By Kristi Alexandra
There’s no time like the present to fill up on presents! While you’re leisurely taking in the lights, sounds and smells of holiday markets around Metro Vancouver, don’t forget there’s also a bounty of food-based stocking stuffers from local artisans all over. There’s something for everyone, from your chocolate-loving neice to your gourmand grandmother. Check out the assortment of preserves, gluten-free treats and more, and which markets you can find them at, below.
Vancouver Christmas Market
Jack Poole Plaza – 1055 Canada Place, Vancouver
Candy Meister at Vancouver Christmas Market invites you to the sweet side of life, offering a selection of colourful, all-natural, gluten-, dairy-, and corn-free candies from Germany!
West Coast Wild Foods takes a walk on the wild side. As one of Canada’s leading wild mushroom companies, they bring wild mushrooms such as Chanterelle, Morel, Porcini, Pine and many others for the ultimate stocking stuffer.
Zotter Chocolates boasts 100 per cent organic and fair trade creations, made with whimsical design, to please the chocolate-loving eco-warrior in your life.
Bon Macaron Patisserie offers up an ever-changing variety of sweet and savoury macarons. Rich and decadent, but light and airy, Bon Macarons are the perfect treat for the Franco-phile in your family.
Break out the tea set! Sonnentor Teas makes a splash with organic tea made with Christmas in mind. Stuff stockings with boxes or sleeves of Advent Calendar Tea, Heavenly Christmas Delight Tea, Bright Light, Winter Night Fruit Tea, Dancing Stars, and more.
Bowen Island Herb Salts offers up everything from rubs to salt and pepper grinders and even hand-crafted mulled wine spice mix. Their signature blends feature hand-harvested herbs and spices, along with high-quality mediterranian sea salt.
Grab local honey from the Honeybee Centre. Whether you’re looking for a delicious honey treat, or one of their natural products, you’ll find the perfect gift for someone (or yourself) at their booth.
East Van Roasters Kaffee’s chocolate bars are like nothing you’ve ever had. The local company creates organic ‘bean to bar’ chocolate, as well as delicious organic drinking chocolate, hand-rolled truffles, single-origin chocolate bars, and select pastries.
Howling Moon Craft Cider creates gluten-free hard apple cider, made with fresh pressed dessert and heritage variety apples sourced from farmers in the Okanagan Valley.
When: November 20 to December 23 from 11:30 am to 9:30 pm; December 24 from 11:30 am to 6 pm
Fridays on Front: Holiday Edition
Under the Downtown New West Parkade on Front Street (access via 6th Street)
Find Solasta Chocolate, and their selection of filled chocolates, gourmet caramels, chocolate medallions and chocolate bars. Take these sweet treats home to share or to gift.
If the treat can make it home, give the gift of Royal City Donuts: local, handmade buttered up brioche donuts.
When: December 13, 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Crafty Affaire Market
Croatian Cultural Centre – 3250 Commercial Drive, Vancouver
Delight in the traditional South American condiment, Aji (ah-hee!), by Aji Gourmet products. From tartar, cocktail and guacamole, Aji is a healthy sauce that can be used as a condiment, dip, sauce mix and marinade. These bottles are prized recipes from the Colombian family who shares them (and a staple in their own kitchen)!
Energy bites are all the rage for the health-conscious. Back For More Bites are a bite-sized vegan and gluten-free snack that can help you recharge. Flavours include Blissful Blueberry Lemon, Cherry Chocolate Brownie ,Raspberry SubLime, Salted Orange Chocolate Chip, and the seasonal Blackberry Lavender Lemon.
Coconama Chocolates are gluten-free and nut-free pieces of ganache. Try out a wide selection of flavours, from 27 different chocolate truffles and seasonal delights.
East Van Bees offers up raw, East Van-sourced, multi-floral honey. You won’t find these jars lining the aisles of the grocery store, but you won’t want to miss out on tasting the difference of locally-sourced, gently-made honey.
Try the latest in cocktail mixers or low-alcohol cocktails with fresh shrubs from Mixers & Elixirs. The company concocts shrubs, a drinking concentrate made with fruit and vinegar that complement alcoholic and booze-free beverages alike.
Sprinkle some love on your loved ones with The Salt Dispensary’s gourmet blended sea salts. Now boasting more than 20 salt blends, including smoked salts, peppers, garlic, paprika and jalapeno.
When: December 14 and 15 from 10 am to 5 pm
Coquitlam Christmas Farmers’ Market
Poirier Sport and Leisure Complex – 633 Poirier Street, Coquitlam
Crafts, spices, wines, and vinegar abounds in this one-time winter market, along with more perishable finds such as freshly-picked, local produce. Stock up!
When: December 14, 2019, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
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