Most Gift Baskets Are Terrible. These Are Great.

A treasure chest of treats: Bokksu Seasons of Japan Snack Box

Why it’s great: Bokksu’s Seasons of Japan Snack Box is filled with thoughtfully chosen, individually wrapped snacks in a multitude of dazzling flavors. A booklet explains where each item comes from, its significance, and potential allergens.

A note on ordering: When you place a one-month order, you get the Seasons of Japan Snack Box that we recommend. This is the only buying option that comes with free shipping, an e-gift message, and no receipt.

What’s inside: This box includes 22 Japanese snacks, candies, and teas. It seemed like enough to last one person a week or two or to tide over several people for a few days.

Some standout items included the snappy Edamame Senbei (a salty-sweet cracker dusted with soybean powder), the freeze-dried White Strawberry injected with white chocolate, and Seaweed Tempura Setouchi Sudachi (a citrusy, salty, and earthy morsel of crisped rice clusters and seaweed).

The box also held a few meh snacks. The baked goods were blandly sweet though satisfyingly carby, and green-tea packets were nice but basic compared with the showstoppers.

Potential allergens: wheat, soy, milk, shellfish, eggs, alcohol, peanuts, tree nuts (Bokksu has a disclaimer saying the allergens are translated from the package as a reference, but it cannot guarantee their presence.)

Shipping: free with a subscription

Lots to nosh (both savory and sweet): Zingerman’s The Weekender Gift Box

Why it’s great: Zingerman’s The Weekender Gift Box is one of the Michigan-based grocer’s most popular items. This solid snacking collection would be appreciated at a gathering or as a treat for someone who needs a pick-me-up.

Zingerman’s is a wonderful gift-basket resource for many occasions, from sending condolences to celebrating holidays. You can even customize a gift.

What’s inside: The Weekender box covers the sweet and savory bases. From the latter group, you can make a meal out of Zingerman’s Farm Bread, Holy Cow Beef Sticks, and Nor’easter Cabot Cheddar. And there’s a generous array of desserts, including the no-nut Black Magic Brownie, Ginger Jump-Up Molasses Cookie, Sour Cream Coffee Cake, and Zingerman’s Peanut Brittle.

We like that this basket packs a lot in—and many of the contents don’t have to be eaten immediately. Though we found the baked goods a little generic, they were still tasty and fresh. We particularly enjoyed the tangy coffee cake and the fudgy brownie, and we appreciate that the latter is nut-free.

The Weekender comes in a colorful, cartoon-printed box with paper confetti, so it feels very festive.

Potential allergens: dairy, walnuts, peanuts

Shipping: free in the US

Cheese with Northeastern terroir: Jasper Hill Farm The Vermonter

Why it’s great: The cheeses in Jasper Hill Farm’s The Vermonter gift basket are made at the company’s Vermont creamery or ripened in its aging facility, and they embody the terroir of the Northeast.

With selections that are approachable and delicious, this basket is one we’d gladly give to friends, colleagues, and turophiles alike. One tester went so far as to call this basket “a true superstar,” and we agree.

What’s inside: Compared with other cheese baskets we tried, this one offered the best balance of complex and down-to-earth flavors. We loved the luscious, spruce-bark-wrapped Harbison (a bloomy rind cheese). Even the pickiest eaters enjoyed the Cabot Clothbound Cheddar, which is salty and tangy, with subtle notes of caramel. The two other cheeses rotate; currently they are the Willoughby, which Jasper Hill describes as a “succulent and buttery washed-rind cheese,” and the Alpha Tolman, a nutty, Alpine-style cheese.

The basket also comes with some quality snacks: Sugarbob’s Spiced Pecans and Brewer’s Sea Salt Flatbread (or a gluten-free alternative). You can add a bottle of Ellie’s Maple Syrup (for another $12).

Each cheese is tastefully wrapped in butcher paper, and the gift items come tucked in a bed of rustic wood shavings.

Potential allergens: dairy, tree nuts, wheat

Shipping: free in the US for orders $99 and up

You may also like: Formaggio Kitchen gift baskets, which start at $75 and are big enough to nibble on for a few days. And this may be a better choice for people who prefer a mix of European and American cheeses.

The smallest-size Apprentice Cheese Bundle includes four cheeses, with the option to add on crackers, jam, or dried apricots. (Larger versions can include various additional items, such as salami, olives, dried fruit, and almonds.)

Cured meats for what ails them: Olympia Provisions Euro Charcuterie Box

Why it’s great: The Olympia Provisions Euro Charcuterie Box offers a hearty and varied spread—a veritable charcuterie board in a box. The Portland, Oregon–based salumeria uses Old World techniques and Pacific Northwest pork to create its utterly delicious cured meats and pâtés. Carnivores will appreciate the care that goes into every item in this basket.

What’s inside: This box is a cured-meat-lover’s dream. It includes three different styles of salami, a seasonal pâté, a wheel of seasonal cheese, Jacobsen honey, Olympia Provisions pickled beets, crackers, Oregon dry-roasted hazelnuts, mixed olives, and grain mustard.

The charcuterie is the main event, and it’s nothing short of exquisite. We particularly enjoyed the spicy chorizo rioja, the cumin-spiked loukaniko, and the smooth, nutty pork-and-pistachio pâté. Complementary items, like the briny pickled beets, help cut the richness of it all. We haven’t tried the Point Reyes Toma, the seasonal cheese at the time of publishing, but we’re confident it’s worthy of the other items in the box.

This gift is pricey, but we think the quality and the level of craftsmanship warrant the cost. “I’m not a charcuterie person, but these are delicious,” one tester said.

Potential allergens: dairy, tree nuts, wheat; processed in a facility with fish, dairy, wheat, eggs, and nuts

Shipping: free for orders over $50 within the continental US

You may also like: For fish lovers, the charmingly named Tin of Tinned Fish ($130) from Zingerman’s is filled with fancy seafood from across Europe, as well as one bag of Elderflower Pike Fish Gummies from Sweden, for kicks.

A deli spread to feed a crowd: Katz’s Birthday Box

Why it’s great: Mail order has been part of Katz’s legacy for generations. “Send a salami to your boy in the Army” was its slogan during World War II, and the tradition is still going strong.

Katz’s Birthday Box is a great gift for a homesick New Yorker or for anyone who will relish an easy deli meal for a crowd. Simply put the contents on the table, and lunch is ready. Comforting as it is, it’s also a good bereavement gift.

What’s inside: Katz’s Birthday Box is an embarrassment of riches and an excellent value. It includes 1 pound each of pastrami, corned beef, and Swiss cheese, plus rye bread, sauerkraut, Russian dressing (should someone want to make a Reuben), 1 quart each of full-sour and half-sour pickles (because why choose?), mini black-and-white cookies, and, of course, mustard.

The food arrives neatly stacked with ice packs in a well-insulated box, which is illustrated with an iconic street view of Katz’s that will make a pastrami lover’s pulse quicken. You can also add a personalized greeting. The meat comes in vacuum-sealed packets, with heating instructions that are easy to follow—just slide the packets into simmering water, warm through, and serve.

Potential allergens: dairy, gluten, wheat

Shipping: free in the US; $20 for rush shipping

A cornucopia of handmade confections: Valerie Confections Large Gift Set

Why it’s great: The Large Gift Set from Los Angeles–based Valerie Confections is a true crowd-pleaser—suitable for people with a straight-up sweet tooth and those who go gaga over refined technique.

What’s inside: The box includes an 18-piece Baby Grand Assortment (a pick in our boxed chocolate guide), Almond Toffee Treats, two jars of fresh jam (Blenheim apricot and a seasonal flavor), two bars of chocolate (bittersweet and milk chocolate with toasted rice and black sesame), and a box of chocolate-coated caramels (almond fleur de sel and toasted rice).

Our panel was smitten with most of this box’s contents, but the toffees were the big stars—both the thin, snappy ones in the Baby Grand Assortment and the chunky Almond Toffee Treats. Though the selection is dominated by classic flavors, it also holds some surprises, such as the Baby Grand Assortment’s uncanny Mint Toffee and nose-tickling Black Pepper Truffle. The only disappointment was the toasted rice caramel, which tasted a bit musty.

The items come in an elegant, ribbon-wrapped box with the company’s gold logo. You can add a note at checkout.

For $100, Valerie Confections offers the smaller Classic Gift Set, which includes some treats from the Large Gift Set, plus others we haven’t tried.

Potential allergens: dairy, tree nuts, soy lecithin

Shipping: $17 standard shipping, $35 express shipping

What dreams are made of: Jeni’s Best Sellers Collection

Why it’s great: Nothing beats the drama of opening an unassuming foam box and being greeted by theatrical wisps of dry-ice vapor, and the giddy realization that you’ve been air-mailed five pints of ice cream. Behold the Jeni’s Best Sellers Collection.

Jeni’s, based in Columbus, Ohio, is well known for making extra-creamy frozen treats with fun flavors that are special enough to warrant shipping them around the country. Tasters said they would send this for a holiday, a birthday, or a breakup; we think ice cream is a perennially appealing gift.

What’s inside: This gift box offers a sampling of the company’s most popular pints: Brown Butter Almond Brittle, Darkest Chocolate, Salted Peanut Butter With Chocolate Flecks, Salty Caramel, and Brambleberry Crisp.

We especially loved the salty-sweet Salted Peanut Butter, the deeply buttery Salty Caramel, and the tart and refreshing Brambleberry Crisp. If those flavors don’t speak to you, Jeni’s has other collections to choose from, including gluten-free options and dairy-free pints that are among the favorites in our guide to vegan ice cream.

Potential allergens: dairy; other potential allergens vary per flavor

Shipping: $13 to $19; $50 for Alaska and Hawaii

Classic ice cream treats: Graeter’s Signature Chip Gift Selection and Assorted Chip Wheelies 12-Pack

Why it’s great: Ice cream from Graeter’s is an if-you-know-you-know kind of gift. The Ohio-based business, in operation since 1870, has acquired a nationwide cult following for its broadly appealing frozen desserts in classic flavors. So for loved ones who adore ice cream, we recommend Graeter’s Signature Chip Gift Selection and the Assorted Chip Wheelies 12-Pack.

What’s inside: The Signature Chip Gift Selection comes with six pints, and the over-the-top Chip Wheelies are basically Chipwiches, but better. For loved ones who prefer vegan options, you can choose a six-pack of Graeter’s Perfect Indulgence vegan pints—among the best ice cream doppelgängers we’ve tried (and we’ve tried many). But two of the included pints are duplicates, and overall we liked the vegan offerings from Jeni’s even better.

The Signature Chip Gift Selection features six flavors—including the beloved Black Raspberry Chocolate Chip—all stippled with the company’s uniquely soft and fudgy chocolate shards, which can be massive. While the chips are a selling point for many Graeter’s fans, the occasional mouthful of chocolate was too much of a good thing for some tasters. But the ice cream itself got high marks—one tester called the Mint Chocolate Chip refreshing and sharp, and another tester enjoyed the interplay of chocolate and fruity black raspberry. (If chocolate chips aren’t your thing, you can assemble your own gift pack.)

The Assorted Chip Wheelies were the crowd favorite. No one could deny the appeal of densely packed ice cream crammed between two hulking chocolate-chunk cookies, rolled in chocolate sprinkles. Did we mention they’re big? Just one of these could satisfy a couple of people. You can order a box of 12 Vanilla Chocolate Chip Wheelies or the Assorted Chip Wheelies 12-Pack (the one we tried), which includes Vanilla Chocolate Chip, Double Chocolate Chip, and Black Raspberry Chip. The cost is steep, but the satisfaction is real, and your recipient will feel properly spoiled.

Potential allergens: milk, soy, wheat, egg
Shipping: $30 to $40

Seasonal fruit in ice cream form: Frog Hollow Farm Ice Cream Sandwiches

Why it’s great: Frog Hollow Farms has long been respected for the quality of its California-grown, organic mail-order fruit. These frozen treats take the bounty to the next level by sandwiching fruity ice cream between yieldingly soft homemade cookies.

What’s inside: Our box was stacked with 12 individually wrapped, brick-shaped ice cream sandwiches in the following orchard-driven flavors: apricot, peach, pear caramel, and pluot (they may vary depending on the season). They were layered between buttery vanilla-scented wafers, with the exception of the pear-caramel, which was paired with spiced ginger cookies.

The luscious ice cream delivers on its fruit-filled promise: As it melts, the flavors of the fruit come forward, whether it’s tangy pluot or ripe, heady pear. The cookies complement both the flavor and texture of the ice cream (the pairing of ginger with pear-caramel is especially successful). The sandwiches, all a bit irregular in size and shape, look charmingly handmade. They also have an impressively short list of ingredients, most of them organic.

The price (about $13 apiece) set our expectations high, but we weren’t disappointed. Our tasters agreed that these would be a lovely (if big-ticket) gift, and they would be a welcome addition to any barbecue or dinner party.

Potential allergens: dairy, wheat, eggs; manufactured on equipment that processes milk, eggs, soy, wheat, peanuts, tree nuts, and seeds

Shipping: free

The cookies of your dreams: Levain Bakery Signature Cookie Assortment

Why it’s great: The Levain Bakery Signature Cookie Assortment includes the beloved New York City–based bakery’s massive, mouth-watering cookies. This gift is sure to impress anyone who loves a formidable baked good.

What’s inside: This gift box comes in packs of four, eight, or 12 hulking, 6-ounce cookies (yes, that’s the weight per cookie). The flavors cover the classics: Chocolate Chip Walnut, Dark Chocolate Chocolate Chip, Chocolate Peanut Butter Chip, and Oatmeal Raisin. (And though we enjoyed this variety, gift boxes are also available in single and limited-edition flavors.)

Part of the cookies’ charm is that they’re crammed with whatever mix-ins they promise. This box comes with easy-to-follow reheating instructions, so the recipient can replicate the fresh, ooey-gooey cookie interiors that are Levain hallmarks.

We also admired the efficient yet attractive packaging: The cookies come in a single box, stacked four apiece in cellophane bags tied with ribbon, and nestled in nooks that prevent them from jostling during transit. It’s a miracle of design that they arrived with nary a crumb out of place.

The checkout process is simple and transparent: When you place an order, a calendar shows the shipping cost of each delivery day. There’s also a clear prompt to include a card.

Potential allergens: dairy, eggs, soy, wheat, peanuts, tree nuts

Shipping: $12 to $20 for a pack of eight

You may also like: The seasonal Gingerbread and Cookies box ($64) from Coquine in Portland, Oregon, is excellent. It includes a loaf of English-style gingerbread and a dozen Coquine Chocolate Chip Cookies with smoked almonds and salted caramel. The duo is available from mid-November until January, but you can also order just the cookies ($39 for a dozen) year-round.

We were impressed by the tender-crumbed gingerbread, and we enjoyed the traditional flavors of molasses and candied ginger. The cookies were in a class by themselves, crispy on the outside and slightly chewy within, with the smoked almonds and salt adding a savory complexity.

Shipping to the West Coast is around $15; shipping to the East Coast can be as much as $35.

A bounty of tropical fruit: Miami Fruit Variety Box

Why it’s great: If you have family or friends who love trying new things or who are fond of tropical produce, the Miami Fruit Variety Box is an awesome gift. It’s especially great for staving off the winter blues. According to the website, Miami Fruit harvests most of its fruit weekly from its own farm or from local farms in southern Florida.

What’s inside: The produce changes seasonally, but each small box (the size we tested) contains 3 to 5 pounds of fruit. Our order included a cacao pod, an avocado, a mamey sapote, a guava, a jujube, a tree tomato, a few varieties of bananas, and some passion fruits and key limes.

The mamey sapote ripened into a soft, delightful mix of flan, pumpkin pie, and papaya. The beans in the cacao pod were covered in wispy white flesh that reminded us of the tropical flavor of mangosteen. Even the conventional fruits tasted special: The bananas were tastier and more tart than supermarket varieties, and the avocado was mildly sweet.

The fruit comes in a cardboard box with plenty of cushioning, along with online ripening guidelines so you know when to enjoy each fruit. The presentation isn’t fancy, but the fruit is so visually appealing that it makes up for it.

Potential allergens: varies by season

Shipping: $20, or free with code FREE (Note: The California Department of Agriculture restricts the entry of many tropical fruits from Florida. The fruits allowed: bananas, black sapote, passion fruit, jackfruit, and white, red, sunrise, and yellow dragon fruit.)

Show-stopping chocolates: Recchiuti Confections Sharing Box

Why it’s great: The Recchiuti Confections Sharing Box, from the renowned San Francisco confectioner, is an elegantly wrapped, grand display of delicious, handcrafted chocolates. We’d also send this as a formal gift to pretty much anyone who loves sweets.

What’s inside: This box includes a generous array of confections—the nine-piece Sepia Collection of exquisitely crafted truffles; cacao nib and fleur de sel mendiants (chocolate discs); fleur de sel caramels; dark hot chocolate; a dragée sampler of chocolate-coated nuts and dried fruit; and three chocolate bars (dark milk, semisweet, and bittersweet).

The silky texture and complex flavor of Recchiuti’s chocolate stands apart from the waxiness and cloying sweetness of lesser-quality chocolate we’ve tried. The chocolatier’s judicious use of flavorings enhances the quality, rather than distracting from it. In the Sepia Collection, we were most taken with the Peanut Butter Puck, an epicurean version of a Reese’s, with a silky, dark milk chocolate shell and velvety filling. We also enjoyed the rich, satiny salted caramels, as well as the chocolate bars, which perfectly balance bitter and sweet flavors and dissolve on the tongue.

The Sharing Box is a stylish gift and a great value. But if you’re looking for something smaller, we recommend the 16-piece Recchiuti Black Box.

Potential allergens: milk, peanuts, soy, tree nuts (almonds, hazelnuts), and wheat; made on equipment shared with milk, eggs, peanuts, soy, tree nuts, and wheat

Shipping: $14 to $30

You may also like: For truffle lovers, the Vosges Haut-Chocolat Grande Gift Tower ($100) features chocolates with artful garnishes of nuts, fruits, and colorful powders in a delightful assortment of flavors.

If you want to spend a bit less on a smaller, still-lovely assortment of chocolates, go for the Dandelion Chocolate Classics Collection ($85), which also comes with hot chocolate packed in a sleek glass container.

A selection of uniquely flavored jams: We Love Jam Gift Box

Why it’s great: With its bright, flavorful jams, the We Love Jam Gift Box would make a great gift for toast fanatics, brunch lovers, and bakers who enjoy using exquisite jams in their baked goods.

We appreciate the jams’ loose, spreadable consistency, which feels indicative of their freshness. And we like that you can choose which jams you want in your box.

What’s inside: This gift box includes six handmade jams of exceptional quality, some of which are only seasonally available. (The company also offers two-jar and four-jar gift boxes; to find them, scroll down on the website.)

The blueberry lemon jam, which tasted like a slice of berry pie, was among our favorites. The Blenheim apricot had a striking fresh-fruit flavor, and it was far more nuanced than any premium jams you might find at the grocery store. The vanilla blackberry entry exhibited a mellow sweetness, while the raspberry mango passion fruit jam was tart and incredibly balanced (somehow all three flavors dazzled).

The jars come neatly packed in an understated cardboard gift box filled with crinkly shredded paper, and you can include a personal message.

Ordering is a little old-school: Before you add the gift box to your cart, in a text box you have to type the flavors you’d like, referencing a list in the product description. But overall, the process isn’t too challenging.

Potential allergens: tree nuts

Shipping: varies based on UPS quotes for your order

North African– and Middle Eastern—inspired spices and condiments: New York Shuk The Harissa Collection

Why it’s great: Husband and wife Ron and Leetal Arazi’s line of Middle Eastern– and North African–style spices and condiments have gained a devoted following, and for good reason. The offerings in New York Shuk’s The Harissa Collection are a brilliant shortcut to flavor, and they add a depth and complexity that would be hard to achieve on your own.

What’s inside: This collection includes two types of harissa (a spreadable, chili-based condiment), as well as three harissa-inspired spice blends.

The condiments are “cozy and impressive at the same time,” said Wirecutter editor Marilyn Ong. “They taste like someone just pulled them off the stove after hours of simmering and ladled them into a jar.”

The spice blends can elevate simple preparations, including roast chicken and salads. For example, just roasting cauliflower in the Herby Harissa Spice will fill your kitchen with beautiful aromas (and a flavor to match).

Our testers fawned over the lushly illustrated labels, whose appeal makes up for the fact that the jars are packed in a regular brown box with practical paper wrapping. You’ll also have to let the recipient know the present was from you—gift messages are not an option at checkout.

Shipping: free for orders over $50

Spices for the capsaicin-curious: Burlap & Barrel Chili Collection

Why it’s great: Burlap & Barrel’s single-origin spices are among the freshest and most flavorful we’ve tried, and they range from the usual suspects (cinnamon, bay leaves) to more-unique offerings (black lime, wild mesquite). We especially like the Chili Collection as a gift for the heat-seeking home cook.

What’s inside: The half-dozen dried chiles in this box represent culinary traditions from around the globe: Smoked Pimentón Paprika from Spain, Silk Chile Flakes from Turkey, Red Jalapeño Chile Flakes from California, Noble Sweet Paprika and Szegedi 178 Hot Paprika from Hungary ... you get the idea.

When Wirecutter editor Marilyn Ong cooked chicken paprikash using Burlap & Barrel’s Noble Sweet Paprika, she said it “felt like something I had only experienced in black and white suddenly came to life in color.”

To indicate the spices’ heat levels, Burlap & Barrel’s “chili chart” (the second picture in the slideshow) shows where the spices fall on the spectrum of hot to not hot.

If you prefer a different mix, you can assemble your own, or check the other collections. (For a gift that skews more sweet than savory, we recommend the Baking Collection, an excellent starter kit.)

The jars are packed in a well-designed box, which protects them in transit and is emblazoned with the Burlap & Barrel logo. You can also add a gift message at checkout.

Shipping: free for orders over $45

Thoughtfully sourced, vibrant spices: Diaspora Co. Build Your Own Spice Shelf

Why it’s great: The Diaspora Co. Build Your Own Spice Shelf lets you choose from dozens of heirloom spices sourced from family farms in India and Sri Lanka. The place of origin and date of harvest are printed on each jar, so your loved one will never have to cook with stale spices again.

What’s inside: Three, six, or nine spices of your choosing. Consider starting with turmeric—the spice that owner Sana Javeri Kadri built her business on—and branch out from there.

Guntur Sannam chilies are vibrant red peppers whose sweetness is balanced by a warm, slow-spreading heat. Aranya black peppercorns are so big that they can be mistaken for capers. Grinding them unleashed a nose-tickling floral scent; they elevated the simplest dishes, like avocado toast and scrambled eggs.

Thanks to the well-designed website, building a spice set is fun. Although the set arrives in a relatively plain brown box, the spices themselves are packed in bright, beautiful tins, with labels that are both decorative and informational.

For an extra dollar, you can toss in an adorable aluminum spice spoon.

Potential allergens: sesame oil, in the Guntur Sannam and Byadgi chilies

Shipping: free for domestic orders over $70

You may also like: The Curio Spice Co. Culinary Essentials box ($32) includes common yet super-flavorful spices that your gift recipient will reach for daily.

Curio toasts or grinds many of its spices in-house. And it sources spices from small, sustainable farms around the world, as well as locally in New England, where the company is based.

A taste of Chengdu: Fly By Jing By Jing Box

Why it’s great: Fly By Jing’s By Jing Box includes a fiery lineup of condiments that are sure to add excitement and sophistication to any home-cooked meal (or takeout order). These sauces and oils are skillfully made with high-quality ingredients sourced from Sichuan, where Fly By Jing’s founder was born.

What’s inside: This gift box includes Fly By Jing’s signature Sichuan Chili Crisp, Xtra Spicy Chili Crisp, sweet-and-spicy Zhong Sauce, super-versatile Chili Crisp Vinaigrette, legume-studded Chengdu Crunch, and Sichuan Gold chili oil (an immaculate high note of ginger, garlic, and numbing spice that makes soup dumplings sing).

All of the condiments in this box—including the widely adored Sichuan Chili Crisp—can add layers of flavor to any dish. The Chili Crisp Vinaigrette, a blend of aged black vinegar, premium soy sauce, and chili crisp, is a salve for leftovers. It can create a sophisticated salad out of just about anything in your fridge: the previous night’s dumplings, some forgotten cucumbers, or those last few leaves of lettuce in the crisper.

Our new favorite is the Chengdu Crunch, which is like an extra-chunky version of the original Chili Crisp. It offers a similarly addictive spice, but the jar is crowded with protein-packed legumes and seeds, all toasted to a glorious, satisfying crunch. (It’s reminiscent of salsa macha, but there are no nuts at this party.) We’ve put it on fried eggs, slathered it on pizza, spooned it over congee, and more. And it steals the show every time.

Potential allergens: sesame oil in all jars but the Sichuan Gold; soy and sesame in the Chengdu Crunch; and wheat, soy, and sesame in the Zhong Sauce

Shipping: free for orders over $65

You may also like: If your recipient is more interested in pantry items than condiments, The Mala Market, an importer of premium ingredients from Sichuan, has Pantry Collections (ranging from $30 to $135) that showcase the numbing ma and spicy la flavors that are the hallmarks of the regional kitchen.

The Starter Sichuan Collection sets you up with citrusy da hong pao peppercorns, facing heaven zi dan tou chilies (the star of kung pao chicken), fragrant-hot ground chili flakes, and three-year-old doubanjiang (a broad-bean-and-chili paste that’s the backbone of classic dishes such as mapo tofu).

Imported Italian goodies: Gustiamo Party in Cucina Basket

Why it’s great: Gustiamo is a Bronx, New York–based Italian American food importer known for sourcing quality ingredients from Italy. This company offers a wide selection of beautifully curated gift baskets, but we think the luxurious Gustiamo Party in Cucina Gift Basket is approachable enough that it will appeal to most recipients, whether they’re clients, colleagues, or family members.

What’s inside: This box provides all of the ingredients for creating a quick pasta dish: a bag of durum wheat semolina pasta, canned San Marzano tomatoes, crushed Castelvetrano olives marinated in herb-infused oil, a large bag of coarse sea salt (not pictured), and a bottle of gorgeous Quinta Luna extra virgin olive oil. This box also includes a bag of wood-roasted ground coffee and a jar of Piemontese chocolate hazelnut spread that’s like a thoroughbred Nutella.

We wanted to taste the ingredients as simply as possible. So we cooked the pasta al dente, and then we tossed it with an improvised puttanesca-style sauce, made with the gift basket’s sweet-tart tomatoes, pungent olives, and aromatic olive oil. The result was outstanding, with each best-in-class ingredient pulling its weight.

We love that these goodies come packaged in a reclaimed wooden crate, which makes everything feel even more special.

Potential allergens: tree nuts, wheat

Shipping: $7.75 (Call 718-860-2949 or email gustiteam@gustiamo.com for shipping rates outside the continental US.)

A big box of the best beans: Rancho Gordo Deluxe Gift Box

Why it’s great: Rancho Gordo is a California company dedicated to sourcing the highest-quality beans from Mexico, California, Oregon, Washington, and New Mexico. Too often, beans are an afterthought. And we believe the Rancho Gordo Deluxe Gift Box will win the hearts of vegans, vegetarians, and anyone who appreciates quality ingredients or unique heirloom foods.

What’s inside: The Deluxe Gift Box includes five 1-pound bags of colorful heirloom beans that are sure to be unlike anything you’ve ever tasted. They’re springy, with a creamy and tender inside, and they can possess a subtle, nutty sweetness. Each bag of beans comes with simple cooking instructions.

The offerings change based on what’s available: The company harvests every fall and sells most of its beans within that year. So everything is fresh—you don’t even have to soak the beans overnight, as you would dried beans from the supermarket. Also, when stored in a dark, cool, dry place, these beans will keep for a year or two, so the recipient can savor them over time.

The gift box also includes a sturdy canvas tote bearing the company’s logo, a copy of The Rancho Gordo Heirloom Bean Guide, and a postcard with directions for slow-cooker, pressure-cooker, and stovetop methods.

Shipping: free for orders over $50 within the contiguous US

A connoisseur-worthy coffee sampler: Onyx Coffee Lab Collection Box

Why it’s great: A curious coffee lover will appreciate the Collection Box, from Rogers, Arkansas–based Onyx Coffee Lab. This cleverly packaged sampler offers beans in varying styles, including single-origin and house blends. All beans are sourced globally and roasted to order.

What’s inside: This box contains eight 4-ounce bags, which smelled heady upon arrival. The cardboard box they come in looks unassuming, but it unfurls like a scroll, revealing intricate line drawings and bags of beans in a palette of appealing colors.

On each bag you’ll find the roasting date, the coffee’s origins, tasting notes, details on how the beans were processed (natural or washed), and where the flavor falls on a scale of “traditional” (chocolaty, nutty) to “modern” (citrusy, floral). One bag makes about four mugs of filtered coffee (enough to provide a sense of each selection and allow the giftee to finish all of the beans while they’re fresh).

We were also impressed with the accuracy of the tasting notes. The Costa Rica Las Lajas Natural—which promises hints of blueberry, vanilla, papaya, and Concord grape—tasted so potently of chocolate-covered blueberries that it could convert flavored-coffee drinkers.

Although the packaging’s intricate graphics seemed info-packed at first, brewing instructions were vague. Instead, we went to the Onyx website and followed the brewing guidance included at the bottom of each coffee listing. We found this to be more helpful.

When you order, there’s an option to leave a gift note at checkout.

Shipping: free for orders over $50

You may also like: The Heart Roasters Sample Pack ($55) is another great option for coffee nerds and everyday drinkers alike. It includes four 8-ounce bags of just-roasted beans from the Portland, Oregon, roaster. The beans change seasonally.

Each batch we brewed exhibited the best characteristics of “third wave” coffee: clean, distinguishable flavors that emphasize the bean’s unique terroir.

A collection of high-end teas: Harney & Sons Best Sellers

Why it’s great: If you have a tea lover in your life, you probably can’t go wrong by giving them the Harney & Sons Best Sellers collection (also available in loose-leaf form). We think the high-quality tea in its extremely elegant, reusable packaging is an excellent value.

What’s inside: The Best Sellers collection features four crowd-pleasing, high-quality teas: English Breakfast, Earl Grey Supreme, Paris, and Hot Cinnamon Spice. (Again, we tried the sachets, but this selection is also available in loose-leaf form.)

The English Breakfast tea was bright and clean, and the Earl Grey (a blend of black and oolong teas, with Italian bergamot oil) was pleasantly aromatic. The Paris blend was tea-forward, with subtle hints of black currant and vanilla.

And the Hot Cinnamon Spice was sweet and cinnamony, but somehow the natural tea flavor was still able to shine through. One of our testers, who’s averse to flavored teas, said, “This was easily the most enjoyable version of cinnamon tea I’ve encountered.”

Each tea comes packaged in a colorful tin, with 20 sachets. The tins fit snugly in an elegant black box with the Harney & Sons logo embossed on the lid.

Shipping: free within the US

If you’re buying for tapas fans: Spanish food importer Despaña offers a generous Tapas for Two Gift Box ($100, plus shipping), and it can easily feed more than that. The opportunities for grazing seem endless.

Highlights include anchovy-stuffed olives, three types of Spanish cured pork (Serrano ham and loin, and a massive chorizo link), and delectable Cabo de Peñas tinned sardines. The gift comes in a brown paper box tied with a red ribbon, with an option to add a card. If it weren’t for the expensive shipping, this one would be an excellent value.

If you know some smoked-fish enthusiasts: The salmon in the Russ & Daughters Smoked Salmon Medley ($195, including shipping) is sliced translucently thin, and it’s so buttery that it practically melts in your mouth.

This gift box from the celebrated New York City appetizing shop includes 8 ounces each of Scottish smoked salmon, gravlax, and pastrami-cured salmon, all tidily packaged in branded wax paper. It also includes a pound of cream cheese, a dozen bagels, and a 3-ounce jar of capers.

Our testers agreed that the quality of the fish was unsurpassed. But when it came to the fixings, some of them found the bagels (on the spongy side) and the cream cheese (slightly grainy) to be the weak links.

If you’re seeking a matcha starter kit: The Ippodo Tea Essential Matcha Kit ($150), from the revered Japanese tea shop, includes everything you need for a cup of matcha: 20 grams of grassy Horai matcha tea, a chawan (a matcha tea bowl), a bamboo tea ladle, a tea strainer, and a bamboo whisk with a stand.

This set is as much about the experience of making tea as it is about drinking it, and Ippodo offers clear instructions on how to brew a correct cup. This is a special gift for someone who appreciates the ritual and flavor of fine matcha, and with proper care, the included tools will last for years. But this kind of quality comes at a premium.

Wirecutter editor Gabriella Gershenson has been overseeing our gift-baskets guide since 2022. Her culinary gift recommendations have been featured in publications such as The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Saveur, and Time Out New York.

Since 2020, a number of Wirecutter’s kitchen experts—including senior staff writers Lesley Stockton, Michael Sullivan, and Rachel Wharton, and editors Marilyn Ong and Marguerite Preston—have contributed research, testing, and writing to this guide. Collectively, they have decades of experience in the worlds of food and cooking.

Wirecutter contributor Anna Perling wrote our original guide to gift baskets in 2018, in close collaboration with contributor Winnie Yang. Both are food-media veterans. For our original guide, we asked a panel of 16 Wirecutter staff members to weigh in on gift baskets and to consider their presentation, taste, variety, and value.

We began our research for this guide by asking Wirecutter staffers about their favorite gift baskets—those they’ve given or were happy to receive. We’ve also combed through online guides and reviews of gift baskets, scoured retail sites, and visited the Fancy Food Show to get the lay of the specialty-food land.

Since 2018, we’ve considered 125 nominations for gift baskets. And we set out to find the best options with several criteria in mind:

• Reasonably priced: We looked for gift baskets under $200 that were a good value with a decent variety of items.
• Delicious and attractive: We looked for baskets that were nicely packaged and, of course, those we thought offered items that would taste great.
• Curated: Overall, we searched for baskets that were interesting or unusual, from companies known for quality and attention to detail.
• Booze-free: We reluctantly eliminated alcohol baskets because they can’t be shipped to many states. (Note that our guides to wine clubs and gifts for cocktail lovers can offer some guidance in this area.)

Since we started testing gift baskets, in 2018, we’ve sampled condiments, brewed coffee and tea, nibbled on cured meat and fish, savored chocolates and cheeses, lapped up ice cream and fresh fruit, and cooked with all manner of pantry staples—you name it, we’ve done it.

We took note of what each basket contained, as well as any potential allergens (if you have serious allergy concerns, always check with the purveyor). We discussed each contender in depth and asked tasters to fill out forms evaluating each basket.

Since 2020, kitchen experts and food writers on Wirecutter’s staff have conducted all of the testing for this guide.

This article was edited by Marguerite Preston and Marilyn Ong.