Terre Exotique Spices Advent
This calendar from Terre Extotique, a spice company who work directly with specialist producers around the world, is a treat! Why? Because not only are the spices inside extremely fresh and of great quality, but the calendar is also full of many spices you may not have tried before.
Taste credentials Get a taste for likouala pepper, gamasio from Japan (try it with a soft boiled egg and soldiers!), ‘crazy’ salt, and a roast chicken spice blend that’ll have your bird tasting just like the rotisserie does.
Best thing We loved finding out what was behind each door, and the size of the packets mean you won’t have 24 bottles to try and cream in to a crowded spice rack. Available from Sous Chef, (£28.50).
Hotel Chocolat’s The Grand Advent Calendar
Jaws will hit the FLOOR when eyes clock this enormous chocolate feast. Chocolate kings Hotel Chocolat know how to get you excited in the build-up to Christmas and this spectacular advent contains a variety of generous gifts behind each door. Think mini crackers, gin liqueurs and luxury truffles.
Taste credentials The assortment of chocolates, liqueurs and nibbles vary from vegan options to milk, white and dark confections. There’s a whole range of flavours to look forward to; from cinnamon roll to chocolate orange.
Best thing The treats inside are such a generous size that you can afford to give one to a friend or family member every couple of days. ‘Tis the season of giving and all that… Available from Hotel Chocolat, £75.99.
Pip & Nut Advent Calendar
Every inch of this large advent calendar by certified B Corp Pip & Nut is covered in illustrations of London landmarks plus a special Christmas poem on the back. Window numbers are pleasingly tricky to find and gold foil twinkles on the front too.
Taste credentials Find a selection of amply-sized peanut or almond butter cups behind the windows – extremely rich and chocolately meaning one a day is…just enough.
Best thing? For every calendar sold, Pip& Nut donate three jars of their peanut butter to their local foodbank making this a charitable choice of calendar.
Available from Pip ‘n’ Nut (£20 with free UK delivery).
Lakrids Liquorice Advent Calendar
This is a hefty calendar from Lakrids by Bülow made in thick black card and opening like a book to reveal windows inside. Order on its own or with a hefty 125g pot of salty licorice caramels with more luxurious bundles going up to £180.
Taste credentials Each window contains a pack of crisp-shelled liquorice, with this year’s flavours ranging from crispy mint to salt and pepper – definitely one for true licorice lovers. It’s a great way to taste many different flavours, and extremely hard not to open days in advance.
Best thing Packaging is made from recycled material and is itself 100% recyclable. Limited edition so if you want one…don’t wait! Available from Lakrids by Bulow, £49.
Tony’s Chocolonely Countdown Calendar
A jumbo advent calendar housing 25 ‘Tiny Tony’s’ from the company that’s taken the chocolate world by storm. This is chocolate with a conscience: Tony’s pays higher prices for its traceable cocoa beans and aims to end slavery in the chocolate industry.
Taste credentials Easy-to-love creamy taste. Dark milk pretzel toffee and milk caramel sea salt are among the 10 flavours.
Best thing Daily messages share the Tony’s ethos, from a QR code to a cocoa documentary to a friendly prompt to help someone with their Christmas shopping.
Available from Sainsbury’s, £12.99 for 255g.
Lindt Gold Teddy Sleigh Advent Calendar
If it ain’t broke don’t fix it, right? There is absolutely nothing wrong with a classic chocolate calendar. And if you’re going to do it, do it properly with Lindt’s advent calender in the shape of a sleigh is a nostalgic treat for kids or adults this December. The box is beautifully illustrated, with a design that’s pretty enough to display. Behind each door is a range of Lindt classics, from the mini golden Lindt TEDDY to LINDOR chocolate truffles.
Taste credentials The silky milk chocolate that Lindt have become famous for is on offer here. Reliable, not-too-sweet, and with a perfectly satisfying texture.
Best thing This calendar will cheer you up, and its Available from Available from Ocado (£15).
Sandwick Bay Cranberry scented Advent Candle
This was a first for the delicious. team, so we had to include it. For something different from your cardboard filled calendar this year, opt for Sandwick Bay’s soy advent candle, which counts down to the big day with a warm glow and a Christmassy scent. The crimson glass container holds a scented candle, which gets you in the mood for the season.
Credentials A grown-up scent of festive cranberry with hints of juniper berries and elderberries, this 100% soy wax candle is a crowd-pleasing, not-too-overwhelming way to count down.
Best thing Made in small batches on the Isle of Lewis in Scotland, we think these candles are a worthwhile alternative to chocolate, booze and tea – and they’re a sustainable, recyclable choice. Available from Sandwick Bay, £22.95.
Bonne Maman limited edition advent calendar
Bonne Maman’s limited edition advent calendar comes in an uplifting carousel design that’s a pretty display in a window or above a fireplace. Inside, the 23 doors hide a 30g ‘mini’ jar of jam or marmalade, each in fruit variety seasonal flavour pairing created especially for this Christmas.
Taste credentials Load your toast up with their white nectarine & peach jam with lemon verbena. Or perhaps try a pear with cocoa Nibs, chestnut & orange preserve on your Christmas porridge.
Best thing Beyond its good looks? This calendar includes limited edition flavours making it a stellar choice for jam fans. Available from Bonne Maman (£25.99).
Bird in Blend Matcha tea advent calendar
This bright green calendar contains 24 tins of matcha, offering 2 cups of different flavours each day. Lovers of green tea will be happy with this mellow hit of caffeine on a winter’s morning.
Best thing Each tea comes inside a mini tin which you can either reuse to store seeds or seasonings, or recycle.
Taste credentials We loved the lemon flavour, and the salted caramel matcha adds a pleasant sweetness to what can sometimes be a bitter drink. Available from Bird & Blend (£52 for 48 cups of tea in total).
Mariage Frères Noël over the Rainbow Calendar land
This calendar contains 25 quality teas from French experts Mariage Frères, who have been in the tea business since the 1850s.
Taste credentials Flavours in the calendar include lots of festive blends such as Noël tea, with mandarin, cinnamon, almon, orange, or Christmas Party Tea with candied fruit, chocolate and hazelnuts.
Best thing These 2.5g muslin tea sachets are a suitably festive way to start your morning in December. Available from Mariage Frères (£48).
Kinder Advent Calendar
This adorable 3D chocolate filled house from Kinder is available exclusively at Selfridges, and is decorated with a playful festive scene to get the excitement going. There are 24 doors to open, and behind each is a tasty chocolate.
Taste credentials The 24 Kinder chocolate bars offer the reliable milky sweetness we have come to expect from the brand, and you’ll even find a Kinder egg or two inside as well.
Best thing At 234g this advent is much more generous than most chocolate calendars. Available from Selfridges & Co, for £17.99.
Laithwaites Advent Calendar
The wine advent calendars from Laithwaites are very good value, first and foremost. The thoughtful design of the sturdy, house-shaped calendar, which is pretty enough to have on display, and doesn’t need to be hidden away in a corner. It’s a sizeable calendar, but it would be, containing 24 x 187ml bottles!
Taste credentials There are wines of all styles inside, including a South African sauvingon blanc, Spanish grenache and (spoiler alert) half bottle of champers for Christmas Eve. All tastes are covered here.
Best thing Great for wine fans keen to try new and reliable tipples of an evening – and each bottle is big enough for 2 small glasses so you can enjoy yourself or share with a partner for a merry countdown to Christmas. These sell out first so you can reserve yours early. Available from Laithwaites (£69.99).
Carluccios Luxury Advent Calendar
Gear yourself up for a buon natale with Carluccio’s Italian delicatessen-style advent calendar, filled with sweets, treats, aperitivos and spirits.
Taste credentials As well as sweet treats and boozy tipples like maraschino cherries and mini bottles of gin, to see you through December, behind certain doors, Carluccio’s have also delivered some store cupboard essentials such as olive oil or pasta sauce – perfect for those rushed evenings during the busiest month of the year.
Best thing In an order to avoid waste, the calendar can be kept and recycled each year. We love that you could refill it and regift it to a friend or loved one next Christmas. Available from Carluccio’s, for preorder (£79.95).
