Five gourmet foods that make for great gifts

Gifting in recent times has shifted from conventional options like chocolates and sweets to the carefully curated artisanal foods. Not only do these gifts feel a touch more exclusive, they are also far healthier and safer, as most hand crafted foods available online are preservative free and completely organic. Since the gifting season will soon descend upon us, get a head-start with our handy list of delicious goodies.

Mango Jalapeno Preserve from The Gourmet Jar

Source: gourmetjar.com

A Delhi-based food delivery service, The Gourmet Jar is all about artisanal jams and preserves. The handmade jams use minimal sugar and natural, organic ingredients, without the use of any additional preservatives. The mango jalapeno preserve has a chunky consistency that starts off sweet, but delivers a spicy kick from the jalapeno peppers. Other flavours that have us intrigued include the boozy Banana Rum Jam and Orange Whisky Marmalade. You also have the option of gourmet gifts that can include different combinations of the jams and preserves.
www.thegourmetjar.com

Ginger Honey from Honey and Spice

Source: honeyandspice.in

Raw, natural honey is unprocessed, and devoid of any additives that can interfere with its antioxidant and nutrient content. Honey and Spice, a Bengaluru-based group works with farmers with smaller patches of land and indigenous forest tribes to harvest raw, wild honey in its purest form in a sustainable manner. The Ginger Honey has a sweet and sharp aftertaste. Best used as a natural sweetener in green and black tea, the honey imparts additional aroma to the brew.
honeyandspice.in

Sundried Tomato and Parmesan Butter from Monks Bouffe

Source: Monks Bouffe

Garlic and herb butter is passe. Mumbai-based Monks Bouffe partners with home chefs and sources local, organic, fresh ingredients for their dips, sauces and butters. The Sundried Tomato and Parmesan Butter is a sweet and salty mix of parmesan cheese and sundried tomatoes blended in an unsalted butter base. For those looking for something a touch sweeter, the honey cinnamon butter would be an ideal pick.
Note: Delivery available for Mumbai only
monksbouffe.com

Channa Methi from Goosebumps Pickles

Source: goosebumpspicles.com

For most of us, pickles were synonymous with summers, when our grandmothers lovingly bottled fresh mangoes, veggies and spices in huge jars to relish later. Mass-produced store-bought pickles, loaded with a lot of salt and preservatives, are an excuse in the name of pickles. Enter Goosebumps Pickles, a family-owned enterprise that offers as many as 10 different pickles. The Channa Methi pickle is a spicy-sour mix with a fenugreek base. This preservative-free pickle is a burst of flavours without being overwhelmingly spicy and makes for a light accompaniment to parathas or a humble meal of daal-chawal.
http://www.goosebumpspickles.com

Chocolate Peanut Spread from Flat Tummies

Source: Flat Tummies/Facebook

No gifting list is complete without a vegan addition and Flat Tummies in Mumbai ensures that vegans do not miss out on the finer things in life. Their range of dairy-free and gluten-free food includes a sugar-free Chocolate Peanut Spread that is all-natural. The spread is also free of preservatives and is a great addition to post-workout snacks or the healthy breakfast smoothie. The website also has vegan ice-cream, baked goodies and frozen desserts that are sweetened using natural fruit and nut extracts.
Note: Mumbai only delivery
http://www.flattummies.in/