European Food Gifts 2020

Gift collection containing:

Spruce sprout syrup (100 ml)
Spruce sprouts are the newly-grown parts of the spruce from which the syrup is made. The taste of the product is mildly softwood. The product may be used with desserts, in drinks, salads, as a marinade and with cheese.
Ingredients are water, Finnish spruce sprouts, sugar, emulsifier, citric acid and preservatives. Storing in ambient, opened in a cool place.

Dandelion buds “capers” (100g / 200 g)
The dandelion buds are wild plants that are collected in summertime, the collection period lasts a few days in June. The dandelion buds are not collected in fertilized areas or from the roadsides. The buds are frozen and used in manufacturing through the year. The product is preserved in vinegar and may be used e.g. with potato salad and with meat (instead of caper)
Storing in ambient, opened in fridge under +6 C.
Ingredients: dandelion buds (50%), sugar, vinegar, water, salt.

Non-alcoholic sparkling drink with meadowsweet taste (0,75 L)
Meadowsweet is a wild plant that is collected in summertime. The wild plants are not collected in fertilised areas or from the roadsides. The plants are frozen and used in manufacturing through the year.
This non-alcoholic sparkling drink is sweet with strong taste of meadowsweet and nuance to honey. It is served cold and is well suited for parties.
The glass bottle is recyclable.
Ingredients: water, sugar, Finnish meadowsweet, carbon dioxide, acidity regulator and preservative.

A box shaped as a shipping basket, which recalls the old local tradition of bringing food to celebrations. It contains different artisanal products are manufactured by Gangstad Cheese-Factory and other cooperating companies, all you need for any gatherings or celebrations! It is a nice give away for guests, family, friends and employees.

The following story is included in the gift packaging: “In ancient times, it was a formalised part of the local tradition to bring food and drinks to celebrations such as weddings, funerals, christenings, etc. The celebration became a popular custom among neighbours and relatives and was a valuable contribution to a family when the food supply was scarce and most people were poor. The custom dates back to the Middle Ages, but may also have been practiced earlier. The tradition of bringing food and drinks to visits still continues today, giving an enjoyable contribution to gatherings.”

The gift box contains:

Camembert cheese: Camembert cheese made by Gangstad. Cow milk.

Edel Blå cheese: Blue cheese made by Gangstad. Cow milk.

Gangstad Morrpølse: Traditional Norwegian style sausage made with cow meat from Gangstad, produced by a local butchery. Extra dried, slightly smoked and little added fat.

Fikenmarmelade: Marmelade made with figues, recommended with the blue cheese. (Contains: Figue, apricot, water, sugar, portvine, calcium sorbat).

Aquavitgele: Jellow made of aquavit, a Norwegian spirit with long traditions back to the 15^th centuries. The name is derived from the Latin aqua vitae, or water of life (Contains: Water, sugar, pectin, lemon acid, calcium sorbate, spices).

Salatost (salad cheese): Trøndelag version of the greek feta cheese, made by Gangstad.

Huså crackers: Made in Sweden with caraway from the area around Gangstad. Perfect to eat with salad cheese and sausage (Contains: Oatmeal, rymeal, yeast, milk powder, salt, caraway, oil).

Chocolate: From Bjørka, a neighbour producer.

Honey: From Bjørka, a neighbour producer.

The present includes:

Mulled wine concentrate (500 ml)
The mulled wine concentrate is preservative-free and hand-made with Finnish blackcurrant. The package is a tailor-made clay bottle.
Ingredients: blackcurrant juice, sugar, vanilla sugar, spices.
Stored in the fridge after opening. Dilution: 1 part concentrate 4 parts water.

Mulled wine marmalade (120 g)
The blackcurrant mulled wine marmalade is suitable for a festive Christmas table.
Ingredients: sugar, starch syrup, water, mulled wine concentrate (e.g blackcurrant juice, vanilla sugar, spices), emulsifier and acid regulator. The packaging is an aluminium pouch. Store in a dry and cool place.

Creamy honey with with added lyophilised Isabella grapes (125 g)

Noble Isabella is a new product of Mr. Bee, Beekeeping Company, which can be a great gift for anyone who appreciates Slovenian handmade and made-with-love products. The product if the result of a combination of the rich heritage of beekeeping, viniculture, as well as craftsmanship and art that make Slovenska Bistrica region recognisable. The lyophilised Isabella grapes give the honey a unique and very unusual flavour. Both the honey and the grapes are produced locally.

Isabella grapes – Wine and the memory of the childhood
Isabella grapes is an old vine that has been part of Slovenska Bistrica region for many years. Strong and resistant, this dark purple grape has an enticing aroma that reminds its picking in Autumn. The touch of nostalgia and memory conveyed by the product’s smell is what makes it peculiar.

Honey – Tradition, nature and purity
Slovenska Bistrica has a long beekeeping tradition, where bees symbolise the purity of nature. Slovenian honey is one of the best-quality honeys in the world and a perfect gift that represents the region and its heritage.

Packaging
The honey is packaged in small, practical glass pots sealed with an aluminium lid covered by a handmade wooden lid, which highly contributes to the product’s visual appeal. Made of walnut tree wood, the lid is manufactured by local woodworker, Bojan Ratej.

Noble Isabella pots come in small wrapped cardboards with a black and white graphic landscape of Ritoznoj region on the front and a short story of Isabella grapes, traditional wine picking and craftsmanship in Slovenska Bistrica on the back. The cardboard also communicates other local motives such as the industrial heritage of Slovenska Bistrica.

Daily usage
Noble Isabella can be added to sweet and savoury dishes (pastries, cakes, ice creams, dumplings, meat dishes and many more) and can be used as topping or dressing. Because of its thickness, it can also be used as a spread.

Organic honey from Kuopio (250 g)

Kuopio-hunaja is the only titled honey from the area. The honey is crystallised to soft, so it never hardens to rock hard. Therefore, it’s easy to spoon out of the glass jar. The honey is 100 % from Kuopio and it is also packed in the same farm. The honey has an official organic production status. It is packaged in glass jars, which can be recycled or reused. Local companies have been used for the layout design and printing. The glass jars are purchased from a trader nearby. The Honey is stored ambient and has a shelf-life of two years.

Vegan hazelnut butter (150 g)

Homemade – divine – vegan. The butter is made with 100 % Slovenian hazelnuts, with no preservatives, salt, or sugar added. Packaged in glass jar with metal lid. Store in a cool dark place.

Canned garlic pike (215 g of which pike 155 g)

The product contains pike with rapeseed oil, garlic, red onion, salt and preservatives. Pike is caught in local lakes in Kuopio. The fish is kept frozen before being processed in the traditional way: the raw fish is highly salted. All the ingredients are local or domestic. The product may be served on a banquet table or on a bread and can also be applied in cooking. The package is recyclable glass jar with a metal lid. The product should be stored in a refrigerator and has a shelf- life of 30 days unopened.

For many years, the garlic pike has been served mainly in Haapaniemi mansion’s buffet. It was so popular that the customers wanted to buy the pike as a takeaway. So, the company decided to make a canned product that can be sold.

Additional product details

Talla-coques (coca-cutter)

The “Coca-cutter” is a tool made from wild olive wood (a highly characteristic tree in Menorca), finished with esparto rope (a plant fibre commonly found in popular culture) used as a strap. The idea originates from the simple concept of tasting tomato coca (local topped bread pastry), so very popular in Menorcan cuisine. The coca-cutter serves as a knife for cutting coca and serving it to your guests. The package includes ingredients and instructions for making your own coca.

The product is not for sale yet.

Podbočje brick (hotpot coaster)

If there is anything good in life (except smoked spareribs), are the holidays at your grandma’s. At that grandma, where you need to go hoeing on the field early in the morning or piling the hay because a storm is coming… And after that, a big piece of home baked, still warm bread is waiting for you, some thickly sliced bacon and oiled scallion. In the evening then a bunch of pancakes baked on grease and potatoes in a soup.
Dinner time. Where is the coaster? Where to put the pot? It was only yesterday when we put some cabbage on the table?! Here, in the pantry, there is the BRICK, I put it there next to the bin of grease. Look, grandma, it is on the table…

In the past, people made objects, indispensable for everyday chores and life, by themselves, and they used objects which were originally meant for something else. Therefore, people already knew how to recycle in those days, and we have only awakened that. The clay roof tile is shortened to a 20 X 15 cm dimension, a wrought copper sign is glued onto it, felt coasters are added, everything is wrapped into local newspaper and tied with a string which is sealed on the top. The souvenir is kept in a neat flannel bag.

The product can be used as:

• a coaster for a hot pot – LONCENOSEC (THE POTHOLDER);
• a heater for the feet – NOGOGRELEC (THE FEET HEATER);
• a self-defence accessory – NAGLAVOPADEC (THE ON-THE-HEAD
  DROPPER);
• a tool for breaking walnuts – OREHOLOMEC (THE WALNUT BREAKER)

Warning: the metal on the brick can warm up so extra care is needed when handling the brick.

Pastisset flower biscuit cutter earrings

The Pastisset flower biscuit cutter earrings are inspired by the typical moulds used to make pastissets, very common in Menorcan family celebrations. The shape has been simplified, the size adapted for comfortable wearability. Made from sterling silver. Two different finishes: the exterior, smooth with a shiny finish similar to the aluminium moulds, and the wavy interior with its matte finish that gives the piece a more contemporary look.

The product is not for sale yet.