There's something about receiving a hamper that always makes you feel extra special. Essentially, you're not just getting one gift, but a selection of handpicked treats that perfectly complement each other. From afternoon tea sets and luxury chocolate boxes to a basket of authentic Italian goodies, there are lots of options to choose from - what's not to love?
Hampers make a fantastic gift if you're a bit stumped for ideas and they can be used for Christmas, birthdays, anniversaries, or a simple thank you present. We've checked out online retailers such as Amazon and John Lewis to find you the best food and drink hampers in the UK, including vegan and alcohol-free ones. Let's get stuck in!
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All too often, especially at Christmas, convenience is the overruling factor when it comes to shopping for a gift. Many of us are guilty of panic-buying while doing a last-minute run around the high street. When it comes to hampers, you should really think about what your recipient likes - otherwise, all that delicious food and drink might go to waste!
Hampers come in all shapes and sizes - John Lewis alone has over 70 food and drink hampers to choose from! Let's narrow down your search by running through the most popular types and the occasions they're best suited to.
Often, hampers have a specific theme, such as afternoon tea for Mother's Day or Christmas. The former will feature a variety of teas and baked goods, while the latter should include festive treats like mince pies, Christmas pudding, and Panettone. Or, the hamper may be focused on a particular type of cuisine, such as Italian ingredients and delicacies.
A hamper might consist solely of different types of chocolate or an assortment of biscuits and cakes - these are ideal for those with a sweet tooth or for a romantic occasion like Valentine's Day. In contrast, hampers with a variety of pâté, chutneys, and cheeses will suit those who prefer savoury bites and make a great Birthday gift for that cheese lover in your life.
If you are after something smaller and cheaper than a hamper but just as spoiling and indulgent then a box of chocolates may be a better option.
When it comes to buying any food or drink gift, it’s crucial to check that the recipient's dietary requirements are met. If you don't get this part right, your gift is likely to be thrown away or passed on - or even worse, it could give that person an allergic reaction!
Is the recipient vegetarian, vegan or gluten-free? Make sure to check that the goods included in the hamper will be suitable for their diet. To give you a hand, we'll mention any relevant dietary info in the spec tables below each review.
If you are uncertain about their dietary requirements a great alternative is a luxurious hamper style bath gift set.
Alcohol is often included in food and drink hampers, usually in the form of bottles of wine. These are excellent additions if the recipient likes a boozy bevvy but if they're teetotal or refrain from consuming alcohol for religious reasons, it'd be a big mistake to give them a hamper with wine or champagne!
For people who don't drink alcohol, there still are loads of fun options to sip on. Non-alcoholic spirits, fruity sparkling juices, or even a classic selection of teas and coffees all make a lovely addition to a gift hamper.
Picking out a hamper for a Christmas present? Presents will often sit around in the buyer's home for a while before being handed over to the lucky recipient, or they may stay under the Christmas tree for up to a month if delivered early.
Perishable items like fruit and freshly baked goods don’t last long if not properly stored, so make sure these aren't included if you think this could be an issue. If in doubt, we'd say it's a good idea to purchase a hamper with snacks like biscuits, chocolates, and crackers that don't have a short expiry date.
Food and drink hampers are usually the most appreciated when they’re filled with delicious goodies that the recipient wouldn’t normally buy themselves during their weekly supermarket trip.
Artisan goods are products that are handmade or made in small batches such as craft beers, cheeses and fudge. They may only be available for a limited time making them an extra special addition to any hamper!
Lastly, you should think about the container that will hold all of the yummy goodies. Often food and drink hampers come in the form of a traditional wicker picnic basket, complete with edible treats to enjoy outdoors. However, due to the dreary British weather, this probably isn't the best option for Christmas gifting.
That said, picnic baskets aren't the only choice. Hampers also come in the form of beautifully presented boxes or stylish trays that are sometimes reusable. So, if you think the person you're buying for is likely to reuse a pretty container, it can even count as an extra gift!
£39.95
Full to the brim with 16 delicious products this great value hamper is an ideal gift for a family to share; from tea and coffee to sweet and savoury snacks and nibbles there is something for everyone to enjoy.
Hand-picked in a blind-tasting the extra fruit strawberry jam, Italian ground coffee, handmade vanilla fudge, traditionally made peanut brittle and cheesy biscuits are just a few of the traditional family food and drink items that feature in this substantial magnetised hamper gift box.
£89.00
Send a truly heartfelt gift with a personalised note alongside this bountiful hamper. It features crumbly lemon biscuits, gourmet fudge, Fine Cheese Co crackers with roquefort and lots of delectable sweet treats to choose from.
To complement the nibbles, there's two bottles of wine a Malbec and a Sauvignon Blanc to toast with and a bag of premium ground coffee. All of this is presented in a wonderful wicker basket that you can enjoy outdoors in the warmer weather.
£65.97
This fabulous offering from The British Hamper Company contains a mouth-watering selection of handpicked British artisanal vegan treats. Inside you will find an award winning breakfast tea from The Lincoln Tea Company, coffee from Lincolnshire, jam and marmalade from the Lake District and other alternative traditional sweet and savoury snacks.
Beautifully presented the products come in a bespoke lidded gift box, tied with a ribbon and a personalised gift card. A truly unique gift for the vegan in your life or for those with a gluten-free diet.
£33.00
If you don’t want to fork out a small fortune for a hamper, this is a convenient choice! For only £33, you get 5 gorgeous goods that tea fans will absolutely love - an afternoon tea blend, salted caramel cookies, chocolate oat crumbles, salted caramel fudge, and a jar of delightfully tangy lemon curd.
What makes this one so perfect is the packaging - these eco-friendly tins and jars can be refilled, so your recipient can keep them on their kitchen shelf after they've enjoyed the contents down to the very last crumb!
£49.00
Instead of opting for a wine hamper, how about one centred around tea? This is an amazing all-rounder that'll please most people, but it's especially suited to those who can't live without their daily brew! It includes everything needed to inject a little luxury into that essential afternoon cuppa.
Inside this gift box is an assortment of sweet and savoury snacks such as giant fruit scones, clotted cream, strawberry preserve, whisky Dundee cake, lemon-flavoured biscuits, and of course let's not forget about the star of the show - tea! Just be aware that the scones are freshly baked, so they should be consumed within 48 hours.
£31.95
Looking for something a bit different to the average hamper then this bouquet of silk flowers, white wine, chocolate and popcorn is a fabulous option for any occasion. The premium silk roses will be around forever unlike the delicious 3 bottles of wine, gourmet popcorn and luxury Galaxy fusions chocolate.
Delivered fully assembled in bespoke postal boxes, with a beautifully designed cardboard box and sleeve, a foliage themed background and a personalised message. From customer reviews and to avoid disappointment just be aware that the bottles of wine are smaller than the standard size.
£44.00
This hamper makes an excellent gift for any occasion but we think it'd be ideal for Father's Day. It provides the recipient with everything they need for a traditional British Ploughmans lunch, including 3 thirst-quenching craft ales from the Butcombe Brewing Company.
For nibbles, you’ve got an award-winning, wax-coated strong cheddar complete with ale crackers, a jar of pickled onions, and the perfect Ploughmans pickle spread - delicious! Unfortunately, the plain black packaging does leave a lot to be desired, but you could always pop it into a nice gift box if you have time.
£49.00
With 11 authentic Italian treats, gorgeously presented in an exquisite hamper, this product is excellent value for money. It includes pre-dinner nibbles such as Sicilian olives and breadsticks alongside cooking ingredients like a rich pasta sauce, top-quality durum pasta, and organic olive oil.
The hamper also includes a non-alcoholic bottle of sparkling grape juice and sweet treats like almond-flavoured amaretto biscuits. There is, however, no wine, cheese, or meats, which fans of traditional Italian cuisine might miss.
£21.00
With 5 star reviews from the UK's most upmarket supermarket this easy to carry Duchy design tote bag is another great alternative to the traditional hamper. An ideal gift for those who love afternoon tea the bag is laden with a great selection of Organic Duchy items.
From tea to ginger and lime presse, orange and dark chocolate biscuits, lemon shortbread, jam and blackcurrant preserve, it really does set you up for a scrumptious afternoon meal at a very reasonable price.
£24.95
There aren't many plant-based hampers out there, so this one should definitely do the trick if you're buying for a vegan! Carefully curated by their in-house nutritionist each box contains 11-15 exciting snacks and drinks that support a healthy lifestyle.
The Lifebox is great value when it comes to content however the packaging isn't as attractive. The branded cardboard box comes delivered with a 12 page booklet containing recipes featuring some of the products - an added bonus!
Written and researched by Roxy Pratley
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