From tinned fish to hot sauces of every stripe, if there’s a foodie in your life who’s hard to shop for, there’s something on this list for every taste
Thirteen gifts beloved globally that Americans are missing out on
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If holiday cheer is in short supply, an Advent calendar is, perhaps, the best way to quiet your inner Scrooge. Whether work is crazy, or you’re planning to host your entire family for Christmas dinner, or you’re secretly a bit of a grinch, opening a tiny gift every day will reliably make you feel like a kid on Christmas morning (or whatever your chosen winter holiday is). And if those gifts are edible? Even better. Luckily for us, food advent calendars have leveled up pretty seriously in the last few years. We have tested a bunch of them and rounded up our favorites. Whether you are shopping for yourself or a food-obsessed loved one, we’ve got something for every appetite.
Visit our ultimate holiday gift guide for more gift guides and holiday shopping ideas for everyone on your list.
At a glance
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For the tinned fish obsessive: 12 Days of Fishwife
Fishwife may have come up with the most playful entry this year. Its calendar is super-sized and opens like a beautifully illustrated book (think tree-trimming elves and an ice-skating clam). The brand is famous for their whimsically marketed and thoughtfully sourced tinned fish, which is the focus of this box: seven tins of fish, plus a tin of chocolate sardines (made in collaboration with Maine’s Bixby Chocolate). There are also a few non-fish trinkets in here, from a tiny knife to a tin of Bag Balm tubes. These are each individually packaged, in case you feel like slipping them into someone’s stocking, or employ them as a last-minute hostess gift. The packaging is so beautiful I saved some of it for future collaging projects.
For the bourbon aficionado: Flaviar Whiskey Advent calendar
This luxe box of 1.7oz whiskey samples hides its goodies behind cheeky reproductions of classic works of art. It also includes two mini tasting glasses and a handsome tasting guide that will walk you through each sample; there’s even space for your own tasting notes. You can drink an American farm-to-glass whiskey from Nevada on night one; a single malt from India on night 13; make your way through Islay and Ireland; and finish off with Kentucky straight bourbon. Each page also has a QR code, if you want to buy a full bottle.
For anyone whose fridge is 50% condiments: Fly By Jing 12-Day Advent calendar
Fly By Jing has come to dominate the chili crisp space and we’re all the better for it. Their cult-classic Advent calendar is a murderer’s row of condiments that will, as the labels say, make everything taste better, a trio of instant noodles, plus a chili crisp ornament! I loved the array of flavors here, many of them special editions such as the sweet shallot sauce and hot honey. Of course, the classics are in here too: chili crisp, with extra crunchy and extra spicy variations. These sauces can make even the plainest bowl of rice sing.
For the Swedish candy freak: Sockerbit Advent calendar
Swedish candy seems to be sweeping the nation, especially in the form of scoop-your-own candy shops. (The Swedish call this pick-and-mix tradition lördagsgodis, and tend to partake on Saturdays.) The Sockerbit advent calendar offers that same sense of abundance, in a sturdy and adorably designed wardrobe-style box. And, in a nod to tradition, the Saturdays offer bigger sweets. I loved that the candy was extra juicy, never stale and is made without corn syrup – virtuous! My favorites were the sour watermelons and those cute little cola bottles. This will, quite literally, make you feel like a kid in a candy shop.
For the friend who can’t stop watching Hot Ones: Uncommon Goods’ 12 Days of Hot Sauce
This collection from Uncommon Goods answers the question: what if your Christmas tree was full of hot sauce? I loved the sturdy construction of this box, which could stand on its own as I pulled out miniature bottles of zingy condiments – from Sweet Onion Habanero to Psycho Curry. This is, of course, ideal for anyone who can’t stop watching videos of people eating hot sauce, or the breakfast taco fanatic, or even the amateur home fermenter looking for flavor inspo. It’s also a relief, during a season of so many sweets, to find an advent calendar that is boldly savory. Bring on the wings.
For the toast fanatic: Bonne Maman Advent calendar
There is simply nothing like receiving a new tiny Bonne Maman jar every day for 24 days straight. The iconic French brand’s 1-oz jars never fail to delight – especially if you’re someone who immediately begins to think about what you might be able to store in the jar once it’s been licked (and washed) clean. The flavors here break out of the Bonne Maman classics you know from the grocery store shelves: pineapple lemon verbena, raspberry chamomile, and apricot banana, plus a few chocolate spreads! The recipient will definitely want to stock up on sliced bread – give them this advent cal with a hunk of sourdough and some good French butter.
For those who prefer a box of cookies to a box of chocolate: Walker’s Shortbread Advent calendar
This signature plaid-bedecked box of cookies is perfect for anyone who prefers a buttery treat to a confection. The Walker’s calendar rotates a few flavors and shapes of shortbread – my favorite was their classic shortbread baked into a little heart. But here we’ve also got chocolate chip and salted caramel, to mix things up. Each one is perfect for dunking in a milky cup of coffee.
For the new cook (or the lover of miniatures): Oliviers & Co Advent calendar
Oliviers & Co’s holiday offering opens up like a set of very elegant drawers, each holding a collection of mini olive oil and vinegar bottles, plus other sundry Mediterranean-inspired treats. I was particularly fond of the bite-sized soft nougat. I loved the way I could incorporate the Champagne vinegar and various olive oils into my daily salads, punching up an otherwise routine meal, and was smitten with the tiny wooden spreading spoon, the sort of thing I always wish I had more of every time I set out a little charcuterie board – here, you can use it to dole out lemon curd and Gianduja chocolate spread.
For travelers and adventurers: Bokksu Luminous Japan Advent calendar
This 24-day trip through Japan has some of the most intricate packaging we’ve seen – our Guardian colleagues were oohing and ahh-ing at a sample that arrived at the office. The cover’s layered panels make you feel like you’re opening a storybook, and inside are tons of local snacks such as hojicha chocolate crunches, scallion-flavored rice crackers and soft strawberry mochi. Some of the doors even lead to surprise non-edible items such as a tiny ceramic dish and full-sized chopsticks in their own gift box. Karen Yuan, commissioning editor, Filter US
Other pieces you might enjoy from the Filter, the Guardian’s guide to buying fewer, better things:
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