutney, sticky fig relish and cranberry, port & orange sauce chutney. Make the Christmas ham blush and pop this under the tree for the Christmas sandwich fiend in your life. Available from Tracklements and Whole Foods (£14.15).
Denby kiln ridged mugs
Handcrafted in Derbyshire by craftsmen and women, the Kiln collection by Denby takes inspiration from pottery made in studios, and we are particularly fond of these ridged mugs, which feel so good in the hand and are the perfect size for your recipient’s morning coffee. This gorgeous collection is stunning enough for best and versatile enough for every day. Available from Denby (£16).
Dualit coffee pod reused
If they’ve already got a Nespresso coffee machine (or perhaps Santa is bringing one this year) then this coffee pod recycler is a no brainer, and makes a great eco-friendly stocking filler. It’s been specifically designed to clean, crush and store old Nespresso pods, ready for them to be fully recycled. Those pods would otherwise make their way to landfill and there is nothing fabulous about that. Available from Dualit (£9.99).
Kind Bags
We’ve tested them, and Kind Bags are strong, durable and washable. Each bag is made from six recycled plastic bottles, folds into a built-in pouch and is roomy yet fits over your shoulder. This design, one of three by Dutch-Egyptian artist Roequiya Fris, is new, but there are 40+ to choose from. Available from Kind Bags (£10).
Frankly Delicious chocolate
Bean-to-bar chocolate from Frankly Delicious isn’t cheap, but it’s an experience to savour – ethically made with some unusual flavours. We rate the rich 35% Coffee White Chocolate and the tart edge of the 65% Blackcurrant Dark, made with freeze-dried fruit. Available from Frankly Delicious (£6.45 for 60g).
Lyle’s non alcoholic spirits
You won’t believe the extent of the range from non-alcoholic experts Lyle’s! The brand’s MO is that their entire range can create every single cocktail at home, and these tee-total tipples do not disappoint. From a ‘whisky‘ spirit that burns your throat almost like the real thing (it’s heat from ginger, but without the ingredient overpowering the drink), to Italian amaros in the style of Campari and Aperol, all the way to a non-alcoholic fizz that’s got something of the orchard fruits about it with none of the Schloer sweetness. Perfect for anyone going sober this Crimbo. Available from Lyre’s (£23.50).
Coupé glasses
These pressed champagne coupés from Habitat have a vintage look, feel solid in the hand and double as dessert dishes. They’re dishwasher safe, plus a bargain to boot. Cheers! Available from Habitat (£16 for four).
Pastaio a Mano pasta
Hand crafted, small batch pasta, produced fresh to order in South East London – who’d have thought it? Pastaio a Mano’s bronze cut pasta is made with heritage grain organic flours from independent farmers and millers. The bronze dies result in a rougher textured pasta which perfectly catches sauce, and these are the ideal present for your pasta loving friends and fam. Formerly only available in select grocers, you can now order Simon’s pasta – from saffron gnocchi sardi to mafalde – at Pastaio a Mano, from £4.95.
Poon’s sauces
Founded by Amy Poon, whose family are renowned for the iconic Covent Garden Poon’s restaurant of the 1970s, Poon’s range of condiments includes a chilli vinegar dressing and a WO sauce (a reinvention of an XO sauce, made with salted shrimp and home dried bacon) alongside a soy and chilli oil that are out-of-this-world good. These condiments are an ideal stocking filler for the Chinese food lover in your life. Available from Sous Chef (from £6.50).
Kitchen Provisions The Chef’s Press
Create the toastie from heaven without the need for yet another electrical gadget that gets forgotten about in the cupboard. The press allows food to cook faster by increasing its surface area, and the vents release moisture, meaning you don’t get a soggy toastie. It’s not just for grilling sandwiches either, try it on a steak, fish or burgers for great results. Available from Kitchen Provisions, from £19.
Cheeky Nibble granola
If you know a friend who loves a sweet breakfast, listen up! Cheeky Nibble’s glorious granolas are inspired by famous desserts – think cherry bakewell, banoffee pie, and Victoria sponge cake. Handmade in Norfolk, this is the most exciting granola launch we’ve seen in some time. All flavours are vegan and nut-free, and there’s even a vanilla latte flavour, for those who like their morning caffeine twofold. We adore the large clusters and interesting flavour combinations. The packaging is irresistibly cute, AND it’s compostable, if you needed any more persuading. Available from Cheeky Nibble (£5.99)
WilderBee Hot Honey
For lovers of all things spicy, WilderBee’s hot honey will be a welcome stocking filler. Made popular on top of pizza in New York, the condiment also enhances cheese toasties, fried chicken, salad, popcorn, ice cream, cocktails, and much more. It’s made in the UK with wildflower honey and infused with scotch bonnets, giving it a potent yet not overpowering buzz. Chef Dan Shearman fell in love with spicy honey on a trip to New York, and upon being unable to find one in the UK, created his own version in 2014. Available from Whole Foods and WilderKitchen (£8.99).
Knoops Single Origin Milk Hot Chocolate
You didn’t realise you’d been drinking naff hot chocolate all this time until you have your first cup of Knoops. This superb hot choc scooped up a 2021 Great Taste Award and is one of the least artificial tasting options we’ve tried. To make a cup of perfection: add 8 teaspoons of chocolate flakes to 200ml of warm milk (it tastes amazing with oat milk, FYI) and stir until completely melted through. Vegan options and white/dark varieties available too – the white hot chocolate is dangerous. Available from Knoops (£9.25)
Lemon press
If your recipient is citrus mad, introduce them to the cheffy way to juice lemons. Just cut the lemon in half, place it cut-side down into the press and squeeze. The lemon turns inside out and the juice runs out super quickly. Cleaning up is easy too – just quickly rinse the gadget under the tap to clean. Hey presto! No more pips in your food. It is lime-friendly too, should you know a margarita lover. Available from Sous Chef (£7.00).
Salami and Camembert socks
Salami might be full of nothing but fat and nitrates, but it isn’t half delicious. Sous Chef’s charcuterie themed socks get a big thumbs up from us, for comfort, stretch and cuteness. The camembert socks even come in a little wooden box to match. There are so many great small gifts on offer from Sous Chef this year, their online shop is worth exploring further! Available from Sous Chef (£11.99).
Extra large ice cube tray
Home bartender skills will be made much easier with this extra large ice cube tray, an idea gift for the cocktail fan. Who would have thought a large ice cube would bring the illusion of drinking at a bar, but from the comfort of your own sofa? Available from Gently Elephant (£18).
Dreamfarm Garject Lite garlic press
Prepare to have your mind blown. This garlic press not only crushes garlic, it peels it too! If you are buying for a friend who loves to cook or simply a friend who loves garlic, do them a favour and get them this nifty gadget. Small enough to fit in a stocking and big enough for under the tree, it’s a useful, practical and affordable gift. Available from Trouva (£15.95).
Eataly Moscato Panettone, Galup Moscato
When it comes to panettone, leave it to the experts. Galup have been making traditional Piedmont panettone since 1922. In this unique twist on the classic cake, the rich and fluffy dough is studded with raisins soaked in Moscato wine. Best enjoyed toasted with a cappuccino or tea on Christmas morning. Available from Eataly (£18.90).
Pigs In Blankets nuts
Why we wait until Christmas to indulge in such treats as pigs in blankets flavoured nuts remains a mystery. Almonds, cashews and peanuts are tossed in a smoky bacon seasoning with plenty of salt and a touch of sugar that makes these the perfect sweet-salty Christmas movie snack. Smoked paprika adds richness of flavour. Available from Selfridges (£6.99).
Sipsmith gift set
Inside this very sweet gift set are three gins that hold their own against a mixer, from well-loved distillers Sipsmith. Lemon drizzle, orange and London Dry gins all feature in 50cl bottles, meaning your recipient can keep enjoying the tipples past Christmas Day. Available from Wholefoods and John Lewis (£12).
Colin the Caterpillar x Bottled Baking co. bottles
Here’s a dream collab for kids who love to bake! Bottled Baking co. who make cute and practical glass bottles containing all the dry ingredients needed to make cakes and treats have teamed up with M&S to bring us a Percy Pig blondie and Colin the Caterpillar brownie baking mix. These are an easy grab from the supermarket last-minute buy this Christmas, available in both M&S stores and from Ocado. (£8.00)
Pickled Brussels sprouts
You’ll either cause a stir or a delight with these pickled Brussels sprouts – our pick of this year’s foodie secret santa gifts. Available from Fortnum & Mason (£9.95).
Cooking: Simply and well, for one or many by Jeremy Lee
The smoked haddock, parsley mash and horseradish or chicken, leek and tarragon pie will have any food-lover drooling from the first cookbook by iconic Quo Vardis chef-proprietor Jeremy Lee. Farmer’s market fans will find a kindred spirit in Lee, where the cooking is “quintessentially British”. This book is full of useful knowledge, like the tip to pep up disappointing strawberries by slicing, layering with lemon juice and black pepper and leaving the mix to create a syrup. Available from Waterstones (£30).
Farhi’s milk, dark and white chocolate raisins
Chocolate raisins are somewhat of a Christmas tradition, and for good reason. Succulent fruit raisins bursting with flavour are coated with generous layers of dark, milk and white chocolate. This beautiful gift jar holds a whopping 870g of them. A mega gift that will have the recipient’s seasonal movie snacks sorted. Available from Farhi (£17.50).
Want more? Discover how to make your own edible gifts here. You can’t put a price on a homemade gift and these edible creations are sure to go down a treat.
