What makes for an excellent gift? It's not about a hefty price tag. Great gifts are thoughtful, and they may be helpful or useful. Or perhaps they are decadent, something the person wouldn't have gotten for themself. Excellent gifts express something unique to the recipient.

Food and home-related gifts tap into one of our foundational communal experiences — eating. As we head into the season of renewed bonds and shared meals, we've pulled together a selection of exquisite gifts to delight the taste buds and warm the heart, all from companies that are committed to preserving and building a non-GMO food supply.

The gift of indulgence

Twrl Tea's holiday gift boxes offer curated selections of canned milk teas and looseleaf tea leaves sourced from organic, multi-generation farms. The gift box includes two flavors of boba, the chewy, bite-sized tapioca pearl that puts the "bubble" in "bubble tea," and a handful of cute branded accessories.

The gift of flavor

For the gourmet cook on your list, a Heray Spice Gift Box includes some of the world's best saffron, sourced through fair trade practices from farmers in Afghanistan. Wild-grown cumin, coriander, wild caraway and black peppercorn round out the set. Did you know that Heray Spice is a recent Equitable Transfer Fund recipient and a member of the founding brand cohort in the newly launched Food Integrity Collective? You can find out more about this exciting company here.

The gift of care

Booda Organics is consistently a staff favorite at the Non-GMO Project — and they're one of our neighbors in beautiful Bellingham, Washington. All of Booda Organics products are crafted from the highest-quality, organic, non-GMO and vegan food-grade ingredients. You can choose from a selection of gift boxes:

• Introduce the Booda Organic line to friends and family with the Booda Butter Eco Gift Bag. Each gift bag contains the three most popular products — moisturizer, 3-in-1 soap and lip balm. 
• Their 3-in-1 soap (suitable for bath, shampoo and shave) sets the tone in the Suds of Love Soap Essentials Kit, with a wooden soap rest and scrub sack.
• The Cocoa Lovers Gift Set features moisturizer and lip balm lightly scented with cocoa to "calm the mind and open the heart." 
• Or, take the plunge with the Naked Essentials Booda Bundle, a complete set with moisturizer, deodorant, 3-in-1 soap, lip balm and laundry detergent.

The gift of decadence

Another Pacific Northwest favorite, Seattle Chocolate, is a woman-owned company committed to fair trade sourcing and empowering women and girls. They offer a range of customizable gift set options, including a dark chocolate collection suitable for vegans. And because the company works with artists from around the world to design some truly beautiful packaging, Seattle Chocolate's products are as gorgeous as they are delicious. We should know! The Non-GMO Project team enjoyed the jcoco Tasting Experience set during an event last winter. Our verdict: Two chocolate-smeared thumbs way, way up.

The gift of skill

This recommendation comes with a warning: Once you start making your own tortillas, you may never be able to go back to store-bought.

Are you shopping for someone with a dedicated Taco Tuesday tradition, ready to level up? Check out Masienda, a retailer on a mission to share heritage, non-GMO maize (crucial work because corn is one of the crops most likely to come from GMOs — find out more in our blog). Masienda helps foodies everywhere explore how powerful this deceptively simple staple can be. The book Masa will educate and inspire, and the tortilla starter kit contains everything they need to make a first meal. Masienda products combine beautiful design with functionality and, above all, joy. 

The gift of good taste

With Isadore Nut Co. gift boxes, healthful and delicious snacks are just the beginning. We recommend the trio of seasonal blends in the festive Gift Box Seasonal Sampler, or the Loving Mixed Nut Gift Tin with a full pound of Isadore's best sellers. Plus, the benefits of this gift go beyond taste: Isadore Nut Co. works to reduce unemployment among adults with disabilities. By working with people of all abilities, Isadore Nut Co. helps underemployed people build skills and supports vital bonds in the community. To learn more about Isadore Nut Co., watch this Instagram live with founder and CEO, Tasya Kelen. 

We hope you have the opportunity to come together for some wonderful feasts in the coming weeks. Happy holidays and bon appétit!