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1. An authentic Japanese barbecue sauce that's good on basically everything! It's made from delicious, clean ingredients, without any additives, preservatives, or flavoring, and is inspired by the sauce the founder's grandmother used to make!
I love this sauce! It's the perfect mix of savory, sweet, and spicy, and I've found that it works beautifully whether you're cooking with it or just using it as a last minute topping or dipping sauce.
Bachan's is an Asian and Japanese-owned small business founded by Justin Gill, who dreamed of turning his family's sauce into a business ever since he was a kid. Resisting advice to cut costs and water down this prized sauce that earned rave reviews from everyone who tried it, Gill prioritized maintaining its integrity and only using clean ingredients. Their sauce is proudly cold-filled, vegan, small-batch, non-GMO, BPA-free, and preservative-free, while remaining true to the recipe his family used to make over the holidays, inspired by their grandmother Judy Yokoyama.
Get it from Bachan's for $13.99 or get a two-pack from Amazon for $23.98.
2. An African and Middle Eastern spice set — it contains nine high-quality spices and spice blends along with a helpful recipe guide to get you started, making it a great gift for the home cook in your life who wants to expand the flavor profile in their dishes.
You will receive 20 grams of each spice.
Spice Kitchen UK is a small, family-owned business that offers freshly ground spices. Founder Sanjay Aggarwal's mother, who grew up in Kenya and India, spent her life lovingly cooking with spices (and gifting blends to family and friends who raved about them). So when she mentioned to Sanjay that she wanted to take on a project to keep her busy during her retirement, Sanjay suggested selling spice tins, and the project took off beyond their wildest dreams!
Promising review: "These spices are absolutely amazing! They arrived quickly, and from the moment I opened the box I could smell how fragrant they were! I used them promptly for some Moroccan dishes and was thrilled with the outcome. I will definitely be back!" —Emma W
Get it from Spice Kitchen UK on Etsy for $19.17 (and check out more spice varieties here).
3. A splurge-worthy tin of smoked Atlantic salmon here to make you rethink your expectations when it comes to tinned fish. This stuff comes straight out of the can looking almost like salmon sashimi, and has a wonderfully fresh, rich, and smoky flavor you won't be able to get enough of. Plus, the packaging is so cute, you might just wanna keep the box.
Fishwife is a new female-founded and led food company aiming to make ethically sourced, premium, and delicious tinned seafood a staple in every cupboard.
This salmon is sourced directly from Kvarøy Arctic, fed a sustainable, nutrient-rich diet, raised without antibiotics or chemicals, smoked in small batches over a mix of beech, maple, and birch wood, hand-packed, and canned by fifth-generation family-run cannery on the central coast of Washington.
I love salmon. Raw, smoked, grilled, baked, fried — I love it all. So when my friend gifted me this tinned smoked salmon, my curiosity was piqued. The packaging was so adorable, I wondered if the fish would measure up to the presentation. Spoiler alert: It absolutely did. I was used to smoked salmon coming in relatively thin slices. These were thick, meaty chunks that reminded me of the texture of my girlfriend's dad's homemade gravlax. The flavor was fresh yet smoky (but not overwhelmingly so), a little sweet, a little salty, and full of umami. It's great atop rice, toast, bagels, salad — you name it!
Promising review: "Soooo yummy :) I’m so glad I found Fishwife! You’ve made my quick "what’s to eat" decisions so much easier! Delicious on a salad (makes an instant meal!), on crackers with olives, on a sandwich with a ripe tomato, just can’t go wrong! The fact that these are whole chunks of salmon, marinated in Fishwifey magic sets it apart from any other form of salmon I’ve ever tried. Bought myself a dozen cans for my birthday, I love it so much. Never stop making this, please. 😻" —Renee B.
Get a pack of three from Fishwife for $33.
4. Mike's Hot Honey if you wanna add a pleasantly warming kick to any hot beverage, cocktail, meal, dessert, or snack! This honey is infused with chili peppers for a sweet and spicy combo that's not overwhelmingly hot, but adds a complex flavor reviewers can't get enough of. Reviewers say it's also super soothing for sore throats and colds.
Check it out on TikTok here!
Promising review: "This is now a staple for my kitchen. How I cooked without it before, I'll never know. Makes the best vinaigrette ever, quick pan sauces for pork, unexpected zip in dozens of dishes. Does it come in gallons? Have given it as hostess gifts several times and everyone gets hooked." —Martha Ronemus
Get it from Amazon for $13.49 (available in two spice levels and in multiple packs).
Read one BuzzFeeder's full review of Mike's Hot Honey.
5. Or Zab's Hot Honey, which uses spicy (and delicious) datil peppers grown and hand picked exclusively in St. Augustine, Florida, to add a uniquely flavored zing to pretty much any dish you can think of. Drizzle it over pizza, into sauces and marinades, onto cheese boards, and pretty much anywhere else you can think of for a slow-burning kick that doesn't taste quite like any other hot honey I've ever tried.
6. Some Maldon sea salt flakes so you can be your own salt bae and give your dishes a luxurious finishing touch.
Promising review: "Most casual cooks are completely unaware that there are so many different types of salts that are used for so many different functions in the kitchen and in the course of cooking. I classify Maldon salt as a 'finishing salt' in my kitchen. I don't use it to salt pasta water or preseason proteins, but rather use it at the very end to finish items, and it makes an enormous difference in what you put on the table and put into your mouth! They are glistening shards that look like glass that crumble easily between your fingers, so when you put it on top of your finished fish or chicken or steak or a top your vegetables, as it starts to melt, your dish absolutely GLISTENS and has a flavor unlike anything else — unlike what any other salt will impart to the dish that you serve to yourself or to your guests! I simply cannot imagine completing a dish without my box of Maldon salt!" —Lee
Get it from Amazon for $6.99.
7. Some super rich chocolate walnut cookies from Levain Bakery that might just be the most luxurious-tasting cookies I've ever had.
Levain Bakery recommends that you put these in the oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for five minutes, and I will second this suggestion. They'll taste freshly baked as if they were made in your own kitchen, full of a generous amount of delicious gooey chocolate balanced with tasty walnut pieces, all inside an incredibly soft, super thick cookie that'll spoil you for all future desserts.
Get a pack of four from Levain Bakery for $27.
8. A jar of Za'atar you will always wanna have on hand in the kitchen. This delicious Middle Eastern spice blend is made with wild thyme, sesame seeds, sumac, salt, and sunflower oil, and it's great on hummus, meats, bread, olive oil, nuts, pizza, and more.
Promising review: "This za'atar is the best quality I have found. I've also found that the balance of sumac and thyme to be just right. This instantly spices up my boring meal prep food and I put it on my chicken, meats, salads, yogurt, or just in olive oil — basically it makes everything taste so much better. I highly recommend it!" —TC
Get it from Amazon for $10.99+ (available in two sizes).
9. Some amazing hot sauces from Hot N Saucy — they mix flavors like garlic, beet, and sweet potato with just the right amount of heat to make you feel like you've entered hot sauce heaven.
This Black woman-owned business is based in NYC!
Get the hot sauce flavor pack from Hot N Saucy for $30 and check out all of their products and individual sauces at Hot N Saucy.
10. A bottle of “Sizzle” extra virgin olive oil that, unlike most other EVOOs, is actually made for *cooking* thanks to its use of mid-harvest olives that give it a more mellow flavor perfect for drizzling *and* sizzling! Plus, it comes in an easy-to-use squeeze tube that'll make you wonder why all olive oil doesn't come like this.
Promising review: "Delicious olive oil (still yummy enough to bake with, dunk bread, or drizzle on ice cream), but I love cooking with Sizzle! It's mild and the squeeze bottle has truly changed my life. I feel like I have so much more control over the amount of oil I'm using. I quickly used my first bottle and this was me stocking up! Graza is my new go-to :)" —Becky W
Get it from Graza for $15 (also available in multipacks and as a subscription).
11. And a pesto-infused olive oil — it'll will make you rethink the possibilities of olive oil! This stuff packs a flavor explosion with prominent flavors of Genovese basil, Parmigiano Reggiano, and a touch of fresh garlic that'll transport your tastebuds straight to Italy.
This stuff is unreal!!! My parents got it as a gift and couldn't believe the flavor when they first tasted it. They shoved it under my nose with slices of gorgeous, crusty bread and demanded I try it for myself. I couldn't believe how strongly the pesto flavor came through without being overwhelming or tasting in *any way* fake. My tastebuds were almost confused as to how this flavor was coming straight out of olive oil with no pesto anywhere to be seen. A little goes a long way. I can't recommend this enough!
Get it from Fustini's for $20.95.
12. Some organic, gluten-free pizza bites made with quality ingredients so you can indulge in some tasty junk food without all the junky ingredients! This new frozen food brand is from the same entrepreneurs who brought us Hu Kitchen, so they’ve already proven their ability to make delicious snacks without over-processed ingredients — and this first offering doesn’t disappoint!
First of all, let me start by saying my pizza standards are HIGH from growing up in an Italian family who is serious about their ‘za, and right off the bat, these tasted more like the kind of pizza I love than any other pizza pockets I’ve ever had. They’re made with 100% organic ingredients, and you won’t find any scary, hard-to-pronounce chemicals here. But that doesn’t make them taste any less indulgent! The grain-free dough is super flavorful, and gets perfectly crispy on the outside while remaining nice and soft on the inside. And the inside?? It’s truly delicious! The tomato sauce is seasoned perfectly and packs a really nice tangy and garlicky oregano punch without being overly salty like some other frozen foods tend to be. And the CHEESE. Grass-fed mozzarella? Yes plz! The list of ingredients is packed with nutritious veggies, but don’t tell your kids that, and they’ll never know! These pizza pockets are bursting with flavor and will def be my go-to from now on when I’m looking for an easy, tasty snack. Making them couldn’t have been simpler, and putting these in the oven for about eight to nine minutes worked out perfectly for me. I’m definitely guilty of sometimes relying on frozen food more often than I should, but eating these makes me feel way less badly about that habit than other overly-processed options, and I look forward to seeing (and devouring) whichever frozen food Snow Days decides to tackle next!
Get it from Snow Days for $35.99 (available in eight flavors).
13. A cult-favorite popcorn salt — it'll give you instant movie theater flavor by using fine season salt flakes that actually stick to the kernels instead of just falling to the bottom of the bowl like ground salt. Anyone who has worked at theaters, amusement parks, or carnivals has probably seen this secret ingredient that the pros don't want you to know about, so if you're looking for that classic flavor — start here!
Promising review: "I used to use Flavacol during my time working at an amusement park and popping popcorn for hungry guests, so I knew this was what the 'professionals' use. I am happy to report that using this does make your popcorn taste like it was just popped at a movie theater. I like to put a little bit of oil on my kernels, mix in some Flavacol, and then add it to the pot of oil on my stove top when it's hot enough (as opposed to sprinkling it on top of freshly popped corn, which I could see easily accidentally adding too much). It also means that I'm no longer loading up my popcorn with additional toppings like butter or plain salt. Yum!" —Kate R.
Get it from Amazon for $9.25.
14. A fiery larb starter pack from Omsom to add spicy, sweet, salty, tart, and subtly nutty Southeast Asian flavors — based on the traditional Laos-born dish, Thai larb — to any meal! The blend of Red Boat fish sauce, lime juice, cane sugar, thai dried chili flakes, and toasted rice powder are sure to bring something special to a variety of dishes.
Promising review: "Great larb at home! The kit was super easy and yummy!!! Really authentic! I like it kind of spicy so I added a little Thai roasted chili paste! Will order these again!!!" —DEIRDRE E.
Get a three-pack from Omsom for $12.
15. A trio of delicious jams that are ~jam~ packed with flavor. This set includes raspberry redcurrant geranium jam, cherry rosehip hibiscus jam, and lavender blackberry rhubarb jam, and all I've got to say is — YUM.
V Smiley Preserves is a Queer-owned small business based in Vermont that puts 25% of their proceeds toward the Trans Justice Funding Project. Here's what the founder has to say about how their jam is made! "[My partner] Amy and I moved back to Vermont (to the farm where I grew up and where my mom still lives/works) to begin the slow process of 'farm transferral' with V Smiley Preserves as the recipient of the land’s productivity. Amy grows ingredients for V Smiley Preserves (berries, rose geranium, tomatoes, peppers) and together we harvest the fruit that my mother has planted on the farm over her nearly 50 years of caring for the 150-acre farm (mostly berries, rhubarb and apples)."
Get it from V Smiley Preserves for $21+ (available in two sizes).
16. A variety pack of Truff sauces — featuring the Original, Hotter, and White Truff hot sauces — ready to throw a party for your tastebuds and work their way into way more meals and snacks than you'd expect!
This stuff is excellent and really grows on you! The first time I tried it, I wasn't entirely sure how I felt, but by the end of the first week, I found myself reaching for it with almost every meal. While all three options have a lot of similarities, they each have their own distinct personality. At first, they were all a little creamier and almost...tomato-y (?) tasting than I expected. Then, I realized there was NO dairy or tomato present at all, but a thickness and slight sweetness almost reminiscent of red bell peppers. The truffle flavor is present but subtle, and the sauce has a solid kick without being overwhelmingly hot. As far as the differences between the three, the White Truff sauce is a hint sweeter than the other two, the Original has a slightly earthier flavor than the others, and the extra spiciness of the Hotter Truff sauce spreads through the mouth quicker and is definitely hotter than the rest. Verdict: They're all really good! So far, these sauces have shined brightest when added to a nice tomato sauce, drizzled over a slice of pizza, scooped up by crispy french fries, and, believe it or not, even added to a salad dressing, but that's still barely scratching the surface! Plus it comes in a very classy looking box that's great for gifts.
Get it from Amazon or Truff for $69.99, or try just the Original for $17.98, the White Truff sauce for