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10 delicious Secret Santa gifts for your favourite foodie (with an Italian twist)

10 delicious Secret Santa gifts for your favourite foodie (with an Italian twist)

As an Italian business with family values at the core, all of us at Uashmama love gathering and celebrating with friends and family, and Christmas really is the perfect time for that.

Many families and friend groups take part in Secret Santa gift giving, which is when everyone’s name is put into a hat, everyone picks one out, and they only buy that one person a gift, usually within a certain budget. It can keep costs down, and it’s really fun trying to guess who bought you your gift!

Secret Santa is a common form of gift giving in the workplace too, which means you may have to buy gifts for people you don’t know very well.

Whether you’re buying for someone you know intimately or not, food gifts are always a pretty safe bet. And as Uashmama is a family business based in Tuscany, we wanted to share some foodie gifts with an Italian twist that are perfect for a Secret Santa gift, whatever your budget.

 

1. The quintessential Italian Christmas treat - Panettone

These Italian sweet bread-fruitcake hybrids have become popular across the whole world, so you’ll have seen panettone around the shops at Christmastime in their decorative boxes or tins, making them a perfect readymade Christmas gift.

Traditionally, panettone dough is speckled with candied fruits, citrus and almonds, but is often found plain or with chocolate chips too, so there’s one for all tastes.

This Classic Panettone Cake by Lazzaroni Chiostro di Saronno (£26) is a perfect Christmas gift in its golden tin, or one of these adorable mini panettones from The Panettone Store (£4.95) would make a great budget Secret Santa gift or Christmas stocking filler.

 

2. An Italian coffee & cantuccini Christmas gift box

Italians are well known for their coffee, and many of the ways we serve coffee have their roots there, for example, the familiar espresso and cappuccino are Italian terms.

Cantuccini are twice-baked Italian biscuits from Tuscany, dotted with almonds, and traditionally served with a drink, as they are very dry. You may recognise them as biscotti served alongside coffee or tea, but in Italy, they’re usually served after dinner with a Tuscan fortified wine called Vin Santo.

Delicious Italian coffee is available in most supermarkets, but try to support small businesses if possible - you may have a local deli that sells Italian coffee.

Cantuccini or biscotti may be harder to find in your local shops (unless you’re lucky enough to have an Italian deli nearby) but they’re really easy to make. This traditional cantuccini recipe by Italian Kiwi sounds delicious, and it only takes 45 minutes.

Place them in an airtight container or bag alongside the Italian coffee, and you have a really affordable Secret Santa gift for a coffee lover.

 

3. An extra virgin olive oil & balsamic vinegar gift box

Coffee isn’t for everyone, and if that’s the case with your Secret Santa recipient, they might prefer a gift box of Italian olive oil and balsamic vinegar.

Italy is the second largest producer of olive oil, and for hundreds of years, extra virgin olive oil and balsamic vinegar has been used as a delectable dip for crusty fresh bread.

The land in Tuscany is so fertile that there is an abundance of olive trees, as well as grapes for the balsamic vinegar and plenty of grain for bread, so it just makes sense that these elements are enjoyed together.

A gorgeous bottle of Il Casolare Extra Virgin Olive Oil (£6.95) and Borgo del Balsamico Balsamic Vinegar (11.99) in a gift box or bag would make a lovely Italian-themed Christmas gift for your foodie friend.

 

 

4. Give a hearty bottle of Italian wine

Wine is a big deal in Italy - it is produced in every region, and they have the widest variety of indigenous grapevine in the world - so it’s probably no surprise that it’s the world’s largest wine exporter too.

The most well-known Italian wines are Prosecco and Chianti, but there’s a huge range of whites and reds, so there’ll be something for everyone, as long as your Secret Santa recipient drinks alcohol.

Again, as Italy exports so much of their exceptional wine, you’ll easily be able to find Italian wine in supermarkets or your local off-licence or wine shop - prices start at about £5 and go all the way up to hundreds of pounds!

 

5. An exquisite Secret Santa gift - pistachio chocolates

Pistachios are very popular in Italy. They’re grown in the southern regions, particularly in Sicily, where they grow some of the world’s finest pistachios, otherwise known as green gold.

Coating it in chocolate makes this delicious nut extra special, and these Leone Assorted Pistachio Chocolates from Sacla (£15.50) in their green-gold tin would make a beautiful Christmas gift.

 

6. Limoncello for a Christmas gift with extra zest

Limoncello is a well-known Italian liqueur made from the zest of lemons, which is usually served after dinner as a chilled digestif. It’s actually the second-most popular liqueur in Italy, with many people making it at home too.

If you fancy making your own, this limoncello recipe is really straightforward, and who wouldn’t love a deliciously boozy homemade Secret Santa gift? Just remember to make it in advance, as although the prep only takes 15 minutes, the whole process takes about 2 weeks.

That might seem like far too much effort, in which case the Mamma Mia Limoncello from Master of Malt (£27.97) would make a beautiful gift, made with natural ingredients inside a beautiful bottle.

 

7. A sweet Secret Santa treat - cannoli

Cannoli is a sweet pastry that originated in Sicily - the small tubes of fried pastry are filled with an amazing creamy ricotta cheese filling, often flavoured and decorated with candied citrus zest, chopped nuts, or chocolate.

They’re so delicious, and have become very popular outside of Italy too. We’ve spotted them in delis and at food markets, but if you don’t have one nearby, The Italian Food Shop has cannoli available online.

We love the sound of this Hazelnut Chocolate Sicilian Cannoli (£3.49), and if your Secret Santa recipient can’t eat wheat, they also sell gluten free Pistachio Cannoli (£6.99), so everyone can enjoy this Italian sweet treat.

 

 

8. Give a gadget gift to your favourite foodie

Does your Secret Santa recipient love spending time in the kitchen? They might love a new kitchen gadget for Christmas, and it doesn’t have to be expensive.

Making your own pasta is such a lovely process, and the best part is that you get to eat it at the end. Pasta machines make it easy to roll your homemade pasta to a consistent thickness, so that it cooks evenly, and this Lakeland Pasta Machine in Chromed Steel is only £29.99.

 

9. Learn to make authentic Italian food

We bet your foodie friend would also love an Italian cooking class. It is a more expensive Christmas gift - usually ranging from £50-200 - but if it fits within your Secret Santa budget, it’s a lovely experience.

Your pal could perfect their pasta or pizza dough, with lots of hands-on help from a professional.

A quick online search for “Italian cooking class in [your location]” should come up with some great options, but if you’re anywhere near the capital, these cooking classes at Enrica Rocca in London look amazing.

 

10. A whole hamper for your Secret Santa recipient

Or, if you’re feeling generous, a Christmas hamper packed with lots of tasty treats to enjoy over the holidays is always a wonderful gift to receive. In Italy it’s called cesto di Natale, and it's common to give them to friends and family.

Our UASHMAMA cesto di Natale would be filled with panettone, a good bottle of Tuscan red wine, artisanal pasta, Parmigiano cheese, a little can of Tuscan olive oil and something sweet like Cantuccini or homemade cookies, all inside one of our Uashama Vassoio Trays or a Porta Pane Bread Storage Bag.

 

So there we have it - 10 Italian foodie items that’d make perfect Secret Santa gifts, whatever your budget.

If you’d like more gifting inspiration, browse the Uashmama Secret Santa collection, and have a read of our previous blog posts: Our 6 favourite thoughtful & sustainable new home gift ideas, and Holiday gift guide made by Uashmama.