Christmas and Chinese New Years are just rolling in after each other. Gift-giving should honestly be a field of study on its own! Since I've last posted a holiday gift guide for makeup lovers, many people have been messaging me, asking me for Christmas present ideas. This time, I am picking out my favorite gourmet food gift baskets. These 10 Christmas gift boxes are going to help satisfy the foodies around you under your budget.
Chapters: Noodle Lover | Chili Lover | Dessert Lover | TV Snacks | Soft Drink Lover | Stay Shredded | Gift-wrapping Ideas
Best Christmas Present for Foodies–Noodle Lover
Shop here: https://shope.ee/3fTv2bvDz2
Yes, dumplings are categorized as noodles in Chinese. These dumplings from SenseFood are low-calorie, low-fat, and low-carb. You can have a standard meal of 8–10 dumplings and still stay within keto standards. Just because they are healthy, does't mean they are any less delicious.
I recommend gift set F, which comes with 6 different delicious flavors. The most special one would be Sriracha Red Quinoa and Salmon Dumplings. Those are packed full with omega-3 fatty acids. The soft and creamy salmon with the crunchy baby corn, plus the low-calorie Thai sriracha that has a hint of sweetness and spice creates such a great combination of texture, color, and flavor. This is the perfect Christmas present for dumpling lovers who want to stay lean and healthy.
Read my full review on Sensefood→SenseFood Low-Calorie Frozen Dumplings
Chef Hung Taiwanese Beef Noodle Kit | NTD$500
As a noodle lover, I have taken Ares to all kinds of beef noodle places in Taipei. Famous ones, viral ones, and foodie secrets. But out of all that he has tried, the only beef noodles that he loved and constantly brings up is Chef Hung Taiwanese Beef Noodles. Despite the location being far from us, he repeatedly tells me that it is worth the trip; this, coming from a man who complains about taking the MRT for more than 3 stations. Luckily, they have frozen at-home kits. Everything is cooked and ready to serve once you heat it up on the stove.
I have also gotten my parents to fall in love with it. My mom constantly orders from Chef Hung Taiwanese Beef Noodles on FoodPanda. My aunt and her friends also love it. In fact, after a friend of hers tried it in Taiwan, they became so obsessed that they established business connections to have Chef Hung Taiwanese Beef Noodles open stores in Hong Kong and Canada. Now, Chef Hung has 10 overseas locations. I know, that's some crazy rich Asian stuff beyond my comprehension, but that happened.
Don't just take our word for it. Chef Hung Taiwanese Beef Noodles is an award winning shop. The store is decorated with a bunch of beef noodles champion trophies. Beyond that, both flavors that I am recommending here use grass-fed beef.
My personal favorite is always the Vine Pepper Braised Half-Tendon Half-Meat Beef Noodle Soup. This soup uses fresh Sichuan vine pepper which gives the soup a strong aroma and a light numbing spicy sensation. The meat in this is beef shank that has been cooked for hours on end and is so tender that it melts in my mouth. The tendon is also cooked until soft and perfectly chewy. The Beef Shank, Tendon and Tripe Braised Beef Noodle Soup is one of their award-wining signatures. In Chinese, we call this the 3 treasures of beef. The braised broth is not greasy and salty like most braised beef noodle soup, but savory and refreshing. This is the perfect Christmas present for noodle lovers. It's also a great and convenient late night snack for yourself.
See more: My Visit to Chef Hung Taiwanese Beef Noodles (video included)
Best Christmas Present for Foodies–Chili Lover
Empress Hot Sauce-Empress Sauce Set | NTD$845
Shop here: https://shope.ee/99oranTnYO
The hot sauce from Empress Hot Sauce uses fresh chilis, and local vegetables & fruits to create amazing taste profiles that are all-natural. Each hot sauce has a unique flavor that erupts in layers. They contain no preservatives, added oil, or sugar. Empress hot sauce is okay to eat for those who are keto or low-carb. It is also 100% vegan and gluten-free, so it's viable option whatever dietary restrictions you have.
I love that Empress Hot Sauce is healthy, free of additives, low-calorie, and does not contain any refined carbs or vegetable oil, making it perfect for body builders or people who are health and weight-conscious. This is the perfect Christmas present for chili lovers that want to easily upgrade their recipes. The gift sets come in regular spicy and extra spicy, so they can cater to anyone's spice tolerance.
Read my full review on Empress Hot Sauce→ Best Low-Calorie Hot Sauce–Perfect for Simple Recipes
Recommended recipes→ Keto Buffalo Hot Wings Recipe, Keto Beef Burrito (with Homemade Keto Tortilla) Recipe
Best Christmas Present for Foodies–Dessert Lover
Theo & Philo Artisan Chocolate 5-Bar Gift Box | NTD$1,189
Shop here: https://shope.ee/8pC3gTuBgU
The gorgeous packaging of Theo & Philo Artisan Chocolates made me instantly fall in love. They also won the approval of multiple international awards. Between 2018-2019, they received a total of 18 medals from Academy of Chocolate (AOC) and International Chocolate Award (ICA), including 3 silver medals, 12 bronze medals, and multiple commendations.
The 5-bar gift box comes with the 5 bet-selling flavors. Including my personal favorite, 65% Dark Chocolate with Labuyo Chili, which is also 65% Dark Chocolate with Labuyo Chili. When you first bite into it, you would only taste chocolate. But almost immediately after, you feel a slight pinch of numbness and spiciness. Once you swallow it, your mouth is filled with the sweet scent of chocolate while the spicy taste lingers on the root of your tongue. It's very smooth. It's spicy enough but not too aggressive. Perfectly
As a Christmas present, the sophisticated packaging is not just a feast for the eyes, the fair-trade chocolates are also the ultimate soul food to show your care for the world.
Read my full review on Theo&Philo→Theo & Philo Bean to Bar Artisan Chocolates
Maccanti Gelato Gift Box | NTD$1,000
Shop here: https://italy1984.maccanti.com/
I first discovered Maccanti Gelato because of their colorful neon lights. Aside from the cute sings and beautiful interior, Maccanti Gelto also tastes exactly like the gelato that I had to have every day when traveling in Italy. There are 40 flavors to choose from on their website, and the Gelato Gift Box comes with 6 cups of 180ml gelato. Which is the perfect amount to eat in one sitting.
I strongly recommend the Sea Salt Peanut Gelato. It almost tastes like Snickers. I find most ice cream exhaustingly sweet but not this. Gelato is known to have less sugar in the first place. This flavor is further complemented by the sea salt which you can clearly taste and the peanuts lingering on your palate. Aside from the candied peanuts sprinkled on top, there were no distinct chunks of peanuts. The whole scoop was a creamy blessing on my tongue. I wanted seconds.
The Lemon Gelato is also a must-have. It looks similar to sorbet but is in fact much denser, however, it is still less creamy than other flavors. It's sweet but light. You can taste and smell the sourness and fragrance of the lemons with every bite. Of course, another must-order is the Pistachio Gelato.
I remember the Italians telling me that I should always order 2 scoops of gelato, one light and fluffy, the other strong and rich. So I'd recommend picking 3 rich flavors and 3 light flavors for the gift box. The pretty blue and white packaging would be the perfect Christmas present for the desert lovers around you. So that they can settle their sweet tooth and enjoy the authentic flavors of Italy in the comfort of their own home.
Read more about my visit to Maccanti Gelato→Maccanti Gelato
Best Christmas Present for Foodies–TV Snacks
King Long Jerky Gift Set B | NTD$1,080
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I have been eating King Long Jerky for as long as I can remember. We have to be snacking on pork or beef jerky from King Long every time we sit in front of a TV. And my dad loves their pork floss (rousong). Gift Set B includes my family favorite, the Original Flavor Beef Jerky. It uses local "warm-body" beef, which means freshly slaughtered meat in Taiwan. The cattle is slaughtered at 1 A.M. then they will start roasting it. Completely retaining the delicious smell and savoriness from the beef, and if you suck on the beef jerky, there would actually be so much juice.
There's also Garlic Flavored "Coin" Pork Jerky. The name comes from their round shape. Those were my favorite as a kid. Aside from the smokey taste that comes from grilling, they are also particularly tender because of the fattier meat. The third item is Black Pepper Jerky Bars. The jerky bars from King Long Jerky are thick and firm. The surface is crispy while the center is soft and juicy. These 3 signature deliciousness comes in nice packagings and a polished gift bag. As a Christmas present, this not only shows your care for your loved one but pleases their palettes and stomach.
Read more about King Long Jerky Founding Store and other Must-Buys at Nanmen Market → TOP 5 stalls at Nanmen Traditional Market
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The signature of Starway Cake is dacquiose. But my favorite item here is the sablés breton. Starway makes classic French desserts using fresh ingredients to create local flavors, making the fresh Taiwanese produce shine, creating the perfect fusion.
The sablés bretons look like cookies but have a rich yet crumbly texture instead of being hard and crunchy. The unique Salted Yolk Sablés Brentons use the salted duck yolks from XieXing, which is an ingredient that bakeries in Taiwan fight over every year as mid-autumn festival rolls around. The soft center is packed with flavor and aroma. There's a hint of sweetness in the savory and salty sablés bretons. They are so addictive and are perfect to snack on while enjoying a good Netflix session. This gift box is no doubt a satisfying Christmas present for snack-lovers. (Lacto-Ovo-Vegetarian)
Read more about Starway Cake and other Foodie spots in Taipei → Traveling Guide for Foodies–A Day in Taipei
Best Christmas Present for Foodies–Soft Drink Lover
Okasang Gift set of 3 | NTD$774
Shop here: https://shope.ee/2VHxecqoXw
The gelatinous nature of the fungus is amazing for your skin, and it is also very low in calories. But cooking white fungus is pretty time-consuming. O Kasang fungus drinks are made through pressure cooking fungi for long periods of time to ensure that the pectin in the fungi is 100% released until the result is completely free of particles; they are not made using a food processor like other snow fungus drinks. Which is why they are smooth and rich and completely without the grassy taste of fungus, very different from the watery fungus drinks from other brands. Because the fungi were cooked for such a long time, O Kasang's fungus drinks are 3 times more concentrated than other fungus drinks on the market, with far more pectin and dietary fiber.
I strongly recommend the commination of Snowy White (jujube white fungus drink), Cran-beauty (cranberry white fungus drink), and Summer Lemon (honey lemon fungus drink). It's energy restoration, women's health, and vitamin C all wrapped in one big bow. It is the perfect Christmas present for soft drink lovers who want to cut back on drinking their calories. Satisfying their mouth pleasure with minimum calories with the addition of skincare benefits.
Read my full review of Okasang Fungus Drinks Healthy→ Snack with Skincare Benefits–O Kasang Ultra-Smooth Fungus Drink
Best Christmas Present for Foodies–Stay Shredded
Funcare burner Superlative Herbal Formula Tablet | NTD$1,080
Shop here: https://shope.ee/A9hP4cBEMi
Funcare burner's Superlative Herbal Formula Tablets have been one of the best selling weight management products for the past 15 years. Unlike other weight management products, Funcare's burner Superlative Herbal Formula Tablets have been approved by doctors from the Taiwan Medical Association for the Study of Obesity and multiple gym trainers. They are FDA approved supplements and have been government certified in helping prevent body fat buildup; nationally proven to be the most effective, among all weight management products, in lowering body fat percentage, including subcutaneous fat (fat under your skin) and visceral fat. This is the only weight management product I know of that has actual medical proof behind its efficacy.
I enlist the help of Funcare burner's Superlative Herbal Formula Tablets before big feasts on cheat days. Especially around Thanksgiving, the Holiday season, and Chinese New Years. I've been really surprised and happy to see the changes shown on my body composition scale. This is the perfect present for foodies who are weight and health conscious. It's also a great helper for elders that have slower metabolism.
Read my full review→Avoid Building Body Fat–Medically Proven
Funcare burner Fiber Powder | NTD$550
Shop here: https://shope.ee/3fTvKhdDw8
Burner's Dietary Fiber Powder passed the international certification of A.A. Clean Label, proven to be 100% without additives. As we work hard to look our best, a lot of people place scrutiny on their weight and body fat, neglecting visceral body fat and blood lipid levels. Burner's Dietary Fiber Powder uses the exclusive F.I.P dietary fiber and has 2 TFDA certifications, officially recognized as being effective in improving gastrointestinal functions and regulating blood lipid levels.
I usually pay attention to not having too much carbs and eating enough protein, but I often neglect my vegetable intake. I only measure out my protein and good fats when I meal prep, never the veggies. I take 1 pack of Funcare burner Fiber Powder every day to ensure my dietary fiber intake, ensuring the health of my digestive system and helping me maintain my figure.
This is the perfect Christmas present for foodies that are mindful of their digestive health and regular bowel movements.
Read my full review→Funcare Burner Dietary Fiber + Probiotics Review
Best Christmas Present for Foodies—Gift-Wrapping
Wrapping Frozen Food
Sensefood frozen dumplings, Chef Hung Taiwanese Beef Noodle Kits, and Maccanti Gelato all need to be kept in the freezer; while Okasang fungus drinks need to be refrigerated. So when you are wrapping these items, don't use regular wrapping paper, choose something that is water-proof—for instance, the metallic wrapping paper that we often see in stationery store. This way, you can place the present back in the freezer after wrapping it and avoid the wrapping paper being ruined. Even if you chose to remove it from the freezer and wrap it at the last minute, the frost on the box and the condensation on the bottle could get the wrapping paper wet.
Empress Hot Sauce Empress Sauce Set
Empress hot sauce can be kept unopened in room temperature for 2 years and refrigerated for 1 year once opened. So this won't take up space in your fridge, just keep it at room temperature. You can also choose whatever wrapping paper you like.
King Long Jerky Gift Set B
King Long's jerky are all freshly grilled, though they can be refrigerated, I'd suggest you not purchase it too early on. You don't really need to wrap this present. All orders of gift sets come with a delicate gift bag.
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