Food Rebels’ Guide to Clutter Free Gifting this season
Christmas Gifts for People Who Are Over “Stuff”
If you’re feeling overwhelmed by clutter, carol services and school events, and you still haven’t finished your Christmas shopping, you’re not alone. In this Food Rebels Christmas Gift Guide, AJ and Clare are on a mission to dodge plastic tat and find presents people will actually use and enjoy.
From spice-laden supper club kits and Italian aperitivi to matcha ketchup and English fizz, AJ and Clare’s Christmas Gift Guide is all about treats people can actually enjoy – and then clear away.
Think edible, drinkable, recyclable and delicious. Here are the Food Rebels top picks.
Steenbergs Arabian Spice Collection (in jute bag) for the adventurous home cook – £48.50
As AJ and Clare said on the show, this is the one you proudly turn up with when you want your host to really like you. Perfect for adventurous home cooks, the collection offers a delicious journey through Arabian food culture with blends for marinades, tagines, salads, and more. The collection includes a vibrant selection of organic and ethically sourced Middle Eastern spices, herbs, and treats, beautifully packed in a reusable jute tote. It includes favourites like Za’atar, Sumac, Ras al Hanut, Chermoula, Baharat, Dukkah, and Harissa with Rose. As well as pomegranate molasses, saffron, barberries, a fragrant green tea blend, and a lemon & mint scented candle. Inspired by the flavours featured in Ottolenghi’s cookbook, this curated set draws from Persian, Moroccan, and Levantine cuisines.
Amaro Santoni – Tuscan aperitivo, for lovers of Italian style and pudding wines – From £25.27
AJ and Clare were instantly transported to Florence, sipping happily and declaring it a “pudding wine, aperitivo and stylish Italian moment all at once.” Amaro Santoni (16% ABV), the award-winning “dolce-amaro aperitivo”, offering an elegantly light taste of Tuscany led by rhubarb and iris with undertones of citrus and olive leaves.
It’s a perfect gift as it’s a great addition to everyone’s home bar or drinks trolley that most people wouldn’t go out of their way to buy for themselves. Amaro Santoni can be enjoyed all year round, whether they love a Spritz, Negroni or even a Garibaldi – the perfect bottle to elevate your at home cocktails this festive season.
Fudge Kitchen – Festive Slider, for fudge fans and sweet-toothed hosts – £8
This fantastic combination of three flavours of festive fudge is a sparkling Christmas star. Packed with sophisticated Speculoos, utterly moreish Salted Caramel and old favourite Chocolate & Orange, these six bites of heaven are the perfect Christmas treat. On the show, AJ and Clare reminisced about how melt-in-the-mouth their last tasting was — a sure sign it deserves a place under the tree.
3Doodler Chef 3D Pen set for creative bakers and cake decorators – £89.99
This one is perfect for the makers and tinkerers. The 3Doodler Chef is a white, pen-style gadget that you load with little candy capsules; they melt inside, allowing you to “draw” edible shapes that set firm. You can create everything from butterflies and flowers for cupcakes to delicate sugar structures for showstopper cakes, or add extra decorative details to a gingerbread house. The finished pieces have a sweet, crunchy, spun-sugar texture, making it a lovely tool for hobby bakers, hands-on kids and teens, or anyone who enjoys a fun kitchen gadget for a cosy, creative afternoon.
Wednesday’s Domaine alcohol free taster box, for people moderating their drinking – £81.99
Non-alcoholic wine is famously difficult to perfect, but Wednesday’s Domaine is one of the few brands that genuinely delivers a grown-up drinking experience. On the show, AJ and Clare try the sparkling rosé, which is light and gently fizzy without being aggressively carbonated. It’s dry with a soft hint of sweetness, beautifully pale pink and convincingly wine-like, and at around 19 calories it feels like a true no-compromise option. They also discuss the brand’s red alternative, a smoky, layered and complex choice that’s ideal if you enjoy the ritual of red wine but not the alcohol. Wednesday’s Domaine is a brilliant fit for friends who don’t drink, anyone taking a few midweek nights off, and hosts who want inclusive options on the table. With mixed cases available, it’s easy to gift a tasting selection of their different styles.
Hambledon Classic Cuvee, for sparkling wine lovers – from £39
When AJ and Clare tasted it on the show (even out of the wrong glass), they agreed it was beautifully delicate and exactly what you want to kick off a festive celebration. Hambledon’s Classic Cuvée blends Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier, aged for at least 39 months on the lees, bringing fine bubbles, vibrant acidity and notes of citrus, orchard fruit and patisserie. It’s poured in Virgin Atlantic Upper Class and The Pig Hotels — a sign it’s doing something very right.
Also available via Berry Bros. & Rudd (£29.25) Waitrose Cellar (£32.50)
Hey French IV Edition – “You Could Have Made This But You Didn’t” (New Vintage), a white wine lover’s dream – £37 from Majestic
Don’t be fooled by the cheeky name! Now in its fourth release – and newly available via Majestic to mark Pasqua’s centenary year – this is the perfect blend to gift the wine lover who has everything.
AJ and Clare loved its playful swagger on the show: classy in the glass, cheeky on the label, and absolutely delicious. Inspired by Champagne’s blending traditions, this wine is crafted with precision and artistry – a testament to Pasqua’s innovative and unconventional approach to premium winemaking. It’s a complex blend of seven vintages and three grape varieties: Garganega, Pinot Blanc, and Sauvignon Blanc. The result is a wine with structure, freshness, and fragrant floral notes, underpinned by intense minerality that reflects the volcanic origins of its soil.
Altano Rewilding 2022 from Symington Family Estates – £11
From one of Portugal’s most celebrated wine families, Altano Rewilding 2022 is a silky, easy-drinking red that gives back, a portion of each bottle supports Rewilding Portugal. Recently scoring 93 points in Decanter, it showcases Symington’s commitment to quality and sustainability. It pairs beautifully with roasted red meats and gatherings of hungry, happy people. On the show, AJ instantly recognised the family name from her own wedding wine, a full-circle Food Rebels moment.
Wild & Fruitful “To-Matcha” Ketchup, for the wildcard foodie who’s tried everything – £3.99
AJ and Clare’s reaction on the show said it all: “Confusing… but weirdly delicious” this was Clare’s top pick of the show!
To-Matcha Ketchup blends earthy Japanese matcha with the flavours of rich, tangy tomatoes. Made with 100% natural ingredients, To-Matcha Ketchup is bold, vibrant and surprisingly moreish – perfect for dipping, drizzling, and redefining favourite dishes this festive party season.
Wild & Fruitful have reimagined one of Britain’s favourite condiments with a matcha-green twist. This limited-edition ketchup delivers a bold, surprisingly moreish umami hit. Made with 100% natural ingredients, it’s a fun way to liven up party snacks, leftovers or chips.
Islands Chocolate, perfect for hot-chocolate obsessives – £45 for the family bundle or £6.95 for each
When AJ and Clare opened the gift box in the studio, they were instantly delighted — the kind of wide-eyed joy hot chocolate should bring. Crafted with the finest natural Caribbean cocoa, homegrown British sugar, and sprinkling of sea salt, the 45% Hot Chocolate Powder creates an indulgent, complex hot chocolate, bountiful in natural cacao flavours. Prominent deep cocoa flavour creates a rich hot chocolate with a jammy, dark fruit sweetness, creamy mouthfeel and gently acidic finish.
Fudge Kitchen – Festive Collection for fudge fans and sweet-toothed hosts – £12.50
This fabulous box of fudge is enough to make anyone feel festive. Including luxurious flavours like indulgent Hazelnut Praline, Peanut Butter, Stem Ginger, Chocolate Fruit & Nut and of course, some seasonal classics, such as sophisticated Speculoos and Chocolate Orange, there really is something for everyone. As Clare put it in the episode: “This is the one you bring when you want to be invited back.”
Good Phats Cooking Bundle for your favourite home cook – £52.80
If you’re gifting someone who lives in the kitchen, the Good Phats Cooking Bundle is a knockout choice. This set brings together four of Good Phats’ most versatile pantry fats, Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Organic Grass-Fed Ghee, Light Avocado Oil, and Organic British Grass-Fed Beef Tallow, so there’s a tasty, high-quality option for roasting, frying, drizzling or finishing almost any dish. These PHATS help everyday cooking feel a bit more confident and a lot more delicious, whether it’s a simple veg roast or a celebratory feast.
AJ absolutely loves this bundle, it’s one of those kitchen staples you reach for again and again, and she reckons it’s so useful for elevating everything from quick dinners to weekend projects.
