I am never one to be organised around the Festive season. Instead I seem to find myself running around on Christmas Eve eve frantically trying to get everything I need. This year I am trying to be a little more prepared. I also know that I am pretty difficult to buy for. So I decided to put together Rough Measures Foodie Christmas gift guide. Here you’ll find small gifts to larger ones, and hopefully something to please even the fussiest loved ones.
GIFTS FOR… THE FOODIE
Christmas in my family always involves gin, good quality and lots of it. House of Elrick hand crafted, artisan gin is liquid beauty. Flavours of juniper, coriander seeds, angelica root and citrus peel, are built around a core of heather, pink peppercorns, sweet fennel and rose petals for a wonderful flavour. This one is not going to last long.
If you’re looking for stocking fillers then check out Gourmosa. Their range of revamped authentic sub continental snacks are great for Asian food lovers. The samosa leaves are great for parties, the chana chaat is perfect for a busy lunch-on-the-run, and they’ve even got a fab range of sweet vegetable based pots too – the carrot halwa is gorgeous.
Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas without something mulled. I adore Steenbergs Christmas crackers filled with mulled spices for wine and cider, a great way to warm up during these cold evenings.
I go through cacao powder at an alarming rate. I have tried a fair few brands but Choc Chick has to be one of my faves. Their cacao butter is so smooth and is my go to for when I make raw chocolates.
GIFTS FOR… THE TEA AND COFFEE LOVER
In my eyes, the world would be a sad place if we didn’t have tea and coffee. Hot, cold, green, fruit, decaf, the variations are endless. I’ve whittled down my long list of favourites to these. Hackney Coffee Company claim to be Hackney’s finest specialty coffee house, and they sure aren’t wrong. Their Dr Strangelove extract coffee has subtle notes of almond biscotti and cherry compote; dessert in coffee… why not?!
I do try and limit my coffee intake, but if I’m craving something hot later in the day I reach for the green tea. Tg Green Tea ginger and lemon zest is what I need this time of year. Punchy and zesty these organic tea bags need a place next to every kettle. Their range of chilled green teas offered a variety of flavours, all natural and low in sugar.
T-tox have done something clever with matcha, they’ve combined additional powders to make the special brews; Health, Energise and Recovery. With additions like moringa powder (health), ginseng (energise) and spirulina (recovery) there is one for every eventuality.
With all these hot drinks floating around, you’re going to need something to carry it around. The use of cardboard beverage cups is insane, and only 17% of all take-away cups are recycled. Ecoffee are passionate about reducing the 100 billion coffee cups that end up in landfills each and every year. I love their William Morris range, and my personal favourite is ‘seaweed’. Do your bit for the planet AND carry your beverage in style.
GIFTS FOR… THE SMOOTHIE LOVER
I have a whole kitchen cupboard dedicated to smoothie and protein powders. From ashwagandha to wheatgrass, it’s all in there. Herbal, plant and protein powders make great additions to a daily smoothie or shake. For gym days, I alternate between Bio-Synergy Lean + Green vegan mint chocolate chip protein powder, with 20g of protein per serving and the most delicious peppermint taste, and Vivo Life; Perform raw cacao plant protein; with 25g of protein, BCAA and amino acids for growth and repair.
I jazz up smoothies regularly with Indigo Herbs great range of powders. Their Super Vital Powder makes a great addition to any smoothie.
Moringa is also something that I love to chuck in my blender or stir through porridge. I use Aduna, they work with rural small holders and create sustainable livelihoods for their small-scale producers in Africa. I adore their new range of printed tins, perfect for storing powders and potions.
GIFTS FOR… THE DIFFICULT TO BUY FOR
A kitchen is not a kitchen without a good set of scales. Having always been limited to small kitchens with minimal worktop space, I love these Salter scales that also double up as a chopping board. Now you can weigh and chop all your items. It can weigh up to 15kg, it’s also nice and slimline, so it packs away into a drawer neatly. Plus, it also doubles up as a handy thing to weigh your small furry friends!
Gut health should be on everyone’s radar by now, a healthy gut will help all manner of issues. Fermented food is great for gut health. I have been making kombucha regularly these last few months, and have recently started fermenting other food items. This nifty fermenting crock from Mortier Pilon makes making a big batch of sauerkraut or kimchi easy peasy. The 2L crock pot means you can make a big batch at a time, and is easy on the eye too.
Natural, cruelty free skin care is important to me, and I love discovering new bits to add to my washbag. Faith in Nature shampoos, conditioners, face creams and other beauty items are organic, natural and cruelty free. I’ve been lathering on their pineapple and lime shampoo and dreaming of the tropics.
THE GIFT FOR… THE FRUIT LOVER
Known someone who guzzles juice like no tomorrow? How about Breville’s Pro Kitchen Whole Fruit Juicer – the extra large feeding tube takes whole fruit, no need for pre – chopping, the parts disassemble easily and are dishwasher safe, and the jug holds 1.25l of juice. There’s also a large pulp container, which will hold 2l of fruit waste.
THE GIFT FOR… THE KEEN BAKER
Long have I oggled various stand mixers. High end to lower budget, drooling over their stainless steel bowls and soft pastel colours. But many of them are large and bulky, and too big for smaller kitchens. Breville have found a solution to this with their Pick & Mix Stand and Hand Mixer – with a detachable hand mixer, this is perfect for every bakers needs. The bowl is large at 3.2L, but the mixer is surprisingly compact. With 10 mixing speeds, 2 bowl speeds and dough hooks, I know what I’m going to be asking Santa for this year.
THE GIFT FOR… THE ONE WHO IS ALWAYS LATE
I am not a fan of lateness. A good time piece will help your loved ones stay on time for every appointment or train. I find a lot of watches a bit too bling for my taste. But when I discovered Wood Watches, I knew these were the time pieces for me. With their natural wood straps and subtle accessories, they are pieces of beauty. The Franke 35 in dark sandal wood is my personal favourite. With sapphire crystal glass and built with a Swiss Ronda Normtech Caliber 763 motor, there are no more excuses for those not on time. Their JORD range offers a variety of looks, from zebrawood and navy, to sandalwood and slate, there is something for everyone. Hurry now and grab $25 off your order (until 28/1/2017).
THE GIFT FOR… THE CHOCOLATE LOVER
And finally, because Christmas isn’t Christmas without an abundance of chocolate… Hotel Chocolat‘s festive range comes highly recommended from me. Delicious dark chocolate is my bag, and who can resist a little chocolate reindeer in front of your favourite Christmas film (hello Home Alone 2!). Hotel Chocolat grow all their cocoa on their plantation in St Lucia. The festive chocolate wreaths would look great around the tree, and the snowflakes are a perfect stocking filler. You can be in with a chance of winning some Hotel Chocolat goodies yourself – just enter in the Rafflecopter form below. What’s your favourite chocolate treat at Christmas time?
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Disclosure: I was sent some of these items to include in this Christmas gift guide. I was not paid to write a positive review and all festive opinions are my own. Christmas cheer and all that. Some links are affiliate links. Information correct at time of writing – November 2016.
The post Rough Measures Foodie Christmas Gift Guide and Hotel Chocolat Giveaway appeared first on Rough Measures.