Food and Drink Advent Calendars for Christmas 2018
It’s not just the season to be jolly, but is also a time of year to stock up on food and drink for the festive period. That aside, there’s a whole load of other items to consider too. From Christmas presents and Christmas decorations, to Winter coats and Christmas jumpers… there’s nothing that marks the start of the festive period, and builds anticipation before Christmas more than an Advent calendar.
It wasn’t long ago that advent calendars were made for kids to open each day before Christmas. Made from a piece of card, with corrugated flaps that opened to reveal festive icons behind each date (or a piece of chocolate, if you were lucky). Needless to say, the advent calendar has come a long way from its humble beginnings, with weird and wonderful offerings (nibbles and tipples) behind each date.
Although I have fond memories of throwback advent calendars, producers have seen a window (twenty-five of them in fact), and filled calendars with delicious treats to be indulgent through December.
From sweet and savoury, to devilish (and healthy) alternatives to chocolate based advent calendars, treat yourself (or one of your foodie friends) to a food and drink advent calendar this year to earn brownie points with your loved ones.
Without further ado, let take a look at The Food And Drink’s favourite advent calendars this year.
1. Snaffling Pig Pork Crackling and Meantime Beer Advent Calendar (Collaboration) – £65
If you like beer and pork scratchings, you’re going to love this advent calendar from the Snaffling Pig. Snafflig Pig’s advent calendar includes 12 x 18g pork crackling bags, featuring Low & Slow BBQ, Marvellous Maple and Perfectly Salted (four of each flavour).
Snafflig Pig have also teamed up with the Meantime Brewery to include 12 x bottles of Meantime beer, featuring London Lager, London Pale Ale, Yakima Red (four of each flavour).
2. Edinburgh Gin Advent Calendar – £120
The countdown to Christmas will be merry, warming and aromatic with this Edinburgh Gin Advent Calendar of 25 mini 5cl gin bottles. Enjoy a variety of tastes including clean, fresh and spicy on-the-nose gin.
Delighting the palate of gin connoisseurs, hints of juniper, pine, floral, lavender, soft spice and citrus wait behind each calendar window.
3. Choccywoccydoodah Advent Calendar – £24.99
Choccywoccydoodah have fantastic advent calendars this year which will be available until December, which will consist of twenty-five handmade chocolates, in a box, designed by Dave. If you’re not one for sharing, maybe this isn’t the calendar for you!
However, this will make any chocolate lovers heart’s melt this winter and makes a great pre-Christmas gift. Buy yours while you can!
4. Pukka Christmas Calendar – £9.99
This is possibly one of my favourites. A great way to start the day and is only £9.99 for 24 cups of tea! Inspired by nature, this calendar is a healthy alternative to the chocolate advent calendar and is perfect for people who would like to get cosy up and warm up with a cup of herbal tea.
The Pukka Christmas Calendar has 24 different organic herbal teas to try each day throughout the festive season, so you can try a different flavour every day!
5. Sous Chef’s The Big Chilli Advent Calendar – £29.95
The Big Chilli Advent Calendar is sure to add some heat to the winter! With 25 different chillies to try each day during the build up to Christmas, there’s a new chilli to explore each day. But can you take the heat?
With a number of varieties of chillies from around the world, get fired up for Christmas this year with one of these bad boys! From smoky Mexican chipotle and fiery Indian bhut jolokhia, to citrussy bullet chillies from China and the worlds hottest chilli, the Caroline Reaper, this advent calendar from the guys at Sous Chef will spice up your Christmas, that’s for sure!
6. The Naked Marshmallow Company Advent Calendar – £15
It’s back! The world’s first gourmet Marshmallow Advent Calendar is here once again… and it’s even better than last year! Behind each door, you’ll find a piece of handmade gourmet marshmallow, including a Belgian hot chocolate spoon with Vanilla Bean marshmallow behind the final door on Christmas Day.
With 25 deliciously gooey pieces of heaven to enjoy throughout December, there’s something to toast over the open fire building up to (and on) Christmas day itself! Sold.
Remember to get yours as early as you can as these sold out quickly last year and are expected to fly off the shelves again this year. A decent price, for decent marshmallows!
Have you tried any of these? We’d love to hear your thoughts! Tweet @TheFoodDrink – Cheers!
