Our series of holiday gift posts continues with a selection of fragranced teas and sweets — even perfumistas need to eat and drink, right?
Up next (probably on Thursday), more travel sizes & coffrets. If you missed them, check out Part 1: scented body products, Part 2: travel sizes & coffrets, Part 3: home fragrance and Part 4: gifts for men.
More shopping ideas: see the Fragrant Man's round-up of holiday fragrances from Dawn Spencer Hurwitz.
From Hudson Chocolates, a 'Yuzu Fruit': "Made in a mold cast from an actual Japanese yuzu fruit, this gorgeously executed Yuzu Fruit confection is a perfect example of wabi-sabi - the ability to see beauty in imperfection. Its creamy, sweet-tart, citrusy ganache is made with yuzu juice and milk chocolate, which is wrapped in a thin layer of lemon verbena ganache before being encased in a crispy layer of candied almond nougatine." $34 at Dean & Deluca.
From Kusmi, one of my personal favorites: Violette, a Chinese black tea (strongly!) flavored with violet petals. Every time I drink it, I think of Jessica, who told me about it in the first place. $17 at Kusmi.
From Taza, their Winter Warmer Spiked Eggnog chocolate bar: "Transport yourself to the tropical temperatures of the Caribbean with our spiked eggnog mexicano, infusing the warming essence of rum and nutmeg with the bright & fruity flavors of the cacao." $6.25 at Amazon.
From Penhaligon's, a tea cup and saucer: "The Penhaligon’s tea cup and saucer captures the essence of the very British obsession with tea drinking. The white porcelain cup and saucer has been decorated with eccentric illustrations of lords, ladies and our iconic bottles." £10 at Penhaligon's in the UK.
From Palais des Thés, the Les Floraux gift box, with five 12g tubes of tea: "Thé des Moines (tea, plants and flowers, inspired by a Tibetan recipe), Fleur de Geisha (Japanese green tea favoured with cherry blossom), Grand Jasmin Chun Feng, (jasmine green tea), Thé des Sables (green tea blend of Damas rose, mango, yellow peach and citrus fruits) and Thé des Sources (green Chinese tea, bergamot and mint leaves). $29 at Palais des Thés.
From Persephenie, Rose & Frankincense pastilles: "Transport oneself to Arabian markets and caravans, where the delicious and exotic combination of rose and frankincense meet in a sweet pastille candy. Rose and frankincense are known to relieve stress, center the mind, and open the heart." $14 at Persephenie.
From Aftelier, Organic Matcha Chai tea flavored with vanilla, cinnamon, pimento berry and cardamom. $30 at Aftelier.
From Chuao Chocolatier, drinking chocolates in Delicious Dark and Spicy Maya. $15.95 each at Chuao.
I’ll take one of those yuzu chocolates right now, thanks! No D&D here though – settling for Rococo’s Arabic Spices and Almond Rosemary Sea Salt choc bars (which are delicious).
Hey, I am jealous of your access to Rococo. I used to be able to buy them, but now have nowhere nearby.
I’m fascinated by the violet tea – and the Palais des Thes coffret, too (ooh! gift idea for my sister, thanks!).
Reminds me, I need to pick up some Chuao Firecracker bars for my two older kids’ stockings.
The violet tea is fantastic. I reviewed it here:
http://www.nstperfume.com/2013/02/14/sweets-for-the-sweet-five-chocolate-bars-two-teas/
And I do love Chuao
I would happily receive nearly any of these! But I fear I must confess that I am clearly an uncultured American! Even though I speak some French, I read the first offering by Palais des Thes as Des Moines Tea–as in flavored with a hint of Iowa?!
Maybe a little corn silk thrown in with the tea leaves. . .
Ha…Tibet is considered a more exotic inspiration
I have had the Thé des Sables, it’s a nice fruity green, good for iced tea.
Does anyone else here strongly dislike that Penhaligon cup ‘n saucer?
Or perhaps I’m just grumpy because none of those yummy things are available here:)
I do not like the tall shape, but love the pattern…I would take one if it was squat & round! And yes, that Yuzu Fruit is making me grumpy too.
Guess its not very classy, but I prefer thick glass or clay type mugs:)
And, for them to be squat!
Robin, have you tried the Chuao drinking chocolates yet? I’m really tempted. I don’t think they have it where I buy the firecracker bars but I may have to buy it from their website — my xmas treat to me (especially since immediately post-xmas I’m going 100% dairy and sugar/stevia/sweetners of any sort free for 30 days. Have been 95% grain free for about a year and am curious about dairy/sweet free.).
I have not, but love everything else I’ve had from them, including the Spicy Maya bar & assume the drinking is the same basic flavor as the bar? I meant to include their gingerette thingies but they were out of stock, as they often are. They are absolutely wonderful.
These all look like superb gifts.
Good!