Shop these one-of-a-kind holiday gifts from North Carolina for your friends and family.
As the leaves turn crimson across North Carolina and we trade in our PSLs for Gingerbread Lattes, one thing is for sure—winter is coming. With winter just around the corner, Mariah Carey is also starting to defrost and warm up her vocals for the holiday classic, “All I Want for Christmas is You.” This means it’s time to start holiday shopping for all of the loved ones you want to be surrounded by this holiday season.
Whether you’re a homebody with a cute fur baby, or a social butterfly with a group chat, there are several gifts you can buy for all of your friends and family members. The best part is that all of these gifts are from companies based in N.C., and you get to support local businesses while treating everyone with the best holiday gifts this season.
The gift set for chocolate lovers: Chaiwalla hot chocolate gift set
If you’ve read our article on viral food items in N.C., you may recognize Chai Pani. Meherwan Irani, chef of Chai Pani, also founded the spice company, Spicewalla. The Chaiwalla Hot Chocolate 6-Pack Tasting Collection ($49.99) from Spicewalla is the perfect gift for the friend or family member who loves sipping hot cocoa by the fireplace during the holidays. This set contains the Classic flavor, Peppermint flavor, Cinnamon Roll flavor, Gingerbread flavor, Mexican flavor, and Chai Spiced.
There is also the 3-Pack Haute Chocolate Collection ($39.99) which contains Classic, Mexican, and Cinnamon Roll. But if chocolate isn’t someone’s cup of tea, the good news is that there is also the Bundle! Chai & Golden Gift Basket ($84.99) that consists of Mumbai Street Chai, Golden Milk Mix, Signature Sugars 3-Pack, and a snack mix with peanuts and white chocolate.
The ornament for N.C. Yulephiles: Cardinal and Dogwood Ornament
Whether your loved one is an avid reader of Cardinal & Pine (and our Va. sister outlet, Dogwood), or just a huge fan of all things N.C. and Christmas, we found the perfect ornament to gift them. The N.C. Museum of History sells an exclusive Cardinal and Dogwood ornament ($25) that is the perfect addition to any Christmas tree. It’s a great way to show pride in our state bird and flower while celebrating the Yuletide season.
The historical fiction novel for bookworms: “Even As We Breathe”
Many times, reality has proven to be even more enthralling than fiction. Historical fiction captures that magic by weaving real events into compelling stories, making it the perfect gift for the bookworm in your life. “Even As We Breathe” by author Annette Saunooke Clapsaddle ($29.95) is one such example that tells the story of a young Indigenous adult named Cowney Sequoyah who takes a summer job at the Grove Park Inn during World War II.
At the time, Grove Park Inn was used as an internment camp for Axis diplomats and family members. In the novel, the daughter of one of the diplomats goes missing, and Cowney is accused of abducting and murdering her. The story follows his fight to clear his name while confronting racism, betrayal, and learning about his own past.
The children’s book for avid young readers: “America, Here I Come!”
While kids may have access to the world at their fingertips through cell phones, there is still nothing more eye-opening than a book. That’s why the children’s book, “America, Here I Come” ($9.99), is a great gift to give during the holidays to any kid. Written by Kyra Burton, a former second-grade teacher for Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, the story traces the journey Anna and her brother Artem go through when their family moves to the U.S.
As the reader follows her story of making new friends at a new school in an unfamiliar country, kids learn vocabulary enrichment, social development skills, and multicultural awareness. Burton wrote the story with the help of real-life Wake County students who recently emigrated from other countries, and it’s the first in an entire series that features the “America, Here I Come!” theme.
The six-pack cider sets for your group chat’s holiday party: Botanist & Barrel
If you’re a social butterfly with that big group chat, finding gifts for all of the guests at holiday parties can feel like a daunting task. Bringing alcohol to the party is an easy solution to this conundrum and may just make you the MVP (Most Valued Partier). Consider buying a six-pack set from Botanist & Barrel, an N.C.-based cider company that is the first natural cidery and winery in the South.
Botanist & Barrel starts with farm-fresh fruits that are grown pesticide-free and ferments them through a slow, unfiltered process. If you are hosting a large holiday party, the Botanist & Barrel 750 ml 6-Pack ($131) is made up of a diverse array of ciders that has something for everyone. From the fruit-forward “Grapes have Feelings” to the “Golden Glow,” which has orange, ginger, and turmeric, you can even set up cider flights for everyone.
For smaller parties, the Cidermaker’s Picks 6-Pack ($80.99) is another excellent choice with choices like the spicy and complex “Scarlet,” or the juicy and floral “Blue Velvet.”
The perfect treats for the good boy or girl: Blanchard’s Treats Holiday Pet Gift Basket
Fur babies can’t go forgotten this holiday season (or any, for that matter), and what better way to treat humankind’s best friend than with some well-deserved treats? Blanchard’s Treats, a company that makes gourmet pet treats in Gibsonville, has the Holiday Pet Gift Basket ($24.99), and it’s a gift that will have your dog wagging his or her tail in approval. The set includes a Perfect P’Nut Dog Treats Snack Bag, Oats & Honey Dog Treats Snack Bag, Iced Dog Treat Seasonal Cookie, three Cream-Filled Dog Treat Sandwiches, and a reversible bandana that can be slipped on the collar.
The puzzle that is perfect for game lovers: Carolina Calling Puzzle
We might be a little biased when we put a second cardinal-related gift in here, but who can resist a cute puzzle depicting our state’s beautiful crimson-hued birds? The Carolina Calling Puzzle ($18.50) by Heritage Puzzle, a company based out of Pfafftown, is a great gift to give to your fellow Cardinal & Pine reader and puzzle enthusiast. The 550-piece puzzle features artist Dempsey Essick’s depiction of a cardinal couple, perched together on a dogwood branch.
Cardinals are known to mate for life, which also makes this puzzle a romantic gift to give to a significant other.
The candles for fragrance lovers: Santa’s Naturals Fraser Fir Christmas Candle and Sparta Candle Co. Apple-Achian Candle
Staying indoors and relaxing by a comforting candle is one of those simple joys during the holiday season. If you are planning on giving a gift to a friend who loves their fragrances, then The N.C. Museum of History sells a couple of candle options that are perfect for the holiday season.
As you may know, N.C. has the “second-largest Christmas tree industry” among all U.S. states, and we’re especially known for our prized Fraser Fir trees. Santa’s Naturals Christmas Candle in Fraser Fir ($16.95) gives off that scent of freshly-cut trees at our state’s Christmas tree farms with top notes of lemon peel and cypress; mid notes of evergreen and cedar; and base notes of fir, amber, and moss. The company is veteran-owned, and the candles are sustainably produced, with a portion of the proceeds going toward non-profits that help build “sustainable communities and rebuild the environment.”
If green, earthy scents aren’t your friend’s fragrance of choice, then there is also a fruity option by Sparta Candle Co. called the Apple-Achian ($34) with scent notes of apple, cinnamon, and nutmeg.
The BBQ sauce and spice set that unites both Western and Eastern N.C.: Sam Jones Sauces and Spices Gift Set
One thing’s for sure when it comes to North Carolina, and it’s that we know our barbecue, but what divides the state is the great Western-style vs. Eastern-style debate. Instead of wasting time decoding what style of sauce your friend likes, just buy the Sam Jones Sauces and Spices Gift Set ($59.99). It’s like the gift version of the “Why don’t we have both?” meme, solving a generational debate that has divided two queens for far too long.
The set includes the Vinegar Sauce and Sweet BBQ Sauce, with four dry rubs. The dry rubs include the company’s classic Rub Potion No. Swine, Fish Out of Water Rub for seafood, For Goodness Steak Rub for beef and brisket, and the all-purpose Salt of the Earth Rub.
The snack basket for the foodies: Our State’s North Carolina Snack Assortment
As a resident foodie, there’s arguably nobody easier to shop for than a fellow foodie. If you’re giving holiday treats to your favorite snack attacker, look no further than the North Carolina Snack Assortment set by Our State ($60 base price). The set features snacks that are all made in N.C., and the latest issue of “Our State” magazine.
The snacks in the set are the Carolina Kettle Down East Carolina BBQ Chips, Memaw’s Country Kitchen Chocolate Chip Cookies, Poppy Pimento Cheese Hand-Crafted Popcorn, Griff’s Pecan Toffee, Butterfield’s Honeybell Buds Hard Candy, Piedmont Pennies Parmesan & Herb Cheese Biscuit Bites, Bruce Julian Original Carolina Couch Mix, and Dewey’s Classic Sugar Moravian Cookie Thins.
When adding to the cart, just make sure to choose the correct shipping option—$10 for east of the Mississippi River and $15 for west of the Mississippi River. Now that you have your personal shopping guide, all you have to do is practice your caroling.
