12 Days of Christmas - day 3: Hampers

We’re celebrating the run up to Christmas a little early with our very own 12 Days of Christmas Gift Guide. Throughout November, we’ll be uploading a selection of gifts for everyone from gardeners to lovers of food, pet owners to families, in order to help you find perfect presents tailored to your loved ones’ interests..

For day three, we look at great British Christmas hampers:

 
Afternoon Tea Treats, Lewis & Cooper: £42.75
Showcasing the best Yorkshire produce, Lewis & Cooper’s tea hamper contains premium Darjeeling and all the edible accompaniments you could want. There are sweet treats ranging from jams and oatcakes to elderflower cordial, or for an afternoon meal, you can enjoy chutney and cheese. The Hawes Waxed Wensleydale Cheese is a good example of the local produce the company supports. The producer is currently trying to get Protected Designation of Origin status for their “real” Wensleydale.

The Staffordshire Temptation, The County Hamper Company: £44.99
This regional hamper has a range of sweet and savoury foods inside, sourced from the Staffordshire area. Each product has been carefully selected and there are some very special items contained in this tempting offering – the Dandelion and Burdock spicy soft drink, traditionally brewed in Burton-on-Trent and the Raspberry Daquiri Preserve from Yoxall stand out.

The Cooks Christmas Hamper, Lune Valley Hampers: £32

This great themed hamper makes a lovely gift for the budding chef, or indeed any Christmas kitchen. It packs in flavours far greater than its size or price and does a worthy job celebrating local Cumbrian and Lancashire produce. Contents include goose fat for perfect roast potatoes, Lune Valley honey for roast parsnips, redcurrant and port jelly for braising red cabbage and dried, fresh herbs and come gift wrapped in a wicker tray. 

Sweet Indulgence Hat Box Hamper, Forman & Field: £69.95
Presented in a quirky wooden hat box, the Sweet Indulgence Hamper contains multi-coloured macaroons, handmade chocolates, biscuits and Forman & Field lemon curd. Fun presentation continues with four cupcakes found in jars, all washed down with a bottle of dessert wine. The emphasis here is on great British food and this hamper contains more than enough to keep a sweet-toothed recipient happy.

Modern Royal Box, The Fine Cheese Co., £32
A contemporary take on the traditional hamper, The Fine Cheese Co. offer a range of cheese selection boxes this Christmas. This selection of regal cheeses honours our newest royal with Katherine – a modern, British, washed-rind goats’ milk cheese from Somerset. The box also contains the Duke of Sussex, Baby Waterloo and Richard III Wensleydale, creating a beautiful gift for lovers of cheese. What’s more, all are artisan cheeses, made by small producers using traditional methods, often making only one cheese and with the milk from their own herd.

Luxury Cider and Brandy Hamper Box, Bristol Cider Shop: £45
This unique hamper contains award-winning produce made by small independent producers on traditional cider farms within 50 miles of Bristol. This selection allows you to sample fermented cider, Somerset cider brandy and Morello Cherries in Apple Eau de Vie. The Bristol Cider Shop only stocks traditional cider and perry made from 100% juice, so you can be sure you are getting the highest quality ciders for Christmas.

Exmoor Christmas Hamper, Purely Devon Hampers: £68
This company does what it says on the tin with its unique gift hampers filled with 100% Devon produce. Presented in an eco-friendly jute bag, this Exmoor-themed hamper contains award-winning cheese and strawberry jam, as well as traditional Devonshire clotted cream and scrumpy cider. Focusing on a modern country aesthetic, Purely Devon Hampers also allow you to pick out your own products to make your ideal hamper from scratch.

The Chilli Fiend Hamper (Medium), The Yorkshire Pantry: £55.99
The Yorkshire Pantry provides a range of exclusively Yorkshire fare including this fantastic hamper for loves of spice. The Chilli Fiend Hamper makes a nice chance from run of the mill hampers, and there is also a further attraction. While this hamper is offered ready-made you can also opt for the bespoke version, giving you a chance to pick between favourite spicy products suggested by The Yorkshire Pantry – select two bottles of sauces and jars of chilli jam, curry mixes, chilli chocolate and much more. 

Wenlock Hampers - The Marathon Gourmet Hamper, HEART of ENGLAND Fine Foods: £125
HEART of ENGLAND Fine Foods is celebrating the links between Shropshire’s Much Wenlock and the modern Olympic Games with their new Wenlock Hampers ranging from £13 to £125. This locally sourced hamper only contains products sourced from producers within a 26.2 mile radius of the town of Much Wenlock – the same distance as a marathon. Containing chocolate, cider and cheese, this hamper has a bit of everything you need at Christmas.

The Alcohol-Free Christmas Cheer, Regency Hampers: £44.50
Presented in a willow picnic hamper, Regency Hampers provide Christmas treats to suit a wide variety of specialties. Drawing on the fact that the majority of Christmas hampers contain alcohol, their Alcohol Free offering instead includes fruit pressés, making this a great treat for someone young or abstaining from alcohol. There are plenty more Christmassy treats to discover inside, from pâté and chutney through to crisps and mincemeat tarts.

Fine Things, Fraser Balgowan: £265
Celebrating fine Scottish produce, this hamper contains venison charcuterie, cocoa dusted velvet truffles, raspberry balsamic dressing and a handmade lemongrass natural soy wax candle. There are also plenty of beverages to see you through the holiday season. This highland company mixes luxurious food with plush fabrics and accessories, so you can choose to add cashmere scarves or tweed totes to make your gift extra special.

Keep your eyes peeled for more great Christmas ideas coming soon, or read previous Christmas gift lists by clicking the links below:

Day 1: gifts for wildlife lovers
Day 2: gifts for walkers

And don't miss the December issue of Countryfile Magazine, on sale 16 November, where we've chosen our favourite countryside Christmas presents - from a traditional sledge to an entire veg patch you can give as a gift.