Good Taste: Scottish Food Gift Guide

Giving food as a gift is a tough game to play, as there are only really a few things one can give without seeming sarcastic. Nobody wants to wake up on Christmas morning to open a box filled with root vegetables and some raw meat; it is, to borrow a phrase from US political circles, 'bad optics'. 

Best to keep it simple, and go for luxurious but easy-to-handle gifts that can either be smashed into faces on the day, or kept for a good while past Christmas. French-trained Edinburgh chocolatiers Edward and Irwyn's treats definitely fall into the first camp – their chocolate-covered honeycomb and chocolate caramels taste and look incredible, so are ideal for instant gratification for both gift-giver and receiver alike. Fellow Edinburgh choc-smiths The Chocolate Tree up the ante with their Bean to Bar range of handmade chocolate bars, showcasing cacaos from across South America and Africa in suitably nifty packaging.

Also ideal for the sweet-toothed out there are the artisan marshmallows produced by The Marshmallow Lady, and the chocolate from Coco. These two specialise in exciting and unique flavour combinations, be they Millionaire's Shortbread or chocolate mousse marshmallows, or bars of haggis spice or orange, lemon and geranium chocolate. If you have a friend who thinks they've tried it all, this is the gift for them.  

Away from sweet treats, coffee is another gift option that ticks the local, practical and delicious boxes. North Berwick's Steampunk Coffee and Edinburgh/Glasgow heavyweights Artisan Roast both offer coffee subscription services that'll send fresh beans direct to your door, with AR's service featuring a steady rotation of beans and styles to keep the recipient on their toes.

For the less caffeinated among you, Scotland's specialist tea merchants have got the hook-up. In Glasgow, Tchai-Ovna in the west end continues to be an ideal spot to pick up floral and herbal teas, while in Edinburgh the likes of Anteaques (17 Clerk St) and Pekoetea (20 Leven St) offer up hundreds of styles of tea from all over the world. Eteaket on Frederick St offer a tea club with monthly top-ups from across their range, as well as a swanky teapot to help the recipient make the most of their new cuppa.

But what about people who don't like coffee or chocolate? Such people do unfortunately exist, but they can almost certainly be placated by one of Valvona and Crolla's hampers, packed as they are with a whole host of savoury goodies sourced from across Italy and beyond. Alternatively, head to Lupe Pintos (313 Great Western Rd, Glasgow; 24 Leven St, Edinburgh) to craft your own festive selection from a frankly unsurpassed range of Central and South American sauces, condiments and delicacies that'll be livening up meals for months to come.

And if your recipient still won't be happy, head on over to 'liquid deli' Demijohn and pick them up a bottle of one of their many spirits, or a nice olive oil, or maybe even a tasty whisky. They don't like it? Send them back to have it filled up with something of their choice, remembering that – even at Christmas – you can't please everyone.