Food and Recipes Southern-Made Food Gifts You Should Always Keep On Hand By Patricia S York Patricia S York Patricia was the assistant food editor at Southern Living and worked with the Southern Living food team from 2006-2022. She contributed to articles about food, gardening, and pets. Southern Living's editorial guidelines Published on September 7, 2017 Share Tweet Pin Email We independently research, test, review, and recommend the best products—learn more about our process. If you buy something through our links, we may earn a commission. Holmsted Fines Chutney 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. 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. Buy Now 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. Buy Now 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. Buy Now Breakfast Gift Crate Blackberry Patch Buy It: $15.95; blackberrypatch.com Send your guests home with the makings of a comforting, Southern pancake breakfast. Buy Now 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. Buy Now 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. Buy Now 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. Buy Now 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. Buy Now 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. Buy Now 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. Buy Now 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. Buy Now 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. Buy Now 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." Buy Now 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. Buy Now 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. Buy Now 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. Buy Now 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. Buy Now 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. Buy Now 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. Buy Now Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit