There’s no denying that the countdown to December 25th has begun…
Christmas TV adverts are in full flow, all of them enticing us to buy the latest ‘must have’ gadgets and celebrity perfumes for our nearest and dearest.
But, if you’re struggling with gift ideas this festive season and fancy giving the obligatory socks and slippers options a miss, why not try creating a rather special and very bespoke present in the form of a goodie-filled hamper packed with local produce from The Suffolk Coast?!
Hampers are fun and simple to put together – we have put together a few ideas to whet your appetite…
Say it with fruit! When the stodge of Christmas pudds and mince pies are taking their toll, it’s refreshing to tuck into a fruity feast. Giddens and Thompson Greengrocers are purveyors of high-quality fruit and vegetables located in the historic market town of Bungay. Here, you’ll find a wide selection of seasonal, fresh and locally sourced produce to make a super fruity hamper, bursting with colour and flavour!
Smoked delicacies of meats and fish make a superb addition to any Christmas hamper and at Pinney’s of Orford, where they have been using the traditional oak smoking method since the 1940’s, you have the choice of creating your own hamper or selecting one from their wide range varying from under £15 up to £100. And. If you can’t get to the shop, then the shop will come to you in form of its online store!
Put together a gift hamper of Adnams fine beers, wine and handcrafted spirits and we’ll guarantee that you’ll win over even the grumpiest of relatives! With stores now located in Southwold, Aldeburgh, Woodbridge and Felixstowe shopping is made easy. They also have a delicious range of Adnams chutneys, marmalades and dips, plus lots of quirky little gifts too.
The Suffolk Coast loves its delis, and there’s no shortage of them either! Take a trip over to The Suffolk Food Hall, just south of Ipswich. This place is sheer heaven for ‘foodies’ having not only a delicatessen but a grocer, bakery, fishmonger and a chocolatier... Which means the only problem you may have is what to choose! Alternatively, they offer an array of beautifully packaged ready-made hampers to make your decision just that bit easier!
Now here’s something different – put together a delicious gift box of products by Munchy Seeds, the family run business based near Leiston which has been the highest profile brand in the UK's roasted, flavoured and coated seeds market for 16 years. And, the great thing is all seeds are suitable for Vegetarians and coeliacs, they are all free from gluten, wheat and yeast and have no artificial colourings, flavourings or preservatives. Just naturally delicious and available in handy snack packs or tempting tubs in 8 tasty varieties.
Situated just outside Bungay, Fen Farm Dairy can produce a delicious range of raw milk products including milk, cream, buttermilk, cultured butter and their famous Baron Bigod Cheese! Stop by the farm's vending machine to stock up for your Christmas or Boxing Day feasts but make sure you call ahead if you want to buy a whole round of cheese, as they don't fit in the machine!
On Boxing Day, tuck into a mouth-watering ham from Emmett's; the oldest artisan ham and bacon producer in the UK. Famous for its Suffolk black ham, which was a favourite with many including The Queen Mother, Delia Smith and Rick Stein, the store also produces many other flavours plus a range of deli items including Spanish and Italian meats, Spanish almonds, figs and turrons, cheeses, olives and tapenades.
Slate (formerly Lawson's Delicatessen) now has two shops in Southwold and Aldeburgh. For the foodie in your family, why not make them a luxury hamper packed with Loch Fyne Smoked Salmon; home-made pickles and chutneys; cheese; glazed Suffolk ham, terrines and Pork Pies. For those with a sweet tooth, add in Sue Allen's Christmas puddings; home-made mince pies packed with fruit; and a Christmas cake.
Or better still, why not buy them membership to the Cheese Club and they will receive and monthly or bi-monthly selection of three cheeses, including the 'Cheese of the Month',
For more information on The Suffolk Coast's fantastic food producers, visit our Food and Drink section!