Traditional Christmas gifts in Spain
The tradition of giving baskets with festive food packages to employees, which previously disappeared during the crisis years, has returned again. Companies offering such a service are noticing an increase in demand for their products. In order to sell more baskets during the short holiday season, such companies significantly expand their assortment, trying to satisfy any customer wishes.
What is a Christmas basket in Spain?
The grocery set, which is associated with a festive mood among Spaniards, usually includes several categories of goods:
- traditional sweets are turron (nut nougat), marzipan, polvoron (shortbread), and chocolate;
- meat products – spicy chorizo sausages, ham;
- different types of cheeses;
- sweet pastries;
- cava or wine, and sometimes both.
Exclusive baskets can contain a whole leg of serrano jam and more expensive alcohol such as rum or whiskey.
Baskets for vegetarians and vegans
The traditional Christmas basket necessarily includes meat products. However, given the growing number of vegetarians in Spain, companies offering the sale and delivery of baskets have included a vegetarian version in their assortment. If desired, you can also find vegan baskets that do not contain animal products. Meat products in such baskets are replaced with fresh fruits, canned asparagus, cheeses, nuts or jam. In the best traditions of veganism, baskets include wine, dried fruits, nuts, egg white-free turron, dark chocolate without milk, olive oil and various types of bread products.
Baskets for children and people who do not drink alcohol
There are many Spaniards who do not drink alcohol for various reasons. Many companies offer ready-made non-alcoholic baskets in which alcohol is replaced with juice or more traditional holiday drinks without alcohol. Also, many companies have started offering a children’s version of the Christmas basket, consisting mainly of sweets such as chocolate, lollipops and cookies in the shape of animals or cartoon characters, as well as juices, milkshakes or soda. Baskets for children are also complemented with toys.
Gluten-free baskets
Some Spanish people with gluten intolerance or celiac disease find it difficult to fully enjoy the contents of traditional Christmas baskets. Therefore, gluten-free baskets are offered for such people, which include special sweets, cookies, polvoron, chocolate, as well as traditional meat products and fruits. This is a real salvation for gluten allergy sufferers, as such products are not sold in every store. It is best to order a ready-made basket from a company that guarantees that the gift will contain only products that are safe for allergy sufferers. When choosing an assortment for such a basket, it should be borne in mind that gluten is found not only in flour products, but also in many other food products, including sweets, sauces and sausages.
In the Spanish market, more and more companies offering Christmas baskets are expanding their range of food packages that meet different consumer tastes. In addition to those already mentioned, you can find baskets without chocolate, baskets for diabetics and even baskets with products containing only a healthy amount of fat on the market. Thus, every resident of the country will be able to get their share of gastronomic pleasure during the holidays without harming their health.
