Photo courtesy of SerendipiTea
For as long as I can remember, I’ve been fascinated with Christmas stockings. It doesn’t matter if they are hanging from the mantle, dangling from the stairwell, or tied to the backs of chairs. Wherever they’re hung, they command my attention and capture my heart.
I think I love Christmas stockings because every stocking has a story and is meant for one special person (or beloved family pet). Each year, the same stocking is hung in the same spot for the same person. In many cases, that stocking has been with that person since the day they were born and there’s something truly magical about that.
Growing up, stockings were always our parents’ territory. Each year, they would hide something extra special inside. Usually, it was a piece of jewelry for us girls and a video game for our brother. We never expected these things, which is why finding them at the bottom of the stocking was so memorable.
Now that I have my own children, I follow in my parents’ footsteps. The stockings are part of our “parental domain” and Santa plays no role in what’s hiding inside. So this year, in addition to the heartfelt treasures, I will also include the locally-sourced treats below. From loose teas and specialty coffees, finishing salts and imported olive oils, gourmet chocolates and healthy granola, there’s something for everyone.
Until you’ve tried natural sea salt for yourself, you have no idea what you’re missing. Hamptons Salt Company scours the world for the best selection of raw salts, flavored salts, and smoked salts too. Their Cooking Salt can be used as a healthier alternative to refined salts and their Flavored and Smoked salts can be used to finish off a dish or sprinkled on vegetables and greens.
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This family owned Olive Oil and Vinegar Tasting Bar offers the freshest products from around the world. With over 60 flavors in stock and new ones arriving daily, you’re sure to find something for every palette. Stop in to sample your favorite flavors from award-winning producers and have them bottled and sealed fresh for you to take home!
If you have a tea drinker on your list, look no further than SerendipiTea. This small-scale purveyor of artisanal specialty teas and tisanes works closely with tea gardens, estates, and specialists around the world. Maintaining expertise in all facets of tea and production, they provide the highest quality, small-batch, hand-crafted, organic loose leaf tea available.
With just 7 ingredients and honey as the sweetener, this pantry staple got a whole lot healthier. NoFo Crunch Granola tweaked an old family favorite recipe and whips up batches of their artisan, organic granola on the North Fork of Long Island. Sprinkle it on top of yogurt, blend it in smoothies, or eat it straight out of the bag!
Want something sweet? This year, pick up some exquisite chocolates from The Hampton Chocolate Factory. They collaborate with the best chocolatiers to bring their delicious all-natural, preservative free, kosher chocolates to life. Plus, a portion of every purchase is donated to the Peconic Land Trust to help preserve the Hamptons land for future generations to come!
Is there anything better than the smell of freshly roasted coffee? I think not and the owners of North Fork Roasting Company probably agree with me. These artisan coffee roasters make sure that every coffee bean roasted is the best it can possibly be. With so many varieties to choose from – you can fill everyone’s stocking with something special this year.
