In December, when Christmas is looming, there’s always overwhelming pressure to buy, buy, buy. Whether it be your office secret Santa or wondering where to stop when it comes to extended family, it often creates more stress at an already busy time.
Rather than wasting money this year on buying something just for the sake of it, how about making a DIY eco-friendly gift? If you’re ready to explore some easy handmade gift ideas, then we have just the thing. Here at Wild Dispensary, we are big fans of homemade gifts that are simple, easy and don’t create any unnecessary waste. It also means you don't have to brave the chaos of the shops or, even worse, the mall. Make them for your loved ones, or keep them for yourself!
Homemade Herbal Tea Blends
For the fussy one - Making your own herbal tea blend is a super simple and easy handmade gift for even the hardest to buy in your family. Everyone loves a good cup of tea - especially when it’s made with thought from scratch. You could make a traditional herbal tea that can help with the overindulgence that happens around Christmas.
Peppermint is great for digestion and calendula also helps support your digestive system and detoxification pathways. Or you could make a blend that is best served as an iced tea - perfect for hot summer weather. Here are a couple of recipes you might want to try make as gifts.
Peppermint Tea
1/2 cup of loose leaf peppermint leaves
3 Tbsp dried calendula or lavender flowers
Iced Summer Tea
1/4 cup loose leaf nettle leaves (you could also use loose leaf green tea here)
1/4 cup dried cut rosehips
1/4 cup freeze dried blackcurrants (we use Viberi)
1/4 cup loose leaf holy basil leaves
Calendula Balm
For the adventurer - For the friend that’s always up a mountain, camping or kayaking, an easy homemade gift for Christmas is a calendula balm for their travels. Perfect for insect bits, sunburn and skin irritation, this homemade balm is the perfect addition to any summer adventure. Calendula is everywhere at the moment, and as summer starts, so will the insects that bite. Calendula balm is so helpful for all things skin, especially dried lips! You can learn how to make your own calendula balm and oil here.
Nut Milk Making Kit
For the busy bee - Have someone in your life that loves plant mylk, but hasn't got around to making their own yet? Then this easy handmade kit is a great gift idea. Not only does homemade nut mylk taste so much better than store bought, it also means you avoid those tetra pak containers that aren't recyclable.
To create a homemade kit you need some empty glass bottles, almonds, dates and a nut mylk bag. The CaliWoods nut mylk bags are great as they come in a pack of three - so you can keep one for yourself or make multiple kits.
- Jar of almonds
- Jar of dates
- Nut mylk bag
- Empty glass bottles
- Hand written recipe
Recipe
- 1 cup of almonds
- 1 litre of water
- 3 dates
- Pinch of salt
Soak your almonds in water overnight, then rinse and then add them to a blender with the dates, salt and water. Blend for at least 1 minute. Strain the mix through your nut mylk bag and pour the strained liquid into a sterilised glass bottle. Refrigerate and drink within 4 days.
Christmas Peppermint Hot Chocolate
For the chocolate lover - There’s more than one chocolate lover in every family, so this easy handmade gift idea might be good for a few people on your Christmas list. While we may not be in the right hemisphere to fully appreciate a cup of hot cocoa - there’s still nothing better than cosying up after dinner with a cup. To put a festive spin on this drink, try making your own peppermint hot chocolate. Mix all these ingredients together and add them into a medium-sized labelled jar, and you have your own peppermint hot chocolate.
Ingredients
1/2 cup raw cacao
1 tsp cinnamon
10 drops peppermint essential oil OR 2 Tbsp ground dried loose leaf peppermint leaves
Optional: 3 Tbsp coconut or fair trade sugar
Method
Mix together and place in a labelled glass jar. To make a peppermint hot chocolate just add to a small amount of hot water to mix and then top with warmed milk or plant mylk.
Herb Salts Or Sugars
For the foodie - If you have a family member that loves to cook, then this easy handmade gift is for them. Mixing dried herbs with salt or sugar can make a delicious seasoning. A savoury herb salt can be used to season meat or add to soups. For the sweet tooth, herb sugar can be added to hot drinks, sprinkled on fruit or added to cocktails.
2 recipes for herb salts
1/2 cup finely cut sea salt
2 tsp dried thyme
2 tsp dried marjoram
1 tsp dried rosemary
1 tsp dried lavender
1 tsp dried lemon peel
OR
1 cup Himalayan sea salt
2 tsp dried dandelion leaf
1/2 tsp dried sage
1/2 tsp dried basil
1 tsp dried parsley
2 tsp dried nettles
1/2 tsp dried dill
1 tsp dried chives
1 tsp dried lemon peel
Method
Place all ingredients in a food processor and blend to desired consistency. Store in air tight glass jar with suggestions (like add to vegetables/soups etc).
Chamomile sugar
Ingredients
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup fresh chamomile flowers
Method
Pulse the sugar and flowers in your food processor to gently mix them. Store in a glass jar. Add to hot drinks, on cut fruit or in your cocktails/mocktails.
Infused Honey
For the sweet tooth - An infused honey is another delicious option for an easy handmade gift. You can use whatever plants that are in your garden - thyme, lavender, rose. So many options! You can use infused honey on pancakes, toast, in hot drinks or straight off the spoon.
Ingredients
1 Tbsp powdered rose petals (you can dry your own rose petals and then grind them in a mortar and pestle)
½ vanilla bean
½ cup local honey
Method
Slice open the vanilla bean and scrape out the little black vanilla seeds.
Mix rose petals, vanilla seeds, and (slightly warmed honey) in a jar.
Label the jar, and let it infuse for a few days/week before you gift it.
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Hopefully you will find something in here that might help you in this crazy holiday season. Also - remember that holidays are about spending time with your people and not stuff.
