The 37 Best Food Gifts for Every Kind of Gourmand

Thisgiant bucketof Maldon, at once industrial and fun, is a joy of a gift to open. It will probably make them laugh — and then they won’t run out of the very best crunchy, flaky finishingsaltfor at least a year (maybe two).

If they’re still making their way through the Maldon bucket you bought them last year, this finishing salt is an unexpected alternative that makes “everything taste better and fancier,” says Strategist contributorHannah Howard. It’s dried over birch smoke, which means the granules themselves are crunchy and slightly chunkier than Maldon’s pyramidal flakes.

This curated gift box from Brooklyn’s Big Night counts as edible thanks to the olives — and is the perfect curation of goodies for the martini drinker.

We’ve recommended this preserved-lemon paste,a favoriteof chef and writer Lauren Joseph’s, forhome cooksandprofessional food peoplealike because it adds instant punch to any dish. A little goes a long way stirred into dressings, marinades, salsa verde, dips, and evendrinks.

Fortnum & Mason has a number ofgift basketsto choose from, all of which are packed to the brim with especially lovely pantry staples and snacks. This one includes strawberry preserves, honey, several sweets (like shortbread cookies and chocolate-covered almonds), and a couple of teas.

If their favorite winter activity is cozying up with an at-home movie, they’ll surely appreciate this fancy box of popcorn kernels from BjornQorn that tastes nuttier and fresher than your average microwave bag. Bonus points if you gift it alongside thepopperandcheddar-cheese seasoning.

The only thing better than a big bowl of popcorn is a big bowl of popcorn dusted with one of these four fancy spice mixes: maple butter, maple garlic, cheesy garlic and herb, or a smoky, spicy salt mix.

Strategist writerDominique Parisois among a few Strategist staffers who love BonBon’s naturally colored candies imported from Sweden. She says the company’s mixes, combinations of sweet, sour, and jelly and marshmallow candies, make a perfect gift for adults who never grew out of their sweet tooth but want something a bit nicer than your standard box of citric-acid-coated sweets.

I’ve gifted Kolsvart’s all-natural version of Swedish Fish quite a few times. They’re less artificial-tasting than their classic candy counterparts and come in fun flavors like this sour raspberry, elderflower, black currant, and quite a few licorice flavors.

Matiz Piparra pickled peppers aren’t exactly cheap, which makes them the perfect little indulgence to give. Your recipient can snack on them plain,chopthem up to sprinkle on salads or sandwiches, or set them out on a dazzling snack tray at their nextdinner party.

This beautiful gift box is a bit of a cheat (it features bath products along with olive oil and honey for the kitchen) — but enough is edible that I decided to include it. All the goods come from the Flamingo Estate property and feel truly luxe.

Heilala vanilla paste is a small luxury to have around, even if they already stock premium extract. It includes actual pods, so the consistency is thicker (a little goes a long way), and it imparts a deeper, stronger flavor intobaked goodsthan pure liquid.

Even if you think espresso martinis are a bit last year, your recipient can use this to make their favorite drink at home without having to worry about pullingan actual shot. Cheeky sources beans from Brooklyn’s Café Integral and bottles a well-balanced, just-slightly-sweet mixer that, whenshakenwith vodka and ice, produces a drink as well balanced and smooth as any bartender could make.

If they’re a collector of spirits,mixers, and bitters, they’ll love having these amaro-soaked cherries on theirbar cartto finish off cocktails in an unexpected and sophisticated way. Instead of preserving them in sugar (which can make them cloyingly sweet), St. Agrestis uses the digestif to give them a smoky, bitter, boozy flavor.

Even when I’m not hosting, I’m often put on salad-dressing duty — and I know that nothing makes a noteworthy one likehigh-quality vinegar. No shade to Bragg’s (really), but this ACV will turn your recipient into a devotee because the sweet and tart notes are perfectly balanced and it tastes like real, juicy apples.

Brightland’s Pizza Oil, infused with raw jalapeños, garlic, oregano, and basil, is a fun way to dress up any pie — especially one that has turned lackluster in the trek from shop to door. It has a slightly spicy, distinctly herbal richness, and they’ll thank you every time they dunk their crust instead of leaving it behind (boo, hiss).

Helena Barquet and Fabiana Faria, owners of New York City’s ultracool design shop Coming Soon,saythese in-shell peanuts make a super-fun gift because they actually taste like really good peanut butter. We think it’d be especially nice to give to a holiday-party host as an alternative toa bottle of wine.

Compartés makes stunning chocolates. While this box is on the simpler-looking side, I think it’s an especially lovely combination, a bit more unexpected than the classic chocolate covered orange slices.

Dandelion makes chocolate worth gifting across the board — but I’m especially enamored with this very pretty box of hot-chocolate mixes. It includes its classic “fudgy” variety, a “delicately herbaceous” one, and another the company describes as “freshly fruity.”

Imagine their delight at receiving Brooklyn institution Four & Twenty’s whole Salty Honey pie at their door — no matter where in the country they live. It’s the signature flavor from the shop, beloved for its gooey, intense-in-a-good-way custard filling.

Strategist senior editorWinnie Yangwas given these alfajores recently and says they’re so good, she’s going to gift them to everyone she can think of for the rest of the year. This box has six individually wrapped cookies, each with a layer of dulce de leche between tender shortbread, covered in a thin coating of meringue icing.

If they like to bake their own goods, this package of high-quality (and somewhat unexpected) spices would make a lovely present. The cardamom and cinnamon are regular staples in my own cabinet, and they make all the difference between lackluster sweets and truly stellar ones.

Jasper Hill offers three varieties of goat cheeses, plus — what I think makes it extra-special — a few pairing accoutrements. I also appreciate that you can sign your recipient up for ongoing shipments (if you’re feeling generous), or send it as a onetime gift.

Anyone who loves tinned fish won’t be mad at more anchovies — and these are some of the best around. Plus, I truly love the packaging (which is part of the fun when gifting).

If they top their pancakes andwaffleswith an average grocery-store squeeze bottle, they’ll be blown away by this one — especially if you opt for the giant size. (The smallest two are sold out anyway.) It’d be great to have around during the holidays, too, for big breakfasts with houseguests.

Vermont Country Store’s jams (and jellies and marmalades) have a classic look to them. Choose from flavors like Apricot Almond, Seedless Blackberry, Damson Plum, and many more.

This is another recommendation fromCorsillo, who received it as a gift after her baby was born — and loved it so much she bought more to gift to a friend shortly thereafter. She says all the granola varieties aredelicious, but the turmeric is a standout: “A little bit spicy and warming, so a perfect thing to eat in the winter.”

Laurie Ellen’s sweet shortbread cookies (including herseasonal tin) are sold out — but don’t sleep on the baker’s savory creations. This gift box includes truly heavenly Everything Cheddar Crackers, as well as a jar of her Herb & Urfa Chili-Spiced Nuts, perfect for someone who hosts for New Year’s Eve. You can still sign up for delivery the week before Christmas (or if it gets away from you, the week after, for a bit of a belated gift).

Giada De Laurentiis’s line of Italian pantry items is great — especially her well-curatedgift boxes. Each one is meant to make a singular dish (and comes with a recipe), like this baked Bolognese — though of course your recipient can use each ingredient for whatever they like.

Botanica is the ultimate all-day café and restaurant in Los Angeles — and it has a market attached, too. Luckily, they sell some of their own products online, like this lineup of blueberry preserves, seed-and-nut dukkah, marinated olives, sumac, and za’atar.

There are tons of beautiful teas out there, of course (many of which we recommend in our gift guide fortea lovers) — but I do think Flowerhead’s packaging is especially fun, something I always look for when gifting consumables. This set comes with three classics: Earl Grey, mint and rose, and chamomile.

Here’s another gift where I snuck in some bonus accessories (you’re welcome). This collaboration between East Fork and Diaspora Co. came out earlier this year, but luckily for us it’s still available. The kit comes with a Masala Chai blend, a small tin of Madhur Jaggery, a stainless-steel strainer, and an East Fork mug (a style it doesn’t generally offer, making it extra special).

Driftaway sources delicious beans from around the world (I’m making my way through a bag at this very moment), but this isn’t an ordinarycoffee delivery. It comes with three types, each paired with a chocolate bar from Raaka (and information cards with tasting notes), so they can compare and enjoy them together.

Caviar is a real indulgence — the kind of thing they’re unlikely to splurge on themselves. Pearl Streetcomes recommendedby event planner and expert host Lilli Sherman, who likes to put out these multiple tins at a party so everyone can taste different kinds, but we won’t judge if they keep them all to themself.

Just like with the Maldon bucket, it’s simply fun to give a giant version of something delicious, and these salty, crunchy, toasty chips from Spain certainly fit the bill. They’re a statement set out at parties (we’ve spotted them at swanky events all around the city) or a post-soirée snack to last the social season.

If they’re afancy host, this clever spice-blend collaboration between Spicewalla and Island Creek Oysters makes mignonette a whole lot easier: They just have to stir with some Champagne vinegar and serve. It’s also great for whisking into dips and dressings.

Every winter, my mom sends me adelivery of vibrant, juicy citrus straight from sunny California — and it’s the absolute best thing to get in the mail. The box, stuffed to the brim with Meyer lemons, cures anywinter bluesI’m feeling (and the farm also has limes, limequats, kumquats, Ojai Pixies, blood oranges, mandarins, yuzu, and more on offer).