Food is the pinnacle of any Christmas celebration, whether it’s dinner with all the trimmings, tubs of chocolate or boozy advent calendars. But there’s one that trumps them all: the hamper.
A good Christmas hamper strikes the balance between rich cheeses, flavoursome crackers, indulgent condiments and bottles of fizz. As a festive classic, it’s the perfect gift to give someone that’s guaranteed to go down well.
Ranging from £40 to £1,000, there’s endless choice on the shelves, so we rounded up the best ones for 2019.
The ultimate festive indulgence comes in the form of a Fortnum & Mason hamper, featuring some of its best loved products to feast on. In it you’ll find a box of royal tea, spiced biscuits, truffles, Piccadilly biscuit selection, Christmas pudding, marmalade, blackberry preserve, chutney, cognac butter, to washed own with a bottle or red, white and champagne. Bon appetit indeed.
A hamper with all the festive trimmings, John Lewis has pulled out all the stops this year. Inside the wicker basket is a selection of mince pies, chutneys, pudding, crackers, hot chocolate, chive biscuits and a mini panettone. Delish.
If you’re going vegan this year, Hay Hamper have made sure you won’t need to compromise on taste or quality with its moreish vegan alternative to the Christmas hamper. Within it there are savoury snacks like baby gherkins, nut and rosemary breadsticks, fine tea and a bottle of white wine, while you can get your sweet fix with cookies, apple crisps and fruit sweets.
You don’t have to spend a bomb to get your hands on a hamper, as Aldi proves. It’s selection of Christmas favourite for change from a twenty is equally as satisfying for the budget conscious. Scoff down on mint creams, chocolate florentines, cream fudge, nougat and a bottle of Shiraz.
Pre-order it now. Delivery from 13 November.
Presenting the best from its famed food hall, Harrods has handpicked an assortment of luxury tea, coffee, biscuits, jams and chutney, and of course a bottle of red and white, which will no doubt be well-loved and quickly devoured.
If eating gluten isn’t an option for you, Marks & Spencer have got you covered with its gluten-free hamper that comes in a reusable bag rather than a traditional wicker basket. While the merlot may have caught your eye, there’s also cake, Christmas pudding, apricot and cashew nut toasts, milk chocolate cookie and a selection box to enjoy too.
Brook Hamper, Claridge’s, £250
While at the pricier end our hamper shortlist, Claridge’s doesn’t fail to deliver with a luxurious selection of sumptuous home-made treats. It includes its bespoke tea blends, classic Christmas pudding, delicate florentines along with a bottle of bubbly and red to enjoy alongside them.
Perfect for a sweet-tooth, Hotel Chocolat have literally made a hamper of just chocolate, from mini deserts, chocolate buttons, slabs and hot chocolate powder. If they don’t eat it, we will.
Spurge on a luxurious mix of fine festive foods thanks to Harvey Nichols, who has filled its hamper with mulled wine, Premier Cru champagne, green olives stuffed with garlic and leon sorbet, lemon sherbet fudge, Bombay dal snacks and more.
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