(UK edition) Get creative this Valentine’s Day by exploring the amazing array of foodie gifts you can send to someone special.
An estimated £1bn was spent on the the annual celebration of love in the UK last year according to GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company, despite falling incomes and uncertain financial futures affecting many people.
Here are some inspiring foodie gifts for Valentine’s Day which should be easy to order online. And some of our picks also enable you to show your love to a good cause or small business through a purchase.
Laborie Brut Rosé MCC
From the foothills of the Paarl Mountain in the Western Cape region of South Africa comes this delightful dry sparkling rose that is the perfect bubbly for 14th February. The appealing colour is best described as pale blush or dark salmon pink. It has an aroma of red berries, pomegranate and even flambéed plum. Chardonnay and Pinot Noir grapes are gracefully blended to produce this sparkling wine made in the traditional method (the same way Champagne is made), by which a secondary fermentation takes place inside the bottle. The result is described as ‘seductively fresh’ with a delicious aftertaste of honey cake and grapefruit. This great value sparkling pairs well with seafood, salads or simply appreciated on its own before or after a meal.
Peggy Dark Rum Cocoa Truffles
Indulgent treats made on the Isle of Man make the ideal token of love to send a chocolate lover. The chocolates are made by hand using Manx butter and the decadent shells (made from the finest Callebaut Belgian chocolate) are filled with Peggy of Castletown Dark Rum to create a unique and indulgent flavour. Peggy Rum’s amazing aromas of caramel, oak and marzipan give the truffles an unparalleled depth of flavour. The truffles are one of the expanding offerings from Far Shore Merchants, an Isle of Man enterprise dedicated to developing a selection of artisanal, small-batch products in line with their passion for quality and sustainability. Their first confectionary creation comes from a partnership with Davison’s, an award-winning luxury chocolate and ice cream maker from the Isle of Man. Since 1988 the respected producer has been dedicated to making the finest handmade chocolates. Peggy Dark Rum truffles, created by Master Chocolatier Ian Davison’s team, can be posted nationwide.
Nelson’s NHS Charity Gin
A respected Staffordshire distillery has taken its original, award-winning blend of 27 botanicals and infused it with Blue Pea Flowers to naturally colour the gin blue as a tribute to the NHS. Nelson’s Distillery has sourced botanicals from across the world, including kaffir lime leaves from Thailand, vanilla from Madagascar and cinnamon from Sri Lanka to produce a clean, fresh taste which at the same time is deeply complex. Nelson’s pledges £10 from every purchase of its Limited Edition Charity Gin towards the NHS Charities Together fund. This fund represents 140 member NHS charities throughout the UK. Funds from this appeal will help support the health and wellbeing of NHS staff and volunteers supporting Covid-19 patients in ways above and beyond that which NHS funding can ordinarily provide. There are still some bottles in stock while you can also order a portable 70cl pouch.
The Mentors Petit Verdot 2017
A rich and deliciously juice masterpiece from award-winning The Mentors wine range. The talented South African team led by Izele van Blerk, one of our favourite wine makers, has taken grapes that have been harvested optimally ripe then hand-sorted to ensure only the best fruit is used for fermentation. After maturing for 18 months in French oak barrels, the result is an intense, ruby-red wine with an aroma of cranberries, floral notes and sweet spice. It has a ripe black fruit flavour with a long, quality finish. The Mentors range was created as a premier showcase of the best grapes that South Africa has to offer and this wine comes highly recommended. UK stockists include Slurp, Cellar Door Wines and Sovereign Wines.
Nettle + Tansy Mountain Range Champagne Glasses
This elegant glassware makes the ideal gift to accompany any bubbly. Handblown in the heart of England’s Lake District, these wonderfully crafted glasses are inspired by the region’s incredibly natural beauty. Each glass features outlines of Lakeland hills and valleys that are hand drawn into the goblet during the blowing process. This glassware from Nettle + Tansy is created by its founder Emma Mackintosh, a Lake District-based glass artist for the past 13 years. Inspired by nature and the beauty of the National Park in which she lives, this fine glassware is both classic and contemporary, elegantly combining style and functionality. Emma simply explains: “Blowing glass and making beautiful vessels that add enjoyment to life is my passion.”
Wild Beer Co. Introduction Case
This mixed case of premium beers offer an eclectic variety of tastes and flavours from The Wild Beer Co., an innovative artisan brewery in rural Somerset! They store their beer in over 600 barrels that had previously been used to make wine, whisky, sherry, run, port, tequila and brandy. Storing the beer with this special approach enables it to take on the nuances of the wines and spirit previously that have soaked into the wood. This offers complex layers and flavours that help create really intriguing brews with a flavour that balances taste and aroma. Other intriguing approaches in production include the use of alternative fermentation approaches, ‘unorthodox’ yeasts and innovative ingredients that give their brews a special character.
Join a Valentine’s Day Virtual 5k
In addition to our Foodie gift ideas for Valentine’s Day, we also invite readers to consider supporting a good cause. The Cavell Nurses’ Trust will be holding a Valentine’s Day Virtual 5k to help raise vital funds to support nurses, midwives and healthcare assistants facing financial hardship. Supporters who complete the 5k challenge will receive a celebratory medal.
