Why pickles make the ultimate gift for foodies
The season of giving is well and truly upon us. Christmas markets are in full swing, the sales have already started, and your list of who to buy for is probably reaching new heights. But we’ve only got one thing on our mind... What to buy your favourite foodie?
We might be biased, but we think that pickles are the perfect gift for the food lover in your life! They bring that ultimate pop of flavour to any dish and are probably one of the most underrated yet versatile ingredients you can have in your cupboard.
During a season that is dominated by gathering together around good food, pickles are your secret culinary weapon to bring a burst of flavour to everything from Christmas Day leftovers to a pickle-infused festive tipple.
How to use pickles this festive season
We are obsessed with finding new ways to elevate every meal with pickles. Need some inspiration? Here are just a few ways you can use pickles to really upgrade those mouthfuls this festive season.
- Cheeseboard centrepiece. Adding a colourful and tangy pickle selection (like pickled onions, walnuts and beetroot) to your festive cheeseboards.
- The ultimate Christmas sandwich. Topping off that leftover turkey with the sweet, crisp tang of pickled carrot.
- Boxing Day Bloody Marys. Adding a splash of pickle juice and a generous pickle garnish to your post-Christmas morning cocktails for an extra kick and to cure the hangover.
- Leftovers ploughman's. Make a classic ploughman's lunch with all your festive buffet leftovers: pork pie, ham, cheese, and a heap of your favourite pickle.
- Zesty winter salad. Sprinkling chopped pickled beetroot on a warm goats cheese or root vegetable winter salad for colour and acidity.
- The festive burger. Putting chopped gherkins and American mustard on your burgers for that ultimate level-up.
- Seeing in the New Year. Toasting the New Year with a round of 'pickleback’ shots — a shot of whiskey followed by a shot of pickle brine.
- Turkey curry raita. Mix finely chopped gherkins into a cooling raita to serve alongside your inevitable turkey curry night.
- Baked camembert topping. Give your camembert a twist by topping it with a spoonful of chopped beetroot and a drizzle of honey when it comes out of the oven.
- Old-school buffet. Putting pickled onions, pineapple and cheese on sticks for a festive buffet straight out of the 80s!
Support your local heroes this Christmas!
We feel it’s important to champion lots of small businesses throughout December and here’s why. When you choose to back a small business like ours, you aren’t just buying another product; you’re supporting your local community, injecting money into the local economy, and encouraging local entrepreneurs. You are helping to create and sustain local jobs, and creating the community spirit that makes our towns so unique and loved.
That’s why we want to give a massive shoutout to all the incredible independent shops, delis and farm shops across South Wales and beyond that stock delicious locally-sourced produce. They are at the heart of their communities and fantastic places to find lovely gifts for everyone on your list — whether that’s pickles and preserves, artisan sweets and chocolates, or a bottle of something from a local vineyard or distillery.
Our brilliant independent stockists
Beacons Farm Shop at the Welsh Venison Centre, Bwlch
Cashells, Crickhowell
Farmers Pantry Butchers, Llantwit Major, Whitchurch, Penarth and Brackla
Flynn's Deli, Swansea
Four Seasons Farm Shop, Saundersfoot
Little Green Refills, Abergavenny
Malthouse Market, Monmouth
Natural Weigh, Crickhowell
Welsh General Store, Blaenavon
Zero Waste Torfaen, Cwmbran
Ready to give the gift of pickles?
So, whether you’re curing that Boxing Day hangover, toasting the New Year with your nearest and dearest, or just looking for a way to liven up that turkey sandwich, we promise that pickles are definitely going to be your secret weapon this holiday season.