Local Holiday Gift Giving Guide

several local products in jars and packages sit on top a cutting board. A smaller cutting board is in the background. There is lots of greenery around the items.

Give the gift of local this holiday season! Use the holiday season to give back to the local businesses in your community while also shopping for unique gifts and experiences for your friends and family. Keep reading for our list of a few local, culinary-inspired, gift ideas below.

Gift Cards to a Local Restaurant

two people are served outside at a tabled by another person

Nova Scotia is filled with culinary destinations that will make any local food fan happy. For the person that loves to dine out, purchase them a gift certificate to their favourite spot or a new destination for them to try. For a list of all Taste of Nova Scotia restaurants, click here.

Wine, Cider, Beer or Spirits

a hand holds a bottle of Grand Pre Tidal Bay in front of the ocean

Raise a glass this holiday season to local wineries, cideries, breweries, and distilleries. For the craft beer fan, try a seasonal brew like Garrison Brewing’s new After Dark mint chocolate porter or Sober Island Brewing Company’s Cup of Joe Dark Roast Porter.

If you’re looking for something a little more spirited, try Ironwork Distillery’s Maple Rum Cream or Compass Distillers’ Boston Tree Gin.

A bottle of wine is perfect for almost any occasion. Nova Scotia is known for our signature Tidal Bay, our very own appellation wine. From wine baskets to gift sets, Nova Scotia wineries have lots of holiday gifting options to choose from.

If you’ve got a cider fan on your list Saltbox Brewery’s Orange Cranberry Cider is a favourite at this time of year and you can’t go wrong with Lake City Cider‘s Spice Up Your Life holiday cider.

Unsure what beverage to get that special person on your list? Consider purchasing them a gift certificate so they can pick up exactly what they’re looking for.

Holiday Beverage Gift Packs

Several cans of cider are lined against a wall. There are tasting glasses in front.

If you’re looking to gift an assortment of local products, lots of Nova Scotia beverage companies are offering special gift boxes with a variety of their products for sampling. Chill Street Craft Beverages is offering seven different bundles featuring their products. Lightfoot and Wolfville Vineyards is offering a selection of several gift boxes that feature wine, tasting glasses and more.

Seafood Gift Boxes

several seafood products from afishionado

Companies like Afishionado Fishmongers are offering several types of seafood themed gift boxes for the holidays. At Afishionado, choose from the Merry Maritimes Box, the SEAsons greetings box, and the Shucked Up for the Holidays box.

Chocolate

Decadent December

Who doesn’t love finding chocolate in their holiday stocking? We’ve rounded up some of our favourite local companies offering online ordering and pick up including Petite Patrie Chocolate, Gourmandises Avenue Chocolaterie, Lunenburg Rum Cakes, and Chapel Cove Chocolate.

Coffee and Tea

Bags of Sunday Silence Coffee Company line up diagonally on a wooden shelf

If you know someone who enjoys a good cup of joe or a hot mug of tea, consider gifting locally roasted coffee from Laughing Whale Coffee Roasters, Java Blend Coffee, Just Us! Coffee, Nova Coffee, Sunday Silence Coffee Co., Authentic Seacoast Company Full Steam Coffee, or tea from The Tea Brewery or Cochrane Family Farm’s online shop.

Artisanal Items

For something a little different, gift a unique Nova Scotia culinary product. Tangled Garden, Helen B’s and Galloping Cows create jams and jellies using Nova Scotia ingredients. Big Cove Foods gourmet spice blends and Shivani’s Kitchen spice blends or ready to use sauces are perfect for those who enjoy spending time in the kitchen. Keep it spicy with Mad Gringo’s hot sauce, spicy beans, and Tidal Salt sea salt! Cornect Family Farm’s honey is a great sweet treat for someone’s sock and Earthli’s products are great for the health conscious person on your list.

A Cozy Getaway

hand holds a dram of whiskey in front of glenora

Does someone on your list need a staycation? Cozy cabins and resorts can be found across the province. Treat yourself or your loved ones to a future stay at White Point Beach Resort, Digby Pines, The Quarterdeck Beachside Villas & Grill, Fox Harb’r Resort, Oak Island Resort & Conference Centre, Liscombe Lodge Resort and Conference Centre, Pictou Lodge Beach Resort, Argyler Lodge and Restaurant, Chanterelle Country Inn & Cottages, Lane’s Privateer Inn, the Flying Apron Inn & Cookery, Amherst Shore Country Inn, Tattingstone Inn, the Inn at Grand Pré Winery, Glenora Inn & Distillery, Inverary Resort, Castle Rock Country Inn, or Blomidon Inn.

–