9 Upgraded Pantry Staples to Give as Gifts

A thoughtful edible gift always goes a long way—but in these uncertain times, it's more appreciated than ever.
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Photo by Chelsea Kyle

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How do we celebrate each other when we can't be with one another?

Well, at Epi, the answer isstill with food。如果you're missing a loved one right now, sending a gift could ease the distance between you, if only a little. Why not give something to brighten up their pantry meals to come? Perhaps a few luxurious pantry staples, some new, flavor-rich spices and sauces to try, or great coffee beans orolive oilsthat don't require a trip to the store. Bothnoviceand practiced home cooks will benefit from these quality ingredients—many of which are from small independent makers.

A Coffee Subscription That Supports Small Roasters

贸易咖啡Co. Subscription

贸易咖啡sells over 400 varieties of coffees roasted in the U.S., mostly by small companies. Many of these roasters have been heavily impacted by COVID-19. Giving a few bags of beans—or better yet, a subscription—is a great way to help these small businesses while simultaneously serving your loved one's caffeine needs. Each subscription comes with a 30 percent discount on your first bag, and you can choose how frequently you'd like to receive refills.

A Coffee Bean Sampler For the Indecisive

Blue Bottle Coffee

Blue Bottle is offering free shipping right now on all online purchases. Their much loved bean sampler features three of the Oakland-based roaster's most popular blends. Bella Donovan has notes of raspberry, chocolate, and molasses. Giant Steps tastes of cocoa, toasted marshmallow, and graham cracker. And Three Africas hints at golden raisin, blueberry, and lemon zest. Each box contains three 6-ounce bags of whole beans.

A Vibrant Olive Oil for Drizzling, Cooking, and Baking

Brightland Awake Olive Oil

Upgraded Dry Pasta

Sfoglini Porcini Trumpet Pasta

Know and love a beginner cook? This trumpet-shaped pasta, which is made of organic durum semolina and a purée of umami-rich porcini mushrooms, is the ideal gift. It's already packed with flavor—which means even when tossed with a little butter or olive oil and sea salt, it'll make a complex and savory meal.

Flavor-Bomb Harissa

harissa, this era of pantry-dependent cooking is the perfect time to start. This smoky, garlic and vinegar spiced paste, which is used in Middle Eastern cooking, will add depth and flavor when swirled into a pot of canned tomatoes or beans, or dabbed into stews, dressings, or dips. It pairs especially well with a pre-ordered copy of Falastin, a Palestinian cookbook by two of the chefs in the Ottolenghi empire. ","productBrand":"","dangerousHed":"New York Shuk Harissa","embedSize":null,"isFirstProduct":false,"isSponsored":false,"offerRetailer":"Snuk Foods","offerUrl":"https://snukfoods.com/collections/condiments/products/new-york-shuk-harissa-sauce","productId":"5e74d64bc04cc80008deecf7","showOfferUrl":false,"showPriceOnButton":true,"showAffiliateDisclaimerOnFirstProduct":false,"dangerousCredit":null,"showLocalisedOffers":true,"isUpcEnabled":true,"index":5,"contentType":"product","id":"5e74d64bc04cc80008deecf7","brand":{"name":""},"offers":[{"offerUrl":"https://snukfoods.com/collections/condiments/products/new-york-shuk-harissa-sauce","price":"$15","currency":"USD","purchaseUri":"https://cna.st/p/meh9fHuiYWLjmL4Wo4e6JeWiQQypC59urFCftuC3bDUJcTP8AZ1Lszx9gmYDqFXtz24e4VkquZ8cxLDpdkGmvaMVHggGr9Wc7LZmb9stnt4LQ8HUeuUJbeXYHA9ETN9LyhsppWiu1VXrmQPdf6vCQHBL8iBBYBa3tBvFxJQvS","sellerName":"Snuk Foods","countryCode":"","reducedPrice":""}]}">

New York Shuk Harissa

如果you haven't usedharissa, this era of pantry-dependent cooking is the perfect time to start. This smoky, garlic and vinegar spiced paste, which is used in Middle Eastern cooking, will add depth and flavor when swirled into a pot of canned tomatoes or beans, or dabbed into stews, dressings, or dips. It pairs especially well with apre-ordered copy of Falastin, a Palestinian cookbook by two of the chefs in the Ottolenghi empire.

Flavorful, Nutrient Dense Rice

eggs and avocado.  ","productBrand":"","dangerousHed":"Black Forbidden Rice","embedSize":null,"isFirstProduct":false,"isSponsored":false,"offerRetailer":"Snuk Foods","offerUrl":"https://snukfoods.com/collections/dry-goods/products/organic-forbidden-black-rice","productId":"5e74cf5ba1d0240008c7100b","showOfferUrl":false,"showPriceOnButton":true,"showAffiliateDisclaimerOnFirstProduct":false,"dangerousCredit":null,"showLocalisedOffers":true,"isUpcEnabled":true,"index":2,"contentType":"product","id":"5e74cf5ba1d0240008c7100b","brand":{"name":""},"offers":[{"offerUrl":"https://snukfoods.com/collections/dry-goods/products/organic-forbidden-black-rice","price":"$9","currency":"USD","purchaseUri":"https://cna.st/p/meh9fHuiYWLjmL4Wo4e6JeWiQQypC59urFCftuC3bDUJcTP8AZ1LszweggC16qQvSsVqGNmmrwaz3u4gBq2WaKetzSnUgYfQ2NS3sELkQhBZpgQ8KMnHgDWdsRwo99wrKvFpr3XFpnzbGG2WoH7BAv5FKEjbwDfs8MP2eExQ6","sellerName":"Snuk Foods","countryCode":"","reducedPrice":""}]}">

Black Forbidden Rice

Your local grocery store is sold out of all kinds of rice. But on Snuk Foods, you can still shop for organic black forbidden rice. Forbidden rice has a nutty flavor and a more satisfyingly chewy texture than its white counterpart. It's great for grain bowls, creamy coconut breakfast porridge, and as a base foreggs and avocado

A Zesty Verjus for The Citrus-Limited

Wolffer Verjus

Verjus is the juice of underripe grapes. A splash in soups and stews brightens up the final dish the way citrus would—making it especially great in moments where fresh produce might be in short supply. It's also perfect for deglazing the pan after sautéing chicken thighs or fish filets.

Wild-Caught Sardines to Add Depth and Flavor

Sardines in Oil

如果you love the briny umami bomb an anchovy adds to your pasta, soups, and salad dressings, try these wild-caught Portuguese sardines. The oil-packed fish come in flavors like Lemon Olive Oil, Cayenne Olive Oil, or Tomato—but if you don't want to play favorites, you can always pick the crowd-pleasing six-tin variety set.

A Popular Cheese Box for Parties Over Zoom

Murray’s Cheese Greatest Hits Box