Southern-Made Food Gifts You Should Always Keep On Hand

By Patricia S. York

Gift giving is one of the many things we love about the holiday season, but no one enjoys being caught empty-handed when presented with an unexpected gift. Keep some gourmet food gifts on hand, and you will never experience that awkwardness again. A fresh homemade cake or a tin filled with Christmas cookies is always a welcome gift, but you don’t always have time to whip up a baked goodie. You never know when unexpected friends may drop in and you need a spur-of-the-moment gift, or you are invited to a party at the last-minute and want to take a gift. Get a jump-start on the season and take a look at this selection of some of our favorite Southern-made food gifts. Order two or three (or more) items to keep in your pantry for those unforeseen situations when you suddenly need a gift. Giving a food gift such as local honey, artisan grits or regional salt is also a great way to share the Southern culture with friends and family.

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Tupelo Honey

Savannah Bee Company

Buy It: $7.50; savannahbee.com

This sweet, mellow honey is perfect in a cup of tea or drizzled over a hot biscuit.

 

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Grey Ghost Molasses Spice Cookies

Grey Ghost Bakery

Buy It: $8.99; greyghostbakery.com

Choose from a selection of cookie flavors, but don’t let the name scare you. The only thing supernatural about these cookies is how quickly they disappear.

 

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Old South Hot Okra

World Market

Buy It: $4.99; worldmarket.com

You know it's Southern if it is spicy and pickled. These make the perfect addition to your next cheese tray.

 

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Breakfast Gift Crate

Blackberry Patch

Buy It: $15.95; blackberrypatch.com

Send your guests home with the makings of a comforting, Southern pancake breakfast.

 

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Sun Tea

Amazon

Buy It: $14.99; amazon.com

All you need is water, tea, and the sun to produce a pitcher of this peach-flavored refreshing drink.

 

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Cafe Du Monde Coffee and Chicory

World Market

Buy It: $9.99; amazon.com

Brew a pot of this chicory coffee and fill your home with the wonderful aromas of New Orleans.

 

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French Broad Chocolate

Amazon

Buy It: $12.99; frenchbroadchocolates.com

For baking or just nibbling, your foodie friend will love receiving North Carolina’s French Broad chocolates as a gift.

 

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Muddy Pond Pure Sorghum

Muddy Pond

Buy It: $9; muddypondsorghum.net

Made in Tennessee, the smoky sweetness of this syrup is delicious in everything from cookies to barbecue sauce.

 

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Delta Blues Long Grain White Rice

Delta Blue Rice

Buy It: $4.50; deltabluesrice.com

Delta Blues rice is grown, milled, and packaged on a multi-generational family farm in the Mississippi Delta.

 

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Vivian Howard’s Run It In Fins and Shells Rub

Amazon

Buy It: $18.95; amazon.com

Vivian Howard, of North Carolina's Chef & the Farmer restaurant and star of A Chef's Life on PBS, created this Southern-inspired rub, perfect for peel n' eats, low country boils or your favorite fresh catch.

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Mississippi Cheese Straw Factory Cheddar Cheese Straws

Amazon

Buy It: $18; amazon.com

Straight from Yazoo City, Mississippi, anyone will enjoy receiving this Southern party staple.

 

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Holmsted Fines Chutney

Holmsted Fines Chutney

Buy It: $9.99; holmstedfines.com

These Southern-made chutneys will put the finishing touch on any holiday cheese board.

 

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McEwen & Sons Organic Grits

McEwen & Sons

Buy It: $4.45; mcewenandsons.com

The Southern Living Test Kitchen dubbed these Alabama grits the “best grits in the South.”

 

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Slap Ya Mama Cajun Seasoning

World Market

Buy It: $4.99; amazon.com

This unique blend of spices will bring that authentic Cajun flavor to all your dishes.

 

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McIlhenny Co. Tabasco Pepper Sauce

Amazon

Buy It: $6.50 for pack of two; amazon.com

These minis are great to stash in your backpack, purse, or picnic basket and take on the road.

 

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Sea and Salt Chocolate Bar Gift Set

Bulls Bay Saltworks

Buy It: $25; bullsbaysaltworks.com

Two South Carolina favorites, French Broad Chocolates and Bulls Bay Saltworks, have teamed up to bring us this delicious artisan chocolate bar gift set.

 

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Duke’s Real Mayonnaise

Amazon

Buy It: $7; amazon.com

Your friend may raise her eyebrows when you gift her with a jar of Duke’s. But once she adds it to her next bowl of chicken salad, she will sit down and write you a heartfelt thank you note.

 

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Aunt Sally’s Creamy Pralines

Amazon

Buy It: $15.99; amazon.com

Treat your friends and family to these classic Southern indulgencies—and buy yourself a box, as well.

 

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Goo Goo Cluster Original Chocolate Carton

Amazon

Buy It: $9.95; amazon.com

Give these as gifts and your friends will understand why Goo Goos are the South’s favorite candy treat.

 

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