Charleston Gift Guide 2022: Foodie Edition
Charleston is famous for its history, southern charm, and gastronomy: this holiday season, share some of the city’s signature flavors with loved ones far away, or sample the delights yourself. Whether you’re looking for local offerings to feature at your holiday party or the perfect gift for that special someone who just loves all things Charleston, these are some of our favorite local treats:
Gift a piping-hot cup of American history with Oliver Pluff, our partner in spilling the historical tea! Inspired by the blends that would have been the background of daily life for early Americans – or thrown by patriots into colonial harbors – Oliver Pluff & Co sources tea from historic Cantonese farms and creates distinctively American tea blends, toddies, and coffees. We love to cozy up with a cup of their holiday blend, or hosting a get-together where the wassail is the life of the party.
Start your days better than ever with a sweet little splash of Daysie syrups in your morning coffee. Created right here in Charleston, Daysie syrups are certified organic, crafted with less sugar, and draw flavor inspirations from around the globe to bring the world to you. Shop this woman-owned business to brighten your special someone’s mornings!
No southern gathering is complete without crispy, cheesy biscuits - and these are hands down the best cheese biscuit we've ever had! Anne’s Biscuits are always a big crowd pleaser at Thanksgiving, Christmas Parties, New Year’s, and any other gathering you can dream up. Made with love in a local kitchen by a mother-daughter duo, you can find these treats, beautifully wrapped and hostess-gift-ready, at The Boutique.
When Tyler was growing up, toffee was always the "special treat" to soothe a bad day – or a sweet “just because” gift. We love to share this tradition with new friends! Gift a batch of decadent pecan & chocolate toffee to cheer family or delight your hostess. These treats are also available at The Boutique
Looking for something fun and tasty? Find an incredible array of creative dessert options at Life Raft Treats. Pick them up locally on your way to the Christmas party, or gift treats across the country and have them delivered via Goldbelly. We ordered the Not So Fried Chicken for Thanksgiving and our family and friends said that, beyond the incredible novelty of the drumstick, it was truly the best ice cream they've ever had!
Discover your next favorite sip with the expert sommeliers at Graft Wine, a cozy wine bar & shop in uptown Charleston. Tell them your price range and tasting preferences, and they'll pull the perfect bottle right off the shelf. Stop by to taste top recommendations, local brews, and southern-style snacks. Or shop online to explore their collection of sustainable, organic, and biodynamic wines. Whether you’re looking for a bottle to gift or the perfect vintage to accompany your holiday dinners, the team at Graft is here to help. Don’t forget - they ship, too!
Created right here in Charleston, Rodney Scott’s whole hog barbecue is one of our favorite spots to savor a taste of southern classics. Pick up a gift card for their award-winning bbq for a delicious stocking stuffer, and add a bottle of Rodney sauce to your foodie gift basket! Or opt for a bundle of custom rub blends to bring the flavor home.
Last year we wrote about Red Clay’s amazing hot sauces, but this year we’re loving their habanero-infused hot honey - once you try it hot you'll never go back! Add it to your holiday party cheese board or even spice up your morning beverage – we like it with our home-grown meyer lemon and hot water. This sweet-hot drizzle elevates homemade pizzas, burgers, mac-and-cheese, and so much more (seriously, we have yet to find anything we didn’t love it on!) We also love their margarita salt - it’s a household staple around here, and Tyler has taken to salting the rim on her favorite cervezas and calling it a Tyler Rita:
Salt the Rim with Red Clay Margarita Salt
Fill with ice
Add fresh squeezed lime juice
Pour your favorite Mexican lager- Modelo, Tecate, Corona light, or locally-brewed Lo-Fi
Or try the salt with a more classic margarita – it's Charleston and they're appropriate any time of year!
Salt the rim with Red Clay Margarita Salt
Fill with ice
Add these ingredients in equal parts:
fresh squeezed lime juice
coconut water
Tequila of choice
Cointreau
Make a glass or a pitcher!
