Christmas Gift Guide 2024

Foodie Focused Gifts - Friday Food Chat with Kath

It feels far too early to be talking about Christmas or gifts, but somehow it’s mid-November and the big day isn’t all that far away.

Here a few things I’ve found during the year I thought would make nice gifts, or nice end of year treats for yourself.

• Dried Tropical Fruit from Tropical Harvest - I have been buying Australian grown dried fruit for a few years now from Singing Magpie Produce based in South Australia, however I was looking for some Australian grown dried fruit earlier in the year that Singing Magpie doesn’t produce, and stumbled across Tropical Harvest. Based in Far North Queensland, they have dried mango, dates (what I was searching for!) and more tropical dried fruits available. If you were thinking of putting together a nice food based hamper or gift box something from here would be a great addition.

• Ceramiká By Tássia - I discovered this maker at a Finders Keepers market earlier in the year. Tássia makes colourful handmade ceramics, which I think always make nice gifts. If you are heading to the Finders Keepers market in Sydney this weekend, you can check out Ceramiká by Tássia in person.

• Kinto Glass Mugs - a few months ago I was on the hunt for a nice glass mug. I have some already that I bought years ago that I wasn’t able to find again. My requirements, that the mug must hold around 500ml at least, made my quest a little difficult, until I found these mugs made by Kinto via the stationary shop Milligram. I ordered the large size and it has turned out to be a great size for my multiple cups of tea per day. I’d say that, or any other Kinto tea related product would be a lovely gift for any tea lover in your life.

• Gewürzhaus Christmas Spices - a nice gift for any baker, Gewüzhaus makes festive spice mixes such as their Gingerbread Spice, as well as festive nut butters like this Gingerbread Almond Butter. If you know what style of cooking someone particularly likes, you’ll be able to find something at Gewürzhaus for them.

• Edible Gifts - always a lovely option, particularly if you feel like cooking or baking yourself. I save up good sized jars during the year to use for such things (larger jars for small biscuits, jam jars for jams and chutneys), then label and tie a ribbon around to make it festive. Here are some edible gift ideas I shared recently, plus the gingerbread recipe I use for my edible gifting - just use a small biscuit cutter so your biscuits fit into whatever jar you’ve chosen to use and reduce the cooking time.

• A Bookshop of One’s Own at Rosey Ravelston - one for the book lovers, gift someone the experience of having some time alone (or with a few friends), to have a bookshop all to themselves. Based in the Blue Mountians, it could be part of a lovely weekend away or similar.

• Gift A Paid Substack Subscription - I feel Substack subscriptions are fast replacing magazine subscriptions (they have for me at least), so gifting a years subscription to a publication you really enjoy and know your recipient will too would make a lovely gift. My favourite Substack subscription is with

  Julia Matusik
  of Apples and Elderflower, however you could choose any publication you like, even this one!

• Make A Donation - charitable donations in place of gifts are also a great way to do some good at this time of year. Many charities offer donations that can be given as gifts, like these ones from Australia for UNHCR or these from UNICEF Australia.

• For Food Loving Kids - or those who need a little encouragement with food, the picture books Off to Market and Artichoke to Zucchini by artist and designer Alice Oehr are really wonderful. Plus there’s lots of lovely food centric prints for food lovers of all ages on Alice’s website that would make lovely gifts too.

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Rosé Poached Peaches

Stone fruit season is back! These poached peaches make a lovely dessert served with ice cream.

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