A food lover's Christmas Gift Guide for Tipperary and all you need to know...

With Christmas just around the corner, many of us may be left wondering what gifts to buy for those food lovers in our lives, well, we have you sorted.

This week, nutritionist Laurann O’Reilly and owner of Nutrition by Laurann, guides us through her top picks in food lover’s gift guide, which features some of our amazing local and national food producers.

For Cheese Lovers

Tullahay Farm
Owned by Rosemary O’Shea, Tullahay is a multi-award-winning artisan producer of unique fruity whey drinks and both natural and savoury soft cheeses, all handmade on their farm using our own cow’s milk.

Their cheeses are low in fat and don’t contain any artificial colours, flavours or preservatives, using all natural ingredients. Their drinks are loaded with gut friendly bacteria, containing all of the essential amino acids, natural electrolytes, vitamins and minerals.

Gift Idea: They offer a cheese and drinks combo, where it is possible to purchase our three soft cheeses and two fruity whey drinks. There is also an option to purchase drinks only.
Available From: https://tullahayfarm.ie/shop/

Food Hampers

The Thoughtful Shopper - Tipperary Food Producers Hamper

A carefully curated hamper put together by Agnes Maher of The Thoughtful Shopper Gifting Company, a family run boutique gifting company based on a beautiful farm in Laois. This year they have teamed up with the renowned Tipperary Food Producers Network, to bring you an indulgent curation of Irish artisan foods.

Gift Idea: The hamper includes My Tasty - Handmade Granola, Rivesci - Chilli Cashew Crush, Brookfield Farm - Raw Honey, Blanco Nino - Chilli & Lime Tortilla Chips, Irish Hedgerow - Elderflower Tonic Water, Crossogue - Harvest Chutney, Nutshed - Limited Edition Peanut Paradise Bar by Bean and Goose and Ayle Farm - Three Fruit Marmalade

Available From: thethoughtfulshopper.ie/designyourowngift

Dooks Fine Foods

A Tipperary food producer, restaurant and retailer in Fethard. They have gifts for all budgets from €10 up to €310 for their amazing Christmas deluxe hamper.

As well as Christmas cooking demonstrations.

Gift Ideas: Their Christmas food and gift range will be launching from the 1st of December and includes a huge selection of hampers and gifts sets.

This includes their Bosca Beatha na Nolaig which is a festive take on their well-established Bosca Beatha (a box of joy and love that they offer for next day delivery across the country).

Available from: From their premises in Fethard as well as online dooksfinefoods.ie/products/hampers-gifts-vouchers/

Martins Fruit & Veg Clonmel

This year marks 50 years in business for Martin’s Fruit & Veg, located in the heart of Clonmel. Alongside their traditional fruit and vegetables selection, they strive to support local and Irish wherever possible.

Gift Idea: They have a wide selection of delicious gift ideas for the foodie in your life, this includes their range of made to order or personalised gift hampers for every price range, filled with Christmas Irish favourites and from our own wonderful Tipperary food producers.

Their festive selection includes local/Irish honey & jam gift packs, coffees, teas, juices, nut butters, savoury treats of hummus, olives & nachos, and some sweet treats of biscuits, Turkish delights, nut assortments, local bakes & handmade chocolate gifts, to name a few.

They also offer vegan, dairy free & gluten-free options. Available from: In store at the Westgate, Irishtown, contact them at 052 6121920, info@martinsfruitandveg.ie

For The Eco-Friendly Food Lovers

Zero Waste Market Place

Owned by Jenny Brewer, Zero Waste Market Place is Tipperary’s first organic, refill shop and online eco-store, helping customers transition to a more sustainable lifestyle.

Gift Ideas:

1) The Tea Lover Gift Set: This includes a vintage teacup and saucer, a reusable stainless steel tea basket and two organic cotton reusable tea bags.

2) All About Kombucha's Simple Brewing Kit: This contains all of the basic tools you need to get started kombucha in Kombucha making (S.C.O.B.Y & Starter Liquid, Organic Loose-Leaf Tea, Reusable Cotton Tea Bag, Organic Cane Sugar, Cheesecloth, Elastic Band Detailed Pamphlet Instructions) and

3) Custom Made Gift Boxes: Including sustainable gift items

Available From: Zero Waste Market Place Anglesea Street, Clonmel (open Wednesday to Saturday) or online at www.zerowastemarketplace.ie

Away With Nature

Away with Nature was created by Fiona O’Donohoe as a way to combine a love of nature and mindful living. Based in the heart of Drangan, their family run business produces a variety of herbal teas and gift sets to cater for all budgets as well as custom gift sets made to order.

Gift Ideas:

1) A Gift of A cuppa: Includes PositiviTea Herbal Tea, Iron Brew Herbal Tea, Tea Infuser & The Wildflower Mug,

2) A Variety of Herbals Teas: These include Iron Brew and Immuni Tea as well as herbal tea infusers and

3) The Wildflower Mug: A stunning mug by Fionnuala of Finn Ceramics, Birr, who designs, hand throws and fires all of her own stoneware pottery. As each piece is thrown on the potter’s wheel, they are completely unique. The mug is also designed for everyday use and is dishwasher safe.

Available From: awaywithnature.com

For The Kids

Kool Food School

Deirdre Doyle owner of Kool Food School has a mission to teach children of all ages about the joys of healthy eating in a fun and interactive environment.

Gift Ideas:

1) Kids cookbook and safe cutting knife: Their best-selling safe knife and peeler make the best Christmas gift for your young child. The perfect stocking filler or for gifting to another child from age 2+ and

2) The Kiddies Food Kutter and Safety Food Peeler: These are two innovative products designed to enable all children to cut and peel fruit and vegetables safely.

Free From Cakes & Treats

Mai’s & Kay’s Horsebox

Specialising in wheat free cakes and bakes. Onsite they also serve hot beverages such as teas, coffees and hot chocolate along with various French style crepes with various toppings

Gift ideas: They have a wide selection of Christmas desserts including Christmas cakes, Christmas puddings, pavlova bases, Bakewell buns and a wide selection of Belgian chocolate brownies and cookies to name a few.

Available From: Cahir Farmers’ Market on Saturday mornings from 9am-1pm or see their Facebook page facebook.com/maiscafeclonmel/Denise’s Delicious Gluten Free Bakery

Winner of the Gold Great Taste Awards, Denise’s Delicious Gluten Free Bakery was the first Gluten Free Bakery in Ireland. All products are 100% gluten and wheat free, with most of the range being dairy free, soya free and yeast free.

Gift Ideas: They have an extensive range of products, including breads, cakes, biscuits, baking mixes, hampers, and delicious Christmas goodies, such as Christmas Pudding, Mince Pies, and Christmas Cake.

They also have some freshly baked products including bread, apple tarts and fruit scones, pizza bases and bread rolls.

Available From: Instore including Supervalu, Centra and Spar as well as online nationwide delivery at delicious.ie/a-delicious-christmas

Hamper & Stocking Fillers

Feighery’s Farm

Owned by Anne Marie Feighery, Feighery’s Farm is a family orientated business in the heart of Ireland in county Offaly.

They produce multi-award-winning beetroot juices which are not only rich in nutrients and antioxidants but are made up of just two natural Irish ingredients which include pesticide free Offaly beetroot (70%) and Tipperary apples (30%) sourced from Con Traas’ Apple Farm in Tipperary.

Gift Idea: Feighery’s Farm beetroot juice or their new Beet Bullet (great for sports lovers, as they provide a Nitric Oxide boost) make great stocking or hampers fillers (although best kept in the fridge) Available from: 70+ SuperValu stores around Ireland, all 19 of the Nourish Health Food Stores nationwide and www.feigherysfarm.ie
Rivesci

Owned by Shannon Forrest and Michelin Star trained Chef, Declan Malone. Rivesci specialise in condiment making. They’ve also recently set up a fabulous café in Irishtown Clonmel with a selection of nibbles delicious drinks.

Gift Ideas:

1) Red Onion Marmalade with Spiced Port: Perfect for those left over filled sandwiches. It also goes really well with some red cheddar cheese, stuffing and all of the trimmings! and

2) Cashew Chilli Crush: This might not last very long on your Christmas table having that delicious umami taste and it goes well with everything, whether added to a stir fry, on a sourdough sandwich, drizzled over pizza.
Available From: Rivesci, 80 Irishtown Clonmel and online at rivesci.ie

SuperNature

Noele started Supernature out of a simple passion for making her own natural treats for one of her daughters, who was unable to have dairy, gluten or processed sugar and with only 4 ingredients.

Gift Ideas: Their Christmas Selection Box is the perfect choice for gluten-free chocolate lovers, vegan chocolate lovers and is free of processed-sugar.

Available From: Online at supernature.com/products/christmas-variety-gift-box