Ideas for gifts to take home
We thought you might like some ideas for things to take home as gifts for your family and friends, so we asked our staff for suggestions. Here's what they recommend - all, curiously, food and drink...
Shortbread
Shortbread is a type of biscuit. It is traditionally associated with Scotland, but it is widely eaten throughout Britain at Christmas time. You can buy either individual biscuits or 'wheels' - large, round biscuits which are cut up into triangular pieces. Shortbread is available from all good grocers and supermarkets.
Fudge
Fudge is a soft sweet made from butter, milk and sugar all heated together and whisked to make it soft and sticky. Fudge is a sweet that is particularly associated with Devon, because our green fields allow our cows to produce rich butter and cream that's ideal for this treat. One of the best places to buy fudge is from Roly's Pantry in Totnes, where fudge is made each day.
Tea
The drink that cheers but does not make you drunk: tea is a mainstay of the English kitchen, and we drink more tea than we drink plain water in Britain. In fact we drink 165,000,000 cups of tea each day! English tea is very different to tea sold overseas - it has a much deeper flavour and even our 'ordinary' teas tend to be of higher quality. One of the best 'ordinary' teas is Yorkshire Tea from Taylors of Harrogate, which has a great taste. If you prefer a 'fancy' tea, Twinings sell a range of flavours such as Earl Grey, Darjeeling and Lapsang Souchong, available at all supermarkets. If you visit Totnes, we recommend the Earl Grey blended by Greenlife stores in Fore Street.
Honey
Because honey is made by bees from local flowers, every honey is different. A jar of local honey is ideal on bread or toast or oozing through hot, buttered crumpets. You can buy local honey at the New Cheeseboard & Creamery in Hyde Road or from the house next door to LAL Torbay - there's a sign in the window.
Chocolate coins
Take home some British coins in chocolate. It's a bit difficult to find coins that aren't Euros these days (most are made on the continent) but the Superdrug chemist sells chocolate coins with UK coinage - plus the odd old European currency too.
Mince Pies
These would need careful packing, but Mince Pies are a truly typical Christmas food. They don't contain minced meat any more, just a mix of vine fruits and alcohol in a light pastry case. Don't buy the cheapest - buy the best you can afford. Christmas is only once a year...
