Tuesday 10 December 2019

CHRISTMAS GIFTS: Creating the Perfect Festive Organic Food Hamper with Abel & Cole

CHRISTMAS GIFTS: Creating the Perfect Festive Organic Food Hamper with Abel & Cole
*Advertorial Content - Gifted Items
Giving the gift of delicious food at Christmas couldn't be more perfect, whether it be for your friends, family, work colleagues or neighbour. Everyone loves a treat over the festive period, so taking the time to put together a hamper filled with everything the lucky recipient loves makes for such a special gift. Abel & Cole are the home of all things organic and have been for the past thirty years; their passion for organic produce, commitment to the environment and support of smaller producers makes shopping on their website an absolute joy. 

You may have heard of their recipe boxes before, in which you have everything you need to cook a range of delicious healthy meals; the ultimate convenience for those with busy lives. However, you may not be aware that they also have a wide array of organic fruit, vegetables, meat, fish, fridge, pantry, household items and drinks. This makes putting together a thoughtful food hamper for a loved one quick and easy with a whole host of unique produce from farmers, makers and bakers all available in one place.
When it comes to putting a food hamper together you could either pick items you know the recipient will love or you can choose to focus on a specific meal/product/food category. If you know someone who loves to kick start the day with a hearty breakfast, then creating a breakfast hamper would be perfectly suited to them. Someone with a sweet tooth would be very excited to receive a thoughtfully put together hamper of chocolate, biscuits and all of the sweet treats. Other hamper inspiration ideas are:
  • Afternoon tea - to include a range of teas, coffees, hot chocolates, biscuits, cakes etc.
  • Chocolate - to include a range of truffles, chocolate biscuits, hot chocolate, chocolate lolly making kit etc.
  • Breakfast - to include a range of cereals, bacon, honey, bread, juices, fruit compote, preserves, yogurt, butter, maple syrup etc.
  • Cheese and Port - to include a range of cheeses, crackers, chutney, port etc.
  • Christmas Buffet - to include a range of Christmas cake, breadsticks, dips, antipasti meats, breads, nuts, cheese, panettone, mince pies etc. 
  • Smoothie - to include a range of fruits, superfood powders, vegetables, juices, yogurt, milk, seeds etc. 
  • Beers & Snacks - to include a range of beers, lagers, ales, nuts, cheese, crackers, chutneys etc. 
These are just some ideas if you're wanting to have a focus when creating a gift hamper; you can let your imagination run wild or use the opportunity to introduce your loved one to a range of new and exciting products to try. I have put together a hamper that includes a combination of all of the above hamper ideas, so that you can see the tasty range of organic products Abel & Cole has to offer, as well as how easy it is to create your own hamper of any size. However, if you are really short on time or want the hamper to come already packaged up then they do have their own range of pre-made hampers available, including The Chutney & Preserves Gift Box, The Merriest Jolly Hamper, The Festive Nibbles & Fizz Hamper and The Port & Stilton Gift Box
When it came to choosing the items for this Christmas Hamper I started by browsing their Christmas section, which is filled with the most delicious range of festive starters, nibbles, cheeses, chocolate, canapes, drinks, desserts and baked goods. Some of these aren't available until mid=-December, however you can order them now and they will be delivered on their stated date within December. If you're exchanging gifts earlier than Christmas Day then it is worth checking this before ordering, so that you don't end up with an item that won't be delivered in time. After adding everything to my basket that I thought would be ideal in this hamper I moved onto their vast range of pantry and food cupboard items that they stock all year around. If you're including fridge items within your hamper then it is worth considering wrapping those up separately, so that they can easily be stored in the fridge prior to opening. 

Behind each product that is carefully selected to be stocked by Abel & Cole there is a wonderful story, some of which I've shared below...

Gloucestershire is the home to award winning Authentic Bread Co. who bake bread to the highest standard, using organic flour, yeast, salt and water. Taste is the focus of all of their produce, which is instantly evident when you try any of their breads. This Mixed Seed Loaf is divine slathered in Abel & Cole's Hand-rolled Salted Butter for breakfast.

Nature's Path started making cereal with the philosophy to always leave the soil better than when they found it. They are also zero waste certified, only use recyclable packaging and vegetable-based inks, not to mention that their free-from cereals are incredibly moreish. 

Is it even Christmas without an abundance of mince pies around the house? These mini mince pies are made by The Authentic Bread Company and filled with Herefordshire apples, dried fruit, warming spices and an indulgent splash of cognac for good measure. 

Mr Organic's Linguette Flatbreads are the perfect addition to any spread or for crackers, cheese and port on a cold winters evening. They are made using extra virgin olive oil and then hand stretched, giving them a crunch that is second to none. 

The Clapp family are based near Glastonbury and they take their time making Abel & Cole's Organic Hand-rolled Butter using traditional methods. The Anglesey Sea Salt that is added to this butter is so pure that it is the only salt to have Soil Association approval. 

Cocoa Loco is run up Sarah and Rory Payne in Horsham, which is where they produce their delicious chocolate creations that also have high eco credentials. The organic cocao they use is grown in the gaps of the rainforest canopy, they only produce the same amount of rubbish as one household bin a week, everything else is recycled, their electricity is from a green power company and all of their packaging is recyclable. 

An 18th century stable block on an organic estate in Dorset is home to Hedgehog Bakery, which is where they grow their own wheat, fruit, vegetables and herbs that are used in their breads and cakes. Sage and Onion is usually a combination found in stuffing, but trust me when I say that this pairing makes for the most moreish bread. It's full of flavour, ideal for leftover turkey sandwiches or dipped into a steaming bowl of soup. 

The London Honey Company was born in 1999 and now have bees on the rooftops of some of the most iconic buildings in London, including the Tate, Fortnum & Mason and the Victoria & Albert Museum. This honeycomb is cut straight from the hive and is heavenly on toast, with cheese and biscuits or simply by itself. 
Abel & Cole also work extremely hard to reduce their impact on the environment; one way they do this is only delivering to each area once a week, therefore keeping carbon emissions and food miles to a minimum. Most of their packaging can be recycled or reused and they were the first to use pioneering compostable packaging in the United Kingdom. 
Who would you create a food hamper for this Christmas?

Feel free to leave a comment - I love reading every single one :)

Helen x
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8 comments

  1. Christmas hampers are great aren’t they! I love putting them together for presents - because you really can’t go wrong. Abel and Cole have a gorgeous range and everything is packaged so beautifully. I’m going to pop by the website to check out the chocolate and cheeses 😊

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  2. These would make lovely gifts for family. I love Abel and Cole and there are so many goodies to choose from to go into these.

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  3. Oh wow I didn't know Abel & Cole did hampers. Absolutely love the items you've selected for your hamper - the perfect festive treat!

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  4. Some great ideas here! I can't believe just how much there is you can put in a hamper like this!

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  5. What a lovely selection of yumminess! I am making a hamper for my Dad's birthday, i think I should check this out, the quality looks really high end x

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  6. I love Christmas hampers and I love that you could put together this one - you filled it with such delicious products!

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  7. I love the idea of a hamper for Christmas. What a lovely idea!

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  8. I've never had a Christmas hamper before, but this one makes me really really want one!!! Everything looks so yummy and lots of treats!

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