There’s nothing more riveting than the lead-up to Christmas, and we’re under good authority that the dopamine hit from opening an advent calendar door is even greater than when you see a pile of presents under the tree on Christmas morning.
Long gone are the days when advent calendars were simply a set of cardboard doors concealing a nativity scene. Far from it. It’s an ever-evolving sphere, where you’ll now discover pieces of artisanal cheese, teabags, jams and even dinky bottles of boozed tucket behind every flap. Will we ever reach peak advent calendar? Who knows.
One thing we do know is that there are some cracking advent calendars up for grabs this Christmas, particularly of the edible variety. But which ones are the Foodism favourites? From artisanal tea and farm shop favourites to coffee and whisky, here’s our pick of the best food and drink advent calendars for Christmas 2023.
Five of our favourite advent calendars for Christmas 2023
Farmshop Advent Calendar, Daylesford
Daylesford Farmshop advent calendar
For those who consider their palettes too discerning for the usual cheap chocolate fodder, the Daylesford Farmshop Advent Calendar ticks all the boxes. Distilling the magic of this iconic Gloucestershire farm shop into 25 little draws, expect a bounty of treats ranging from festival cocktails, jams, curds and chocolates to cheese knives, candles and corkscrews. The produce at Daylesford is something to wax lyrical about, so 24 days of it sounds toothsome.
£250; daylesford.com
25 Whiskies of the World, The Whisky Exchange
The Whisky Exchange 25 Whiskies of the World Advent Calendar
Hankering for an advent calendar that wakes you up in the morning? The Whisky Exchange 25 Whiskies of the World advent calendar guarantees pep in your step with 25 exceptional whiskies hidden behind each paper door, including exclusive bottlings, under-the-radar whiskies, and favourites from around the globe. The exact bottles remain a mystery, but rest assured, this extraordinary line-up is a whisky-lovers paradise, packed with tipples from intriguing distilleries such as Craigellachie, Filey Bay, Dingle, Starward, and Ichiro's Malt. Bottoms up!
£145; thewhiskyexchange.com
Coffee Advent Calendar, Volcano Coffee Works
Volcano Coffee Works advent calendar
Make the mornings a little less depresso with the Volcano Coffee Works advent calendar. It’s neatly packed with 12 speciality coffees that take you on a global journey, tasting the beans of Brazil, Colombia, Ethiopia, El Salvador and beyond. A far cry from Nescafe pellets, Volcano Coffee Works makes small-batch coffee roasted to order, ensuring farmers are paid 50-180% above fair trade. From these 12 bags are 60 cups of coffee to drink, so you can be sure the festive period and beyond will be sufficiently caffeinated.
£54.95; volcanocoffeeworks.com
Frosty Christmas Advent Calendar, Pierre Marcolini
Frosty Christmas Advent Calendar Pierre Marcolini
Writing a guide to advent calendars and not including a chocolate one is like eating Christmas dinner without roast tatties, so we’ve hunted down the cream of the crop for inclusion. Pierre Marcolini's prestigious advent calendar features 24 of the Maison’s iconic chocolates that will require strong discipline to stick to the one-a-day quota. Packed full of cocoa-dusted pralines, fudgy truffles and silky caramels – this advent calendar proves that not all are born equal.
£54.00; marcolini.co.uk
Christmas in Love, Mariage Frères
Mariage Frères tea advent calendar
Get the par-tea started this festive season with the Mariage Frères tea advent calendar. Comprising 25 brews from the illustrious Parisian tea house, tease open each door to unveil a new loose-leaf blend. From cup-classics like Early Grey, jasmine and breakfast to unique Mariage Frères blends like Marco Polo, Darjeeling Haute Couture and Summer Flush, this calendar promises a brewtiful festive season.
£42.00; mariagefreres.com
