With the rush to remember everyone on our holiday shopping lists, it’s easy to forget that bad gifts often lead to something even worse: garbage.
If we were to name a runner-up to secondhand presents for our favorite flavor of physical gifts, we’d pick consumables. Food and drink are less wasteful simply because they usually end up in our bellies instead of the bin. But we like to be extra sure, so we’ve filled up a cornucopia of edible and potable pressies, each designed to appeal to a particular gourmand in your life.
In addition to being outright delish—and therefore way less likely to end up in the bin—each of these recommendations is shelf-stable or freezable, comes in minimal or recyclable packaging, and has a cool li’l story you can tell the giftee. Plus: You can find most of them in brick-and-mortar stores around the country, which means you can avoid shipping unless it’s absolutely necessary.
We update this list every year, which means it includes some of our perennial favorites but also a smattering of our newest discoveries and food obsessions.
For the chocolate lover who refuses to compromise
TCHO Dark & Milk Chocolate Gift Box ($36 for 6 bars)
TCHO is super transparent about their production process and supply chain. That’s a BFD in the world of chocolate, which is fairly infamous for human-rights abuses. Scan the QR code on any TCHO bar to trace the origin of the cacao within—right down to the farmer who grew it. Their 6-bar gift box includes a mix of dark and milk chocolate, the latter of which uses nondairy alts like oat and cashew milk. If you can’t track TCHO down, the 6-bar sampler pack from Tony’s Chocaloney (who, by the by, has topped the ethical chocolate charts six years running) is a sweet fallback position.
For the person whose nose is always froze(n)
Abokichi OKAZU + ABO Miso Soup Set ($67 for 3 soup concentrates and 3 chili oils)
Soup starters might sound like an odd present, but whoever you give this flavor-packed sextet to will thank you the minute their holiday-induced sniffles start to hit. The miso soup concentrates from Abokichi contain sakekasu (sake lees) that would have otherwise gone to waste, which earned the product line a rubber-stamp from the Upcycled Food Association. Top off a steaming bowl of soup with a drizzle of one of their chili oils, and anyone’s sinuses will thank them.
For someone who always needs ‘a little something sweet’
Climate Candy Faves Variety Pack ($25 for 18 packs)
Made from imperfect produce that might otherwise have rotted in the field, Climate Candy’s fruit snacks sick our collective sweet tooth on the problem of food waste. The sampler pack includes their three signature flavors: blueberry/raspberry, peach/mango, and tart cherry. The gummies are totally plant-based and gluten-free.
For your trendiest, cheffiest buddy
Zero Acre Farms Cultured Oil ($27 for a 16-ounce bottle)
Fancy olive oil is a go-to gourmand gift, but Zero Acre Farms Cultured Oil offers cooks a unique flex. This neutral oil is made from sugar cane via an up-and-coming process called precision fermentation—think of it like brewing oil instead of beer—which avoids many of the environmental impacts of conventional cooking fats. The oil’s already catching on in professional kitchens including a few Shake Shack locations and San Francisco’s Michelin-starred State Bird Provisions.
For the N/A lovers
Empress 1908 0.0 Indigo Spirit ($40 for a 750-ml bottle)
Empress’s non-alcoholic take on its popular gin launched in early December and is flavored with citrus, soft floral notes, and juniper—because, duh, it’s “gin.” Their Canadian distillery pipes waste heat from their stills into the geothermal heating system of the neighboring Sidney Pier Hotel, a setup that saves both water and energy. It could be a little hard to come by (search here) since it’s fresh off the truck, so as a backup we’d suggest taking a look at the new Mock One lineup from Breckenridge Distillery in Colorado.
For the indiscriminate snacker
Rancho Meladuco No Date Left Behind “Grinders” ($28 for a 5-pound box)
Rancho Meladuco’s fat, succulent dates are beloved by food pros and fressers alike as killer snacks or alternative sweeteners in smoothies and baked goods. But you can help someone stock up on a freezer-full of what Bon Appetit has dubbed “the world’s best dates” at a hefty discount. Grinders are imperfect by Rancho’s standards, but they still leave supermarket dates in the dust.
For the no-frills nibbler who always eats a second bowl
Ballreich Original Marcelled Potato Chips ($13 for a 2-pound box)
This won’t be news to anyone who lives in or around Ohio, but Ballreich’s signature chips could make a solid claim as the originator of the wavy-cut crisp. They’ve been around since 1920, and Ruffles didn’t come on the scene until the late 1940s. The 2-pound box (don’t worry, it comes in two bags) is a perfect intro for any unindoctrinated chip lover.
For the friend who’s always down for a drink
Reyka Vodka ($26 for 750-ml bottle)
These days, you can’t swing a dead cat in a liquor store without hitting a vodka brand touting its Earth-friendly bona fides. (Necessary disclaimer: Don’t swing anything in a liquor store, particularly a dead cat.) Reyka, though, was there first. The Icelandic brand powers its distillery with 100% renewable geothermal energy from the island’s volcanic underbelly and filters its booze through volcanic rock instead of the industry-standard charcoal.
For the mixologist with too many mixers
Teaspresssa Luxe Cocktail Kit ($30 for 18 cubes)
Cocktail creators who like to experiment often end up with dozens of partially full bottles collecting dust in a cupboard. Teaspressa’s signature amped-up sugar cubes that contain bitters, extracts, and other natural flavors, and, with water and a liquor of choice, they dissolve into a range of specialty drinks. Its classic kit has the makings for Old Fashioneds, Moscow Mules, and Manhattans, but they’ve got a range of options depending on your mood and booze preferences.
For the person who digs the finer things
Zeroe Caviar ($42 for a 50-gram tin, or 2 tins for $70)
Nothing screams luxury like a dollop of briny black orbs that pop on the tongue and pair perfectly with Champagne. But production of traditional caviar—the salt-cured, unfertilized eggs of sturgeon—is less than savory. Enter Zeroe Caviar, which delivers the same experience but is made from seaweed. Zeroe is shelf-stable and affordable, and it’s already proved its mettle at Four Seasons Hotels and Michelin-starred restaurant Daniel.