Made-in-Louisiana Holiday Gift Guide
If you’ve been searching high and low to find the perfect gift for the Louisiana fans in your life, we’ve got great news. Our Louisiana gift guide is full of creative and delicious ideas for surprising each person on your list with a little bit of the Bayou State this holiday season.
1. Beignet Mix from Café Du Monde
You can hardly have a Louisiana gift guide without a beignet mix – and the one from Café Du Monde is a surefire way to show someone how much you care. For anyone who is unfamiliar with beignets, they are bite-sized French doughnuts covered in powdered sugar and best enjoyed alongside a hot cup of coffee. Who can say no to that?
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2. Syrups and Mixers from Cocktail and Sons
The bartender, or aspiring cocktail connoisseur, will love a syrup or mixer from Cocktail and Sons. From mint and lemon verbena to honeysuckle and peppercorn, each one is handcrafted with all-natural ingredients using fresh produce and sugar cane grown right in the heart of the state. You’ll never find any artificial flavors or colors in these products either.
See more: 7 Louisiana Food Festivals to Add to Your Bucket List
3. Candlemaking Supplies from Cajun’s Candle
Candles have always been popular, but making your own at home is increasing in popularity these days. If you know someone who is itching to get a little creative with a hands-on project, this is the perfect gift for them. Cajun’s Candle offers candlemaking supplies and a variety of fragrances for anyone who wants to shop a la carte. But if you aren’t quite as familiar with everything you or your loved one might need to get going, their kits are a great place to start.
4. Gourmet Pecans from Cane River
Know someone who loves to cook or bake? Consider sending them a package of gourmet pecans from Cane River. If you want something a little fancier, you could also peruse their gift tins and boxes, cookies, or pralines. They even have an entire line dedicated to pecan specialties, including cake, pecan praline popcorn, pecan oil and cinnamon pecan straws.
5. Specialty Spices from Merchant Trading Co.
Indian Ginger Root, Moroccan Thyme and Shandong Snow White Garlic are just a few of the specialty spices on the menu at Merchant Trading Company. Paired with a cookbook full of Cajun dishes, or simply a few handwritten recipes on beautiful cardstock, the spices you can find here would make a wonderful surprise for anyone who enjoys spending time in the kitchen.
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6. Bottled Wine from Landry Vineyards
We all know someone who is exceptionally tough to buy gifts for, right? Well you can’t go wrong with a bottle of wine from Landry Vineyards. Tucked away in the gorgeous hills of West Monroe, this 50-acre establishment is home to the winery, vineyards, a tasting room, cottages and camper sites. They grow everything from Blanc Du Bois to Crimson Cabernet grapes, making a point to only cultivate varieties that do well in Northern Louisiana growing conditions. With that in mind, you can rest easy knowing when you purchase a bottle from Landry, you really are giving your loved ones a genuine taste of Louisiana.
7. Spice Seasonings
Nothing screams Louisiana like Cajun seasonings, which is why we couldn’t pass over these mouthwatering and occasionally tear-inducing blends from Cajun 180. If you know someone who likes a little kick to their dishes, you could splurge on the Cajun 180 Complete Gift Set and let them feast their eyes (and stomach) on the best this brand has to offer, including spiced peanuts and a punchy cocktail rimmer.
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8. Bulldog Pepper Jelly
“Jelly with a bite,” as they say at Bulldog Pepper Jelly, is a far cry from your average homemade jam. Strawberry, roasted pecan, jalapeno and roasted garlic jellies are ready and waiting to be wrapped up and placed under the Christmas tree this year. What can you use them for? Anything from crawfish nachos with roasted garlic pepper jelly to King Cake French toast made with spicy strawberry pepper jelly. You can even whip up a baked goat cheese dip with these addicting blends.
9. Knife Set from Coutelier
A cook is only as good as his or her tools, right? So why not indulge your culinary friends and family members with a premier knife set from Coutelier? Pricey but a worthwhile investment, these knives are works of art made with everything from stainless steel with mahogany wood to Damascus steel with Japanese magnolia handles. And if the sets are a little out of your price range, consider shopping their pantry goods, which include a number of loose leaf teas, spices and vinegars.
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10. Bean to Bar Chocolate
Who can say no to a decadent bar of Louisiana chocolate? Based in the heart of New Orlenas, Acalli Chocolate is a bean-to-bar operation that roasts, winnows and stone grinds the best cacao beans available to create luxurious desserts in a myriad of flavors. Dulce dark chocolate, milk chocolate with cacao nibs, and cacao nibs with sea salt are just a few of their many delicious choices.