Cesta de navidad con jamón

What should a Christmas basket have?

When Christmas arrives, companies and individuals rush to order or prepare their Christmas Hampers. But, what should a Christmas basket contain?

If this question is on your mind, don't worry, at Enrique Tomás, we will not only explain what ham or cold cuts your basket should have but also everything else.

 

Essential Products for a Christmas Hamper

There are three moments that signal the start of Christmas: the lighting of the lights, the setting up of the tree and Nativity scene at homes, and, of course, the arrival of the Christmas hamper. Any Christmas basket worth its salt must contain:

 

Iberian Ham

The most important, of course, is the ham. Some companies include whole pieces in their hampers, although this is becoming less common, and sliced hams are gaining ground. Thanks to these packs, you can combine ham or shoulder hams from different sources in a single Christmas box, and you also ensure that the curing is just right, as it is sliced by hand or machine by the best ham masters.

 

Cold Cuts

Alongside ham, the great appetizers of these days are the assorted cold cuts, generally composed of chorizo, loin, and salchichón (dry-cured sausage). They are usually given as whole pieces or half pieces, although there is also the option to buy them vacuum-packed. At Enrique Tomás, we offer both options and provide high-quality Iberian cold cuts. Cold cut slices can also be purchased in a combination pack with ham from pigs on our peninsula.

 

Cheeses

Not all cheeses have the same price, and during this time, we usually treat ourselves to some more gourmet options. Tetilla cheese, rosemary cheese, or any well-aged or semi-aged cheese takes a prominent place on the Christmas table. All of these, accompanied by a little oil and bread, become practically irresistible.

 

Red and/or White Wine

Wine is one of our gastronomic pride and joys, and it couldn't be missing during these holidays. Christmas gift hampers often include a bottle of Rioja or white wine, and some can even have both. Everyone has their favorite drink, and as the saying goes, to each their own.

 

Cava

Another beverage that couldn't be missing in these gifts is cava (sparkling wine). This elixir of the gods is from Catalonia, although it is consumed throughout the country, and some of the best-known brands include Freixenet, Codorniu, or Perelada, among others.

 

Best Gifts for Ham Lovers


Other Gastronomic Delicacies for Your Christmas Hampers

We've already talked about the star products for a gourmet Christmas hamper. If you're looking for a sweet complement, here are some other typical holiday products you could include:

 

Nougat

Nougat is a typical sweet for these holidays, and there's none more traditional than Jijona nougat. This town in Alicante ensures that during these holidays, all Spanish homes have the typical soft nougat with almonds. In addition to Jijona soft nougat, there are many other varieties: toasted yolk nougat, hard nougat, chocolate nougat, or coconut nougat, among many other options.

Shortbread Cookies

Shortbread cookies, along with nougat, are the stars of any post-meal gathering. The traditional ones are almond shortbread cookies from La Estepa, but nowadays, you can also find them in lemon, cinnamon, chocolate, or coffee flavors, among other varieties. They're all delicious!

Marzipan

Although these sweets are less common, Christmas hampers often include a small assortment of marzipan. They are typical of these holidays, although in some regions of Spain, such as Toledo or Valencia, they are not only eaten during this time. In the latter, for example, they are the local sweet for the local holiday, 9 d'Octubre, when marzipans take the form of fruit.

Other Extras

In addition to the mentioned items, bottles of extra virgin olive oil, canned peaches, or a jar of canned tuna fillets are some of the chosen foods. Although they can be consumed throughout the year, they are typical of this season for the same reason as cheese, which is the price.

Having said that, we don't always have the time to assemble our own Christmas hamper. That's why if you want to play it safe and choose Christmas hampers with ham, wine, and cold cuts, at Enrique Tomás, we have the gourmet Christmas hampers you need.


Choose the one that best suits your needs and amaze the recipient of this wonderful Christmas gift!

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