As we start contemplating how to get the Christmas decorations out of the attic without accidentally starting a game of giant Jenga, there’s another thought that flickers across the mind… What’s going on the Christmas list this year?
Well, if you’re looking for some gift inspiration for the big day, we’ve got just the thing… Cornwall is chock with uber-creative and artisan products that make for a perfectly thoughtful Christmas gesture, combining a sense of place, provenance, and purpose to a brilliantly bespoke effect.
Whether you wish to roam the array of independent boutiques, outlets, and galleries for something unique for a loved one (or to find a treasured keepsake of your stay), visit a Christmas market, or stock-pile goodies online, an eclectic host of things to wear, use, eat, drink and admire awaits the lucky yuletide shopper in Cornwall. There are also some uber-unique festive experiences and events to give you some seasonal inspiration.
From refreshing gins to cosy home décor, here are some Cornish gifts to add to your Christmas list…
For the foodies…
Cornish Sea Salt
Consider yourself a seasoned gift-giving pro? You certainly will be if you pop a little something from Cornish Sea Salt under your tree! Harvested from the Atlantic swells that surround The Lizard, this flavourful gift not only offers a true taste of Cornwall, but also a piece of its history as the salt’s harvesting processes are inspired by traditional methods used many years ago. This wonderful combination of past and present creates a sublime line of seasonings that range from the classic and pure Cornish sea salt to epic flavour combos such as roasted garlic or smoky paprika.
Alongside the very sprinkleable sea salts, you can also get some fab gift sets that add both style and flavour to the kitchen. The sea salt shaker set is great for those who prefer a generous smattering of salt while the pinch pots and salt pigs offer a stylish home for your favourite seasoning.
Tarquin’s Cornish Gin
The first distillery to return to Cornwall in over 100 years, Tarquin’s have quickly become a household name in the world of gin – and for good reason! Hand-crafted right here on the wild Cornish coast, Tarquin’s lip-smacking selection of gins has a tipple for every taste, whether you’re gifting a summer lover or a festive fanatic. The lemon sherbet gin is a zesty hit that’s perfect for a sunny day, while the figgy pudding gin brings a giddy twist to a Christmas classic.
Each of the bottles are topped with the iconic wax seal and finished with matte glass, providing something that looks as good as it tastes. For a totally gin-spired gift, combine one of the delicious blends with a set of Tarquin’s very high-ball glasses or goblet-style gin glasses for the ultimate bundle – you can even throw in a Tarquin’s belly board for good measure!
Kernow Chocolate
When it comes to taking a piece of Cornwall away with you, you can’t really get better than a piece of Cornish chocolate – the ultimate foodie gift! Kernow Chocolate is one of Cornwall’s top chocolatiers, boasting a mouth-watering selection of epic flavour combinations and eye-catching packaging that showcases some of Cornwall’s most well-known scenes.
Alongside their iconic photographic range and beautiful Becky Bettesworth range (which feature tantalising flavours such as toasted tea cake and cream tea) you’ll find an ever-so tempting festive collection that holds no punches when it comes to flavour – the Christmas pudding and mulled wine bars are truly worth celebrating. Although the bars are always a hit, we recommend checking out their other collections too. From hot chocolate spoons that transform your hot milk into a toasty experience, to grab bags and chocolate shot cups that are perfect for the season’s frivolities, there’s something for every sweet-toothed shopper out there.
Furniss
The ceremony of biscuits and tea is one of our favourite past-times, and no one does the dunking portion of the pair better than Furniss, who has been lending its sweet aromas to the Cornish air since 1886. Today, it’s the only company in the world licensed to make The Original Cornish Fairing, a Cornish classic biscuit that’s rich, crumbly, and the perfect co-star to your cuppa. The company’s award-winning biscuits have been delighting hungry patrons for years, with the likes of clotted cream shortbread and dark chocolate ginger biscuits making the perfect stocking filler. They’ve also recently added cookies to their dunk-worthy menu of treats, featuring tempting flavours such as white chocolate dipped cranberry cookies and pecan and maple.
The original Cornish gingerbread retro tins, which boast a fabulously colourful map of Cornwall, make for a superb prezzie for the Cornish obsessed as they’re a gift that can be treasured even after the biscuits are gone. You can pick these tasty gifts up on their website or from one of their stockists, which can be found all over the county.
Tinkture
Tinkture’s Organic Rose Gin was born out of a ‘delicious accident’. Created using the finest organic David Austin roses from a certified organic farm in the southwest and distilled by hand in copper pot stills, the divine pink gin is a taste bud sensation. Tinkture’s founder, Hannah Lamiroy, explains its unique origins as “the result of a personal journey into the provenance of alcohol and the best way to keep our bodies healthy on a night out. Looking for an answer, that is how my experiments began into cleaning up alcohol.
Pick from their classic range (available in gorgeous 50ml miniature, 500ml, 1L, and 2L bottles), environmentally sound reuse range (courtesy of a clever wide mouth bottle and 500ml refill pouches), and pre-mixed gin cocktail, Negroni (co-created with renowned restaurateurs and bar owners, Andy and Lyndsey Appleton) in Rosa and Classico varieties. Aside from refilling, the beautiful bottles are a gift in their own right, making for a wonderful flower vase, water jug, bookcase feature. The possibilities are as vast as your imagination!
St Ives Brewery
With a range of breweries serving up pint after pint of refreshing ales, lagers, and stouts, Cornwall is a haven for hopheads. Whether you want to wrap up some beautifully bottled beers or gift a fascinating tour, St Ives Brewery is the go-to place for a very hoppy Christmas.
With a penchant for the unusual, St Ives Brewery has an excellent selection of beers to get the taste buds tingling, from a roast potato and rosemary wheat beer to a delicious espresso IPA made with Cornish coffee from Yallah. Of course, their original line-up of drinks is well worth a try too, whether you fancy a refreshing pilsner or a fruity pale ale. Online and in their superb taproom in Hayle, you’ll find a series of gifts that make ideal presents for beer-lovers, from clothing and caps to beautiful glasses.
For the pamperers…
Trevarno
Whether you’re in the market for some sublime skincare products made from the finest and most sustainable ingredients, or something special for the home, you’ll find something to suit with Trevarno’s tantalising Christmas range.
Select their sense-spoiling winter home set, which features the beguiling scents of thyme and rosemary, cinnamon and orange, and citrus and sea salt; opt for their eco-friendly Cornish garden gift set for some aromatic soap alongside a pretty notebook and patterned eco sponge; or treat the spa-lover in your life to the spa restore set in coastal, which comprises of the oh-so relaxing coastal salt soak, a divine soap bar and an eco-friendly, natural gift bag – perfect for a long soak that takes you away to the Cornish coast.
And with stocking fillers such as linen makeup bags, bamboo scrunchies, and a mini shave kit for your menfolk to enjoy, Trevarno has got Christmas covered in inimitable style – they even have eco-wrapping paper and tape!
Emily Nott-Bower
Jewellery maker-designer Emily Nott-Bower is the creative talent behind She Sells Sea Shells - a beautifully bespoke collection inspired by the North Cornwall coastline. From earrings to necklaces, rings, bracelets, and cufflinks, all handmade from casts of shells that she beachcombs from a range of locations, Emily’s ever-evolving and eye-catching range reflects her personal connection to Cornwall’s coastal landscapes while providing the perfect festive gift or holiday memento.
Available at various art galleries around Cornwall, as well as online where bespoke creations can be ordered, Emily’s unique charms make for a wonderfully Cornish gift this Christmas.
Bloomtown
Vegan, cruelty free, and palm oil free (they are actually the UK’s first certified palm oil free company), Bloomtown is all about skincare with a conscience, perfect for those wanting to pamper loved ones in an environmentally friendly way. From nourishing lip balms to heavenly bath soaks and face masks, there’s something for everyone across their award-winning products.
Keep things clean with their beautiful handmade soaps or natural deodorants, or opt for the sweeter touch and choose one of their indulgent sugar scrubs. We’re also big fans of the body and bath oils, which use essential oils to a relaxing effect, perfect for that long soak at the end of the day. And if you want to go for something a little more personalised, why not gift one of their soap making workshops? Using ancient, cold-pressed techniques, these workshops are a gift that keeps on giving as you’ll walk away with the skills to make your very own skin friendly soap for years to come.
For the homebirds…
St Eval Candle Company
Lovingly handmade in Cornwall using artisan and sustainable methods, St Eval’s glorious sublime candles are just the ticket for a loved one (or yourself), evoking memories of Cornwall with the divine likes of their Hedgerow, Spring Flowers and Victorian Herb collections that feature the heady scents of geranium, fig, wild gorse, sea salt, lavender, and bluebell wood to name but a sensuous few.
The company’s gorgeous winter star and celestial pots make for a wonderful gift, marrying festive design and scent to stirring effect, while their Christmas tin candles and tealights feature a festive, botanical print and are available in a spellbinding range including spicy Inspiritus, warming orange and cinnamon, and figgy pudding. Or for an extra note of decadence, pick a pillar candle or gold-dipped/marbled multiwick and await the giddy responses come Christmas Day.
Available online or at various retailers around Cornwall.
Atlantic Blankets
When we think of winter we think of cosy nights in, hot chocolate, and, of course, blankets! Taking you from evenings on the sofa to days on the beach, Atlantic Blankets have got every adventure covered with their deliciously cosy collection of blankets. From Herringbone woolly wonders that look just as good on the beach as they do draped over the bed to fleecy delights that offer warmth and beauty in buckets, you’ll be keeping one of these toasty blankets back for yourself this Christmas.
Choose from a wide range of colours and patterns, as well as different sizes, which go from baby to super king! You can also pick up one of their recycled blankets, which are made from 100% recycled materials. Our personal favourite has to be the morse code cotton blanket, which secretly reads ‘you, me and the sea’ over and over again – the ultimate show of love for the Cornish coast.
Leach Pottery
Sprucing up the home has never been easier – or more Cornish! – thanks to local pottery, gallery, and artist collective, Leach Pottery. Located in Cornwall’s artistic capital, St Ives, Leach Pottery is the place to go for a unique Cornish gift as it’s home to a number of superb potters whose wares are the epitome of classic Cornish style.
While you can purchase some of the beautiful ceramics online, we definitely recommend stopping by in person as you’ll be able to have a look around the museum, which features works by founder Burnard Leach, and the exhibition spaces, which feature a changing roster of contemporary works to inspire your shopping. If the person you’re browsing for is a hands-on kind of person, why not get them a voucher for a pottery class or course with Leach? It’s the best of both worlds – new ceramics and new skills!
For something a little different…
Shopping
Not sure what to buy? Cornwall is home to an exceptional range of shops, where you can find inspiration and presents aplenty. In Perranporth, All You Can Eco has you covered with an excellent array of environmentally friendly gifts, from keyrings made from washed up buoys to colourful bamboo socks and Christmas decorations.
In St Ives, you’ll find all manner of shops selling everything from books at the St Ives Bookseller to JellyCats and dinnerware at Brocante. Falmouth is known for its unique boutiques full of fabulous clothes and gifts, while Lostwithiel is famous for its antique shops, ideal for those who love a gift with some history.
Experience Days
Water-skiing, lavender fields, wood-fired saunas… they might not be wrappable but that doesn’t mean you can’t give them for Christmas! Experience days and vouchers are a great way to give a memorable present without having to go through metres of wrapping paper – all you need is a quirky card to house your epic gift! Cornwall is home to countless adventures you can give, from coasteering with Global Boarders to Paddleboarding with Falmouth Surf School.
It’s not just for adrenaline junkies though, oh no! With plenty of vineyards, breweries, and distilleries, boozy days out are around every corner – cheers to that! – while theatre aficionados will love a ticket to one of Cornwall’s many superb theatres. You can also give the gift of fresh sea air with a boat trip around St Ives or a kayak around Hayle harbour, a totally refreshing way to see Cornwall’s dramatic coast. Or, for the food-lover in your life, why not explore the many weird and wonderful foodie experiences that are out there, from foraging for your dinner to sitting down to an epic feast night - you can even include a boozy day out for good measure.
If you have a family member who is notoriously difficult to buy for and who loves Christmas, then how about a gift voucher to put towards a holiday in Cornwall? What could be better than the gift of a Cornish stay!
Cornish Hampers
One of the best ways to give an epic present while supporting local businesses is to create your very own Cornish hamper, full to the brim with Cornish goodies. Pop in some fresh scones, Cornish clotted cream, and Cornish jam for the ultimate cream tea, gather up your favourite Cornish gins and tonics for a gin gift box with a difference, or delve into the world of aromatherapy and create a spa experience your loved ones can enjoy at home with local skincare, candles, and sea salt soaks.
Of course, if you would prefer, you can find an array of pre-made Cornish hampers online, which come in all manner of shapes, sizes and themes. The Cornish Food Box Company creates incredible hampers that are sure to tickle every fancy, from a pasty and a pint to mulled wine and chocolate.
If you fancy visiting Cornwall so you can peruse these goods in person, take a look at our cosy holiday cottages and find your perfect Cornish stay.