1: A ready-made gourmet gift box
A gift box has one decisive advantage: it is already put together, so there is no need to rack your brains. At La Boutique Des Saucissons, two festive boxes combine charcuterie and sweet treats:
- The Christmas Gourmet Box, around 1.4 kg: Ardèche PGI dry-cured saucisson, walnut saucisson, truffle grignottes (mini saucissons), whole duck foie gras, Maison Imbert chestnut cream in a tube and traditional soft nougat.
- The Christmas Gourmet Hamper, around 2.8 kg: Ardèche PGI dry-cured saucisson and straight dry sausage, truffle grignottes, foie gras from South-West France, Maison Imbert chestnut cream, assorted nougats and a bottle of Côtes du Rhône Les 7 Pierres.
Of course, you can also put together your own gourmet gift hamper to suit your budget and the recipient's tastes. Go ahead and treat them: everything here is good!
2: An advent calendar… filled with saucisson
It is probably the most original edible gift on this list: a saucisson advent calendar, with twenty-four doors to open in December and, behind each one, something to start the apéritif. Ours holds 87 pieces, 818 g of charcuterie in all, including three whole dry-cured saucissons, and it is made in our own workshops in the Ardèche. It is available to pre-order now: it is produced as a limited edition and sells out every year before the end of November.
3: A saucisson unlike any other
For a charcuterie lover who thinks they have tried everything, surprise them with the recipe. In our Comté cheese saucisson or Beaufort cheese saucisson, the cheese is worked into the saucisson mix itself and melts in as it dries. To discover several flavours at once, the Flavoured Box brings together ten saucissons, from smoked to Roquefort, by way of goat's cheese and wild boar.
And for a truly unusual gift, play with shape: our Minissons are mini saucissons in funny shapes that always make an impression when the box is opened. We tell the story of these quirky saucissons in an article dedicated to shaped saucissons.
4: Good wine
Wine remains an ideal gift for every occasion, Christmas included. You can choose a bottle from a good vintage, or offer a tasting box to make new discoveries. In that case, you can include several wines in your box: a red, a sweet white, a sparkling wine… or why not an assortment of fruity wines, perfectly in the festive spirit.
5: Craft beer
Craft beer is also an original gift that is sure to please friends and family who enjoy a cold drink. In our shop you will find craft beers from the Ardèche, with something for every taste: Jeannette (blonde), Beuuuh (light session IPA), Calude (very hoppy IPA) and Gratte-Cul, tangy and fruity (white).
6: Regional products
Would you like to give your friends a gourmet gift while supporting small producers? Do not hesitate to choose local products. Breton palets and biscuits made with salted butter, whole duck from the Périgord, calissons from Provence, chestnuts from the Ardèche… Whether fine-food staples, confectionery or ready-made dishes, regional specialities, all of them artisan products, make excellent gourmet gifts. Take your time to browse: we have plenty of choice!
7: Champagne!
Champagne is a must for the festive season, especially to see in the New Year and raise a glass at Christmas. For the pleasure of giving, you can choose a grand cru, paired with truffles, hard cheeses or even fruit such as raspberries, which go wonderfully with many rosé champagnes. If you are not sure which to choose, go for a brut: it goes with most dishes, particularly white meat and poultry. The recipient will have no trouble finding pairings: bubbles go with everything.
8: A chic liqueur
Do you have friends or family who enjoy spirits? Think about giving them an exceptional bottle. Whether a fruity vodka or a sweet liqueur, it will make a lovely surprise as a Christmas gift. Think of original flavours such as Ardèche chestnut liqueur!
Chestnut liqueur at 25% ABV is the ideal ingredient for a kir or a castagnou. It is also excellent for flavouring stronger cocktails, with vodka, an eau-de-vie or even tequila. And do not hesitate to top the liqueur with champagne for a more sophisticated cocktail. Finally, well chilled, chestnut liqueur can simply be served over ice. It goes wonderfully with a charcuterie board!
9: Exceptional cheeses
France is THE country of cheese, and every celebration is a delicious opportunity to enjoy the best regional specialities. As an assortment, or alongside other products such as saucisson or terrine, cheeses make an ideal gourmet parcel. Your gift will let the recipient put together tasty apéritifs and finish meals on a gourmet note. With a little cheese and some good charcuterie, no other gift is needed.
10: Foie gras
Another festive essential, foie gras is the gourmet gift par excellence. Duck foie gras from South-West France, goose foie gras, plain or spiced, whole, as a mousse, cooked or raw… It comes in many varieties, to the delight of food lovers. You can add a good sweet white wine or a champagne to accompany it. Sometimes the classics are what we need, especially for our taste buds!
11: A festive oil
You can now find flavoured olive oils in the shops. Infused with truffle or herbs, they lift festive dishes with elegance. With this original gift, the recipient can enjoy themselves in the kitchen, preparing delicately flavoured dishes that promise to taste exceptional. There are also some very beautiful bottles for the festive season. Bear it in mind!
12: Honey
Honey has everything going for it: it belongs both to the great family of sweet treats and to that of wholesome foods. You will easily find organic honeys in grocery shops. They may be local products or exotic honeys with very varied aromas: eucalyptus, chestnut, orange blossom, wildflower… There are also gourmet gift boxes with several jars of honey to give at Christmas. Subtle and delicious!
13: Jam
Jams are wonderful little surprise boxes to include in any gift parcel if you want to please friends and family with a sweet tooth. Producers today offer surprising and delicious combinations, so much so that jams can almost be tasted like wine! In our shop, you can try fig and walnut jam or strawberry and basil jam for an original flavour. With chestnut cream with dark chocolate and wild blueberry jam, you will discover the Ardèche, between mountains and plateaux.
14: Chocolate
Chocolate is surely the most universal gourmet gift idea. Quality bars are all it takes to satisfy your guests' sweet cravings at Christmas. So do not hesitate to order some for your friends: dark, milk, praline, with a hint of Armagnac or mixed with dried fruit, today's varieties can satisfy every craving, even the greediest.
15: Pastries and sweets
Macarons, sweets, gingerbread… little cakes and confectionery are in demand over the festive season. They therefore make an excellent gift for a (very) gourmet box. You can also opt for a real Christmas cake with a melting centre that is sure to delight the recipient!
Which original gourmet gift should you choose?
If you do not know the recipient's tastes well, a ready-made gift box remains the safest choice. If they love charcuterie, the advent calendar or a flavoured saucisson will make an original gourmet gift they will not have received from anyone else. For ideas designed especially for the festive season, see also our gourmet Christmas gift ideas.
All our gift boxes are gathered in our saucisson gift boxes and our gourmet Christmas boxes, and our team will be delighted to advise you!
