PostMag Christmas gift guide: 9 ideas for your “could be better” aunt
From a calendar for a beauty expert and a festive luxury hamper to chocolate truffles, chen pi, sparkling tea and a home-grown all-use cologne
There’s just no pleasing some people. But we’ve spent some extra brain power on this collection of unexpected gems to satisfy even the most finicky of the “why did you make the bacon so curly” crowd.
1. Bamford Twelve Days of Joy Advent Calendar, HK$1,905
British skincare brand Bamford has released an advent calendar that would be ideal for the beauty maven in your life. Featuring 12 products across its range, nine of which are full-sized, the advent calendar comes decorated with illustrations by London-based illustrator Nina Fuga. bamford.com
2. Keiichi Tanaami x Brandor – TopOne A – Luck and Harmony, HK$420
Late Japanese pop artist Keiichi Tanaami’s vibrant artwork adorns this geometric coffee glass from coffee lifestyle brand Brandor. Reading “luck and harmony” in Chinese, the artwork’s auspicious meaning is sure to kick off the festive season on a positive note. shop.mplus.org.hk
3. Guo Pei: Fashioning Imagination, HK$228
Explore the exhaustive M+ exhibition detailing China’s favourite couture designer, Guo Pei, for a colourful pick-me-up on a drab winter day. shop.mplus.org.hk
4. The Peninsula Festive Hamper, HK$3,388
Hark back to the golden age of travel with this luxurious hamper from one of Hong Kong’s oldest hotels. Inspired by The Peninsula’s iconic facade, the hamper contains a medley of gifts such as Deutz champagne, duck rillettes, Christmas cake, acacia honey, a festive candle and a storytelling card. peninsula.com
5. Fortnum & Mason’s festive chocolate truffles, HK$342
Is Christmas complete without chocolate truffles? We think not. At Fortnum & Mason, the chocolate truffle gift box includes a selection of pink Marc de Champagne truffles, almond pralines, kir royale milk shells and more, all infused with festive tipples for extra flavour. fortnumandmason.com/hong-kong
6. Chen pi from On Kee Dry Seafood, HK$700
Known to aid digestion, respiratory health and inflammation, chen pi, or aged tangerine peel, is particularly sought after in the winter thanks to its warming nature and as an ingredient in traditional Chinese medicine. Pick up this top-grade, 10-year-aged chen pi from traditional retailer On Kee Dry Seafood to impress your relatives or in-laws. onkee.com
7. Saicho Sixty Stone Mountain sparkling tea, HK$598
Part of sparkling tea brand Saicho’s rare-tea collection, the Sixty Stone Mountain variety, is brewed using black tea from a tiny farm on its namesake mountain in Taiwan’s Hualien county. With aromas of dark honey, mango, apricot and lemon, the tea comes in a luxurious gift box for extra brownie points. hkliquorstore.com
8. Shanghai Tang x Jacky Tsai “Dali Icons” silk jacquard qipao, HK$3,976
A new twist on old favourites has always been the thing at Shanghai Tang, with a new elevation this season thanks to London-based multimedia artist Jacky Tsai. shanghaitang.com
9. Two Girls’ Florida Water, from HK$60
This multipurpose cologne is a throwback to a time when foreign perfumes were a luxury. With its memorable Two Girls-in-cheongsam branding, the affordable local brand, founded by Fook Tien Fung in 1898, offers a heady glimpse into Hong Kong’s past. twogirls.hk
