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The 30+ Best Food Gifts From Around The World

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I grew up in a lower middle class family and worked my way through college. So I couldn’t afford to travel internationally much until I was in my thirties.

For me, eating exotic food from around the world served as my first introduction to the culture of India , Morocco , the Middle East , Latin America , the Caribbean , etc.

As I fell in love with traditional dishes from around the world, I became more interested in the music, art, and history of these places.

That ever-expanding interest in cultural exploration is what ultimately led me to become a travel writer, which gave me a chance to try all sorts of wonderful and weird food around the world.

Over 20+ years, I got to break bread in local communities , interview local and internationally known chefs (including Anthony Bourdain ) and explore traditional cultures  on a much deeper level.

Check out our ultimate gourmet’s guide to the Best Food Gifts From Around the World, from monthly food subscription boxes and foodie gift baskets to holiday food gifts and more!

READ MORE : Traditional Food Around the World: 30 Famous Dishes You Can Make at Home

BEST FOOD GIFTS FROM AROUND THE WORLD GUIDE

Baked goods gift baskets, chocolate gift boxes, coffee & tea gift sets, international food gift boxes & baskets, american food gift boxes & baskets.

• Home Chef Food Gifts

1. Maya’s Cookies Fireside Collection & 2. Candy Cane Land

Maya’s Cookies is a black-owned, vegan-friendly cookie company based in San Diego that we discovered a few years ago. They consistently offer great food gifts that touch your heart by reminding you of a different time.

One bite of her fresh-baked delights always takes me back to my childhood. One of the highlights of spending Christmas in Georgia always included the holiday tradition  of making cookies with my mom.

Maya’s new Candy Cane Land cookie collection features 8 cookies packaged in a Deluxe Holiday Tin.

Her Sparkle Sugar and Gingerbread People cookies are vegan-friendly takes on holiday classics, while the Chocolate Peppermint S’mores and Peppermint Bark Bliss offer new twists on flavors you already love. 

We loved her delectable Fireside Collection even more.

It includes 2 of her Cinnamon Bun, Holiday Spice Chocolate Chip, Hot Chocolate S’mores, and Old-Fashioned Molasses cookies, each of which is big enough to share and packed with flavors perfect for snuggling by the fireplace as the Christmas lights dance across the room. 

READ MORE: Lebkuchen Recipe for Homemade German Christmas Cookies

3. Porto’s Bakery & Cafe

Cuba is a country we’ve wanted to visit for years. And as anyone who’s read our stories on Buena Vista Social Club or the Afro-Cuban All-Stars can attest, we are HUGE fans of Cuban culture.

So when we got a chance to sample some of the scrumptious Cuban culinary delights from Porto’s Bakery & Cafe , we literally popped them into the oven almost immediately upon arrival.

Manzanillo-born chef Rosa Porto (who passed away in 2019) founded her LA-based brand back in the ’70s. You can taste generations of Cuban tradition in every bite of her Pastel de Carne (meat pies) and picadillo-stuffed Potato Balls.

All were better than most dishes we’ve had in our favorite Cuban restaurants in Atlanta . But her Refugiados– a light and tangy guava and cheese strudel– are addictive, making it easy to understand why Porto has become a Southern Cali legend.

READ MORE:  25 Fun Christmas Eve Traditions Around the World

4. Tate’s Bake Shop

Mary spent the first 14 years of her life in New York City, which has always been one of my favorite places to spend Christmas in the USA .

So a gift basket from Tate’s Bake Shop is like giving (or receiving) a taste of the Big Apple.

The Long Island shop was founded by Kathleen King in 1980, when she was just 21. Now, 40+ years later, this Hamptons staple has been hailed by The NY Times as “worth putting miles on the odometer.”

Their Southampton Treats Tray is a great foodie gift basket for families, offering a sampling of Tate’s best baked goods as well as 3 bags of their signature cookies. 

All of the baked goods are moist and exquisitely flavorful, but their Pumpkin Pound Cake, Pecan Pie Bars, and Crumb Cake were our favorites.

READ MORE: NYC Christmas Window Displays (A Free DIY Walking Tour)

5. Cream Bakery

One of our favorite “new to us” discoveries, Cream Bakery is a family-owned business based in New Jersey that focuses on the kind of fresh-baked goods your grandma used to make. 

They no preservatives, no artificial flavors of any kind. And yet their individually wrapped desserts remain fresh for up to 4 weeks because their pure ingredients (such as butter rather than margarine) are more shelf stable. 

Cream offers four different flavor combinations, each of which is available in boxes of 8 (for $29) or 16 bars ($56). 

Mary especially loved their  Chocolate Lover’s Gift Set , which included 2 Fudge Brownies, 2 Chocolate Chip Blondies, 2 S’mores Cookies Bars (topped with toasted marshmallows), and 2 Nutella Swirl Bars.

The latter was our favorite, with a delicious chocolate hazelnut ribbon. But all of them were moist, rich, full of flavor, and perfectly sized for post-dinner indulgence. 

READ MORE: 90 Christmas Traditions Around the World (With Fun Christmas Facts)

6. MarieBelle Chocolate Advent Calendar & 7. Venchi Advent Calendar

Advent Calendars make great Christmas gifts if you’re willing to send them a bit before the holiday, but they also make a delightful treat for yourself!

NYC -based brand MarieBelle has an upscale shop in Soho that specializes in artisan bean-to-bar chocolates made with the finest quality cacao beans, with lots of great luxury food gifts for chocolate connoisseurs.

Their limited-edition Chocolate Advent Calendar makes a fantastic Christmas gift, with a gorgeous design that captures the whimsical allure of their holiday storefront.

Inside each compartment you’ll find divinely upscale sweets, ranging from petit chocolate pearls and caramels a chocolate tree, peppermint bark, and much more.

Venchi is an Italian chocolate company founded in Turin by Silviano Venchi back in 1878. They made their name with Nougatine, which blended dark chocolate with chopped, caramelized Piedmont Hazelnuts. 

Their Prestige Advent Calendar is exquisitely designed and contains 31 scrumptious chocolates ranging from Chocoviar and Cremini to terrific Truffles with chocolate mousse, caramel, and hazelnuts inside.

Much like the MarieBelle calendar, it’s a great gift you’ll want to reuse year after year! 

8. Goodnow Farms Chocolate Gold Winners Collection & 9. Sugar Plum Chocolate Bars 

If you’ve got a gourmet chocoholic on your Christmas gift list, chocolate bars are always a great stocking stuffer. But not all chocolate brands are cut from the same cloth, and some are so swanky they deserve ribbons and bows. 

Take the MA-based Goodnow Farms Chocolate. Their ethically sourced, single origin bars have earned more awards than any other North American chocolate maker, and “Best Chocolate in America” honors from Food & Wine . 

The Gold Winners Collection  includes 6 of their most award-winning bars, including 70% dark chocolate bars from Ucayali, Peru and Esmeraldas, Ecuador, and a 77% dark chocolate bar from El Carmen, Nicaragua.

We especially love the “Special Reserve” flavored bars, which include Las Palomas Coffee, Lawley’s Rum, and Putnam Rye Whiskey.

If you’re looking for a more budget-friendly brand, Sugar Plum Chocolates offers a choose-your-own Nostalgic Chocolate Bars 5-Pack at about 1/3 the price of the decidedly upscale Goodnow Farms gift set.

Available flavor options include Peanut Butter & Jelly, Fruity Flakes (with crushed Fruity Pebbles inside), Pancakes & Syrup, and Milk & Cookies (Santa’s favorite).

10. André’s Confiserie Suisse Best Seller Gift Box

Founded in Kansas City MO in 1955 by Master Konditor-Confiseur André Bollier, Andre’s Confiserie Suisse has always been dedicated to classic Swiss chocolate techniques and classic recipes. 

Today the company is run by André’s grandson, Pastry Chef /Chocolatier René Bollier, who apprenticed under his grandfather and father and trained in Switzerland. 

With four different size options ranging in price from $45 to $150, their Best Seller Gift Boxes make a wonderful introduction to the Andre’s Confiserie Suisse line. 

We sampled the $125 Gift Box, which weighs nearly 4 pounds and includes 10 types of chocolate. There are various chocolate-covered almonds, chocolate-covered sea salt caramels, Signature Hot Chocolate, and other standards. 

But our favorites were the Chocolate Hazelnut Butter, KC Whiskey Caramel Bar, Chocolate Orange Peels, and Chocolate Mint Leaves (which taste like a gourmet version of Andes Crème de Menthe). 

READ MORE:  15 Simple Recycled Christmas Card Crafts for Kids

11. Redemption Road Coffee Gift Basket 

Founded in 2015 by Aaron and Jessica Harsch, Redemption Road Coffee’s tagline– “Coffee for the Soul”– reflects the couple’s roots in ministry.

So it’s no surprise that their specialty grade coffee comes from farms that give back to local communities. Whether it’s providing medical care to folks in Malawi or educating kids in Honduras , this is truly a purpose-driven brand. 

Their Large Gift Basket is arguably our favorite coffee gift of 2022. It includes 2 bags of whole bean coffee (one medium roast, one dark), two handcrafted leather mugs, and an African coffee scoop, all packed into a hand-sewn basket made from burlap coffee bags.

Aside from the aesthetic beauty of the coffee gift set, the coffees themselves are exceptional. The single origin Honduras coffee is perfect for chilly winter mornings, with rich notes of nutty chocolate and brown sugar. 

But their single origin Malawi coffee is one of the best coffees we’ve tasted this year, with a rich roast that really brings out the smooth flavor of dark chocolate. It’s a great gift gourmets will savor to the last drop! 

READ MORE: The History & Meaning of 30 Symbols of Christmas

12. Volcanica Coffee Company Gift Box

Giving a gift box of the most popular varietals from Volcanica Coffee  (which imports 150+ exotic coffees from volcanic regions) offers your favorite coffee lover a chance to try flavors from all around the world. 

The box of Estate Coffees we tried included three 16-oz bags– Brazil Yellow Bourbon, Costa Rica Original Tarrazu, and Ethiopian Yirgacheffe. 

The Brazil Yellow Bourbon is grown on the Fazenda Recreio Farm in São Sebastiõ da Grama, with a mild, mellow flavor that has sweet notes of cocoa and praline.

The Costa Rica Original is grown on small farms in the mountains around San Marcos de Tarrazu, boasting rich flavors that include hints of tangy citrus and tropical fruits. 

But their Ethiopian Yirgacheffe was our personal favorite. Grown in southern Ethiopia’s Yirgacheffe region (where wild Arabica originated), this medium-bodied brew is known for its uniquely floral flavors, with acidic notes of blueberry, blackberry, and lemon.

READ MORE: The Best Coffee in the World (A Gourmet’s Guide to 30 Types of Coffee)

13. Pure Origin Coffee Bundle 6-Pack 

The Nevada-based Pure Origin Coffee is focused on empowering coffee farmers around the world by sharing their individual stories of sustainability and community impact . 

Their 6-pack Bundle makes an excellent gift for coffee lovers, allowing them to explore varietals from Africa , Asia , Central America , and South America while using AR technology to learn more about the growers. 

Available in ground or whole bean 10 oz bags, the coffees run the gamut from light to dark roasts, with all purchases benefiting clean water initiatives, improving access to medical care, women’s education, and more. 

All of the Pure Origin Coffees we’ve tried have been impressive, but the dark citrusy notes of the Organic Congo, the smooth caramel flavor of the Honduras, and the rich chocolate of their organic Fair Trade coffee from Sumatra, Indonesia have been our fav0rites. 

Other varietals included in the coffee gift set include offerings from Colombia , Kenya , and Peru . 

READ MORE: 40 Fascinating Christmas Traditions in Mexico

14. Kahwa Coffee- Holiday Coffee 3-Pack

Founded in 2006 by Sarah and Raphael Perrier, the St Petersburg-based Kahwa Coffee has gradually grown into the largest independent coffee roaster in the state of Florida.

The brand really took off in 2008, after world-renowned chef Paul Bocuse selected them for his Epcot restaurant, Chefs de France. Now they have 14 retail locations and more than 800 wholesale customers. 

Tasting the gourmet coffees included in their Holiday Coffee 3-Pack , it’s easy to understand why Kahwa has proven so successful. With high quality beans and an artisanal approach to roasting, every cup is packed with bold flavor!

The gift set includes 12 oz bags of their ever-popular Cubano Espresso Blend (if you like dark roasts, you’ll love it) and Sirocco House Blend (a smooth coffee with notes of cherry and honey). 

But our favorite was their new Winter Wonderland Seasonal Blend. Mixing Central American and Ethiopian beans to create a cozy cup of sweet mocha with a hint of orange, it’s perfect for cold winter mornings. 

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15. Stephen James Curated Coffee Collection Coffee Lover’s Gift Set

Launched by self-proclaimed “coffee geek” Stephen Letourneau in 2022, this Columbus, Ohio-based brand was designed to provide an educational lens for coffee, travel, and wellness experiences.

Letourneau sources responsibly farmed, small batch coffee beans from all around the world, with a focus on single-origin, specialty coffees. 

The Stephen James Curated Coffee Collection is offering a special Coffee Lover’s Gift Set that allows the recipient to taste all 4 of their bold varietals in 3 oz or 12 oz sizes. 

Their delicious Light Roast is a sweet, smooth Arabica from the Kateshi Farm in Zambia, with notes of cranberry and semi-sweet chocolate.

Though we usually prefer darker roasts, we liked it just as much their Medium Roast from the Daterra Farm in Brazil, which features a floral aroma of almond and chocolate. 

We also enjoyed their earthy, rich Dark Roast from Papua New Guinea, which has a strange green color but a wonderfully full-bodied flavor. 

READ MORE: 40 Ways to Celebrate New Year Traditions Around the World

16. Biscayne Coffee

If you’ve read this far, it should be obvious that we love eco-friendly brands with a philanthropic mission of some sort, and the Miami-based Biscayne Coffee is no exception. 

Not only is their Fair Trade coffee certified CCOF organic, but 10% of all sales are donated to the Biscayne Bay Foundation , whose mission is to increase awareness of the health and sustainability of Biscayne Bay. 

Although they do not offer any sort of pre-packaged gift set for Christmas, they do offer 3 different locally-roasted gourmet coffees, as well as coffee mugs, tumblers, and other branded merchandise. 

Their medium roast  Biscayne Single Origin Colombia Coffee was our favorite. Grown on small farms in the San Agustin province of Colombia, it offers rich flavors of caramel, chocolate, and orange. 

We also enjoyed their Biscayne Blend Light Roast, which has notes ranging from apple and citrus to hazelnut, and their Biscayne Blend Dark Roast, with bold notes of caramel, dark chocolate, and raspberry. 

READ MORE: The 20 Best Environmental & Animal Charities for Holiday Donations

17. TEALEAVES Holiday Gift Set & 18. the Pantone Collection Gift Box

I’ve been a diehard coffee lover since I was a teenager, but in recent years I’ve really come to enjoy making my own unique herbal tea blends as a hobby. 

TEALEAVES is a luxury tea brand that has been blending tea for 5-star hotels, chefs, and exclusive brands such as BVLGARI, Cooper Hewitt, and The Ritz Carlton for more than 25 years now.

Their best-selling Pantone Collection Gift Box and new Holiday Gift Set are fantastic food gift ideas, giving the recipient a chance to taste an array of the company’s best upscale teas. 

The gorgeously colorful Pantone Collection features 30 organic tea bags (each of which brews 2 cups), with 10 flavors that range from herbal Chamomile Blossoms, Peppermint, and Vanilla Rooibos to traditional classics like English Breakfast, Earl Grey with Lavender, and Monsoon Chai. 

We also enjoyed the seasonal flavors of the Holiday Gift Set, which includes elegant 40g packages of their Nutcracker (Black tea with notes of hazelnut and vanilla), Sugar Plum Fairy (a sweet Rooibos tea with plum, strawberry, and vanilla flavors), and Chocolate Peppermint Truffle teas.

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19. Ciao Food & Wine Truffle Box

Italy has had a special place in my heart ever since I did a 3-week tour of Italy with the Atlanta Boy Choir , where we sang for Pope John Paul II in the Vatican a few days after I turned 12.

Longtime GGT fans may also know of our fondness for mushrooms. We go foraging for Chanterelles, Oysters, and American Caesars in summer, and started growing mushrooms at home (Shiitakes and Wine Caps) last year. 

So the Truffle Box from Ciao Food and Wine taps into two of our passions and makes an excellent gift for anyone who loves Italy in general and/or truffles in particular. 

Washington-based chef/owner Mark Laska has curated tasty gifts for food lovers including Tiberino Italian One-Pot Risotto with Porcini & White Truffle Oil, Morelli Tagliolini Pasta with Summer Truffle, an exceptional Sottocenere al Tartufo Cheese, Acacia Tartufo Honey, and Marella Classic Tarallini with Olive Oil. 

It all pairs perfectly with a bottle of Vietti Nebbiolo wine from the Barolo area of Italy, and comes with a large canvas tote bag and wine corkscrew.

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20. Taste of Haiti Box- The Premier Box

For unique food gifts, consider a subscription service from Taste of Haiti which offers one-month, 6-month, and 12-month subscriptions, with each box packed with hand-selected, artisanal Haitian flavors.

Although we’ve been close to the island nation on our trips to the Dominican Republic , we’ve never spent any time in Haiti. So we were curious how its food would differ from the dishes we sampled in Cabarete, Puerto Plata , and Punta Cana. 

Their  Premier Box offers a solid introduction to Haitian food that includes a strangely spicy peanut butter, a delightfully tangy grapefruit jam, a small bag of Haitian coffee, a Haitian chocolate bar from Askanya, a bottle of hot sauce, lemongrass tea, cintronnelle tea, and more. 

The only element we didn’t enjoy was the Sweet Coconut Cassava Bread, which tasted a little stale by the time we opened it. But everything else was great, and it comes in a beautifully designed box that is a lovely gift in itself. 

READ MORE: The 20 Best Caribbean Islands to Visit if You Love Nature & Hate Crowds

21. iGourmet Taste of France Collection

This family-owned food gift service was launched in 1997, inspired by a grandfather who imported his favorite European cheeses below the waterline on passenger steamships. 

They’ve since grown into one of the largest online specialty food retailers in the US, specializing in gift baskets (including an exclusive line with Martha Stewart) and Food of the Month Clubs sourced from small to mid-sized artisan food producers.

iGourmet’s Taste of France Collection offers an excellent assortment of French foodie fare that makes it a great gift for the holidays.

It includes two types of charcuterie (air-dried Saucisson Sec Aux Herbes de Provence and dry cured Jambon Sec), cheese (6-month aged Mimolette and Agour Ossau-Iraty AOP, and sharp Buche de Chevre), plus olives, purple fig jam, crispy French waffle crackers, Edmond Fallot Original Dijon Mustard, and several other items. 

READ MORE: 5 Weird Foods the French Consider Delicacies

22. Tropical Fruit Box- Create Your Own Exotic Fruit Box

Know someone who loves trying weird foods from all around the world?

The Cuban-American-owned  Tropical Fruit Box is a fantastic way to explore flavors you’ve never tasted before, with different options for curated variety boxes or “Create Your Own” boxes of fruits from around the world.

Last year their Taste the Exotics Fruit Box introduced us to the green Cherimoya from Chile . Known as the “ice cream fruit” for its sweet, creamy flavor, it was a decadent delight we’d never had a chance to sample during our travels in the country.

This year our 19-pound Create Your Own Exotic Fruit Box also included Tropical Avocado, two kinds of Dragon Fruit (from Florida and Ecuador), Persimmon, and Soursop (which, to us, tastes like a mix of Cheromiya, Banana, and Pineapple). 

It also included the new pink Rosé Pineapple, a beautiful, extra-sweet fruit grown in Costa Rica that took more than 12 years to develop. It’s genetically modified by adding lycopene, which gives tomatoes their natural ruby-red color.

READ MORE: 70 Weird Animals From Around the World

23. Fix & Fogg Build Your Own Selection Box

If I’m being honest, the idea of getting a box of nut butters didn’t seem all that exciting to me at first. But that was before I tasted the award-winning all-natural nut butters from the New Zealand-based Fix & Fogg .

The company just recently began expanding into the U.S. market, offering an impressive array of flavors that are all gluten-free, vegan-friendly, and contain no hydrogenated oils, added sugars, or palm oil  (which is in many “natural” nut butters).

Fix & Fogg’s Build Your Own Selection Box offers 13 different flavors to choose from, with 4 jars in a standard box.

My personal favorites were the Chocolate Hazelnut Butter (which offers all the flavor of Nutella, but with less sugar and ZERO palm oil ) and Peanut Coffee & Maple Butter (3 flavors I love, but would never think to combine in a delicious spread). 

Mary loved their Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter, which was less sweet and more flavorful than you might imagine.

Other intriguing offerings include Smoke & Fire Peanut Butter (with green chile, natural Manuka smoke, and Spanish smoked paprika) and Everything Butter (with hemp, chia, sesame, sunflower, flaxseeds and pumpkin seeds).

READ MORE: How to Avoid Products with Palm Oil

24. CharcutNuvo Holiday Sausage Sampler Gift Set

Speaking of meat, charcuterie- the craft of smoking, curing, salting, or drying of various meats, is one of our favorite foods. It always takes us back to our time in Spain, and picnics on the beach just a few blocks from our hotel. 

CharcutNuvo is a family-owned company based in Denver, Colorado that specializes in gourmet sausage, all of which is perfect for Paleo- and Keto-friendly diets. 

Their Holiday Gift Set is one of many great Variety Packs they offer, giving you (or your gift recipient) a chance to sample 10 items spanning their Natural , Organic , and Wild Game Sausages . 

The set starts with familiar flavors, such as their Organic Breakfast Links, Organic Chicken Apple Sausage, Organic Paleo Beef Andouille, grass-fed Organic Beef Franks, and German Smoked Brats. 

Then it adds gets a little wild, with Bison Wieners, Wild Boar Sausage, Pork Apple Gouda Sausage, and Pork Jalapeño Cheddar Sausage with just the right amount of heat.

And beer-lovers will enjoy Dale’s Pale Ale Sausage, which is made with craft beer from Oskar Blues in Brevard NC . 

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25. Sunnyland Farms Premium Gift Basket & 26. Damn, Man Nuts and Exotic Meats Box

Based in Albany GA, Sunnyland Farms is a 1,760-acre Georgia pecan farm that has been business since 1948. Now run by Larry & Beverly Willson, the family-owned farm still does most things by hand, as they have for generations. 

Their Premium Collection Gift Set is a delightful treat for gourmet nut-lovers.

It includes nearly 2 pounds of salted/toasted Heavenly Mix, 10 Milk Chocolate Pecan Caramel Clusters, and 12 oz each of their Cinnamon Sugar Pecans and Original Orange Frosted Pecans. It sounds like a lot, but you’ll wish there was more!

Damn, Man is less about the family and more about the fellas, offering up hearty collections of salty protein snacks designed for unabashed carnivores. 

Their Nuts & Exotic Meats Box is a walk on the wild side, with Wild Boar Summer Sausage, a Pork & Antelope Stick, a Pork & Alligator Stick, and 2 Mild Beef Sticks offering unconventional game flavors.

Add to that 4 oz portions of kettle-cooked Memphis BBQ Almonds and Texas BBQ Peanuts, and it’s a great food gift for guys who love meat!

READ MORE: The 20 Best Christmas Lights Displays in Georgia

27. Manly Man Co. Best Jerky Tactical X-Mas Stocking

Beef jerky has come a long way since the days when the best you could do at your average neighborhood grocery store was to “snap into a Slim Jim.” 

The hilariously named Manly Man Co. is a Veteran-owned small business that specializes in quirky foodie gifts for him, and this meat-stuffed Christmas stocking is a perfect example. 

It’s an impressive package (“that’s what she said!”) filled with a broad variety of their most popular jerky options.

Though the flavors rotate, each gift set include 7 packs, including cool selections such as South African Peri Peri Grass-fed Biltong, Whiskey Straight Beef Jerky, Sweet & Spicy Jalapeño Bacon Jerky, Citrus IPA Beer Beef Jerky, etc.

The collection also includes a Man Card Beer Bottle Opener, Manly Man Co. Coaster, and personalized leather patch, and it all comes stuffed inside a tactical Christmas stocking (green or tan) that can be personalized for the fella you’re giving it to.

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28.  Hungry Planet Foods

With Impossible Burgers now available at Burger King and Beyond Chicken Nuggets at KFC, the plant-based food revolution is clearly in full swing. 

And you don’t have to be a strict vegetarian or vegan (we’re not) to incorporate a little of these healthier, planet-friendly foods into your diet. 

The folks at Hungry   Planet Foods  are doing their fair share to think outside the box when it comes to plant-based fare, with master chef Ron DeSantis leading the charge with his unique recipes. 

Their expansive range includes an array of flavorful options foodies will love, from plant-based Italian Sausage Meatballs and Crispy Fried Chicken to Pork Gyoza Dumplings and Crabcakes s. 

Not only are these meat-free alternatives better for the planet, but they’re healthier, with more fiber and protein and less calories and fat than other plant-based and animal meat options. They taste so good, you’ll never miss what you’re missing! 

READ MORE: The Best North Georgia Christmas Events

29. Branon Family Maple Orchards’ Maple Specialty Box

The Branon Family Maple Orchards is a 7th generation family business that specializes in producing certified organic Vermont Maple. 

Members of the Vermont Land Trust since 1997, they’ve conserved the land on their family farm in Fairfield VT as well as over 2000 acres in Bakersfield VT.

And in 2016 they were certified as a “ Bird Friendly Sugar Bush” by the Vermont Audubon Society for maintaining a healthy forest ecosystem.

Their Maple Specialty Box offers a great introduction to the broad range of products the family farm produces , and offers fantastic gift ideas for foodies. 

It includes a bottle of Organic Vermont Maple Syrup, Maple Buffalo Sauce, Maple Bourbon Vinegar, Maple BBQ & Grilling Sauce, Maple Vinegar, Maple Chipotle Rub, and Maple Sweet Pepper, all packaged in an attractive gift box.

So it’s a little sweet, a little spicy, and all tasty… not to mention surprising in its diverse usage of a simple syrup. 

READ MORE: The 25 Biggest Forests in the World

30. Johnson’s Popcorn Goin’ Nutty Gift Basket

In my family, giving ginormous tubs of popcorn is a sacred Christmas tradition that dates back to my early childhood. 

But for the Ocean City, New Jersey-based Johnson’s Popcorn , the tradition of tossing hot caramel over giant kernels of popcorn dates back to the 1940s, and has been enjoyed by millions of visitors to the area’s boardwalk in the last 70 years. 

Today, Johnson’s offers 7 different popcorn flavors to choose from, including savory selections such as Butter and Cheddar as well as sweet treats like Peanut Crunch and Chocolate Drizzle (or Salt-n-Sandy for those who want it all). 

The Goin’ Nutty Gift Basket features a 10-oz tub of their classic Peanut Crunch Popcorn, along with containers of their Mixed Nuts, Candied Peanuts, and Honey Roasted Peanuts.

It’s all packaged in their trademark red Johnson’s Popcorn Bowl, making it an attractive gift for any snackers on your holiday shopping list. 

READ MORE: The 20 Best Festivals in the World (World Travel Bucket List)

Gifts For Home Chefs

31. Fab Slab Antibacterial Cutting Boards

Cutting boards are one of those great kitchen items that serve a simple purpose– protecting your counter from slicing and chopping– but can also be a work of art. 

In our house, where almost every piece of decor is made of wood, glass, or other natural materials, the beautiful Antibacterial Cutting Boards from Fab Slab fit in perfectly.

They’re made in Australia from Camphor Laurel trees, which are renewable and naturally anti-bacterial. They’re all hand-crafted from a single slab of kiln-dried wood, so each one has a uniquely gorgeous wooded grain.

They come in an array of shapes and sizes, from cutting boards and paddles to lovely grazing palettes . And though they’re a bit more expensive than your average cutting boards, their quality, durability, and artfulness is worth paying for.

32. CampChef 4-Piece Carving Set

As I write this review, we’re already preparing to brine the turkey, peel the sweet potatoes, and do all the other prep work that will lead us into the big meal on Thanksgiving Day. 

We have lots of fun Thanksgiving traditions , from watching the Macy’s Parade and the National Dog Show to having dinner with our extended family. But this will be the first time in years where we’re hosting the Turkey Day meal at our house. 

This  CampChef 4-Piece Carving Set will definitely come in handy as I prepare to carve the bird myself for the first time in many years. 

Made with stainless steel and Pakkawood handles, the chic set includes a 10-inch chef knife, 7-inch santoku knife, a pair of grill tongs, and a handy carving fork, all rolled up in an attractive waxed canvas knife case.

It’s a sleek, portable gift for home chefs or grill masters.

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33. GSI Outdoors Rakau Knife Set

We’ve been reviewing myriad GSI Outdoors products for years. But we typically associate the brand with hiking essentials and cool camping gear .

While this gorgeous Rakau Knife Set seems like a bit of a departure for GSI, it’s a lovely detour. The wood used in the knife handles is sustainably sourced, as is the compact bamboo cutting board (which has a gutter for draining juices). 

The durable stainless steel set includes 3 knives– a 6″ Santoku blade Chef knife with Granton scallops for thin slicing, a 6″ serrated bread knife, and a 3.5″ paring knife– as well as a knife sharpener, recycled microfiber towel, and a soap bottle. 

The set also comes with sheaths to protect the blades, and a convenient recycled PET cloth case for carrying the kit wherever your adventures may take you.

READ MORE:  The 45+ Best Camping Gifts and Hiking Gifts

34. Nature Bee Wraps’ Bee Lovers Bundle 

We’re always trying to find new ways to reduce waste , lower our carbon footprint , and live more sustainably . 

But it wasn’t until a few years ago that we learned about the advantages of using beeswax wraps to protect leftover foods rather than plastic wrap or foil.

The Bee Lovers Bundle from Nature Bee Wraps  makes a fantastic present for eco-friendly friends and family members.

In addition to a Beeswax Wrap Variety Set and a set of 4 Small Wraps, the stylish gift set also includes a Swedish Dishcloth, reusable Tote Bag, Fire Starter, reusable Produce Bag, a Solid Dishblock soap (lavender and lemongrass), and a No-Tox life scrub brush.

With a collective value of $100+, the gift set is a steal at $65! 

READ MORE: Going Green- 60 Earth Day Tips You Can Use Every Day

 35. African Dream Foods Gift Sets

When most people think of gourmet foods around the world, Africa may not be the first region that springs to mind.

But anyone who’s ever had a South African braai (Afrikaans for barbecue) or a delicious East African stew knows that the continent has a knack for spices, sauces, and meats. 

If you’ve never had the pleasure of traveling to Africa, these gifts for foodies and cooks from African Dream Foods will certainly make you want to go. If you’ve been there multiple times, as we have, they’ll bring back some great travel memories!

Available on Amazon, their Mildest Hot Sauce Gift Pack  features four fantastic sauces, including Southern Braai BBQ Sauce, Sweet Dream Chili Sauce, Jalanasco Fermented Jalapeno Sauce, and a lovely Lemon & Garlic Peri-Peri Sauce. 

Folks who like it hot will love their Spicy Salts & Seasonings with Grinder Variety 4-Pack Gift Box,  with intense flavors including Safari Smoke (with mild paprika), Ghost Pepper, Habanero Chili Salt, and Smoked Chipotle Salt. 

READ MORE:  The 20 Safest Countries in Africa to Visit

36. Skordo Mediterranean Adventures

I first fell in love with Mediterranean food as a child, during my tour of Italy with the Atlanta Boy Choir, and the fondness grew deeper when I worked my way through college at various Italian restaurants. 

But it wasn’t until our food-focused trips to Greece and Spain in 2014 and 2015 that my interest in Mediterranean cuisine became more like an obsession. 

The Greek family behind SKORDO have dedicated their brand to “Empowering the Home Cook,” and their  Mediterranean Adventures Spice Set  makes it easier than ever to prepare delicious Mediterranean meals at home. 

The set includes 1/4-cup jars of authentic spices such as Baharat (a Middle Eastern staple), Cyprus Flaked Salt, Greek Seasoning, Harissa (Morroco), Herbs de Provence, Israeli and Syrian Za’atar, Italian Seasoning, and Tuscan Oil Blend. 

From hummus and baba ghanoush to Greek salads and Tuscan bread, it makes making tasty Mediterranean meals a breeze. 

READ MORE: The Best Places to Visit in Greece in 40 Fantastic Photos

37. The Spice Lab Gourmet Sea Salt Sampler & 38. Fiesta of Flavors

There aren’t many food-related companies from which I’m willing to try just about any product they decide to bring to market. But Spice Lab is the rare exception. 

We first discovered the Fort Lauderdale-based brand back in 2014, and were immediately taken with their innovative design (see: a wooden rack of test tube beakers filled with gourmet spices) and cool sea salt collections. 

Now they’re available in big stores like Costco, but the quality hasn’t declined a smidge. For proof, check out their Gourmet Sea Salt Sampler , which comes in 7- or 11-tube collections that home chefs will adore.

Ours included Cyprus Citron Lemon Salt, Herbs de Provence, Port Wine Salt, Hudson Valley Salt, Tropical Hibiscus Salt, Himalayan Pink Salt, and Smoked Ghost Pepper Salt.

They also have a sensational Fiesta of Flavors Seasoning Collection  for making mouth-watering Mexican food at home. It includes a feisty Fajita Seasoning, a yummy Guacamole Seasoning, a super Street Corn Seasoning, and a tasty Taco Seasoning that also goes great with steak.    –by Bret Love

About the Author

Green Global Travel is the world's #1 independently owned ecotourism website encouraging others to embrace sustainable travel, wildlife conservation, cultural preservation, and going green tips for more sustainable living.

We've been spotlighted in major media outlets such as the BBC, Chicago Tribune, Forbes, The Guardian, Lonely Planet, National Geographic, Travel Channel, Washington Post and others.

Owned by Bret Love (a veteran journalist/photographer) and Mary Gabbett (business manager/videographer), USA Today named us one of the world's Top 5 Travel Blogging Couples. We were also featured in the 2017 National Geographic book, Ultimate Journeys for Two, for which we contributed a chapter on our adventures in Rwanda. Other awards we've won include Best Feature from both the Caribbean Tourism Organization and the Magazine Association of the Southeast.

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Great City Foodie Baskets

Related to:.

It’s undeniable that food and travel go hand-in-hand. And certain cities are inseparable from their signature dish: Cincinnati chili, New York bagels and cheesecake, Memphis BBQ and Chicago-style pizza.

Harry & David Gift Basket

Longtime gourmet gift basket company Harry & David is now offering city-specific gift baskets.

Photo by: Harry & David

Harry & David

Tapping into that food-city association, Oregon-based titans of gourmet food gifts Harry & David  have created some city-specific food baskets perfect for that homesick New Yorker now living in the Midwest or great as a gift for a college student about to set off for his freshman year in Chicago. 

View from the Empire State Building in New York City

Travelers from around the world visit the Empire State Building, making the 103-story trip up to the observation deck. Visit esbnyc.com for tickets and tour hours.

Photo by: NICOLE RIVELLI PHOTOGRAPHIE

NICOLE RIVELLI PHOTOGRAPHIE

I’m always struggling with a little low-grade homesickness for the city where I spent a good chunk of my impressionable post-college youth, so I sampled the NYC basket, which comes with a very rich, New York-style cheesecake, a cute taxi cab cookie, a very nice hunk of absolutely delicious double cream Dutch Hollow Dulcet cheese from Beecher’s Handmade Cheese  in the Flatiron District and sourced directly from the company’s cows who hang outside Albany, New York. The assembled goods aren’t necessarily from notable NYC businesses (so no Zabar’s , Murray’s Cheese or Dean & Deluca ) but are meant more to evoke the spirit of that city’s unforgettable food. There’s also a super-rich, dense Wolferman's chocolate babka, a Napoli applewood smoked salame with Sangiovese wine from the relatively new-school Olli Salumeria . Also in the mix: a cute tea towel printed with the names of notable local landmarks, some Harry & David tiramisu coffee and assorted chocolate-dipped espresso beans.

I suppose if you try the coffee and chocolate-covered coffee beans and cheesecake all at once you might have some approximation of the addled, go-go-go New York state of mind.

The baskets , which launched today, include other great food cities like Chicago (with items like Chicago beef franks), San Francisco (seafood rub and sourdough) and Austin (barbecue sauce and queso, natch).

Even better, 20% of the profits from these baskets goes to food pantries in their respective cities, like the Food Bank for New York City . 

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Moscow food & drink guide: 10 things to try in moscow, russia.

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From hearty dumplings to colourful confectionary, Moscow serves up culinary delights to please a tsar

With the ban on imported ingredients from the EU, Russia has turned to sourcing local produce and reinventing traditional dishes by giving them a fresh twist. The city’s restaurants are very diverse–you’ll find Soviet-themed canteens, glamorous upmarket establishments, and family-owned eateries alike. If you’re ready to sample Russia’s traditional culinary delights, here’s what you should try in Moscow and where to find them.

Dumplings are popular throughout Eastern Europe, but what sets Russia’s version apart is the semi-circular shape and thinness of the dough. Stuffed with minced meat, onion and herbs, pelmeni are enjoyed with melted butter, sour cream, tomato sauce, or vinegar, depending on the restaurant. Muscovites like to keep their dumplings in the freezer, popping them into boiling pots of water for a quick meal as and when desired.

Where to try: Lepim i Varim’s (Prospekt Mira 26/1) mission is “to cook the best dumplings on Earth”, and you’ll need to do a lot of travelling if you want to prove them wrong.

Borshch Moskovsky (Moscow style borscht)

There’s much more to borscht than beetroot. Beloved by the Slavs, this sour soup has spread far and wide across Eastern Europe, adopted to local tastes along the way. When in Moscow, you’ll want to try their version of the dish – expect to spot beef, ham and Vienna sausage pieces in the broth.

Where to try: Grand-Café Dr.Zhivago (Mokhovaya Street 15/1).

Similar to crepes, these traditional Russian pancakes are wafer-thin. They’re made from wheat or buckwheat flour and served either sweet or savoury, with ingredients/additions such as jam, sour cream, butter and caviar. Although they come out of the frying pan round, it’s rare to find them in that shape on your plate. Instead, they’re folded neatly into triangles, squares or simply rolled up.

Where to try: Step into the stylised canteen of Grably (Pyatnitskaya Street 27) for its budget-friendly selection of blinis which includes sweet options, fruity options, meat options, or the classic savoury.

Moscow’s doughnuts are round and can be filled with just about anything sweet, but are always served piping hot and with powdered sugar. These treats are nostalgic for many Russians, as they’re easy to make and common comfort food.

Where to try: Opposite the Ostankino palace (Ostankinskaya Street 1), there’s a little pink house serving these hearty doughnuts in a traditional paper bag.

This staple breakfast porridge is traditionally made of crumbly buckwheat that has been thickened with water or milk and seasoned with butter. It is often served with fried onions, or with sugar and milk.

Where to try: Coffee Piu (Chistoprudny Boulevard 9) is a cute little coffee shop, where kasha is a constant special.

Cabbage soup has been around since the 9th century and is a large part of Russian culture, usually enjoyed in the summertime. This dish can be prepared in a wide variety of ways: with or without meat, with fish, roasting the vegetables beforehand or not.

Where to try: At Matryoshka (Kutuzovsky Avenue 2/1) you’ll find many traditional Russian dishes set among furniture and curiosities with an old-world glamour feel/touch.

Enjoyed as a snack, these large baked or fried buns are typically stuffed with beef but also come with other fillings, like salmon, mashed potatoes, mushrooms, onions and egg, or cabbage. Sweet-based fillings include fruit, jam, or cottage cheese.

Where to try: Skalka (Lavochkina Street)

Once considered an expensive treat, this traditional dessert dates back to the 16th century and is made from baked fruit puree, egg whites, sugar or honey. Available in all colours and fruit flavours, these airy squares of confectionary are like a cross between jellies and marshmallows.

Where to try: Head to Café Pushkin (Tverskoy Boulevard 26). What better place to try this traditional upscale Russian treat than at a restaurant dedicated to style and history?

Think vodka isn’t for you? Try the real deal in Moscow and think again. Specifically, you should seek out local brands like Moskovskaya Osobaya. There’s also etiquette to go along with the experience – snack on pickles while drinking, and if you’re the one pouring the shots, you’re expected to make the toast.

Where to try: Bar Luch (Bol. Pirogovskaya 27) has one of the most impressive selections of drinks in Moscow.

Known as the drink of the 18th century, this sweet liquor is homemade by mixing various fruit and berries with vodka – making for a good vodka-alternative if you’re not a fan of drinking it neat. It can be made with just about any fruit and mixture of sugar, with the most popular flavour being cherries and honey. Nalivka is often served as dessert, with tea, or to accompany sweets.

Where to try: Odessa-Mama (Krivokolennyy Pereulok)

Before you go, check out:

• Moscow Travel Guide
• Russia Travel Guide
• More In Drink

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Danilovsky Market

Danilovsky Market, located in a flat, circular Soviet modernist building, which looks like a kind of retro spaceship, is still a trendsetter. Come here for the best Vietnamese pho soup in Moscow and the famous “rat” burger (which is, in fact, made from nutria meat), as well as fresh produce from Russia’s southern provinces and a small vintage market in one of the annexes.     

Bricket Market

Bricket Market, located on the top floor of the trendy shopping mall Tsvetnoy opened in September 2019. Head to Testa for Neapolitan pizza, Inzhir for innovative desserts and coffee and Ostorozhno, Slon! (Look Out, Elephant!), where an Indian chef cooks traditional thali set meals. There’s an open space in the middle of the market, which is used for public talks. 

Central Market

Central Market is located right across from the station exit at Trubnaya Metro. The sign at the entrance says “1840”, but the building is actually brand new – that date refers to when Muscovites started trading in Trubnaya square. There’s a small delicatessen and fruit and veg market, a couple of coffee shops, and a cider bar. Around 40 different stalls serve dishes from round the world. The market also houses a restaurant, Gorynych , which is devoted to “new Russian” cuisine – traditional food prepared with a modern twist.

Vokrug Sveta

Vokrug Sveta (Around the World) on Nikolskaya St became party central during the FIFA World Cup 2018 as most of the football fans gathered there. As the name suggests, there are stalls with cuisine from all over the world. Head here for Pakistani food, or Canadian poutine – fries with gravy and cheese. This is also a great place to try poke, the Hawaiian seafood and rice dish, which is popular all over Moscow. 

Another food market that is a must-see on any foodie’s tour of Moscow is Depo , so far the largest one in Moscow , hosted in a former tram depot. Depo has a smallish farmers market and more than 70 stalls, where one can sample food from around the world. 

You might also like:

Russia for first-timers: dos and don’ts   Russia's best drinks and where to try them   A guide to the very best shopping in Moscow

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2018 Primetime Emmy & James Beard Award Winner

A History of Moscow in 13 Dishes

Jun 06 2018.

War, hunger, and some of the world’s great doomed social experiments all changed the way that Moscow eats.

Moscow, the European metropolis on Asia’s western flank, has always been a canvas for competing cultures. Its cuisine is no different. The ancient baselines of winter grains, root vegetables, and cabbage acquired scaffolding from both directions: eastern horsemen brought meat on sticks, western craftsmen brought pastries, and courtly French chefs came and drowned it all in cream.

History has a place on the plate here, as well: war, hunger, and some of the world’s great doomed social experiments from Serfdom to Communism to Bandit Capitalism all changed the way that Moscow eats. So in the spirit of all of those grand failures, we—a Russian chef and an American writer—will attempt here to reduce the towering history of this unknowable city to 13 dishes, with some Imperial past but a special emphasis on the more recent decades of culinary paroxysms as Moscow emerged from its Soviet slumber.

Olivier Salad

To visualize the long marriage between French and Russian cuisines, picture Peter the Great, on a diplomatic sojourn to Paris in 1717, a “ stranger to etiquette ”, meeting the 7-year-old boy-king Louis XV and lifting him in the air out of sheer elán. These things were simply not done, and yet, there they were. Peter’s joyful (and often envious) fascination with all things French took hold, among other places, in the kitchen. He brought French chefs back to his palaces, and then the lesser nobility followed suit, and when the first restaurants emerged in Moscow, they also spoke French. The Hermitage Restaurant, which was open from 1864 until history intervened in 1917, had a Francophone Belgian named Lucien Olivier as a chef, and he made a salad that was a perfectly unrestrained combination of French flavors and Russian ingredients: grouse! Veal tongue! Proto-mayonnaise! The ingredients now tend toward the pedestrian—boiled beef, dill pickles, various vegetables all bound with mayonnaise—and it has become a staple of Russian cuisine, especially on New Year’s. And yes, if you’ve ever seen the lonely Ensalada Rusa wilting behind the sneezeguard of a Spanish tapas bar, that is supposed to be a successor to the Olivier. But in Moscow, you should eat Matryoshka ’s version, which is not the original recipe but has some of that imperial richness: crayfish, quail, sturgeon caviar, and remoulade, all under a translucent aspic skirt, for 990₽ ($16).

There’s a type of expression around bottling things—bottled lightning, summer in a jar, etc.—that feels very apt here. What exactly is bottled with vareniye (jam)? A lot more than just fruit. These jams, which tend to be thinner than western varieties—with whole berries or fruit chunks in syrup—are bottled with a lot of Russian identity. There’s the Russian love of countryside. Deep dacha culture of summer cottages and personal orchards. Traditional naturopathy (raspberry vareniye taken with tea will fight fever). And above all, friendship is bottled here— vareniye made from the overabundance of fruit at one’s dacha is the most typical Russian gift, real sharing from real nature, even in the often-cynical heart of Europe’s largest megacity. Visitors who are short on lifelong friendships in Moscow can pick some up fine vareniye at any Lavka Lavka shop (we recommend the delicate young pine cone jam) or, curiously enough, at many Armenian stores.

Borodinsky Bread

The clinical-sounding title of Lev Auerman’s 1935 classic Tekhnologiya Khlebopecheniya ( Bread Baking Technology) doesn’t promise scintillation. But Auerman’s recipe for rye bread changed Russian bread forever. An older legend had it that the bread was baked dark for mourning by a woman widowed in the battle of Borodino in 1812, but the real birth of the bread came from Auerman’s recipes. A modification on sweet, malted Baltic breads, Auerman’s Borodinsky bread was 100% rye and used caraway or anise. The recipe has evolved a bit—today it is 80% rye and 20% wheat high extraction flour and leans more on coriander than caraway. But its flavor profile (sweet, chewy) as well as its characteristic L7 mold —a deep brick of bread—has made it easily identifiable as the traditional, ubiquitous, every-occasion bread of Moscow. You can buy it everywhere, but the Azbuka Vkusa high-end markets have a reliably good sliced version.

Buckwheat Grechka

Look closely at those Russians who have followed their money to live in London, or are vacationing in Cyprus or Antalya. See the slight melancholy that not even cappuccinos or sunshine can erase. It’s not because Russians are gloomy by nature; it’s probably because there is no real grechka outside of Russia and Ukraine, and that is devastating. Buckwheat grain and groats— grechka (or grecha in Saint Petersburg)—are deep in the culture. It’s a wartime memory: May 9 Victory Day celebrations feature military kitchens serving buckwheat like they did at the front. It’s a little slice of Russian history that lies somewhere between oatmeal and couscous. In Moscow, eat it at Dr. Zhivago with milk (180₽/US$2.90) or mushrooms (590₽/US$9.50), and rejoice.

Mimoza Salad

This fantastically expressive egg-and-canned-fish salad is a testament to Soviet ingenuity—it’s the ultimate puzzle to make a drastically limited food chain sparkle—and the universal human thrill of layering foods. The geological creation starts with a base layer of fish, then layers of grated cooked potato, mayonnaise, shredded cheese, grated carrots, sweet onion, diced egg whites and then capped with a brilliant yellow crumble of boiled egg yolk. It sits there on the plate, dazzling like the flowering mimosa tree it is named after. The taste? Well, it’s comfort food. Pick some up to go at any Karavaev Brothers location —the excellent deli chain sells it for 650₽ (US$10.40) a kilo.

It seems odd, almost impossible, to imagine a time in Russia before shashlik. It’s meat on a stick, something that all humans should have had on the menu since at least the time of Prometheus. But shashlik as we know it know—cubes of marinated meat cooked with vegetables over a mangal grill—didn’t really take off in Russia until the early 1900s. And due to a lack of suitable meat in much of the Soviet era (there were no meat cattle herds, only dairy), we’re starting the clock on shashlik in the late Soviet period. Despite its relatively recent (re)appearance, it is now the ubiquitous grill phenomenon of Russia, a welcome ritual of summer.

Much of Russian cuisine has borrowed heavily from Central Asia and further east over the millennia ( pelmeni anyone?), but plov is a striking example of an entire eastern dish making its way directly into Russian households. With the collapse of the Soviet Union and upheaval in many Central Asian Soviet Republics, mass economic migration to Moscow took off in the late 80s and early 90s. Central Asians today are the lifeblood of the Moscow labor force (part of up to 10-12 million Central Asian migrants living in Russia), and plov—rice steamed in stock with meat and vegetables—has jumped from the migrant communities to the homes of Muscovites everywhere. It has developed an unfortunate reputation for being a food that even finicky kids will eat, so there is a lot of harried domestic plov being made. But you can get a fully expressed Uzbek version at Danilovsky Market, online at plov.com , or at Food City—the surf-and-turf Tsukiji of Moscow.

The Big Mac

So many of the difficulties in American-Russian relations come down to one foundational attitude problem: The Americans (that’s half of this writing duo) were incredibly, distressingly smug through the entire fall of the Soviet Union. We mistook Soviet failure for an American victory, and that made all the difference. What does that have to do with a Big Mac? Well, when Russia’s first McDonald’s opened on Pushkinskaya in 1990 and 5000 people turned out to wait in line for the first taste of America, we back home in the states mistook it for culinary and commercial superiority. But there was something more complicated happening: Russians had been denied Western goods for so long and with such force that any outside identity was much-needed oxygen. And the long-term victory, as McDonald’s has continued to thrive in post-Soviet Russia, really belongs to the local franchise, which used higher-quality ingredients than in the U.S. and created a chain that was successful not because of its American identity but because of its Russian modifications. We wouldn’t recommend eating at any McDonald’s, especially not when there is Teremok for your fast-food needs, but having a soda in the original location is one way to sit and ponder the sin of hubris. And to use the free toilet and Wi-Fi.

The crown jewel of Levantine meat preparations, perhaps the single greatest street meat in the world: Shawarma. It first came to Moscow with a shawarma joint across from the Passazh mall, opened in the early 90s by Syrian cooks who dazzled masses with their sizzling, spinning, spiced meat emporium. Lines that stretched into the hundreds of people weren’t uncommon in those heady early days. And even though the original spot closed many years ago, Moscow shawarma only grew from there, mutating into the beast it is today, where you’re likely to find chicken, cabbage, mayo and a thin tomato sauce all combining to make the Levant a distant memory.

Fish Tartare aka Sashimi

One result of the aforementioned American smugness is that the West seemed surprised at how rapidly 1990s Russia assimilated some of the most hardcore capitalist traits, including but not limited to conspicuous consumerism. Moscow’s new elite was very, very good at that. What could be more conspicuous that recreating a restrained, exclusive seafood cuisine from Japan in the chaotic, landlocked megacity of Moscow? The very improbability of high-end sushi and sashimi in Moscow fueled much of its allure, and even though the trends have moved on from sushi, you can still tell the emotional attachment that the oligarch class has to those formative wastes of money. Sumosan restaurant started in Moscow back in 1997 and has since expanded to Monte Carlo and Londongrad , where they serve a dish that they call Fish Tartare, among others, in their restaurants and through their private jet catering service.

Blue Cheese roll

If the early elite sushi restaurants in Moscow were the frivolous edge of a food phenomenon, then Yakitoriya , a chain which started in the late 1990s, democratized it with affordable sushi rolls geared to local tastes. The Blue Cheese Roll, available now on their menu, seems like the apex (or nadir) of the Russianized roll: salmon, smoked eel, cucumber, cream cheese, Blue Cheese sauce. It might not be Jiro’s dream, but a true Russian middle class, one that can work honestly, earn meaningful salaries, and have a freaky sushi roll at the end of the week just like the rest of us—that’s something worthing dreaming for. Blue Cheese Roll, Yakitoriya, 417₽ (US$6.70)

If you’re American, have you ever wondered why tacos took over middle America but sopes remain virtually unknown? It’s curious how a country can assimilate some foods from their neighbors and but remain blissfully ignorant of others. That may explain what took place two years ago in Moscow, when the city seemingly discovered, as if for the first time, the bagged awesomeness that is khinkali , a soup dumpling from Russia’s southern neighbor Georgia. It became very trendy very quickly, and khinkali joints sprouted across Moscow like griby after a rain. But it wasn’t just that dish: what they were serving was a bit of the imagined southern, sybaritic lifestyle of the Caucasus, as promised in restaurant names like Est’ Khinkali Pit Vino ( Eat Khinkali Drink Wine ). Your best bets are at the stately Sakhli , around 100₽ (US$1.60) per soft, fulsome dumpling, or the more modernized Kafe Khinkalnaya on Neglinnaya Street , 100₽ (US$0.80) a dumpling.

We have named burrata—yes, that Italian alchemy of cheese and cream—the Perfect Dish of Moscow 2018, if only because it is the Dish of the Moment, ready to be enjoyed at the height of its faddishness now, and equally ready to be replaced when the city decides to move on. Read Anna Maslovskaya’s masterful breakdown of why—and where—to eat burrata in Moscow.

Top image: Olivier salad with chicken. Photo by: Kvector /Shutterstock

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BRITISH GIFTS TO USA WITH AWARD-WINNING BRITISH FOOD

The luxury gift baskets in this section are available as gifts for USA delivery, and they include UK to USA delivery within their prices.

Every gift to USA is carefully presented in our two gift basket types, which include hand-tied ribbon and personalized gift cards.

Our two food gift basket types are unique, British-themed lidded gift boxes and traditional wicker gift baskets. Both are high quality, recyclable and reusable.

Whether you're looking for a small parcel to USA or a large Christmas gift basket to USA, we can help by offering delivery by a competitively priced courier to the USA.

All food in our hampers to USA is sourced from Britain’s leading artisan producers; most of which are award-winning.

We pride ourselves on quality, and we make sure the presentation, gift basket contents, and efficient delivery service all meet our own high standard.

Browse our USA gifts collection and schedule USA gift delivery for your preferred USA delivery date.

For further information on our gift baskets to USA delivery service, please get in touch with our friendly Customer Experience Team.

The USA gift baskets and gift boxes in this section all include not only USA shipping in their prices, but USA customs fees are paid by us too.  

This means that it's highly unlikely your gift basket will get delayed at customs, making our USA gift delivery a very efficient process.  

All our USA gifts and luxury baskets are designed to get through customs smoothly – i.e. they don't contain items that are likely to cause delay. As we send our gift baskets to USA on a DDP (delivery duties paid) basis, they almost always pass through customs quickly.  

Every parcel to the USA that we ship is also on a tracked USA courier delivery service, so you can track your gifts to USA from dispatch to signed delivery.  

Our standard USA gift delivery only takes 3-5 days.  

So if you're looking to send gifts to USA, we're your guys!

We send all our gifts to USA on an express, tracked service. We give a 5 day international gift basket delivery to USA, however, gifts often arrive sooner than that.  

At the checkout, you’ll be shown the earliest  delivered by  date to the USA. You can choose this, or you can choose a future USA gift delivery date if preferred.  

As we offer  delivered by  dates for our international gift delivery, there’s a chance your gift baskets to USA may arrive up to a few days sooner than your chosen date.  

All gift boxes to USA are sent on a tracked service so you’ll be able to monitor gift basket delivery progress from dispatch to delivery. If your gift appears to be arriving on a day that your recipient is not home, you’ll be able to change the delivery date.

No – our international gift delivery includes all customs fees and taxes, meaning there’ll be no additional costs for you or your recipient to pay.  

Furthermore, we’ve designed our British gifts to send abroad carefully so that they only include produce and packaging that is allowed through each gift delivery country’s customs.  

This means we won’t include alcohol in gift baskets to send abroad, nor will we include fresh produce, meat, or any other unsuitable items. This prevents customs delays and additional customs taxes.

If you're looking for a cheap parcel to USA or cheap USA shipping, we offer very competitive rates.  

In this section, our USA gift baskets include gift delivery to USA as well as customs costs. This means there'll be no additional USA shipping costs to pay at any point.  

We also price our gift boxes and gift baskets very fairly from the outset. This means you can rest assured that the gifts to USA you're sending – it's of exceptional value!  

Our USA gift baskets start from around £60.00 including USA shipping and customs fees, and the largest baskets to USA are around £200.00.  

This means you have a great selection of gifts for USA delivery to choose from – so whatever your budget, we can help.  

Even our small gifts to USA are substantial, well filled, and well packaged. This means they travel well and are more likely to be delivered in tip-top shape than a flower delivery to USA for example!  

We're also able to make changes to our luxury food gifts, so you're welcome to get in touch if you'd like to swap any of our British food items, and we'll arrange this for you.

Sending a gift from UK to USA is a brilliant way to show your friends across the pond how brilliant our British food is!  

It's a chance to let them try food that they may not find in the USA, and show them the quality and passion of our artisan British food producers.  

For them, it's something out of the ordinary, which makes a gift to USA an incredibly special gift.  

Plus, they'll be seriously impressed at the efficiency of the UK to USA shipping. They won't have to pay any USA customs fees and the gift box will turn up looking brilliant.  

So, if you're looking to send a parcel to America, make it a British food gift basket USA!

The USA gifts are presented in either our traditional wicker USA gift baskets or our bespoke, British-themed lidded gift boxes.  

Both USA gift types are reusable and recyclable gifts, and we've had quite a few customers tell us they've kept their gift baskets as keepsake boxes!  

Our British food gifts are very carefully hand-packed on-site at Hamper HQ in Lincolnshire, making sure they're smartly presented. We use high-quality paper shred to ensure the produce is well protected and the gift basket will travel safely during UK to USA shipping.  

So if you're looking to send gifts to USA, our USA gift delivery service is highly reliable.  

Every food gift includes a gift card with your message. This is tucked underneath the hand-tied ribbon and will be one of the first things your recipient will see when they open their gift basket in USA.  

Our gift baskets to USA are bursting with luxury food from Britain's leading artisan and independent producers.  

We're proud members of the Guild of Fine Food and we take pride in only picking the best of British produce for our gifts to USA. A huge number of the items in our gift baskets are from award-winning creators – all of which have an interesting back story.  

Whilst we include soft drinks in our USA gifts, such as tea and coffee, we unfortunately can't include alcohol due to customs restrictions. If you're looking for alcohol to USA, you're best searching for a USA gift company that offers a service like Champagne delivery USA.  

Here are some typical items you'll find in our gifts to USA including Christmas gift baskets USA:

• Toffee Waffles from Tregroes Bakery in Wales  
• Cheese Sables from The Pea Green Boat in Edinburgh  
• Traditional Breakfast Tea from The Lincoln Tea & Coffee Company  
• Worcestershire Sauce Crisps from The Yorkshire Crisp Company  
• Apricot and Ginger Cake from the Simply Delicious Cake Co  
• All Butter Shortbread from Teoni's Cookies in Devon.  

Some of our gifts are themed towards a type of food or occasion, whereas other gift baskets are more general and contain a selection of sweet and savory British snacks. Here are some gift types that you'll find in the gifts to USA section:  

• Afternoon tea gift baskets  
• Candy gift baskets  
• Christmas food gift baskets  
• Family baskets and gifts for kids  
• New home gift baskets and homeware gifts  
• Halal gifts, gifts for vegans, and gluten free gifts  
• Traditional gift baskets to USA

60 Useful Road Trip Gifts and Basket Ideas for Travelers in 2023

By: Author Kim Tate

Posted on Published: March 2, 2023

Planning a road trip or know someone who is traveling soon? For travelers that are heading out soon, how about you surprise them with some road trip gifts — perhaps you’ll even make them a road trip gift basket! As someone who has taken dozens of roadtrips, these are some of the best road trip gifts you can pack.

These ideas are also perfect for auction gift baskets – this road trip basket below is one I made for our class school auction!

In this article:

Best Road Trip Gifts Ideas

As someone who has taken a LOT of road trips, here are 60 of my favorite road trip gift ideas! This list has a mix of road trip gifts including road trip essentials, road trip gadgets, games for road trips, unique gifts, and even some ideas for family road trip gifts!

Affiliate links are included in this post so I may earn a small commission if you purchase with my link.

Road Trip Essentials

These items are essentials that will help make a road trip more comfortable, safe, and clean. They make great road trip gifts as they're practical gifts and most have a low price. Many of these can be added to a road trip gift basket to fill in space.

Rand McNally 2022 Large Scale Road Atlas

While we all rely on google maps on our phones these days, there's always a chance you'll lose your coverage while driving. A road atlas helps you navigate to where you need to go if you lose signal for some reason. Rand McNally makes great road atlases, this one is spiral bound with large-scale maps but they also make a traditional staple-bound atlas. A road atlas is one of the best road trip gifts.

If you're staying in one particular state or region, you might consider a paper map for that state that you can just store in your glove compartment versus a whole atlas.

Also, keep in mind that digital maps will probably tell you the best way to go to save time or mileage, but it might not be the most scenic way to go. A road atlas can help you look for scenic drives and routes.

While traveling in the car there's nothing worse than getting something on your hands and not being able to wash them. Wet wipes are a great item to pack as they can be used to wipe up spills and messes -- not just for kids! I recommend buying biodegradable eco-friendly wipes.

Hand Sanitizer

Of course over the past couple of years having hand sanitizer handy has been a big part of traveling. But our family has been packing hand sanitizer on road trips for a while. The 8 oz Purell pump bottles fit well in our van cup holders and is easily accessible for all. It's great for using after stops, after fueling up, and before eating.

Paper Towels

Going along with the keeping things clean theme, a roll of paper towels is a great item to pack for a road trip. These come in handy in a variety of situations, cleaning up messes, wrapping up wet or dirty items, or even cleaning up spills in the car.

Facial Tissues (Kleenex)

Having some facial tissues, aka kleenex on hand is helpful since there's a good chance someone will need to blow their nose at some point. These can also come in handy if you need to use an outhouse or "green latrine" while on the road. These travel packs work well for the car but I know some brands make canister-style facial tissues that are supposed to fit in cup holders, too.

Car Trash Bag

While you can certainly use a plastic shopping bag for this purpose, a car garbage bag can make a great road trip gift. This is the one we use and I love that it has an elastic neck which makes it easy to push trash in, plus it has a rolled velcro bottom that you can simply unroll to empty out the garbage when you get to a large garbage can. Great (cheap) gift for road trip travelers!

5 Organization Tips for Road Trips

Here are some tips for keeping your car clean and organized during a road trip -- which will help everyone enjoy the trip more!

Roadside Emergency Kit

A roadside emergency gift is an excellent road trip gift idea -- especially for teen drivers! You never know when you'll have an issue on the road and one of these items might just help you avoid a serious issue or inconvenience.

5 Steps to Prep Your Car for a Road Trip

And don't forget to make sure your car is road-ready and any car maintenance is up to date. You'll also want to make sure your spare tire is in good condition and ready if you get a flat tire.

Car Battery Booster Pack

While the roadside emergency kit above comes with jumper cables, that relies on having another car available to give you a jump. When you're on the road, a car battery booster pack is a good idea since you can jump your car without relying on the help of strangers.

First Aid Kit

While you should make sure you're covered for serious medical concerns and can access a hospital, minor scrapes can be fixed with a travel first aid kit. Remember some ibuprofen/acetaminophen, stomach chews (Pepto Bismol), allergy pills, and bug bite cream. We've used them all on road trips.

Helpful Tips for What to Pack in a Travel First Aid Kit

If you're traveling as a family, here are some helpful tips for what we pack in our travel first aid kit - many items are useful for traveling with kids!

Odor Eliminator Spray & Air Freshener

Let's face it, long stretches in a car with one or more people are going to lead to some stink. Pack along a bottle of air freshener / odor eliminator to help manage smells while on the road. This is an item that many don't think about packing and so makes a great road trip gift!

Reusable Insulated Water Bottle

Water bottles are great for road trips as they help you stay hydrated and can save you money from buying drinks at every stop. Insulated bottles can also be used for coffee in the morning and water later in the day.

I like to have a bottle that has a flip/slider lid and a straw option as those are the easiest for using while driving in my opinion (versus a screw cap bottle). Just make sure to get a bottle that will fit in most cup holders (like these Simple Modern ones)!

A reuseable water bottle is one of the best travel gifts!

If you're planning a long drive with multiple rest stops along the way, it can be useful to have a simple day bag that you can grab if you leave the car for a hike or even to run into a store. A sling bag like this can even hold smaller tablets and books, plus it has a pocket for a water bottle or umbrella.

Facial Wipes

For long, multi-day road trips, facial wipes can come in handy, especially in the summer. These work for men and women and can be useful in helping you feel refreshed and

Being in the car for a long time can lead to some dry lips, so having some lip balm on hand

There's nothing worse than dry eyes, especially when you're driving! Having some eye drops packed in the car can be a real lifesaver on a long road trip.

Dental Floss Picks

Since eating in the car or on the go is pretty standard for road trips, having some dental floss picks packed can help keep your mouth feeling clean after meals. I also try to buy biodegradable ones so I'm not adding plastic to the landfills.

Another comfort item for road trips is lotion. We like to use a pump bottle, but you can also use a travel-size tube,

Microfiber Cleaning Cloths

These microfiber cloths are especially handy for cleaning eyeglasses and sunglasses. But they can also be used for cleaning mirrors or windows or even the screens of DVD players, phones, and tablets.

Polarized Sunglasses

Driving in bright sunlight can be overwhelming and even dangerous. I have eyes that are sensitive to sunlight and a pair of polarized sunglasses is a huge help for driving during the day. Even people who don't normally drive with sunglasses can find these useful on the open road!

Slip-On Shoes

While these aren't necessarily a road trip gift you can gift someone you don't know well, slip-on shoes are definitely a road trip essential. You'll be making stops often and wearing shoes that tie will slow you down and become an annoyance for taking on and off when you're not driving. Of course, if you're a solo driver, you can wear whatever shoes you want since you won't be taking them off while in the car.

Travel Pillow

If you're going to be a passenger on a long road trip, you'll want to pack a travel pillow. Pillows like this one can be useful for traveling and make great gifts for a road trip passenger.

5 Reviews for the Best Travel Pillow

Check out my reviews for these different travel pillows.

Travel Blanket

Another road trip cozy item is a small travel blanket. This is useful for passengers if one person wants to keep the car at a cooler temp than others prefer. I also think being cozy makes it easier to fall asleep. This blanket also makes a great filling item for a road trip gift basket.

Travel Towel

If you're making stops along water and beaches, a travel towel can come in handy. We've stopped at roadside beach pull-outs and have always appreciated having a towel to dry off our legs and feet after taking a little walk in the waves.

Picnic & Outdoor Blanket

Planning some picnics or beach stops along the way? One of these fold-up picnic blankets is one of the best gifts for road trippers who like to enjoy nature along the way.

Reliefband Anti-Nausea Wristband

Keep in mind if anyone suffers from motion sickness while traveling. If so, be sure to pack some items to help with that. You can use medicine like Bonine, essential oils, ginger candies, or a Reliefband tech bracelet that uses electricity to help combat motion sickness.

Car Road Trip Accessories & Gadgets

For techy travelers, many of these road trip accessories and gadgets will seem like essential items! I'm making them their own category as they do offer some convenience and will certainly help plugged-in travelers stay connected while on the open road.

Car Power Inverter USB Charger

So many of us have electronics that will need to be kept charged during a long road trip. This power inverter also allows you to charge larger electronics like a laptop, in addition to having multiple USB ports for everyone to be able to charge their device. Great gift for a road trip with friends or family!

Portable Cooler Refrigerator

For road trippers that want to save money and eat on the road, a portable refrigerator that hooks to a car 12V outlet works great. It keeps food and drinks cool to enjoy later on the trip. This one comes with an AC plug too, so you can bring it in to plug in your hotel room.

We all know that driving can be dangerous, and these days proving who is at fault during an accident can come down to who has proof. A dash cam like this can help you prove what happened if something does go wrong while you're on a trip. (note, some US states do not allow you to mount dashcams to windshields, only dashboards)

If you're an Alexa-loving road tripper, consider "teching out" your car with one of these Echo Auto devices. You'll be able to go hands-free to play music, listen to audiobooks, and even play Alexa games.

Kindle Paperwhite

For travelers who love to read, having a Kindle can be a great gift idea. And for road trips, the glare-free Kindle Paperwhite is perfect for in the car. You can even get them with a trial for Kindle Unlimited which is a great service for avid readers!

Car Charger Phone Vent Mount

We love having this car mount in all our cars and I love that it charges my phone, too. Fits most phones and vents.

Handsfree Bluetooth FM Transmitter

If you or your friends have an older car, they might want one of these Bluetooth transmitters that let them connect their phones to their car through an FM radio station. Great for allowing you stream your favorite playlists and audiobooks from your phone to your car sound system.

If you like to keep your car clean while traveling, having a car vacuum on hand can be useful. This one plugs into a 12V outlet in the car and can help keep crumbs and dirt at bay. Make a great road trip gift!

Portable HEPA Air Purifier/Deodorizer

Since most road trips involve fast food and eating in the car, it's no surprise that your car can start to stink. This car gadget works to clean, purify, and deodorize the air. No more coming out to a car that smells like french fries from the day before!

Digital Tire Pressure Gauge

This handy road trip accessory gadget helps you check your tire pressure. It's always a good idea to drive with proper inflation and know if you might have a leak so you can get it fixed quickly!

Car Trunk Organizer

Here's another handy organization item that makes a great gift for road trips! Help your best friend keep things in order with a hanging trunk organizer. This one is great for vans and SUVs, but you can get sedan-sized organizers that work well for cars.

Car Window Shade

If you're buying a road trip gift for a group or someone who is traveling as a group, these car window shades can be useful. Often they're used by families for babies, but they work well for any passengers that don't want the sun beating down on them while they watch movies or sleep.

Cleaning Gel for Car

Here's another fun road trip accessory that makes for an affordable gift. This cleaning gel (aka slime) will seep into tight crevices and pick up rogue crumbs that a vacuum just can't quite reach.

Family Road Trip Gift Basket Ideas

Here are some great family road trip gift ideas that are perfect if you're shopping for someone who will be road-tripping with kids! These road trip gift basket items will keep the kids entertained and comfortable on the open road.

Road Trip Travel Games Gift Box

Here's a fun set of road trip games and activities for kids and it's already packaged together, making it ideal for adding to a family road trip gift basket!

Kids Travel Tray with Dry Erase Board

This travel tray can be a lifesaver for traveling families. Kids will have a surface to help them draw and eat, plus handy storage pockets for keeping their toys and activities from falling in between the seats!

Backseat Car Organizer with iPad Holder

If the kids are planning to watch some movies or shows on a tablet during the road trip, having a hanging pocket or mount can come in handy. This seat organizer serves that purpose as well as offering pockets for storing away other items.

Car Seat Organizer with Cup Holders

If you don't like the backseat mounted organizers, these organizers can sit in the middle seat next to kids to give them easy access to toys and snacks. Plus this one has cup holders!

Car Seat Headrest Pillows

One of the best ways kids can stay happy on a road trip is by sleeping, whether you're talking toddlers or teens. This neat road trip headrest gadget creates a cushioned rest for kids or adults to lean against which supports their heads.

Printable Road Trip Games for Kids - License Plate, Bingo, I Spy...

Check out my post with free printable road trip activities!

Shotgun! The Hilarious Family Card Game for Road Trips

Here's a fun road trip game perfect for grade school and teen-aged kids. Adults can even play along. This game is sure to bring laughs and great family memories!

Hidden Pictures Book Set

These are classics and I remember loving them when I was a kid. This pack of hidden picture books will keep kids entertained in the car and give parents a bit of peace and quiet while they search. :)

Free Printable Road Trip Scavenger Hunt for Kids

Print off this fun road trip scavenger hunt.

These are fun sensory toys for kids, letting them use their imagination to craft and build. They're fairly mess-free although you likely don't want to leave them in the hot sun as they're coated in wax to allow molding.

Crayola Color Wonder Mess Free

The Crayola Color Wonder Mess-Free art sets are perfect for traveling kids. The markers only work on the special paper, so no worries about marker messes on your car, and no stress about melting crayons!

Kids Travel Bag Activities to Pack for Vacation

Here are some fun travel activities kids can bring on the road.

Road Trip Activities and Travel Journal

This fun book is packed full of road trip games and activities for traveling kids. Great gift for kids who are writing.

LCD Writing Tablet for Kids

This brings back some memories of etch-a-sketch for me! Kids can draw whatever they want and then at the push of a button the screen is clear and ready for a new design. The name-brand version of this toy is Boogie Board in case you want to avoid the "knock-off" versions.

Dramamine Motion Sickness for Kids

If you're buying a road trip gift for a family who hasn't traveled much with their kids, adding these kids' motion sickness tablets could be a lifesaver.

Road Trip Gift Cards & Memberships

Another great idea for road trip gifts is to give travel lovers gift cards or memberships that will be useful on the road.

Roadtrippers Plus

One of my favorite tools I used on a recent road trip was Roadtrippers. It's a road trip planning app that helps you find great spots to see and things to do along your route. It even includes reviews and photos from fellow travelers. It's a perfect road trip gift!

National Parks Pass

If the road trip will be heading past national parks in the US, giving the gift of a National Parks Pass ($80) can be a great idea. Plus, there are even ways people can get a parks pass for free!

Audible Membership

Audiobooks are great to listen to on road trips, and a gifted membership to Audible will help road trippers stay entertained and maybe even learn something new while on the road.

AAA Membership

AAA is the leader in roadside assistance memberships, so a membership for their service can make a great gift. Many hotels also offer a AAA discount on hotel rooms which could help a traveler save money!

Gas Gift Cards

Buying a gift card for gas can be a bit tricky as you might not know what gas stations will be popular on the road trip route. However it's a fun gift idea with a definite road trip theme, so even a small amount to a local area gas station can get used.

Road Trip Snacks

Lastly, there’s nothing quite like snacks to help make a road trip great! Read my full list of road trip snacks , but these are a few of my favorites that make great gifts for a road trip gift basket!

• Fruit Leathers/Snacks
• Granola Bars
• Rice Krispie Treats
• Animal Crackers

I hope this list has been helpful. Many of these road trip gifts are a great way to prepare travel lovers for their upcoming trip while also providing useful gifts that they might not have thought of! Let me know if you have any other gift ideas I didn’t list.

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Holiday Central

Holiday gift guide.

• New Year's
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50 Bountiful Gift Baskets of Food We Actually Want to Eat

Give the gift of deliciousness!

Related To:

Gift baskets have a bad reputation as an impersonal gift. It’s too bad because gift baskets can make great gifts if they are made and selected thoughtfully. We searched the market to find the most quality gift baskets out there out of the thousands to choose from to make sure you don’t send a basket full of stale crackers and some kind of weird jam. No matter whether you’re shopping for your best friend or a random coworker , there’s a great gift basket on this list that is the perfect choice for this holiday season.

Season's Best Snack Gift Basket

Harry & David is our go-to for the ultimate holiday gift basket. This one is perfect for the whole family. It's filled with sweet and savory snacks to satisfy all the tastebuds.

Tower of Treats® Signature Holiday Gift

Need a toughtful coworker gift? This treat tower is just the thing. Packed up in keepsake boxes, this is sure to make any team member merry.

Ghirardelli All that Glitters Bin

Treat the chocolate lovers in your life to this Ghirardelli bin filled with hot chocolate, snacks and more. Plus, you'll love the affordable price tag.

Fireside Holiday Fruit Basket

For those who focus on their health even during the holiday season, a fruit basket is the ideal gift, This one comes with an assortment of fresh, seasonal fruit, plus some extra goodies for those with a sweeter tooth.

Wintertime Tote Gift

Know someone who's entertaining out of town guests? This breakfast tote will be much appreciated when they have to feed a crowd on Christmas morning.

Red Plaid Bakery Basket

This abundant bakery basket is a thoughtful two-for-one. The baked goods and jam are sure to be a hit, and the cloth basket is the gift they can use for holidays to come.

World Coffee Tour

Take a coffee tour of the world with this set that offers a handpicked selection of the globe's finest microlot coffees. With its expert curation, detailed tasting notes, and brewing advice, this gift provides an unmatched coffee-tasting experience, making it the ideal present for discerning coffee aficionados.

Maui Fruit Jewels

Send love to Maui with this quality box of chewy candies. Featuring 18 different flavors from lilikoi (passionfruit) to papaya to Maui sweet pineapple wine.

New England Breakfast Gift

The best gift boxes deliver not just tasty treats, but a special experience as well. This box contains pancake and waffle mix, Maine maple syrup, blueberry jam, cinnamon bun mix, and a bag of ground coffee — basically everything you need for a decadent breakfast.

Chicago Essentials Collection

Whether your giftee left their heart in the Windy City or are just looking to take a taste vacation there, this box comes with some of Chicago’s best culinary exports. While it would be hart to put an Italian beef sandwich in a box, there are jars of hot giardiniera, sport peppers, and Chicago sauce, as well as spicy sopressata, Baye’s Mix popcorn, chocolate shortbread, and celery salt.

All Cooked Up

All chefs know that a well-stocked pantry can mean the difference between whipping up a killer meal and pulling up the delivery app. This box has artisans ingredients from a variety of small-batch makers, like Sfoglini saffron pasta, Wilder Condiments sweet & hot mustard, Mr. Bing chili crisp, and Korean gochujang sauce.

The Luminous Capsule

Brightland has made big waves in the olive oil market for the artfully designed bottles that double as kitchen decor (and the olive oil inside isn’t too shabby either). This capsule has a few of this brand’s favorite items like a raw champagne vinegar, California orange blossom honey, and an Arbequina olive oil with a brushed gold spout for easy pouring.

Ultimate Rub Collection

It can be so easy to get stuck in a cooking rut, using the same spices that are familiar and comfortable. A box of 12 mixed spices and rubs (each in convenient 1-ounce jars) can be just the thing to help open up your culinary world.

Make Your Own Madagascar Vanilla Kit

Even though nothing in this box is ready-to-eat as it comes, it can unlock a future of delicious, vanilla-scented flavor. This kit comes with almost everything you need to make delicious homemade vanilla extract, including premium Madagascar vanilla beans.

Holiday Assorted Cookies

A box of Christmas cookies is a guaranteed crowd pleaser, but who has time to bake and decorate all those confections? The holiday cookie box from Williams-Sonoma comes with 27 festive cookies in various merry shapes and colors.

We all love to grab a nice matcha on the go, but that leaves a lot to be desired when it comes to the ceremony of making the perfect matcha tea. This kit guides you through the time-honored method and includes the necessary tools: a bamboo whisk and measuring spoon and a handblown double-walled glass bowl.

Ciccetti Cheese & Charcuterie Board

Gift boxes full of cheese, crackers, and charcuterie are nothing new but Boarderie’s appeal is that their boxes arrive fully assembled and ready to eat. The box is assembled by chefs and sealed for freshness with all cheeses and meats sliced for immediate snacking.

Female Founders Food Collection

Some of the best chefs and culinary leaders around the world are women. Celebrate these fiercely creative culinarians with this food collection that contains things like the OG granola from Stellar Granola and a jar of green and yellow heirloom tomatoes from Tomato Bliss, a woman-owned company based in Michigan.

Tortilla Starter Kit

What’s the old adage about teaching a man to fish? Teach one of your friends how to make handmade tortillas with this awesome gift box that contains heirloom corn masa (one each of blue and white) as well as a cute tortilla press.

British Snack Food Gift Box

The Brits are known for their love of tea, and no tea time would be complete without an accompanying snack. This snack box from World Market is full of the best snacks the UK has to offer, like shortbread and digestive biscuits.

Taste of California Tote

Who says a gift basket has to be in a basket? Why not a more useful and attractive tote? This gift basket offers tasty treats like coffee, nuts, and jerky (all made in California) wrapped up in a US-made canvas market tote that’s perfect for farmer’s market hauls.

Beignet in a Box

Louisiana-based gift basket company The Basketry has been crafting great gift baskets for years. This box is like a taste of New Orleans, including beignet mix from the famous Cafe Du Monde.

Gourmet Soft Pretzel Gift Box

Who doesn’t love a fresh soft pretzel? This gift box by Eastern Standard Provisions comes with a variety of fluffy, delicious pretzels as well as hand crafted salts for topping.

Katz's Reuben Package

You don’t need to book a flight to New York City to enjoy a Reuben from this Manhattan landmark. With everything you need to make four full sandwiches (plus you’ll have some leftover ingredients to make your own creations).

California Citrus Crate

This gift box comes with 10lbs of the best citrus available at the Santa Monica Farmer’s Market. You can also add on a bottle of wine (if you live in certain, select states).

Bacon Lover's Gift Basket

Featuring five different types of bacon, plus a couple of bacon scones and a bacon cheddar spread, this bacon lover’s gift basket is good for bacon enthusiasts and casual admirers alike.

Adopt An Olive Tree Gift Box

For the person who has everything, consider this olive-centric gift box featuring a 3L jug of olive oil from a small family farm in Puglia, Italy, as well as a handmade ceramic refillable olive oil carafe. Along with this physical gift is also a symbolic adoption of an olive tree from the same grove as the jug and information about the farm and farmer.

Wine and Gourmet Snack Pack

Wine gift baskets can feel dated, but this snack pack by Maker is full of tasty snacks by women-owned business to pair with the thoughtfully sourced wines. Each pack comes with 2 cans (about 2 glasses) each of sparkling sauvignon blanc, rosé, and zinfandel.

Sunshine In A Box

A great gift can be like a ray of sunshine in the middle of a cold winter. The Sunshine In A Box from small-batch gift basket company Mouth is exactly such a gift, with cheerful and bright snacks from artisans and quality makers.

The Chef's Kiss

LA-based Flamingo Estate offers flowers, bath products, and ingredients all sourced directly from the property. The Chef’s Kiss gift box has winter-harvested extra virgin olive oil, biointensive wildflower honey, and dark chocolate studded with black mission fig, orchard rosemary, and ginger.

Manhattan Fruitier Fruit, Confection And Snacks Gift Tower

The gorgeous gift tower from Williams-Sonoma is almost too pretty to eat. It features a tier of gift boxes filled with snacks like milk chocolate-covered pear, dried pineapple, lemon pepper corn nuts, and toffee pretzels.

The Milk Bar Sampler

Christina Tosi’s famous Milk Bar sells all their most popular treats in a sampler pack. It’s got all the good stuff from B’Day Cake Truffles to a slice of Milk Bar pie.

Pacific Pantry Gift Set

The Pacific Pantry box from Knack is a taste of the Pacific Northwest and comes full of tasty treats from the West coast, including Stumptown coffee, preserved quince, and smoked salmon.

Ultimate Baking Gift Set by Food52

Expert and novice bakers alike will love this quality gift box by Food52 has an assortment of essential baking tools and an apron with built-in pot holders.

The Diversion

Unless you’re lactose intolerant, you would have a hard time finding something not to like about this awesome gift box from Jasper Hill, featuring all their best cheese plus preserves and a set of cheese knives.

Maine Lobster Roll Kit, 4-Pack

It used to be that you had to travel to Maine to have a lobster roll from the famed McLoon’s Lobster Shack. Now, thanks to Goldbelly, you can send a gift basket with all the ingredients needed to recreate these legendary rolls at home.

Farmstead Pantry Box

If you’re lucky enough to be able to get away for a luxurious long weekend at Blackberry Farm, you’ll probably be sample most of these items during meals. If you can’t, you can get the next best thing with this pantry box featuring the best the property has to offer.

Brunch Gift Basket

If you can’t be there in person to serve breakfast in bed, you can do the next best thing and gift this brunch basket which features everything you need for a luxurious morning.

Movie Night Gift Basket

The Movie Night gift basket from Palisades Canyon has everything you need for a fun movie night in with friends or family. It has both snacks and games, but the best part is the fun memories you’ll make.

Hand-Pulled Noodle Kit

Great, artisanal, hand-pulled noodles can be hard to find. With this gift box, there’s everything you need to master this complex cooking technique.

Pizza Night Box

This fun gift set provides an immersive culinary experience, perfectly tailored for foodies with its handpicked pizza-making essentials, from a chic wooden pizza cutter to gourmet spices and sauce. The detailed recipe book makes it a memorable gift that goes beyond the ordinary, turning a simple gift into a memorable evening.

This pasta starter kit combines the authenticity of Italian culinary traditions with the delight of gourmet exploration, making it a great gift for food lovers. The set includes artisan dried pasta, extra virgin olive oil, and a few premium sauces, like tomato sauce with ricotta and pecorino cheese.

Classic Gift Set

The warmth and brightness of the holiday season is easily giftable with this gift box from Valerie Confections. The set includes the famous hot chocolate mix, a seasonal jam, assorted toffees, and chocolate bars.

Sweet Treat Box

Sure, anyone can pick up some fruit at their local grocery store. But this box comes with a mix of exotic fruits not likely found in your average fruit aisle. It also comes with a bonus bag of freeze dried topical fruit and a fun sticker sheet.

Sea Salt & Vanilla Farm Box

Not all gift boxes have to break the bank. This affordable box could make a great addition to another gift, or stand on its own. The box is filled with the farm’s famous goat milk caramels, which won two awards at the Fancy Food Show.

Solo Fish Box

Tinned fish has been trending lately, but it can be hard to know which ones to try. This box comes with a tasty selection that begs you to sample. Inside you can find smoked salmon in extra virgin olive oil, freshwater smoked trout with juniper and lemon thyme, and hake in green sauce, among others.

Peanut Butter Lovers Gift Box

A box of gorgeous hand-painted chocolates never fails to make a great gift for the person who has everything. This box has all the best peanut butter flavors that Norman Love has to offer: PB&J, peanut butter cup, and peanut butter marshmallow.

Kitchen Companion Gift Crate

A few luxurious handmade pantry ingredients can be the gift that keeps on giving as the recipient uses them throughout the year to add flavor to dishes of all kinds. This essential box from Kerber’s Farm features extra virgin olive oil, balsamic vinegar, fig jam, and a sea alt blend from Kerber’s Farm on Long Island, New York.

Flavor Bomb Gift Box

Exotic food fans will love this gift box that features specialty condiments and sauces from all corners of the globe. There’s a hot sauce by Zab’s, Umami Dashi soy sauce from Cabo, a spice and herb oil by Paro, and a spicy cherry tomato arrabbiata sauce.

Box of Macarons

A box of 18 macarons from Ladurée offers the elegance and sophistication of Parisian patisserie. Their delicate flavors, vibrant colors, and melt-in-your-mouth texture make them a delightful Christmas treat for anyone in your life.

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Special Local Gifts for Every Occasion!

Bites of Boston Boxes

Local Boston Brands. Delivered.

Gift Boxes That Give Back

We are a small, local food tour company with a mission to help urban explorers experience Boston through the lens of local food. Our core values have always included supporting small businesses in our community, so when circumstances surrounding COVID-19 prevented us from offering our tours, we pivoted to find a quarantine-friendly way to continue to support and showcase local business.

Our very first Bites of Boston Box was born of the realization that small businesses really needed support, and everyone could benefit from a little self care as we all weathered 2020 together. We set out to find a way to deliver both, and a very special collaboration with 8 fellow Boston Lady Bosses led to the creation of our very first Bites Box.

We have kept this passion project going ever since, and now have many local gift boxes with fun themes to choose from. We are continually cultivating the relationships that first bloomed in 2020, and we look forward to introducing more creative gift boxes and local makers for the forseeable future!

What will you find in our boxes?

A thoughtful themed collection of products from local makers, a mix of edible items and handmade products for bath, body & home, story cards with fun facts and stories about each item and local maker (this is what makes our gift boxes so locally unique and special).

Featured Gift Box: Boston in Bloom Gift Box

Spring has not sprung yet, but it's right around the corner! This box is a sweet reminder of the beauty of Boston in full bloom, and each item incorporates flowers in a unique and delightful way.

Cheers to Spring!

Don't take our word for it!

Check out these reviews from customers who loved their Bites of Boston gift boxes:

I sent this as a care package to a friend and she loved it! I would absolutely order again! Kat on the Black-Owned Boston Gift Box

My recipient loved this gift! I would definitely purchase again because of the speedy delivery. Thank you so much! Casey on the "Beantown" Coffee Lovers Box

These items are beautifully packaged and are going to make a great gift box for a family friend. I especially appreciate the enclosed information on the products and the makers Zei on the Black-Owned Boston Gift Box

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• Holidays & Occasions

The 10 Best Gift Baskets Of 2024, Tested And Reviewed

We tested 26 gift baskets, including cheese, chocolate, and fruit baskets.

In This Article

Jump to a Section

• Our top picks

The Bottom Line

Our testing process.

• Tips for Choosing
• Questions and Answers

Why Trust Southern Living

Southern Living

Gift baskets not only show how much you care, but can be customized to fit whatever snacks, treats, or foods that the recipient likes. Whether you’re shopping for a holiday, birthday, or special occasion, a gift basket is always a great gift.

According to etiquette expert Diane Gottsman , “A gift basket, filled with wonderful treats, favorite food, and an unexpected surprise, is always a welcome gift.” But with so many retailers and types of gift baskets, it can be difficult to decide the kind of gift basket to send to someone. 

To help you select the best gift basket, we put 26 popular options to the test. We paid attention to every part of the process, including ordering and delivery, and evaluated each basket on its variety, freshness, presentation, and size. Our top picks cover a whole range of categories, including fruits, chocolates, ice cream, and more.

Callie's Hot Little Biscuit Share the Love Basket

Callie's Hot Little Biscuit

• Presentation 4.5 /5
• Variety 5 /5
• Freshness of Items 5 /5
• Value 4.5 /5
• Delivery 5 /5

The biscuits arrive frozen, so the recipient can take their time enjoying them.

It doesn’t feel very “gifty”.

Aptly named the Share the Love Basket, this breakfast-focused option contains 18 biscuits and a container of pimento cheese. The variety includes six of Callie’s best-selling flavors: buttermilk, cinnamon, and cheese and chive. This type of gift basket is perfect for families and other large groups and stands out since it’s a bit unusual compared to other gift baskets. Since the biscuits arrive frozen, the recipient can make a few at a time to make the gift last longer. 

We thought that all the biscuits tasted delicious, with a delightfully crumbly texture. They tasted like something you’d find at a Southern-style restaurant, and the pimento cheese tasted better than options you’d find at a typical grocery store. All in all, we highly recommend this gift basket if you want to share a taste of the South.

Southern Living / Emma Phelps

Shari's Berries Distinctive Fruit Basket & Sweets Gift Grande

Shari's Berries

• Presentation 5 /5

The presentation is flawless.

It includes a lot of decoration, which may feel excessive to some people.

If you’re looking for a classic fruit basket, you can’t beat this one from Shari’s Berries. Inside, there are oranges, apples, pears, and chocolate-covered cherries, as well as sweets like chocolate chip cookies and saltwater taffy. We found that everything, including the candies, tasted fresh and delicious. We liked that it was visually appealing as well. We ordered the Grande size, which is the largest and most expensive, but it’s also available in standard and deluxe sizes. Since there’s so much fruit in the basket, they will need to have enough space in the refrigerator to keep everything fresh. Just keep in mind that since it includes a lot of decorative materials, be prepared for cleanup to take a while.

Southern Living / Daniela Galvez

Recchiuti Black Box 16

Recchiuti 

The flavors are unique and delicious, and each chocolate is beautifully decorated.

It’s expensive for 16 chocolates.

Although not technically a gift basket, this box of chocolates is definitely a worthy gift. It includes 16 pieces of handmade chocolate (although you can also buy boxes of 32 or 88 if you want even more), so it’s perfect for 1-2 people. After one bite, these chocolates quickly became our favorite. From the unique flavors to the eye-catching designs, this box of chocolates is clearly superior to store-bought ones. Even those who aren’t very adventurous with their palate will enjoy this box, which includes flavors like hazelnut, sesame nougat, lavender vanilla, and peppermint. Even though the company ships the chocolate with an ice pack, the recipient will need to be at home to get the box, or the chocolates could melt on the doorstep.    

Southern Living / Nicole Lund

Di Bruno Bros. Abbondanza Gift Box

Di Bruno Bros. 

• Presentation 4.8 /5
• Variety 4.8 /5
• Freshness of Items 4.8 /5

It comes with everything needed to create a unique charcuterie board.

We would have preferred it to come with one more cheese.

While it’s fun to put together a charcuterie board with your friends, sometimes it’s easier to purchase one online. The Abbondanza Gift Box from Di Bruno Bros. contains everything they need for a wine and cheese night: aged cheddar, cheese spread, salami, jam, candied nuts, caramels, crostini crackers, and other delicious treats and snacks. 

Since this gift basket has refrigerated items, the company includes ice packs to keep everything fresh. As soon as we opened the box, we saw that none of the products had been damaged or partially opened, and we appreciated the overall presentation. Everything was high-quality and gourmet, and we think it’s a great option for a hostess. The only thing we would improve is adding another block of hard cheese or another type of cheese spread to complete the assortment. 

Salt and Straw The Best Sellers Pack

Salt and Straw

• Presentation 4.7 /5
• Variety 4.3 /5
• Freshness of Items 4.9 /5

All the ice creams arrived totally frozen.

There aren’t any fruity flavors included.

One of the best ways to treat someone you love? Gift them five pints of Salt & Straw ice cream. This sweet gift set includes the brand’s classic best-sellers: sea salt and caramel, vanilla, mint chocolate chip, chocolate brownie, and cookie dough. We discovered that these flavors complemented each other really well, although we would have liked to try a fruity-flavored one as well. In terms of delivery, we were impressed that the ice cream arrived totally frozen with zero melting, and we loved that it tasted like it was just made yesterday. Even the vegan flavor was delicious—in fact, it was our favorite of the five. You can also make it a subscription, with delivery every 30, 60, or 90 days.   

Southern Living / Laura Miller

Harry & David The Favorite Royal Riviera Pears

Harry & David

• Freshness of Items 4.3 /5
• Delivery 4 /5

Each pair is neatly packaged.

The pears were slightly bruised on arrival.

Besides being a sweet snack, pears can be added to different desserts , salads, and drinks. This pear gift box includes simple and includes just nine gourmet Riviera pears that are all wrapped in tissue paper. One thing to note, though: Even though the description says nine pears are included, we only received eight. Still, we appreciated that the pears weren’t quite ripe on arrival, which allowed us to enjoy them for longer and not worry about eating them all right away. This type of gift basket is best for 1-3 people, and is more unique than the standard fruit basket. You can also slice the pears up and serve them as appetizers at different gatherings.  

Southern Living / Jamie Weissman

Valerie Large Gift Set

• Variety 4.5 /5

It’s much more elevated than your typical box of chocolates.

It’s very expensive for how much you get.

If you want to take a box of chocolates to the next level, give the Valerie Large Gift Set—in addition to chocolates, it includes two jars of fruit preserves. And it doesn’t just include one box of chocolates, but two (the Baby Grand and Caramel boxes), as well as two chocolate bars and a box of Almond Toffee Treats. Although the price is high for this gift basket, we did feel that each piece of chocolate was high-quality, especially considering the variety. We also loved the presentation of this basket, and think it’s an elevated gift for the chocolate lover in your life. 

Southern Living / Joe Morales

Stan's Donuts Donuts & Coffee Lovers Gift Pack

Stan's Donuts

• Presentation 4.3 /5
• Variety 4.7 /5
• Freshness of Items 4.5 /5

The donuts are delicious and fresh.

It’s very expensive considering what you get.

All of the donuts in this gift basket are made from scratch and are ready to eat upon arrival. Not only does this basket include donuts, but it also comes with a whole bean bag of coffee to complete the presentation (just note that the recipient will need to own a coffee grinder to crush the beans). The donuts arrived fresh, and even after letting the donuts sit out on the counter for a while, they did not taste stale. Flavors include cinnamon sugar, vanilla sprinkles, lemon pistachio, coconut, glazed, and apple fritter—although for the price, we wish that more donuts were included. We think that this donut gift basket is a great gift to give to someone who likes donuts but is looking to try something new.  

Southern Living / Julia Fields

Universal Yums Care Package

The snacks are from different countries, so there is a lot of variety.

The snacks are more “novelty” than “gourmet”.

If you know someone who likes to snack on churros, gummies, and marshmallows, then this snack gift basket is the perfect gift for them. Besides getting a large amount of snacks (30 in total), the recipient also gets the opportunity to try different flavors from different countries, like South Korea, Spain, Germany, Indonesia, and more. We were very surprised by how quickly we received the basket, but we were disappointed that it didn’t come with any sort of bubble wrap or wrapping paper. This is a particularly great gift for college students, and the recipient can either eat the snacks solo or share them with friends.

Southern Living / Erin Mayer

Vosges Haut-Chocolat Soirée Smash

Vosges Haut - Chocolat

• Presentation 4 /5
• Delivery 4.5 /5

It can easily feed a large crowd.

The bar arrived with a crack in it.

Another chocolate gift that we thoroughly recommend is the Sourdough Pretzel & Toffee, which is a chocolate slab , not a bar or box. This extra-large confection contains butter toffee, vanilla marshmallows, pistachios, cherries, and dark chocolate, plus sourdough pretzel for extra crunch. Unlike the Valerie Confections gift, this gift doesn’t come with any additional products. The result is truly delicious, and we loved that it could easily feed a crowd. In fact, we split it amongst 12 people and still had leftovers. Our only concern about this gift is that it could easily melt in a warmer environment, even with the packaged ice packs. 

Southern Living / Meg Lappe

A gift basket is a fantastic gift for just about any occasion. After testing 26 gift baskets, there were a few that really stood out. If you’re looking for a unique Southern gift basket, we highly recommend the Callie’s Hot Little Biscuit Share the Love Gift Basket , which is delicious and perfect for someone who loves baked goods. If you’re looking for an elevated box of chocolates, we think the Recchiuti Black Box 16 can’t be beat, thanks to its unique flavors and designs. And if you want a crowd-pleasing fruit basket, the Shari's Berries Distinctive Fruit Basket & Sweets Gift left us speechless with its presentation and delicious flavors. 

We tested 26 gift baskets and evaluated them on variety, size, delivery, freshness, quality, and overall value. After ordering each basket, we noted how long shipping took, and how well each basket was packaged. We then tasted the items in each basket and shared them with family and friends, focusing on freshness, quality, and taste. We considered how good the variety was and whether we felt that anything was missing, and took note of the overall presentation. Lastly, we evaluated the overall value, considering the number of items, size, presentation, and quality of the products. 

Tips for Choosing the Right Gift Basket 

Variety .

Gift baskets are typically straightforward and contain items that revolve around a theme, like chocolate, fruit, snacks, etc. If you’re not totally sure what the recipient likes, be sure to get a basket that’s full of different types of goodies, like a wide selection of chocolates or fruits. The same goes if you anticipate that the basket will be shared amongst a larger group of people, like a family or party.  

Another thing that you should keep in mind is to double-check the contents before ordering. Since you’re not able to build the gift basket yourself, it’s important to make sure that you are aware of what’s included inside of it, especially if the recipient is allergic to a particular ingredient. Note that while companies will advertise certain items for the gift basket, they will have to make substitutions if necessary. 

Most companies will provide you with an estimated date of delivery, and many will also provide cut-off dates during the holiday season so you can be sure your basket will arrive in time for a special occasion. Based on our testing, most gift baskets take a few days to arrive, but some can take a week or longer. Many companies ship gift baskets only on certain days at the beginning of the week, so that there’s less of a chance of a weekend delay.

Since there are different types of gift baskets, you’ll find baskets that cost anywhere from $19 to $700. As a general rule, the more expensive the basket, the more snacks, treats, and other items will be included. As you’re shopping for gift baskets, keep in mind that the cost plays a huge factor in the variety of snacks, treats, and other items that are included in the basket. Also, don’t forget the shipping costs. All in all, buying a pre-made gift basket is much more expensive than making one yourself, but you’re paying for the convenience of the company packaging and delivering it for you.

Questions and Answers 

What are some good occasions to get someone a gift basket.

A gift basket is always a wonderful gift for any occasion, whether your loved one is sick or you need a host gift for Easter brunch . While you could give someone a singular gift, a gift basket has its own personal touch and lets the recipient know how much they mean to you. Food gift baskets in particular are a good idea for someone who’s going through a tough time, as they allow the recipient to have one less thing to worry about.

Are gift baskets worth buying?

Regardless of how much you spend on a gift basket, they are worth every penny. With gift baskets or boxes, you can send your loved one or friend a decorative basket full of snacks, desserts, fruits, and other items no matter how far they live away from you. Similar to handwritten notes, gift baskets are a nice way to show how much you care about someone. 

Can food spoil in a gift basket? 

Depending on the types of snacks inside the gift basket, most manufacturers will also include ice packs in the packaging to keep everything fresh. Hotter weather may affect this though, so keep that in mind if you’re sending gift baskets to warmer climates. In our testing, we found that all of our gift baskets arrived perfectly cold and fresh—even the Salt & Straw ice cream .

This gift guide was created by Moriah Mason , a commerce writer for Southern Living . We tested 26 different gift baskets for a variety of occasions, and evaluated each on variety, size, presentation, freshness, delivery, and overall quality. To become more informed about gift baskets, we spoke to Diane Gottsman , an etiquette expert and the owner of The Protocol School of Texas.

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