Five of the finest foodie Christmas gifts from Northern Ireland
delicious. team
Northern Ireland is home to some fabulous small producers and we’ve gathered together five of our favourite food and drink gift ideas from them for Christmas. From moreish chocolate almonds to the cutest cans of Irish whiskey, foodies will be delighted to find these treasures under the tree…
1. Irish Black Butter
Northern Ireland might be known for its buttercup yellow butters, but this traditional ‘black butter’ from Armagh is a rich, sweet and savoury spiced spread of Irish apples and treacle. Recommend it with marinated pork shoulder, stuffed pumpkins and dolloped on granola. £5.99 for 225g, available from Irish Black Butter
2. Forest Feast Blonde Chocolate Caramelised Hazelnuts
Moreish in the extreme. Exuding a rich-roasted smoothness, these Blonde Chocolate Caramelised Hazelnuts are equal parts crunchy and buttery. The Salted Dark Chocolate/Salted Caramel Milk Chocolate Almonds are winners too. £30 for 6 x 100g gift cubes, available from Forest Feast
3. Two Stacks Whiskey Discovery Pack
What’s sweeter than honey and stronger than steam? These cute dram-size cans of Two Stacks Whiskey, of course! Smooth, silky but with a keen fiery bite, the little tins show the diversity of Two Stacks distillery in Newry and will convert anyone to a whiskey lover by the time the final drop is finished. The Irish Cream Liqueur is a delight too. £20 for 4 x 100ml cans, available from Two Stacks Whiskey
4. NearyNógs Old Fashioned Orange Bitters, Burnt Sugar and Irish Whiskey Chocolate
With the flavours of an old fashioned cocktail, this smooth dark chocolate, also from Newry, is subtle on the whisky front, with undertones of orange bitters. A great gateway into darker chocs for those who favour milk’s smoother, sweeter nature. Gorgeous Irish folksy packaging too, and the other flavours (below) are equally intriguing. £7.50 for 60g, available from NearyNógs
5. S’more’a’licious Handmade Marshmallow Fluff
What do you get the person who has everything? Fluff! This jar of snowy vanilla-scented marshmallow is air-light, free from artificial nasties – and the right side of sweet. Great for homemade s’mores or to top hot chocolate. £5.99 for 110g, available from S’more’a’licious
Find out more about Northern Ireland’s top producers, including a directory, at buynifood.com – and discover our guide to Northern Ireland’s best cheeses.
Subscribe to our magazine
Food stories, skills and tested recipes, straight to your door... Enjoy 5 issues for just £5 with our special introductory offer.
Subscribe
Unleash your inner chef
Looking for inspiration? Receive the latest recipes with our newsletter