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PostMag Christmas gift guide: 9 ideas for the foodie in your life

From dumpling-shaped salt and pepper shakers to egg tart scented candles or a gourmet Christmas ham, snap these up for your reservation-making, dinner-party-throwing friend

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A festive gift set by Hong Kong-based chocolatier Conspiracy Chocolate. Photo: Conspiracy Chocolate

Gavin Yeung,Cat Nelson,Charmaine ChanandDave Besseling

Published: 6:15pm, 6 Dec 2024

It seems anyone can anoint themselves a bona fide foodie these days, but as any discerning reader knows, a couple of well-lit Insta pics does not an epicurean make. But fear not, you have something they don’t. These:

See our gift guides for … the aesthete, the culture vulture, the nesting couple, the “could be better” aunt and chill island dweller.

1. Hoopla pencil case, HK$259

Hoopla’s retro knitted pencil case shaped like a can of dace. Photo: Hoopla

There’s nothing like canned fried dace with salted black beans to stir the appetite and a nostalgia for times past, which is why this retro, knit pencil case makes a tasty, if quirky, gift. shop.hoo-pla.com

2. Kowloon Soy Co premium soy sauce, HK$165 for 500ml

The Kowloon Soy Co’s Gold Label Light Soy Sauce. Photo: SCMP Archive

The company has been making soy sauce since 1917, and it’s among the few still making it the traditional way in 2024. meechun.com

3. TinShing Umeshu Whoa, HK$879

TinShing Umeshu Whoa is a traditional Japanese plum wine, with a dash of whisky. Photo: Handout

If you find traditional Japanese plum wine to be a little too sweet, this new brew adds whisky to the mix, for an unexpected but unique balance. slowood.hk

4. Conspiracy Chocolate Winter Bundle, HK$260

The Conspiracy Chocolate Winter Bundle will please any chocolate lover. Photo: Conspiracy Chocolate

Try a little bit of everything from this festive gift set by Hong Kong-based chocolatier Conspiracy Chocolate. Featuring maple pecan, miso pine nut and chai milk tea flavours, it’ll bring a smile to any chocolate lover in your life. conspiracychocolate.com

5. Henry Christmas Ham from Rosewood, HK$2,540

Henry Christmas Ham from Rosewood could be a centrepiece for any festive table. Photo: Rosewood Hong Kong

This Christmas roast from Rosewood Hong Kong’s steakhouse was designed to be the centrepiece for a festive spread. Sized for 10 people, the 7.5kg ham comes with side dishes such as mashed potatoes, roasted root vegetables, braised Brussels sprouts and bacon. rosewoodhkshop.com

6. Pinyin Press’ Dumpling salt and pepper shakers, HK$296

Pinyin Press’ dumpling salt and pepper shakers add a little seasonal seasoning glamour. Photo: Pinyin Press

These glam metallic gold salt and pepper shakers by Pinyin Press level up any dinner party table. Handmade in the ceramic capital of China, Jingdezhen, and packed in steamer baskets for a lighthearted but stylish gift. pinyinpress.com

7. Chafado Signature Tea Bag Gift Set, HK$238

Chafado’s Signature tea gift set will make anyone a fancy brew. Photo: Chafado

Give the gift of a winter teatime with Chafado’s pine gift set. It includes Phoenix oolong tea bags and pairing snacks such as ginger gum, black dates and walnut gum. chafado.co

8. Sang Roastery coffee glass, HK$88

Sang Roastery’s coffee glass boasts a Japanese Showa-era-inspired design. Photo: Sang Roastery

Sporting Japanese Showa-era-inspired graphics, this tumbler from local coffee roastery and cafe Sang Roastery is fit for cold coffee drinks to see you through the yuletide season. sangroastery.com

9. The Wax Can’s egg tart scented candle, HK$165

These candles by Wax Can’s are scented with the buttery smell of fresh egg tarts. Photo: The Wax Can

The Hong Kong equivalent of popping a batch of chocolate chip cookies in the oven for that homey aroma, these playful candles are scented with the buttery smell of fresh egg tarts. The fragrance comes courtesy of the experts at The Wax Can – other candle scents include “Tuen Mun Ferry Pier” – and design from local artist Candle Joke, whose whimsical candle shapes range from shrimp sashimi to McGriddles. thewaxcan.com

Gavin Yeung

Vancouver-born and Hong Kong-raised, Gavin is a lifestyle writer who has worked at publications like Vogue Hong Kong, HYPEBEAST and Home Journal. He is in avid pursuit of the latest in the local dining scene – his modus operandi is to never visit the same restaurant or bar twice, although a beautifully designed interior will more often than not increase his chances of a return.

Cat Nelson

Cat Nelson is the editor of PostMag. Joining SCMP in 2024, she has over a decade of experience in lifestyle media with a background in food and drink writing.

Charmaine Chan

Charmaine Chan has worked as a journalist in Australia, Japan and Hong Kong. She became the South China Morning Post's Design Editor in 2005, having been its Literary, Deputy Features and Behind The News editor. She covers architecture and interior design, and oversees the books pages. Charmaine is the author of Courtyard Living: Contemporary Houses of the Asia-Pacific (Thames & Hudson).

Dave Besseling

Before PostMag, Dave was deputy editor at GQ India, managing editor at Motherland and senior copy editor at The Caravan. He has had two books published, and was shortlisted for the Kurt Schork Award for International Journalism.

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