VEGAN CHRISTMAS GIFT GUIDE - UPDATED FOR 2023

Welcome to Experience Days' ultimate Vegan Christmas gift guide - updated for 2023!

If you're looking to buy a one-of-a-kind gift for a plant-based friend this festive season, look no further.

Long gone are the days when Veganism was thought of as a passing fad. Veganism is increasing in popularity every year, with almost half the UK vegan population making their switch to veganism in 2018.

With this switch came the sudden rise of plant based, cruelty free products. The UK has launched more vegan products than any other country in the past 4 years.

I’m sure you’re aware of the massive impact Gregg’s had on the nation when they first launched a Vegan Sausage Roll, and how well it worked out for them. As the demand for Veganism increases, businesses are cashing in on the gap in the market, and new innovative solutions are appearing across high-street stores. I think I speak for everyone when I say, “TAKE MY MONEY!”

The simple fact of the matter is Veganism is here to stay, and the chances are that even if you’re not interested in a plant-based diet yourself, you know someone who is.

But what do you buy a Vegan for Christmas?

Whether you know someone who has been Vegan for several years or is planning to sign up for 'Veganuary' in the new year, finding the perfect gift can be difficult when you’re not an expert in all things Vegan yourself.

To help get you in the Vegan-gift-buying-zone, we’ve put together a short guide complete with the dos and don’ts when buying for the special animal loving individual in your life, as well as a few of our favourite foodie gifts and stocking fillers for the season..

Everyone Loves Food: Food-Themed Gifts for Vegans

I can’t speak for everyone here, but the chances are that your Vegan giftee is going to be interested in vegan food.

Everyone has different tastes, so it’s worth having a rough idea of what they like. For example, not everyone loves fake ‘meat’ products; they’re not interested in replicating something they find pretty gross (fair enough), whereas others (like me) are more than happy to eat something that looks and tastes just like meat, as long as it isn’t actually meat. When veganism first appeared on the scene it was all about healthy eating, whereas now with the popularity of vegan junk food spots and Instagram accounts like Ugly Vegan, things have definitely changed.

Cookbooks

In October 2018, Waterstones had over 3,500 books with the word ‘vegan’ in the title alone, not including the more subtly titled Vegan Literature such as How Not to Die and Thug Kitchen.

A quick ‘Vegan’ search of their site now returns over 7,000 results. Don’t get me wrong, this is great for Vegans, but how are you supposed to know which ones are good?

Just because Jamie Oliver is jumping on the bandwagon and releasing a Vegan book for 2019, doesn’t mean he really knows what Vegans like to eat.

Firstly, try to narrow it down by the interests of your giftee. Are they new to Veganism? Looking for healthy evening meals or Cheat Day treats? Here are some of our top recommendations for delicious vegan eating and the essential cookbooks for any shelf.

BOSH! - From £9.61

BOSH originally made their name with short online cooking tutorial videos, the vegan answer to Buzzfeed’s Tasty channel.

Easy and delicious, these recipes are definitely worth having written down for everyday use. These are the kind of recipe essentials that any vegan needs in their kitchen for day to day easy meal ideas.

Expect recipes such as Cauliflower Buffalo Wings, Onion Bhaji Burgers and Vegan Churros with Chocolate Sauce (yum yum!). These recipes sound so delicious they can even spark the interest of non-vegans!

Dirty Vegan - From £18.40

I don’t know if you’ve ever watched Dirty Sanchez, the UK’s answer to Jackass back in the early 2000’s, but if you did, I’m sure you remember co-star Matt Pritchard.

Long gone are Matt’s days of enduring excruciating pain for the entertainment of an audience.

He’s now a fitness freak, breaking world record after world record and doing it all with the power of plants. 

Dirty Vegan is perfect for the more health-conscious foodie, with easy recipes that use delicious and seasonal ingredients.

Expect recipes such as Squash and Mushroom Momos with Yuzu dip, and dishes that really pack a punch like a The Full English Pileup with homemade tofu scramble, seasoned sausage, baked beans, garlic mushrooms and hash browns (and apparently it’s good for you?!)

Vegan Junk Food: A Down & Dirty Cookbook - From £19.45

Vegan Junk Food: A Down & Dirty Cookbook by Zacchary Bird says ‘no thank you’ to the traditional ideas of a healthy plant-based diet. Being healthy is great and all, but what about when I want to eat a burger dripping with melted cheese, fried chicken that leaves my fingers greasy, or a loaded plate of deep-fried potatoes piled high with toppings?

This book epitomises the modern vegan diet. Why would you need to give up the food you love just because you want to live a cruelty-free lifestyle? We’re not saying you need to eat vegan junk food all the time, but this is a great book to satisfy your inevitable junk food cravings every now and then.

Edible Gifts

Although vegan food is massively improving, buying something new is always a risk. Some of it is really good, and some of it is shockingly bad (not to worry, you won't find those here).

Without being able to trial what you’re buying beforehand, there is a very strong chance that it might taste rubbish. Sure, it might be expensive and in a fancy box, but that doesn’t mean anything.

When you’re buying a vegan food product, it’s most likely attempting to replicate something they can no longer eat. Often the best of these are standardly packaged supermarket cheeses and chocolates.

But if you’re looking to get them a foodie treat that actually tastes good, here are a few of our recommendations:

Vegan Handmade Christmas-Themed Chocolate Box - From £36.60

This personalised Christmas chocolate box from Etsy not only offers up some incredibly indulgent and delicious Chocolate truffles (all vegan, of course), but they come in a beautifully presented box, with the option to add personal messages to make it a real treat. We can assure you that whoever you buy these decadent delights for will have a very joyful Christmas indeed!

BeSaucy Flavoured Mayonnaise(s) - From £3.95 

Mayo is not always the easiest thing to make vegan, but this independent Belgian chip shop based in the vibrant city of Brighton know exactly how to make mayo taste good, no eggs necessary.

With fancy flavours like black truffle, bold basil and spicy samurai these mayonnaises are changing the vegan sauce game all over the UK.

You can use them to level up sandwiches, wraps, to stir into pasta dishes, or of course as a funky dip for the humble chip.

Cooking Experiences

Choice Voucher with Vegan Options - From £75

This cooking choice voucher from one of London’s top cooking schools allows you redeem against any of their evening weekend classes.

Luckily for vegans based around London, that includes vegan pasta making and vegan sushi making.

My colleague Alex and I were lucky enough to go and trial their vegan pasta class, and oh man is it something special.

The kitchen itself is absolutely beautiful, and an extremely calming environment. The staff were friendly and knowledgeable, and the food was phenomenal. Plus, it’s BYOB, so you can enjoy a gorgeous glass of wine as you sit down and tuck into your impressive creations.

I understand that you may think I’m biased here, but I promise you, if someone bought me this as a gift, I would be over the moon.

Vegan South East Asian Cooking Class in Birmingham - From £96

 If your giftee wants to try their hand at the many delicious vegan dishes present in South East Asian cuisine, this guided three hour class is the answer.

With options such as Asian, Indonesian Cooking and Thai Food, the hardest part will be choosing which class to go for!

Each lesson lasts three hours and will teach guests the basics of each cuisine, including typical flavours, ingredients, spices, knife skills and cooking techniques, before putting theory into practise by making a range of delicious dishes.

Depending which class they go for, your giftee could be feasting on Balinese spiced coconut, pan fried Tempeh with spicy sambal sauce or a jackfruit curry and much more. The dedicated teacher will be on hand at all times to ensure you're picking up tips and tricks, and will provide a recipe folder at the end of the class.

Cooking Gadgets

If your giftee is already a whizz in the kitchen and they’ve mastered all they need, then why not buy them a cool little gadget to help them out in with adventurous new recipes? If they’re a fan of cooking and love to try exciting new vegan trends, then a good gadget can make all the difference. We can assure you, these three tools will inspire your giftee to cook up a feast, and who knows, you might even get an invite!

Pasta Machine - Pasta can be so easy and so satisfying to make once you know what you’re doing. You may have to put that little extra effort in, but if you love cooking then it’s a ton of fun! This nifty gadget will see your giftee creating Ravioli, Tortellini and Tagliatelle in no time.

Tofu Press - Pressing tofu is a constant inconvenience for fans of the spongy flavour vessel. It’s essential in most dishes to improve the taste and texture of your tofu, and once you get that extra liquid out, your tofu is ready to adsorb anything you throw at it. But, it can be a real pain trying to awkwardly flatten it under books and pans. Made and sold by vegan couple Adam and Susanna, this convenient device is one of the best on the market.

NUTRiBULLET Blender - A blender is a great contraption to have in any kitchen, but for vegans the possibilities go on and on. Being vegan means you often need to make sauces from scratch, that others have readily available to buy in a jar. Having a blender is great for making pesto without the cheese, blitzing up nuts with water to make creamy sauces, and if you want to get really fancy, blending your own spices.

Dining Experiences

Not everyone is interested in cooking. I know a lot of people who would happily never cook another meal in their life if they had the choice (and the money). So if your giftee loves eating and not cooking, there are still a lot of different experience gifts around that they might like.

Vegan Chocolate Workshop - This artisan chocolate tasting experience in East and West Sussex allows participants to taste single origin chocolates from around the world. Your expert teacher will help you appreciate chocolate like never before, learning how to differentiate between flavours, aromas and regions. And of course, you can request vegan options in advance. 

Harry Potter Themed Bus Tour & Dining Experience in Edinburgh - This experience combines a love for plant-based food with a love for wizards. With over half the vegan population being millennials, and millennials growing up with Harry Potter, I bet it’s pretty likely you’ll know someone who’ll love this gift. The novelty red bus will be decked out in Hogwarts house flags as you explore the city that inspired J.K Rowling to write her series of famous wizarding books. Add an extravagant vegan meal of pizza to the mix, and I can’t imagine how anyone could be disappointed.

Camden Town Vegan Food Tour for 2 - This tour is jam packed with more vegan food than anyone could possibly dream of. We strongly advice arriving hungry! Following an expert vegan pro around the lively town of Camden, you and your giftee will trial some of the best vegan food London has to offer. Focusing on the ever-popular vegan junk food, you can expect dishes such as fried chicken, loaded nachos and spicy tacos. For anyone outside of London who would be completely lost for choice in the bustling hub of Camden Market, this tour will open their eyes to the best vegan street food currently available. 

It's Not All About Food: Vegan Clothing and Accessories Gift Ideas for Christmas

Although diet is a massive part of it, veganism is not only about what you eat. Veganism is a way of life. This means not using any products that test on animals, or use animals in any way for the benefits of humans. This unfortunately makes buying everyday beauty products and clothing a lot more difficult than you may imagine. If I’m honest, I could probably make a whole separate article on this alone, but I don’t want to bore you. So, I’ll share my top 3 favourite non-food related vegan Christmas gift ideas and let you do the rest.

Handmade Sustainable Fashion - Lucy and Yak are saying no to fast fashion. Not only are all their clothes built to last, they’re eco-friendly, local and of course, vegan. Not to mention, they look great! Their latest fleece style jackets are not only comfortable and warm, they’re made from 100% reused plastic bottles pulled from our oceans. How? I have absolutely no idea. But I want it.

Vegan Lipstick Making Experience - This vegan lipstick making experience allows participants to get involved in making their own beauty products, showing just how easy it is to do it completely without involving any animals. Not only is it sustainable and cruelty free, it means you get to make the exact shade you want, and have fun doing it!

Eco-Friendly Jewellery - Has it ever occurred to you before that jewellery wouldn’t be vegan? The sad fact is, a lot of it isn’t. This handmade rope charm bracelet is made from 100% sustainable cotton rather than leather. The silver is eco-friendly and completely recycled. With a number of cute pendants to choose from, we recommend ordering quick if you want it to arrive in time for Christmas !

 Novelty/Joke Gifts

Sometimes when the time is right, you don’t want a thoughtful or expensive gift, you want something fun or funny. Secret Santa presents and small gifts to put a smile on a friend’s face will always have their place at Christmas. The thing is, some of the novelty vegan gifts around are honestly just offensive and a little insulting. Here are a few of my favourite secret Santa gift ideas for this Christmas.

Hairy Beaver - Quite frankly, the name is hilarious. It’s sure to get the desired reaction from any recipient, vegan or not. On top of that, it’s actually quite a cute little thing to have on your kitchen windowsill or bedroom table. Who doesn’t love a plant to liven up the room, especially when it makes you giggle whenever you look at it?

Vegan Not Vegan - This game is a little silly and slightly infuriating, because most of these things can be made vegan even if the standard version isn’t. But this is still a fun little game to play between vegan and non-vegan friends to see the superior food knowledge you need to have when you’re on a restricted diet.

Top Vegan Experience Gifts for 2023!

We're proud of our vegan range of experience days, and we're always adding new options. Below you'll find our top picks for 2023.

Vegan Food and Drink Tour of Harrogate for 2 - Starting at Papa’s restaurant on Princes Square, your giftee's expert local guide will lead the way through the historic streets, regaling guests with stories of notable characters, buildings, and the Harrogate community - plus the vegan food scene, of course. 

During the course of the tour guests will be treated to local beer, tapas style dishes, and vegan food from different countries. 

Vegan Afternoon Tea for Two at Malmaison Cheltenham - In keeping with the brand's reputation for quality, Cheltenham's Malmaison Hotel is the ideal place to indulge yourself and a lucky giftee.

Whether in the stylish restaurant or sun-filled conservatory, you’ll have a contemporary, cool setting in which to enjoy this oh-so British tradition.

You and your guest can look forward to an enticing variety of savouries and sweets - some traditional and others less so.

You can expect classic fruit scones and strawberry jam with a dollop of clotted cream, as well as some quirky plant-based afternoon tea delights such as mini slider burgers, and raspberry ripple Sundays!

Of course, you can savour all of this with your choice of speciality teas. 

Vegan Food Tasting Tour in York for 6 - Bring your giftee along to an incredible, private vegan food tour of York. 

Your group of six will join a knowledgeable guide for a gourmet excursion through the city. With five tasting stops on the route, there will be plenty of opportunity to uncover the spots that will delight hardcore vegans and food fanatics alike, proving that you don't need meat or dairy to create mouth-watering dishes.

You'll be sufficiently stuffed by the end of the two-and-a-half hours, but feeling smug about your choices for the day!

What Not to Buy a Vegan

What shouldn’t you buy a vegan? There are quite a few things you’ll need to bear in mind this Christmas when shopping for your vegan buddies. For example, did you ever think that most candles aren’t vegan? This is because a lot of them use essential oils that have been tested on animals. It’s a similar deal with soaps. Just because you aren’t buying a fake fur coat or a 100% leather purse, doesn’t mean that the item you’re buying is vegan. Stay away from wool, cashmere, silk and feathers. Also avoid items such as bone china (made from ground up animal bones) and pearls.

Non-Vegan Related Gifts

It’s good to show your support for your vegan friends and family, and I promise you they’ll appreciate you doing so, but also it’s important to remember that veganism - although very important to them - doesn't define who they are. Maybe they love reading and movies. Why not buy them tickets to a theatre adaptation of a book they love? There are plenty of presents for vegans and non-vegans alike that would still be an amazing gift. You don’t always need to single out a specifically vegan present when buying for a vegan. If they love keeping active, then maybe they’d be interested in trying Archery or Ice climbing. Escape rooms are always popular gifts too! Making sure you don’t get them anything that is offensive or that they can’t use is important, but there are endless other possibilities available that I’m sure they’ll love. If you’d rather get a less vegan orientated gift this year, then go check out our Guide to Gift Giving article.  

Thank you for reading!

Thanks for reading our vegan gift guide, updated for 2023.

I hope you’ve found the perfect Christmas gift for the special vegan in your life and learnt a little more about the fantastic world of veganism.

If you would like to browse our foodie experiences for vegans, you can do so here. You can also check out our wide range of experiences here, with vegan and non-vegan gifts for all.