Krapsakas

I was supposed to do this post back in November.. but since I’ve been on sick leave for several weeks and haven’t been feeling well, I’ve postponed it.
With Christmas almost here, I finally got around to it.

Originally, this was a list for my loved ones—answering the classic question: “What do you actually want as a gift?”.
Later, I thought, why not share it on the blog too? Maybe it’ll give someone a little inspiration.

If it seems tailored to one person, that’s because it is.
The point isn’t to make a universal list—it’s to show that you can give a thoughtful gift without overthinking.
Pick what feels right for you or your recipient, and run with it.

Description of the type of person who would love these gifts:

/ Curious and creative, enjoys exploring new flavors and experiences.
/ Values quality over quantity—prefers one well-chosen item over a pile of cheap ones.
/ Doesn’t need flashy or expensive gifts, prefers thoughtful, meaningful touches.
/ Practical, appreciates gifts that can be used immediately or are genuinely useful.
/ Enjoys small pleasures that bring instant joy (coffee, sweets, warm scarf).
/ Open to trying new things that they wouldn’t normally buy themselves.

Let’s just say that this list makes it possible to quickly put together a really cool gift from grocery items, even in an SOS situation.

I also included links so that those who are logistically following Europe can get an idea of what a really good quality product is and perhaps make buying a little easier.

Before you start putting together a gift, remember:

No. 1
Don’t overthink it!

No. 2
A gift doesn’t have to be expensive! It just has to be thoughtful!
You can create a “wow” effect with very little (and if you want, cheaply).

No. 3
Start with the container.
Pick a bag, box, or basket first. This gives you physical boundaries—which is brilliant, because you don’t want to overspend or stress by thinking, “Is this enough?”
Spoiler: it is.

You can plan broadly first, or just go with the flow: grab a bag in the store and toss in items one by one until it feels full. Easy. Seriously, it really is easy.

No. 4
Choose at least one thing in the gift that you know (or dare to assume) the recipient will definitely like. It doesn’t have to be a big deal. Even a specific chocolate or treat is completely okay.

No. 5
Include something edible

One thing in the gift should be something the recipient can eat immediately—sweet or savory, doesn’t matter. It’s a small win that creates an instant emotional connection.

Food grounds us, literally. Especially at Christmas, when the chaos, crowds, and responsibilities can be overwhelming, having a little personal treat is calming. They might not eat it right away, but just knowing it’s there—yours, ready to enjoy—can be a tiny comfort in the middle of all the holiday madness.

About products

To summarize very briefly, everything that has high-quality ingredients – snacks, sweets, savory, spices, tea, coffee, and is NEW on the market will be a hit.

Blistex lip balm 💄 (specifically only the white one with the dark blue cap)

Everyone needs lip balm in the cold weather. Whether you’re a woman, a man, gender-neutral, or what other terms we have for people these days.
A human is a human, after all.

As someone who has sensitive skin and allergies, this product has served me extremely well for at least the last 10 years.
Moisturizes well. Doesn’t make you addicted to hygienic lipstick (yes, such a thing really exists).
Doesn’t dry out your lips or make you feel like you have to constantly reapply so your lips don’t dry out or sting.

If you’re Estonian, I’ll just say that you’re more likely to find it in a pharmacy than a grocery store. It used to be sold in grocery stores, but in recent years it hasn’t been.

Reflectors

Hanging ones, brooch-like ones, animal shapes—whatever. You can never have too many; they get lost or lose their reflective powers over time.

Those that clip or magnetically attach to a bag? Genius. Safe, practical, and no fabric damage.

PS! Even if someone mostly drives, they still need to be visible in parking lots—because those spots are often dimly lit, and a little reflector can make all the difference.

And what better message could you give than that you genuinely want the other person to be seen and stay alive?
Plus, if they don’t want to wear it themselves, they can always pass it on to someone close—or hand it to a pedestrian walking without one, potentially saving a life.

Examples of inspiration:

Coffee bean grinder

The one on the link caught my eye with its ability to have a lid that allows you to put the lid on if there are any ground crumbs left and the aroma won’t be lost.

I thought about this gift whether I should leave it on this list or not. But I just left it for inspiration.
So it’s a good fit for those who either don’t have space on the cupboard at home or have some other reason why they don’t want a big coffee machine at home.

Coffee made from freshly ground coffee beans is much more special and delicious than store-bought coffee.
In addition, you can also grind spices, nuts, etc. with this grinder if you wish.

MP3 player 🎶

They are available at different prices in different places.
Again, this is something where you have to know a little bit about the person you are giving the gift to.
BUT!
In today’s digital world, a small music player is a great option for anyone tired of paying for multiple streaming platforms just to avoid ads. It lets the listener create playlists that perfectly match their taste.
Plus their prices are affordable too.

PS! And why not make this player even more special and put a playlist on it before giving it as a gift? Be it your own favorite songs (as a recommendation) or just a good playlist that you know the recipient would enjoy listening to.

I’ll leave a link to one of the products here.
Another plus of this item is that it has a clip. So the listener can attach it to their clothes.

A book about the gift recipient’s hobby 📚

For example, I had a book on my list about weaving on looms. It cost just under 10€.

At this point, you could casually ask what they have in mind and what they’re thinking of reading. Or if you know they are a reader of a specific genre, find out what book they don’t have yet but definitely want to read.

Ps! Know the gift recipient’s attitude to the secondary market, if it’s okay with them, then look at the book on the secondary market as well.
For example, Facebook marketplace, Vinted or whatever similar sales outlets are in your country.
In Estonia, we also have Yaga.ee (it should be in several more countries), Osta.ee for this.

Cotton gloves 🧤

(both thin and warmer).

Some people lose gloves a lot. I just have physically long fingers and most of the time my gloves are small.
So if someone has managed to find women’s gloves in a larger size for long fingers, I have always been very grateful.

A hint here is that if you don’t know what color to buy, black is a classic.

Ps! It’s completely okay if they are purchased on the secondary market.
The important thing is that they are of high quality and presentable for giving as a gift (i.e. not worn or stuffed).

Scarf 🧣

I kept this on the list (it was on my own, too), but here’s the thing—you really need to know the person and their taste.

I’ve seen people give scarves they think are gorgeous… and the recipient puts on a “good face,” but actually hates it.

So before spending money on a guess:
a) Make sure you know the recipient’s preferences with specific accuracy.
b) If you don’t, don’t buy it at all.

PS! If you do know their taste, scarves can be successfully sourced from the secondary market. Just make sure to wash and care for it before gifting.

Hand-made practical, decorative, or edible things 🎀

Only go for this if you’re sure the recipient will truly appreciate and enjoy it.

Think pictures, decorations—especially seasonal or Christmas ones. Or jams, cookies, sweets, etc. Edible items can be beautifully packaged in a metal box or glass jar; add a ribbon and voila, instant charm.

This is a very specific type of gift. I’ve seen people completely amazed by such things… and others look at them like a pile of junk. There’s nothing more heartbreaking than putting effort into a gift and having it met with “Oh my God, what a mess this is.”

So know your recipient and their attitude toward handmade gifts. Save your time and effort for those who truly value it ❤️.

Food stuff

📍NB! Food items – quality over quantity!
Avoid products with chemical additives, synthetic ingredients, or palm oil. It’s better to buy one high-quality item than several low-quality ones.
The same goes for coffee, tea, spices, and similar treats.

Different spices 🧂🧁

For both savory and sweet foods.

A little spice can completely transform a simple dish or treat. High-quality, interesting spices—think exotic blends, unusual salts, or flavored sugars—show thoughtfulness and let the recipient experiment in the kitchen. Plus, they’re small, easy to pack, and feel like a little culinary adventure in a jar!

Tip: there are spice workshops. Why not make your life a little more exciting and make a spice gift in a workshop?
Or if time is tight, make your own “secret” spice gift at home and put it in a small container (they are sold everywhere these days). Voila! Another unique gift.

Various Maldon salts are available in grocery stores (at least in Estonia).

Furikake Set, 3x20g

• Truffle Seaweed Salt Mix – sea salt & truffle seaweed.
• Arctic Furikake – kelp, puffed rice & ume sesame seeds with subtle plum & shiso notes.
• Lofoten Umami – kelp, dried cod, sesame seeds & ume sesame, lightly spiced with plum & shiso.

Tea 🫖

The first thing: make sure the person actually drinks tea.

Although! I once gave (herbal) tea to someone who doesn’t drink tea (oops, didn’t think it through). They smiled politely, saying they weren’t really a tea drinker. A few weeks later, their child got sick in the middle of the night—and the tea I’d given turned out to be exactly what they needed. Timing, right?

One more thing: don’t give cheap, bland tea. There is nothing more horrible than tea that tastes like a tea bag or is just some tasteless crap. If you can’t get something decent, don’t bother.
Avoid: Teekanne, Dilmah, Belin, Greenfield, Lipton, Herba, Loyd.

Here’s what I actually recommend:

• CLIPPER – sweet, pure taste even without sugar, mostly ecological ingredients.
• Basilur
• Look around for quality local companies or herbal teas—lavender, chamomile, or other high-quality blends often do the trick.

PS! If you’ve ever given me a “black list” tea, don’t worry—they’ve all found new homes. I really haven’t thrown them away 🫢.

Cowboy coffee ☕️

What can be made in a cup, not in a pot.
This kind of coffee is especially cool if it is a different new flavor.

Giving coffee as a gift is a bit like giving tea: you need to know the recipient’s taste preferences in advance. For example, I mainly drink Paulig ground coffee—but I avoid brands like Merrild, Löfsberg, Jacobs, etc. (Though I know plenty of people who love those.)

The golden rule, or a good recommendation to remember and help reduce the “I don’t drink this coffee” is the degree of roast.

As much as I have seen different people drink coffee, the main degree of roast that is preferred is “Medium roast”.
Recently I tried a “dark medium roast” over many years… and ooo boy, HOW strong it is!

And of course! Don’t forget that there is a big difference between press-pot coffee and cup coffee. It is written on the package in both a picture and text.
A cup made from pressed grounds often tastes weak or lacking flavor.

The trick? Look beyond the usual, familiar coffees. That’s what makes it special. Just stick to medium roast and you’re good.

🫘 Coffee beans

Essentially the same as ground coffee, but fresh beans take the experience to the next level. Stick to medium roast and don’t be afraid to look beyond the usual selection.

Chances are, there are some interesting local coffee producers in your home country, or smaller, lesser-known brands worth exploring.

In Estonia, for example, there are products from Supreme, Best Beans, OA, Avasta, Tasuja, and others—you can usually find them in regular grocery stores. Fresh beans make such a difference and are perfect for gifting to someone who enjoys brewing their own cup.

Salty snacks and crackers 🥨😍

Here, it’s all about quality over quantity. In other words, it’s better to buy a slightly more expensive pack than a cheap one.

For example, Elephant crackers in pretty much any flavor are a solid go-to and make a great gift. My personal favorite? The caramelized onion ones.

Tip: did you know crackers and similar salty cookies are amazing with cream cheese? Bonus points if the cream cheese has a unique flavor, not just plain—suddenly, your snack feels special!

Sweet snacks 🍪🍭🍫

This includes candies, zephyr (soft fruit-based marshmallows from Eastern Europe), cookies, wafers, biscuits, and more. Think of fruits like apricots, cherries, plums, dates, and nuts coated in chocolate or other delicious coverings.

Again—quality over quantity. One really good item is better than several cheap ones.

For example:

Dadlar company date rum balls or strawberry cocktail flavors (already available in many grocery stores).

Latvian companySkrīveru’s chocolate-covered apricots, cherries, plums, and apples.

This apple treat is incredible—the dried apple has a soft, marshmallow-like texture, the chocolate is high-quality, and the nuts are perfect. A real Christmas treat!

Apricots in chocolate are usually dry, but somehow this company has nailed it—fresh, juicy fruit coated in rich chocolate. My personal favorite? Apricots in dark chocolate.

Bonus: this company has used the same recipes for generations, and their chocolate is top-notch—none of that weird palm-oil stuff.

🧀 Cheeses and cheese jams 🫙

Think textured, flavorful cheeses sold in small quantities—perfect for tasting and gifting. Pair them with cheese jams, jellies, or even some quality crackers and cookies for a complete experience.

During Christmas, many of these items come in beautiful gift packaging, which makes them an easy, thoughtful present without extra wrapping stress.

Cheese gifts are great because they let the recipient explore flavors they might not buy for themselves. Hard, aged cheeses, unique spreads, or seasonal jams are all winners. Add a small wooden board or a knife, and suddenly your gift feels extra special.

Something NEW and delicious they’d never buy themselves

A sweet or salty item that’s completely new—something different that your gift recipient probably wouldn’t buy for themselves.

If it’s a slightly larger store, then new products are constantly being added to their product range. You just have to walk around with your eyes open. And that’s how you’ll find new and unique, fun treats that make giving a gift extra special.

In summary 

It’s always a good idea to gift something you already know the recipient would buy themselves anyway. Or something you know they like, but wouldn’t normally get for themselves. Life has shown that people are actually happiest with gifts like these. There’s no need to drive yourself crazy trying to find new and ever more unusual things to give.

For example, I have someone in my inner circle who really enjoys different kinds of (sweet) truffles, but I know they don’t usually buy them for themselves. And they’ve even said that this is something that always makes them happy.

When it comes to high-quality consumables — whether it’s a snack, a sweet treat, spices, coffee, tea, cheese, or even a drink like a new type of soda — these are things you really can’t go wrong with.

So don’t overthink it!

Pick one category for the person you’re gifting, gather the items, and put the gift together with an open mind.

A handy tip is to take a bag, basket, or box — even bring it to the store — and physically put the items in. That way, you can see exactly how quickly it fills up. And once it’s full, it’s full. There’s no wondering, “Should I have bought more?”
No. The container is full. Job done.

I wish you a wonderful holiday season for yourself and everyone important to you 🤗❤️!

With love,
Krapsakas Agnes