For me, there’s just one love language: food. However, when my loved ones are vegan, making them a Sunday gravy isn’t going to do it. I need vegan gift ideas.
If you’re an avowed vegan yourself (or you’ve dabbled in plant-based alternatives to meat and dairy), you’ve probably noticed that vegan shopping is a lot more exciting than it used to be. When I was a kid, the landscape was pretty bleak–mainly just soy milk, frozen veggie burgers, and soy-based plastic I mean cheese. Nowadays, we have vegan “butter” that actually melts, not to mention delivery services that will bring entire vegan meal kits right to your door. Even junk food giants like Oscar Mayer are getting in on the vegan fun. The vegan food market is currently valued at over $18 billion–and that number is expected to more than double by 2030. So with all of this growth, why is it still so hard to find vegan-friendly gifts?
Oh wait, it’s not!
I’ve done a lot of research, and I’m here to share my findings with you. There are vegan food gifts like chocolate bars, DIY kombucha and hot sauces. There are even beauty products infused with ingredients like olive oil and kale (because when I say I show my love through food, I mean it). Whether you’re shopping for a birthday, holiday, or just because, this gift guide will help you find the perfect gift for your vegan friends and family members.
Jump ahead to a few of our favorite vegan gift ideas…
Stir fries are one of our favorite weeknight dinner options: They’re fast, easy, and infinitely adaptable–every home cook should have at least a few in their rotation. The other thing every home cook should have? A quality wok. Woks allow you to cook veggies and proteins quickly at high heat, which is essential for stir fries if you don’t want a scorched mess over rice. The Carbon Steel Wok from Yosukata was our favorite after vigorous testing, and will easily pay for itself over time with the money saved on takeout.
Looking for a fiery stocking stuffer? Get this sampler featuring Fly By Jing’s iconic line up of spicy sauces in miniature. All four condiments are vegan-friendly, and the website boasts that each two-ounce jar is TSA compliant, which means airplane food doesn’t have to be bland.
A kombucha-a-day habit might be great for your guts, but it can also be super expensive. If you have a ‘booch lover on your shopping list, treat them to this home-brewing setup. The kit comes with green tea, but you can totally brew with black tea instead (in fact, we recommend it).
Hi, it’s me, a daily matcha drinker. Maybe you know someone like me, who loves the health benefits and gentle caffeination of matcha, but currently makes their lattes in a Pyrex measuring cup. If you do, the best gift you can get them is a proper setup, like this one from Naoki Matcha, (our favorite matcha for beginners). This is my way of putting some good matcha karma out there.
Call me basic if you must, but I love everything bagel seasoning. This variety pack from Spicewalla includes their furikake, citrus & sesame, and everything bagel seasonings, a perfect birthday gift for the friend who likes to zhuzh up dips, soups, and fries.
Madame ZuZu’s Emporium is an entirely vegan restaurant in Chicago. If a trip to the Windy City isn’t part of your holiday plans, though, fear not: you can send their greatest hits–including their proprietary tea blends, sandwiches, and vegan cookies–anywhere in the US. Its co-founder is Smashing Pumpkins’ frontman, Billy Corgan, who is vegan and gluten-free, so…kinda Perfect.
Catbird’s “Tarot Deck” candle scent is already a Bon App pick this year. I’m also loving this “Neighbor’s Fig Tree” scent, which reminds me of holidays–probably because of the “Figgy Pudding” line in “We Wish You A Merry Christmas”. Figgy pudding is decidedly not vegan, but this candle is, making it a great holiday gift or addition to a vegan gift basket.
I’m not big on cupcakes–literally. I only want small ones. Baked By Melissa’s collection of best sellers make for a perfect host gift, or vegan snack to share at a holiday party. There’s also a “Vegan Flavors (No Nuts)” assortment that doesn’t include peanut butter if allergies are a concern.
The Chefwave Milkmade is a favorite with our sister publication Epicurious, and I am boldly declaring it the perfect gift for the dairy-free latte-lover in your life. Homemade non-dairy milk cuts down on spending and waste–no cardboard or plastic containers–are sure to make this a hit. You’ll have bragging rights (and free almond cappuccinos) for life.
Do you have a friend you can always rely on to have a snack in their tote bag? Return the favor with this collection of vegan chocolate from Hu Kitchen. This gift box comes with an assortment of special edition holiday flavors from Hu’s dark chocolate line, and they’re honestly so luxe that you will probably want to grab one for yourself.
For crispy, delicious tofu, you can either: pat or drain tofu on kitchen towels (linty) or paper towels (wasteful) OR use a tofu press that will do the work for you, mess-free. To us, the choice is clear.
I like to think of this cookbook from Nisha Vora (creator of Rainbow Plant Life) as a roadmap for those just setting out on their vegan journey. It can be scary to leave omnivorous kitchen staples like butter, bacon, and chicken stock behind. Recipes like “mushroom carnitas tacos” and “perfectly sweet-yet-tart plum galette” should set their minds at ease.
This gift set of skincare staples from “Youth to the People” is loaded with veggies. Seriously. Their “Superfood Cleanser” contains kale, green tea, and spinach and smells amazing. This is a great gift for the seasoned skin-care enthusiast in your life, or the little sibling in need of a glow-up.
Wonder Valley prides themselves on their certified extra virgin grade olive oil–but it’s not just for dressing salads. Their five-piece skin & haircare discovery set includes face and body oils, shampoo and conditioner, and an oil cleanser, all infused with olive oil–and it’s only $25, making it an amazing alternative to a gift card if you’re on a budget.
Provecho is so good that it made our lists for both the best cookbooks of 2021 and the best vegan cookbooks of all time. This plant-based take on the delicious, vibrant Mexican and Latin American food of Edgar Castrejón’s childhood features many gems, including tips for making the best tortillas and an adobo mushroom taco recipe that BA staffers can’t get enough of. It’s the perfect gift for vegans, flexitarians, plant lovers, and all-around good time eaters.
“The mortar and pestle works faster than a knife to crush nuts, pound garlic into a paste, smash ginger or chiles to infuse flavor, or grind whole spices into powders,” writes BA contributor Andy Baraghani. Any cook who likes the idea of having complete control over the consistency of their sauces and dips will adore this gorgeous marble set, which is the perfect all-purpose size.
Not all mochi is created equal, and Mochidoki is a cut above the rest. What sets this premium mochi ice cream brand apart from others is their attention to flavor and ingredients. Case in point: the vegan lychee, vegan passionfruit, and vegan mango flavors—all of which feature the soft, chewy mochi wrapped around a creamy coconut base.
