I’ve got some hard to buy for people on my holiday list – how about you? I thought I would showcase several unique gift ideas made from salt that are thoughtful and useful for many people. These gift ideas are deigned to be things most people don’t have even though they might seem like ‘people who have everything’.
I hope these links help you fill in ideas for the empty spots on your list. Everyone could use one more gift for mom. She deserves it!
Salt Gift Ideas for Power Chefs and Kitchen Wizards
I like the analog experience of hand operating my ceramic salt grinders and describe some of my favorites in Salt Storage: Choosing a Salt Cellar, Salt Grinder, and More. Some folks though are cooking for a crowd or are trying to go fast. Others just like power tools!
There are a number of battery driven ceramic grinders on the market, and I wanted to share my favorite one. I think this salt grinder set is ingenious because the power tool tops can be interchanged with four different clear containers. This allows you to keep several choices of salt, pepper, salt with dried additions like herbs or really any kind of grind-able seasoning at hand.
I love this idea: the battery operated grinder units (2) are separate from the chambers (4) holding your salt, pepper or other spices. You can switch the supply chambers quickly and you always have a backup grinder available if your batteries (4 AAA, not included) die in the middle of cooking up a fabulous feast. The supply chambers are nice and big: each one will hold up to 100 ml.
Your hard to buy for person may appreciate the time and effort provided by ‘one hand operation’ of this efficient grinder. Since the batteries are not included, here is a handy link to grab some to complete your thoughtful gift:
Need batteries? This is a 12 pack of AAA Alkaline batteries. Other packages sizes are also available.
Salt Gifts for Bathtub Bliss
Epsom salts are great for soaking tired aching muscles. Of course, ‘just plain ole’ Epsom salt does wonders for your body and supplies needed magnesium. It is inexpensive and available at grocery and big box stores. However, Epsom salt mixed with really nice other fragrant and beneficial ingredients, packaged in lovely jars and presented in a beautiful box makes an excellent gift.
In Unwind and De-Stress: 9 Epsom Salt Bath Ideas I describe a number of ways to use Epsom salt and also help you calculate the perfect amount of salt to add to your bathtub (no matter what size it is). My article Beyond the Shaker: 11 Bathroom Uses for Salt suggests a number of uses for Epsom salt, including making your own ‘bath bombs’.
However, if DIY bath salts are too much time investment at this point in the holidays, consider this gorgeous Epsom salt gift set for your hard to buy for recipient. My link will take you to a set of six jars, but there are also links for smaller sets (from 2 through 5 jars). This could be the gift for mom, not to mention Aunt Mary.
This beautifully packaged gift set comes with six 120 gram jars of Epsom Salt. Combinations include Lavender Epsom Salt, Tea Tree Epsom Salt, Lemon Basil Epsom Salt, Coconut Epsom Salt, Honey Almond Epsom Salt, and Eucalyptus Spearmint Epsom Salt. Each marble-patterned gift box comes with a Wooden Salt spoon for scooping out your favorites into your bath water.
Unusual Salt Lamp for a Gift of Warmth
There is a lot of coverage on the desirability of Salt lamps of various kinds and sizes on this website, but this gift entry is one of the most unusual that I’ve seen available.
While it is carved from a pink Himalayan salt block and has the typical wooden base, this one is smoothly finished and is designed to sit on the floor or a low table. After the block warms up from the light bulb inside, it is intended for warming your hands or feet on those cold winter nights. The soft pink to orangey glow is perfect for creating a warm mood while also serving as a night light and won’t drown out your TV watching vibe. Some folks who consistently have cold feet might want to keep one of these underneath their desk while working.
This unusual salt lamp is about 9 inches in diameter and about 7 inches tall. It is designed to sit on the floor to warm your feet - or place on a low table if you'd like to warm your hands. It is not only great for people with cold extremities, but is a nice addition for spa applications. It weighs about 16 pounds. A 25 watt, 120v. incandescent bulb is included with the lamp.
Note that this style of lamp is also available in a 11 inch variation and with a couple of different types of stone bases (marble, onyx, etc.)
Elegant Cocktail Rimming for Serious Entertainers
If you need a gift for the host or hostess that just cannot tolerate their Margarita rimming salt to be dispensed from a plastic tub, this Cocktail Rimming set might be just the thing!
The bowl area for salt (or sugar or whatever mixture that you use for rimming) accommodates glasses with rims up to just over 5 1/2 inches. It also has a small knife for slicing limes or other citrus and a small stainless steel cup for keeping garnishes at hand.
This nicely designed cocktail rimming set has everything you need for making a perfect rim. The wide bowl area will accommodate very wide glasses, and you also get a small knife for slicing limes or other citrus and a stainless steel cup for holding garnishes. This set is just what you need for the perfect Margarita party!
If you are looking for unusual Cocktail rimming ideas, be sure to see our article Rimming With Flair: 15 Salt Rim Mixes for the Perfect Cocktail.
Salt Gift Ideas for the Undecided
Still looking for the just right gift for people who have everything? You can’t go wrong with a variety gift box. Everyone should be able to find a couple flavored salts that suit their taste buds from this gift set:
Can't decide what kind of interesting salt that you'd like? Looking for a great gift for the kitchen wizard in your life? This set of 10 varieties of interesting salts satisfies many tastes. It includes both Pink and Black Himalayan salt, salt flavored with lemon, lavender, truffle, rosemary and more. There is even an interesting Espresso salt. Salt comes in bottles of 20 grams each, contained in a presentation box.
Salty Stocking Stuffers
Small gifts of special salts make excellent stocking stuffers or host/hostess gifts when you are invited to holiday parties. Check out these ideas and keep a few on hand for unexpected invitations – salt doesn’t really expire, after all.
Icelandic Seaweed Salt
Speaking of the perfect Cocktail rim, this Icelandic salt with a blend of local seaweed flakes (Dulse and Kelp) provide that Umami flavor that blends perfectly with fine Sea Salt. I originally discovered this unique product while searching for Iodine-rich salt for my article The Importance of Iodized Salt. Both of these types of seaweeds are terrific sources of iodine.
This unique sea salt is hand-harvested in Iceland’s Westfjords using traditional methods - and then is blended with Dulse and Kelp seaweed for Umami flavor. It is rich in natural trace minerals. You get a 90 gram jar (about 3.17 ounces) for finishing your food preparations or (my favorite use) rimming the perfect cocktail.
Pink Salt Duster
Get a perfect application of pink Himalayan salt on top of your popcorn every time with this Salt Duster. Crafted with a durable screen-top design, this 5 oz shaker delivers a smooth, even dusting of ultra-fine popcorn salt. The duster comes filled with very fine ground pink salt, and it is refillable. It comes with a close fitting top to keep your popcorn salt dry in-between uses.
US-Sourced Rosemary Sea Salt
Natural unrefined flaky sea salt, combined with Rosemary enhances the flavor of foods from salads to meats. This 1.8 ounce jar might make the perfect stocking stuffer or holiday host gift for the foodie in your life.
Final Thoughts
I hope I have provided some unique gift ideas for the ‘people who have everything’ on your list! After all, the gift of salt was considered a kingly gift back in history when salt was rare in many places and far more expensive than it is now.
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Gift photo by Ylanite Koppens. To replicate the look of the ‘snow sprinkles’ on these packages, lightly spray your wrapped package with a clear spray fixative (adhesive) and then sprinkle Maldon salt or Fleur de Sel on the package before the adhesive dries. When completely dry, shake the excess salt off of the package.
