Nice Pickles Pickled Pineapple
If they love a Hawaiian pizza, then they’ll love this jar of pickled pineapple ($15). Made in South Australia by self-professed “pickle nerds” Nice Pickles, they’re brined with mint, jalapeño and ginger, making the perfect sweet, sour and tangy addition to toasties, salsa, pizza or even avocado toast.
The Hultafors Fire Steel Flint ($25) is a great little tool for the habitual camper. Made from ultra-thick steel and designed for ergonomic use, both ends of the steel can be struck and it can be used in all weather conditions.
Mesa Collections Fish Lemon Squeezer
For the citrus lover in your life, consider this cute fish lemon squeezer ($20) from Mesa Collections. It’s a handy kitchen aide to have on hand – whether it’s juicing 10 lemons for a pitcher of lemonade or adding a final touch to a whole-baked fish – and looks pretty sitting on a kitchen shelf when not in use.
Studio Roof Dutch Masters Bouquet
A nice gift for someone who’s recently moved into a new home, Studio Roof’s Dutch Masters Bouquet ($40) are pretty flowers they won’t be able to kill. Printed on recycled cardboard with vegetable ink, this option is inspired by the traditional realism of painters like Rembrandt and Vermeer – but the range includes styles to suit any taste, from Monet to Van Gogh.
Karst Goods Studio Muse Notebook
Karst Goods’ notebooks are a great option for the accident-prone doodler or adventurer in your life. Their Studio Muse Notebook ($45) comes in a range of bold and graphic cover designs. Its clever paper, made from recycled stone, is waterproof and tear resistant and thread-bound to lay completely flat for comfortable note-taking.
If you have someone in your life that loves a farmer’s market, Produce Pod’s Veggie Bags ($47) are a practical gift. Made with an inner cotton layer that retains moisture and a breathable outer later, they’re designed to extend the life of fruit and veggies. As a bonus, they can be thrown in the washing machine for easy cleaning.
For the person looking to take up a new hobby this Christmas, these embroidery kits from Australian brand Stitched Up, owned by two sisters, are a nice option. This mini lobster kit ($50), is perfect for food lovers, but the brand also sells larger sizes ($60) including this handsome Kookaburra. Kits are beginner-friendly and come with step-by-step printed instructions as well as video tutorials.
These wheat bags from Bon Lux ($40) are great for soothing cramps, sore muscles or for keeping warm come winter. Made from soft and durable linen and filled with Australian wheat and dried flowers, just put them in the microwave and heat as needed.
Little Tin Co Original Mixed 3-Pack
If they love fish or have just returned from a holiday in Portugal and want to continue their tinned fish obsession, consider this Original Mixed Pack ($48) from Little Tin Co., which uses sustainably sourced seafood products using local Australian ingredients. This three pack is a nice little taster, with Port Lincoln sardines, smokey mussels and kingfish pate, but they also sell individual tins.
The best Christmas gifts under $75
If bread, pasta or rice is their primary food group (and isn’t that all of us?), then they’ll love this slogan baseball cap. The “I Love Carbs” Cap from Variety Hour ($70) lets them wear their food philosophy on their sleeve (or head). It’s unisex with an adjustable back, embroidered in Melbourne and comes in this cobalt blue or a soft butter yellow.
Home Lab Chilli Icon Glass Set of Four
Perfect for the spice-lover in your life, these sweet Chilli Icon Glass Tumblers ($72 for a set of four) from Home Lab are perfect for serving spicy margaritas, gin and tonics or just plain old water. They come packaged in a nice gift box too for those who don’t have time for wrapping.
This Australian Wine Puzzle ($75) from Water and Wine is a fun and hands-on gift for the aspiring sommelier in your life. Featuring colourful illustrations of Australia’s over 60 wine regions, flora, fauna and landmarks, each puzzle also comes with grape profiles and food-pairing tips. If wine isn’t their speed, Water and Wine also has puzzles for whisky, coffee and beer lovers.
Toast Contrast Rim Enamel Oven Dish
This enamel oven dish ($70) from Toast is a hardy kitchen workhorse and lovely gift for the busy home cook or person building out their kitchen tool kit. The contrasting blue and mahogany tones are an unusual twist on the classic blue and white enamelware, and makes an attractive serving dish straight from the oven.
Santa Maria Novella Scented Wax Tablets
For the person who is always impeccably dressed and appreciates the finer things in life, Italian apothecary Santa Maria Novella’s Scented Wax Tablets ($59) are a small indulgence to add a soft scent to their wardrobe. Available in a range of fragrances, tablets can be hung from wardrobe railings, nestled in the linen cupboard or packed in suitcases while travelling.
The best Christmas gifts under $100
This Table Top Grill ($99) from Japanese brand Green Life is a great compact alternative to a Hibachi grill and ideal for kitchens large and small or taking on picnics or camping trips. Made in Niigata, Japan from a lightweight stainless steel, just add charcoal and grill yakitori, veggies, seafood.
Smashed avo takes on a slightly different meaning with Nunu’s Avo Egg and Cup Bowl ($80). Made from hand blown glass, they can be used for eggs, as salt pinch pots or even as trinket holders. Just treat them with care and they’ll never be past their use-by date.
Most fitness junkies will have a resistance band or two in their arsenal. Australian personal trainers Matt and Cy noticed that traditional resistance bands lacked markers to help users track progress. Their new brand, Strong Band, makes resistance bands with measurements to fill this gap. Their trio set ($80) is a good starter kit for beginners or all-purpose base for strength training, stretching and mobility exercises. If you’re working with a smaller budget, their individual bands start at $25.
For the person who enjoys a good gin and tonic, South Australian distiller Pluto’s classic gin ($78), is a certified organic London dry style with delicious notes of juniper, citrus, coriander and pepper. The award-winning bottle is the perfect gift for the gin-lover with a discerning palate.
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