Like it or not, the countdown to Christmas is nearly upon us and long gone are the days of advent calendars filled with cheap choc (and that’s if you were lucky). Recent years have seen a new wave of imaginative and indulgent foodie alternatives sell out in just hours, and so with that in mind here are my top picks for 2018, in all their deliciously festive glory.
1. A Crackling Countdown
Snaffling Pig Co Pork Crackling Advent Calendar £65 with beer available here
Stop whatever you’re doing and let me introduce you to The Snaffling Pig Company’s gourmet pork crackling advent calendar. And new for 2018 is a rather impressive limited-edition version standing at half a metre-tall which features not only pork crackling but 12 refreshing Meantime beers to wash it all down with.
2. Italian Treats
Limited Edition Advent Calendar £85, available here
Back by popular demand is Carluccio’s limited edition gourmet extravaganza, filled with plenty of delicious Italian treats such as risotto, olive oils, jams, chocolate truffles, Piemontese biscuits and other festive nibbles. They also do a straight-forward chocolate-only version, which delivers a divine gianduja hazelnut chocolate each day.
3. Festive Fitness
The Protein Ball Co Advent Calendar 2017, £12.99 available here
If you want to save all naughtiness for the big day itself then you could opt for this healthier countdown, courtesy of The Protein Ball Company. Containing a mix of 100% natural, no added sugar flavours such as cacao and orange, raspberry brownie and lemon and pistachio, there’s a tasty protein ball behind each window.
4. Mallows Toasting
Mallow's Toasting On An Open Fire £15.00 marshmallows available here
All hail the world’s first gourmet marshmallow advent calendar! Behind each window is a piece of handmade marshmallow in flavours such as salted caramel, strawberry cream, gingerbread and more. New for 2018, you can add a rather ingenious marshmallow toasting kit, so that you can toast your daily mallow to gooey perfection.
5. Time For Tea
T2 £20 available here, Fortnum’s £25 available here
For a refreshing way to countdown to the big day, tea emporium T2 has created a calendar featuring 12 varieties of their finest bags, with 2 bags behind each window so you can share (if you like). Alternatively, head to ‘the Queen’s grocers’ – their beautiful Tea Lover’s Advent Calendar is filled with 24 silky bags of Fortnum’s best brews, including their tasty Christmas Tea.
6. The Spirit(s) of Christmas
Chase Twelve Festive Single-Estate Spirits Advent calendar £59.99 available here
So, this calendar actually only covers the twelve days of Christmas, as opposed to the usual 24, which is probably a good thing considering that behind each window is a mini bottle of hand-made single estate spirit from the Chase Distillery in Herefordshire, including tasty winter tipples such as Sloe & Mulberry Gin and - my personal favourite – Chase’s Marmalade Vodka.
7. Crumbs!
STEVE LANCEFIELD
Gail's Advent Calendar £16 available here
In collaboration with Notting Hill chocolatiers Melt London, GAIL’s 2018 advent calendar contains bespoke chocs behind all 24 of its contemporary doors. Inspired by the bakery’s artisan bread, the chocolates are made using caramelised breadcrumbs from GAIL’s signature French dark sourdough. Naughty, but oh so nice.
8. The Most Wine-derful Time of The Year
Aldi Wine Advent Calendar £49.99 available here
Aldi’s wine calendar sold out in record time last year and for good reason; behind each window awaits a mini bottle of red, white or rosé, and a few bottles of fizz too. Tis the season to be jolly after all…
9. Beautiful Biccies
Biscuiteers Advent Calendar 2018 £55/£175 available here
Fab biscuit boutique Biscuiteers has collaborated with designer Susie Watson again this year to create this limited-edition hand-stitched calendar, which includes a tin of 24 beautifully iced festive biscuits that are almost too pretty to eat. Almost…
10. Don’t forget the pets too!
Lily's Kitchen Limited Edition Advent Calendar for Dogs, £10 available here
Purveyors of premium pet food Lily’s Kitchen have created an advent calendar for furry felines and pampered pooches so that your four-legged friend(s) can enjoy a tasty countdown too.
