We’ve Tried Hundreds of Vegan Products This Year, and These Are Our Favorites to Give as Gifts

Tea is a fantastic, vegan-friendly gift. And according to our editor Ashley Zeigler, “the advent calendar aspect gave it a little extra fun, and the tea bags themselves are well designed.”

The Winter-Chalet Advent Calendar from Tea Forte includes 12 teas, each in a pyramid infuser that yields 8 to 12 oz. Options include some more-familiar brews like English breakfast and festive choices like winter chai and harvest apple spice. Some other unique options include African solstice, blueberry merlot, and a ginger lemongrass. While the price point is on the higher side, we think the whimsy and cute packaging add a fun element, making it the perfect gift for any tea drinker you know.

Following a low-sodium diet can be really tough. And when animal products aren’t on the menu, finding those satisfying, savory flavors requires a different approach. SaltWise Green Salt, made from 100-percent dehydrated Salicornia (aka sea asparagus), is a great option to help reduce sodium naturally without missing the salt.

“SaltWise gives you a good salty flavor with far less sodium,” says Katie Tuttle, an experienced food and nutrition editor, who tested the product. “It has a subtle earthy umami flavor that adds complexity to food.” While she says that the flavor wouldn’t work with just anything and everything, “I’d recommend it to adventurous cooks and health-minded eaters.” She adds that it’s “packaged beautifully and a little unexpected, so it’s perfect for food lovers or anyone who enjoys trying new pantry items.” It’s a winning combination to be able to gift something that can help your loved one stay healthy, and also feels luxurious and fun to try out in the kitchen.

We all know someone who simply does not cook, or at least doesn’t do it very often. Maybe they don’t have the time, can’t stand the cleanup, or simply don’t enjoy it. But for these folks, having super-accessible, fast, and nutritious food options at home can mean the difference between getting the nutrients they need and missing out entirely. This is where Bumpin Blends comes in, with its pre-blended smoothie cubes in delicious flavors that offer a wide range of curated fruit and vegetable combinations. These include green mango, cookie dough, PB&J, thin mint, and seasonal choices like cinnamon chai. 

You can blend the cubes into smoothies, add them to oatmeal, or combine them with coffee to give your morning cup a health boost. Childs Heyl tested the blends and appreciated the combination of ingredients, mentioning that it “could also work for older people who want to keep it low maintenance.” Not all of the blends are completely vegan, as some do incorporate yogurt. But if you sign up for the build-your-own box, you’re totally in control of what blends you pick, so you can create a mix that’s just right for your favorite person who avoids the kitchen but still has to eat.

If someone you love has been a vegan for some time, they’ve probably come across Daily Harvest. This meal delivery service is known for its frozen smoothies made with buzzy, creative ingredients and easy-to-use, dump-and-blend packaging. Plus, it offers a ton of other frozen, heat-and-eat products that are all completely plant-based, like breakfast bowls, snack bites, and savory pastas and grain bowls.

Daily Harvest can be a subscription-based service, but you can also place a single order. I think any of the curated boxes or gift sets make a really lovely gift for busy folks. I’ve used the service myself, even as a meat eater, and I really enjoyed the smoothies and meals, finding them incredibly convenient, tasty, and helpful for getting more plants into my diet. Keep in mind that everything you ship will be frozen, so make sure your recipient is home to receive it. That said, the company also offers gift cards for added convenience.

If you have someone on your gift list with a worldly palate, we love this Atlas Coffee Club subscription as a perfect way to take them on a trip around the world through coffee. Atlas is a subscription coffee service that sources single-origin, micro-lot coffee beans, roasted and ground (or not) to your preference, from all over the world. Each shipment includes 12 oz of coffee, flavor and tasting notes, a postcard about where your coffee comes from, and a bit of the beans’ history.

I recently tried coffee from Vietnam through the service, and I absolutely loved it. I usually buy the same beans every time at the grocery store, and these really livened up my morning coffee routine and opened the door to a whole new coffee destination. Gift as little as three months’ worth of coffee or up to a full year. Or you can send an e-gift card straight to your recipient, so they can pick what works best for them.

I’ll admit that when I initially received this kit for testing, I wondered how Corto was justifying $85 for four small jars of tomatoes and one bottle of oil. However, after using them with the included recipe book to make my own pasta sauce, I realized they are well worth the money.

The tomatoes are “piccolo datterini” or “little date tomatoes.” As their namesake implies, they are beautifully sweet and tomatoey with a flavor similar to what you get from plum tomatoes (only better). These are completely free of any sharpness or overwhelming acidity, bright enough to use without cooking, and perfectly tender for cooking down into a velvety sauce. The best part is using the Corto oil to complement them. And everything is perfectly plant-based, so you can safely gift this to your favorite Italian food–loving vegan.

While kombucha might not immediately strike you as a holiday gift, this “Ginger Spice & Everything Nice” flavor from Health-Ade is a seasonal offering that absolutely will amp up the festive factor. If you’re not familiar with it, kombucha is a fermented tea, often flavored with fruit juices and spices. It imparts not only a delightfully fizzy experience but also a healthy dose of probiotic bacteria.

Registered dietitian Caitlin Beale gave it a taste for us and says: “I like kombucha in general. This is a tasty option with a holiday twist. The ginger spice is reminiscent of spiced cider and is a sweet (but not too-sweet) seasonal treat. I love ginger, and this flavor has a strong but not overly spicy flavor.” For the gut health-conscious among us, this would make a really thoughtful and timely gift.

Meal delivery services are one of the ultimate cheat codes for busy people, and Purple Carrot is one of the only completely vegan options that offers both meal kits and fully prepared meals. So whether your recipient likes to cook or not, they’ll have options. While the service can have some of the pitfalls of any meal delivery service, such as higher sodium levels, you simply can’t argue with the simplicity and ease of use of this option.

Giving the gift of Purple Carrot is as simple as choosing a gift card amount of anywhere from $50 to $1,000 and hitting send. Beale tested the service firsthand and says: “Purple Carrot is an excellent option for people who want to learn how to cook plant-based meals or want access to ready-to-eat, high-fiber vegan meals. Overall, it’s a healthy meal option, and you can’t go wrong with all the extra veggies and fiber.”

Coffee substitutes and add-ins are having a moment. And while coffee itself is a perfectly lovely (and vegan) gift, this Ryze Mushroom-Coffee Ritual Set is a fabulous option if you want to give the gift of coffee with some added health flair. The set includes two pouches of the namesake mushroom coffee, made with organic arabica coffee, a signature organic mushroom blend, MCT oil, and coconut milk. It also includes a pouch of “superfood” creamer, an acacia jar with a spoon and scoop, and a recipe book. 

“I love that this kit is trying to get you started using the Ryze Mushroom Coffee,” says Raki Swanson, a Minnesota-based writer who tested this set. “You get enough to sample and use for at least two weeks.” Plus, everything, including the creamer, is totally plant-based, making it perfect for your vegan friend who is always trying to level up their health with the newest supplements and ingredients. Plus, if you want to skip the acacia jar, you can order just the coffees right from Amazon.

While there are certainly more-personalized gifts out there, we’ll never turn down a simple baked good — especially one made with specialty diets in mind. Lexington Bakes prioritizes ingredient transparency and crafts treats that are both thoughtful and delicious, including fully vegan and gluten-free options.

The Vegan Besties Treat Box features two “Cosmic Forest” cookies and two peanut butter–chip cookies, making it a great pick for a coworker, teacher, or friend who follows a vegan diet and appreciates a sweet pairing with their coffee or tea. When Scully tested these, she noted that her husband especially enjoyed them as a sweet counterpoint to his morning coffee. Affordable, clearly labeled, and delightfully unfussy, this box makes a charming little gift when you want something thoughtful but not overly personal.

Vegan baking can be a really disappointing experience if not done well. Scully, who lived in France for 13 years and worked in a French patisserie, had great things to say about this cookbook. “It has beautiful photography, and you just love looking through it,” she says. Author Amanda Bankert “does a good job at capturing France in a way that doesn’t feel fake or inauthentic.” 

In addition, there’s an element of practicality in the sections on vegan substitutions, ingredients, and equipment. These make the book more friendly to both beginners and more-skilled bakers. Overall, we loved it, and it’s the perfect gift for the vegan dessert devotee who appreciates the art of baking.

Few things brighten up an indoor space like live plants. And if you know someone blessed with a green thumb, a really fun gift option is a plant from The Sill. Our Calathea rattlesnake plant arrived fresh and healthy, already in a ceramic planter and ready to go. There are quite a few plant options to choose from, including indoor, outdoor, and blooming plants. So, you can give someone a more beginner-friendly or advanced-care option. You can also choose from various sizes and different pots to really customize your gift.

“I like that you can send a beautiful plant to someone through the mail with The Sill, or gift someone a gift card or subscription,” Scully says. Move over, cut-flower bouquets: Plants from The Sill are the new gifts to mark an occasion, give to a host, or just send as a holiday gift to your favorite plant parent.

Vegan and vegetarian cooking can feel inaccessible —complex recipes, lengthy processes, and too many ingredients. But this is why we love the Oh She Glows Every Day cookbook by Angela Liddon. “When I first decided to give up meat, I remember looking at all the vegetarian and vegan cookbooks and feeling like everything just felt dull,” Scully says. “This isn't the case with this cookbook. The recipes use whole-food ingredients, and the images are beautiful and appetizing, inspiring you to actually want to cook and try something new. The instructions are easy to follow, too, and there aren't a ton of ingredients I hadn't heard of before.” Liddon also includes nutrition information for those who want it, and the recipes are family-friendly. Truly, this would be a useful gift for a vegan cook of any level, for use any and every day.

There is something so quintessentially cozy and comforting about a stovetop kettle. The look of these kettles from Laura Ashley really takes that idea and runs with it in floral prints that wouldn’t look out of place in a storybook cottage. This kettle is solid and sturdy, but not so heavy that it’s hard to lift. It also has a whistling spout that lets you know it’s time for tea.

Swanson tested this herself and loved the nostalgic look and feel. “This kettle reminds me of my mom — not just the flower pattern but the handle on it, the push-button mechanism to get the water out, all of it. This has become one of my most favorite items I have ever received,” she says.

Creating sweet treats that are as fun to look at as they are to eat is one of the best parts of baking — and Larder & Vine’s Baking Set would make a cute addition for your favorite home-baker. The set includes two baking sheets, a loaf pan, two muffin tins, one round cake pan, a square cake pan, and a deep roasting pan.

While the sizes on these can be on the smaller end, they are stackable and nestable, and they’re ceramic-coated for non-stick convenience. The color options are really where things get interesting, though, with a classic French gray, lavender, sage, a gorgeous teal, terra-cotta red, and a two-tone yellow. Scully says her son loved the colorful design, and that the bright hues could help get kids excited about baking. It’s a smart choice for families and for anyone trying to maximize a smaller kitchen.

Preparing the perfect matcha latte at home really requires the right tools in addition to the matcha itself, which is why we love this starter set from Jade Leaf. Matcha naturally clumps, so using the included scoop, sifter, and whisk can really help you get the smoothest cup with the best flavor possible. The set also includes a full-color matcha handbook. And while it’s not included in the set, you can also purchase some matcha from Jade Leaf, like this original mix, to complete your gift.

Mental health writer and California-based clinical social worker Julia Childs Heyl tested this, and she found the set to be “really affordable for what you get.” We couldn’t agree more. It’s a perfect low-stakes set for someone who is curious about matcha and looking to get started enjoying its benefits.

Inevitably, we all have a friend who doesn’t drink enough water. This LifeStraw 7-Cup Pitcher makes a loving and generous gift for exactly that person. The glass pitcher is beautifully designed. “I like that it’s made of glass,” says editorial director Simone Scully, who tested this out firsthand. “It makes the pitcher itself a lot prettier and more durable than some of the plastic water purifiers I’ve had over the years.”

The LifeStraw brand is also known for its filtration systems, which it incorporates into this pitcher. It filters out bacteria, parasites, lead, microplastics, PFAS, and other contaminants that affect not only the quality of the water but also its taste. It comes in five attractive colors and is both a practical and beautiful gift to help someone stay hydrated.

Cozy beverage season is upon us, and that means one thing: We need water and we need it fast. This is where an electric kettle can really come in handy, whether it’s being used to make a nightly cup of oolong or a round of hot toddies. According to Swanson, the Haden Dorset Kettle is unique and very pretty to look at, heats up in a flash, and has an automatic shut-off for when your water has reached full temperature.

The design is certainly sophisticated, and the colors really reflect that, with shades like putty, black and copper, and green and chrome. The side of the kettle features both built-in volume measures and a thermometer, so you can make just the right amount and avoid overheating your water. We love the combination of form and function in this kettle, making it a thoughtful gift to those on your list who are on Team Cozy Beverage all season long.

Getting kids interested in cooking and food can be supported by entertaining additions to your cooking equipment, like this adorable Croc Chopper by Ototo. The crocodile head looks like it’s chomping down on the food as you chop, making it “a fun, whimsical way to create a meal full of veggies,” according to Sarah Garone, a licensed nutritionist and a food blogger who tested the product for us. It comes with four blades for fine chopping, medium chopping, ribbon cutting, and spiralizing, so you can take on nearly any veggie. We love it for adding a quirky touch to your meal prep, day-to-day cooking, or for kid-specific cooking projects — with adult supervision, of course.

Mexican cooking is a natural fit for a vegan diet, with plenty of plant-based ingredients. One of the main vehicles for eating the cuisine is the humble tortilla. If you’ve never had freshly made tortillas, I can tell you as a born-and-raised San Diegan they are a game-changer. And if you’re skeptical about gifting a kitchen tool as specific as this cast-iron tortilla press, this is what our tester Katie Tuttle had to say: “I'm leery of single-use appliances — I don't have a lot of storage space. However, I used it to make tortillas for the first time in my life, and it was so much fun! The tortillas weren’t bad, either.”

The press is sturdy enough to produce a beautifully thin tortilla, but it can also be used for other things, like smashed plantains and flatbreads like naan or pizza crust. You can even use it to squeeze water from ingredients like grated zucchini or to help make the thinnest plant–based smash burger you’ve ever seen.

There’s no denying that the Nama J2 Juicer is a splurge of a gift at almost $600. But if you have it to spend and there’s a juice-lover on your list, you can’t do better than this stunning and effective piece of equipment. Unboxing the Nama feels like unwrapping a luxury purse — from the beautifully art-adorned box it comes in to the individual linen sacks that hold each part of the machine. The juicer has a sleek design, sure to complement any kitchen as a countertop fixture, and it works incredibly well at juicing your favorite combinations.

One of the best features of the Nama is the ability to set a recipe, load the machine, and walk away. The cold-press function can operate hands-free, so you can spend those few precious minutes however you choose. I tested the juicer myself and loved everything about it. And while I wouldn’t normally think a single–function home appliance would be worth this price, I think for the right recipient, it absolutely can be.

Having a good blender is essential for vegan cooking. The Ninja Foodi Personal Blender and Smoothie Bowl Maker is an absolute workhorse at every task, from getting soups and sauces perfectly smooth to blitzing frozen fruit and making the thickest of smoothie bowls.

I’ve owned this product for a few years now, and it’s my go-to blender. It comes with multiple cup size options, ranging from 14 to 24 oz, and the 1,200-watt motor has never let me down. I love the suction cups on the bottom, so I know I can walk away from it when I let it run for a bit, and I won’t have to worry about it falling over like other personal-size blenders. I truly don’t know how it accomplishes so much, but it has never once stalled on a frozen chunk of strawberry or let me down making nut butters. It also comes with storage lids so you can keep items in the cups longer-term, and its dishwasher-safe parts almost guarantee an easy cleanup.

There are so many water bottles to choose from these days that the options seem endless: insulated or plastic, straw or twist top, and in as many sizes as you can imagine. After testing dozens of them, the Owala FreeSip Twist was our top pick for stainless–steel water bottles. It holds a substantial 24 ounces (oz) and lets you sip through a built-in straw or swig from the wide mouth of the spout. It also comes in a range of fun colors. The twist top keeps it from spilling on the go, and it’s such a practical and cute gift that it makes sense for anyone in your life, from your busiest family members to coworkers and friends.

Curating a personalized scent has really become a hobby and a skillset, and the scents from Necessaire are an incredible addition to one’s scent layering routine. The body wash comes in a variety of eucalyptus, santal, hinoki, olibanum, rosemary, cyprés-citronne and a fragrance-free variation as well. Outfitted with plant oils and niacinamide, this wash is rich and luxurious, offering a gentle cleanse that nourishes. Health writer Riley Blanton, MS, LMFT, loved the scent options, and we think pairing it with a like-scented body lotion makes an incredible self-care gift.

This treatment is designed to help skin by providing NAD+, a nutrient that is found inside all cells and is an important part of energy production. Aramore claims that “increasing NAD+ jump-starts stem cells to make fresh, new skin cells at a healthy rate, essentially delaying the aging process,” which would then, in turn, improve the texture and tone of skin. In addition, Aramore products are vegan, hypoallergenic, and fragrance-free, making them a great gift option for nearly anyone who loves skin-care products.

It’s also effective. “I’m telling you, this stuff works,” our tester, Raki Swanson, says of the NAD+ treatment. “Since using this product, people have noticed. They say my skin looks firmer, fresher, moisturized. This is worth every penny.”

Nothing feels better than coming home to a good-smelling space. And these diffusers from Aera are so well-designed and thoughtful that you’ll be ditching your current scent options to buy yourself one, as well as gifting them out this season. Our editorial director Simone Scully says: “I’ve always loved diffusers, but I’ve also always been aware that some of them emit chemicals that aren’t great for your health. A lot of them also eat into your outlet space and, frankly, I’d forget to change them when they ran out. These diffusers are different.” 

Aera diffusers really fit the bill with multiple size options and colors, a range of over 50 scent options, and specialized controls and functions. The mini size is great for rooms up to 400 square feet (sq ft), or you can level up to the larger size for rooms up to 1,000 sq ft. In testing, we especially loved that the hypoallergenic scents didn’t aggravate any sensitive noses. We also loved the “smart” features, where you can pair up with the app and set a schedule of how long you want the diffuser to run, how much scent is released, and get an alert when you’re running low. Trust me, people will be fighting over this one at the family white–elephant gift exchange. 

I know, I know — candles as a gift have been done to death. However, Scully is so in love with this candle that we couldn’t not include it. It’s made with a vegan coconut-wax blend and housed in a 50-percent recycled glass vessel, and it comes in scents like “The Woodsy” and “Mountain Lilac.”

“I am in love with the Mountain Lilac candle,” Scully says. “It has a realistic lilac scent that doesn't feel artificial at all. It really does smell like you’re standing next to a lilac bush. This is my new favorite of all favorite candles.” Also, she says that the pine smell in “The Woodsy” scent is also very pleasant and natural — with hints of lemon, clove, and moss — and the glass jar has a cute, vintage feel. If you have a nature-loving vegan in your life, consider gifting them this candle so they can bring some of those vibes indoors.

Oribe is a beloved hair-care line. Some of its more popular products are for styling (the dry texture spray is always sold out when I try to buy it), but we also tested the Gold Lust Collection Shampoo and absolutely loved the results. Ysolt Usigan, a health and lifestyle writer, gave the shampoo a test and not only loved the chic design of the packaging but also how the product left her hair feeling “clean and light.” She also loved the musky, floral scent.

This gift set includes not only the shampoo but also the conditioner and hair oil for a complete care experience. And the product is functional for all hair types — from straight to coiled, fine to thick — and is meant to help with moisture, breakage, and dryness. This formula is vegan-friendly, and Oribe is part of PETA’s Beauty Without Bunnies program — so, you can feel confident it was made without animal testing.

Retinol is a vitamin A derivative that’s all the rage in skin care for its ability to regulate cell turnover and help with skin elasticity and texture. But it can also be very irritating and cause dryness and peeling. This Retinol–Alternative Oil Serum from Luma Rituals is formulated with bakuchiol, a naturally derived, possibly gentler alternative to retinol.

Swanson tested this for us and said her skin felt soft and smooth, and “had this amazing, hydrated glow.” Luma products are vegan and cruelty-free. And according to Luma, this particular product is “perfect for 45-plus skin that wants results, without the flare-ups.”