From mince pies to mulled wine, for many of us, the festive season is a time to indulge in some of life’s culinary delights. But what’s nearly as satisfying as tasting the flavours of Christmas ourselves is sharing them with our loved ones.
So, whether you’re searching for the perfect present for your foodie friend, a luxury bottle for a wine connoisseur, or something sweet to stuff into a loved one’s stocking – you’ll find a range of our favourite food and drink gift ideas below.
Note: These are hand-picked gift ideas. Items can sell out fast, and prices can change often, so you may notice some variations on the providers’ websites. Prices and availability are accurate as of the 20th of November, 2023.
1. Edinburgh Preserves Chutneys and Relishes for Cheese and Meats
Price: £16.00, John Lewis
If you’re looking for a present that your loved one will relish, why not up their finger food game with these chutneys from Edinburgh Preserves?
Inside, your recipient will find caramelised onion, sweet beetroot, spicy tomato, and apple and English cider chutneys. These traditional flavours make an ideal accompaniment for any meats or cheeses – whether it’s for a Yuletide party or quiet, candle-lit Christmas film night.
2. Virgin Wines Cases
Price: From £68.94, Virgin Wines
Whether you’re buying for a grape aficionado or someone who just enjoys the simple pleasure of a good quality glass of vino, the Virgin Wines catalogue of cases has something for everyone.
From decadent malbecs to crisp prosecco, an expert team has carefully put together cases for a range of tastes and budgets. So whether you’d like an eclectic mix of everything (like the Christmas All Wrapped Up Case) or more specific options (such as the Blow your Socks Off Red Wine Case), Virgin Wines has got you covered.
3. Travelzoo Gift Experiences for Foodies
Price: From £22 for two people, Travelzoo
What better way to treat your favourite foodie this Christmas than by giving them a culinary experience they’ll treasure forever?
On Travelzoo, you’ll find plenty of great deals on food experiences all over England and Wales – from a three-course meal with champagne in the heart of London to an enchanting afternoon tea at a 17th cottage in the New Forest.
Whether your loved one is partial to pub grub or fine dining, there’s sure to be an experience to suit them.
4. Nespresso Vertuo Pop Automatic Pod Coffee Machine
Price: £58.00, Amazon
Chosen as the best value pod coffee machine by The Telegraph this year, the Nespresso Vertuo Pop is a great option if you want to give the gift of barista-style coffee this Christmas.
It’s the smallest Nespresso machine available, so it’ll sit comfortably in most kitchens. Plus, thanks to the new Vertuo pods, this machine allows you to brew long coffees like americanos, not just espressos.
For extra gift-giving points, you could get a selection of pods to go along with the machine. Or, if your recipient is into lattes, cappuccinos, cortados, or flat whites, you could even pair the Vertuo Pop with Nespresso’s milk frother.
5. Snacking Bakes: Simple Recipes for Cookies, Bars, Brownies, Cakes, and More
Price: £17.59, Amazon
Most of us get a craving for a sweet treat now and then (or pretty much all the time!) – and aisles of overpriced and processed snacks make easy go-tos. But wouldn’t it be better if we could whip something up from scratch in a matter of minutes? Well, with Snacking Bakes by Yossy Arefi, we can!
Filled with delicious recipes that can be made in under an hour with staples and without fancy ingredients, this book is a must-buy for anyone with a sweet tooth.
Because Arefi’s style is simple and easy to follow – it also makes a great gift for kids looking to channel their inner bakers! From cookies and cakes to brownies and bars, there’s plenty to discover.
6. Personalised Kraken Rum Gift Set
Price: £45.00, Spiritsmith
This personalised Kraken Rum gift set from Spiritsmith is a thoughtful way to top-up your favourite rum drinker’s bar. As well as a bottle of Kraken Black Spiced Rum, your recipient will also receive a couple of Fever-Tree Colas and a bag of botanicals, so they can create the perfect rum and coke.
The elegant box also comes with your loved one’s name and a message inscribed on the front, as well as LED fairy lights inside.
When they’re finished with the rum, they can pop the lights in the pirate-style bottle and make themselves a cosy decoration.
If whoever you have in mind isn’t a rum drinker, why not explore the other gift boxes Spiritsmith have to offer?
7. Shiitake Mushroom Log Growing Kit
Price: £22.78, Not on The High Street
Mushrooms are one of those things that people typically love or hate. But those who love them often really love them. So why not treat your loved one to this grow-your-own shiitake mushroom kit?
Famous for their earthy, meaty umami flavour, shiitake mushrooms are a great ingredient to have in your kitchen, and go exceptionally well in Asian dishes like ramen, stir fry, and banh mi (Vietnamese baguettes).
Plus, chances are, they’ll taste even better to your recipient if they’ve grown them themselves.
All they need to do is find a suitable log to grow their mushrooms on (a perfect activity for a winter walk) and follow the instructions.
8. Jamie Oliver Cookery School
Price: Various, Virgin Experiences
To put a spin on the famous saying, “give a person some food, and they’ll eat for a day, but teach a person to cook, and they’ll eat for a lifetime”. In other words – whether it’s for a seasoned chef looking to learn a new cuisine or a complete newbie who’s never boiled an egg – giving the gift of a cooking class can allow your recipient to develop lifelong skills.
These classes from the Jamie Oliver Cookery School are ideal because they cover a wide range of topics – from regional cuisines like Vietnamese and Italian to specific topics like knife sharpening and cooking the perfect beef Wellington. Plus, if your loved one can’t make it to their London campus in person, the Jamie Oliver Cookery School offers online courses too.
9. Friars Signature Chocolate Box
Price: £25.99, Friars
If you’re looking to give a chocolatey gift this Christmas, you might want to consider the signature box from Friars.
This may just look like your run-of-the-mill fancy chocolate box, but you only have to look at the reviews to get an idea of just how many people love it.
Some call these chocs “outstandingly delicious” and “the finest chocolates in the world”, while another reviewer writes, “I’ve lost count of how many boxes I have ordered as gifts over the years”. With reviews like that, it’s difficult not to be curious!
10. Ember Temperature Control Smart Mug 2
Price: £99.95, Amazon
Dubbed by Insider as “the best smart mug around”, this handy gadget is a useful gift for work-from-homers or your friend who’s always forgetting about their tea and letting it go cold.
Using their phone, they can set their desired temperature. The app will notify them when their drink has reached it and keep it there for up to 80 minutes. There’s even a ‘Tea Timer’ setting, so that your recipient can choose the brew time for their perfect cuppa – whether they like a builder’s tea or a milky brew.
11. Space Food Ice Cream Sandwich
Price: £6.00, Science Museum
Looking for a gift for a child in your life that’s out-of-this-world? This Space Food Ice Cream Sandwich is a unique mix of delicious and educational.
In preparation for the Apollo missions, NASA spent lots of time and resources on developing long-lasting, space-saving foods.
One of the techniques they came up with was freeze-drying, which involves freezing and removing the moisture from foods.
As a result, they managed to reduce the weight of foods by 80% while retaining most of their nutritional value.
With this freeze-dried ice cream sandwich, your loved one can get a taste of what it’s like to be an astronaut!
12. ProCook Professional X50 Micarta Chef Knife Set
Price: £199.00, ProCook
Know any budding chefs looking to take their culinary skills to the next level? With this professional knife set, you can give them some of the most important tools of their trade.
Named one of the best knife sets to buy in 2023 by BBC GoodFood, it includes all the basic blades your recipient will need: two santoku and two chef’s knives, plus a paring, utility, bread, and carving knife. And with a 25-year guarantee from ProCook, this truly is a gift that can last someone a lifetime.
13. Red The Crab Silicone Utensil Rest
Price: £15.99, Amazon
Fun, quirky, and endlessly useful, Red the Crab sits on the edge of your pot and holds your spoon for you. Gone are the days of putting it on a plate or balancing it precariously on the edge of the sink. Red will also hold a pot lid open for you if you need to release some steam.
Red is made of durable silicone, so this convenient crustacean can withstand heat, steam, and bubbles – whatever your kitchen throws at him. He’s a perfect stocking filler or Secret Santa gift.
14. The M&S Collection Hamper
Price: £55.00, M&S
Know someone who appreciates the finer things in life? Then why not stock them up for the festive season with this hamper from M&S?
Featuring luxury savoury snacks – like caramelised onion chutney and sourdough crackers – sweet treats – such as chocolate florentines and all butter shortbread – and a bottle of Bordeaux Merlot, there’s something for all the family inside. Plus, it all comes in a stylish wicker hamper, which can be reused and add a bit of class to future picnics.
15. Comfort and Joy: Irresistible Pleasures from a Vegetarian Kitchen
Price: £22.39, Amazon
Whether you know a vegetarian who’s always on the hunt for new recipes, or you have a meat eater in your life that you’d like to introduce to the power and possibilities of plants, this new cookbook from Ravinder Bhogal may be the perfect present.
Described by Diana Henry as “a sorceress with vegetables”, Bhogal pulls together an eclectic collection of vegetarian and vegan recipes inspired by the cuisines of South Asia – from comforting curries to delectable deserts.
As one of Britain’s best food writers, Bhogal interweaves her recipes with life-affirming stories that aim to entertain and inform.
16. Egg on a Bagel Maker
Price: £29.00, Uncommon Goods
Know anyone who’s partial to a bagel in the morning? This ingenious invention lets you whip up a bagel egg sandwich in a flash.
All you need to do is whisk some eggs, put them in the bowl, throw in some extras like chives or spring onions, and pop them in the microwave. In 60 seconds, you’ll have perfect bagel-shaped eggs – great for breakfast on the go!
For extra points, why not pair it with this home bagel-making kit?
17. Jamónnatural – Award-Winning Paleta Serrano Gran Reserva Set
Price: £74.95, Jamón.co.uk
Deliver the taste of Spain to your meat-loving friend’s front door with this Jamónnatural Paleta Serrano Gran Reserva Set.
Naturally air-cured in the Sierra Nevada region of Spain, this authentic Serrano Ham is salty, succulent, and perfect for serving up with friends over Christmas time. But if your friend wants to enjoy it by themselves, that’s fine too, as it keeps for a few months.
18. Hotter Hot Sauce Making Kit
Price: £40.36, Etsy
This hot sauce-making kit gives heat heads everything they need to craft their very own sauces from scratch.
Including six varieties of peppers – like Habenero, Ghost, and Bird’s Eye chillies – bottles, vinegar, salt, and instructions, it’s a great introduction to the world of spicy sauce making. Who knows? Making hot sauces might turn into your recipient’s new favourite new hobby.
19. Cold Beer Coats
Price: £24.00, Uncommon Goods
Blending fashion and functionality, any beer fan in your life will appreciate these whimsical beer holders. Because of their soft nylon outer shell and metallic fabric lining, these little puffer jackets will keep your tinny cold and your hand warm – ideal for camping or even enjoying a brew on the sofa.
There are a range of styles and colours available. Tyrone Hazen, the designer, also sells parka, high-vis vest, and hoodie versions, so you can pick one to match the style of your loved one.
So they can use their brand new present right away, why not pair these beer holders with a craft beer gift set from Beer Hunter?
20. Christmas Macarons
Price: £30.00, Biscuiteers
These macarons from Biscuiteers are an elegant way to spread some Yuletide cheer this Christmas. Featuring festive flavours like gingerbread, chocolate orange, and cranberry and white chocolate, they can make a deliciously indulgent gift for anyone with a sweet tooth.
Biscuiteers will deliver your macarons straight to your recipient’s door – plus, you can include a personal message!
Final thoughts…
From useful kitchen appliances and luxury gift bundles to handy stocking fillers and delicious snacks, we hope this list has given you some inspiration to kickstart your Christmas shopping.
And, for more gift ideas, why not check out our full gift guide, which covers a range of areas – from homeware to kids!
Do you have any other ideas for food and drink gifts this Christmas? We’d love to hear from you in the comments below.