Christmas is probably the most popular holiday for Italians. This festival recalls many traditions, which often take on a local dimension. Every city has its own “rites”, ranging from the preparation of certain dishes to the realization of real events that involve a large part of the population.
Among the most popular gifts are the Christmas baskets, which collect products of various kinds. If this year you want to prepare baskets that are original and have inside products of great quality you could opt for a basket dedicated to Made in Italy. You can do it yourself, going to buy some typical regional products that represent the Italian traditions.
Following the advice you find in this article we are sure that you will make a perfect Christmas basket Made in Italy.
Wines and liqueurs loved all over the world
In a good Christmas basket you can’t miss wines and liqueurs produced in Italy. We are talking about famous products all over the world. When you travel to other regions you will surely happen to buy wines to take to friends and relatives as souvenirs. Placing products of this kind in a Christmas basket makes it more elegant and refined, and gives it a touch of value not to be underestimated.
Among the most appreciated wines there is definitely the Prosecco, which comes from Piedmont. This is a very fresh sparkling wine, which is usually used to toast. Another really good Piedmontese wine to taste is the Barolo.
Going down our Boot you can meet many other local wines, both white and red. You will certainly have the choice. A good example is the Brunello di Montalcino, which is produced in Tuscany.
If you want to put something more special in the basket you could buy a bottle of Passito di Pantelleria, which has an aromatic and unique taste. It goes well with winter flavors, since it is a typically liquorous wine. Alternatively you could opt for a good bottle of Limoncello, a liqueur that comes from southern Italy and is often consumed at the end of a meal.
The traditional taste of cheese
A Christmas basket is not without delicious cheeses. In each region, typical cheeses are made, with recipes that still follow the tradition. Tasting Italian cheeses is a real journey in flavors. Our advice is to put in the basket of PDO products, produced with artisanal methods. This way you will give to friends and relatives the tastes to say nothing authentic.
Among the best examples is the Pecorino Toscano, a cheese made from sheep’s milk. Its intense flavor makes it fully recognizable, and can be put on the table with many courses, starting from the appetizers.
If you want to give a typical cheese of southern Italy you have many different options, such as the Caciocavallo Podolico. This dairy product has a strong flavor and many aromas that make it really delicious.
In a Christmas basket that has the center of Made in Italy you can also add the most famous Italian cheese in the world: Parmigiano Reggiano, used in many recipes.
The sweetness of Christmas
During the holiday season, you don’t just eat starters, first or second courses, but there is also plenty of room for desserts. There is nothing better than waking up on a morning of vacation and have breakfast with typical sweets of this time of year. Even the desserts are ready to tell traditional regional and local with origins that sink into the distant past.
Usually a panettone or pandoro is placed in the Christmas basket. You could opt for handmade products, made in your own city. They may have unique ingredients, which make these products a perfect symbol of the territory.
Among the best known Christmas sweets are the Struffoli, which are made in Campania. They are small fried cakes, which you can prepare without much difficulty even in your kitchen. They are covered in honey, which makes them really good on the palate.
In Tuscany instead they prepare the Ricciarelli and Cantucci, delicious desserts after lunch or after dinner, which should be enjoyed with Vin Santo.
Some other speciality
In your Christmas basket, strictly made of wicker and decorated with colored ribbons, you can add other products besides those we have just presented. For example, the salami, with many locations that offer typical products and made entirely handmade, such as the Calabrian soppressata. Also do not forget that our beautiful Italy is known for the production of oil, with many local and regional variations. Handmade oils are great for flavoring foods.
Finally, remember to add the pasta in the basket also “his majesty”. There is no dish more representative of the Italian cuisine and the Mediterranean diet. You can find some good pasta in the pasta factories of your area. For pasta there are real local specialties, which make a great impression in a basket.
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