Christmas Gifts for Foodies

Photo: istock

1) Homebrew Kit

Get your beer-buff and lager-lover brewing at home. Homebrew in Paradise sells a complete homebrew equipment kit that includes everything needed to brew five gallons of pale ale—because egg nog alone isn't going to cut it for the holidays. $159.50, 2646B Kilihau St., 834-2739, homebrewinparadise.com.

Photo: David Croxford

2) Chocolate Delights

For your beloved chocoholic, think outside the usual box of chocolates. Through Madre Chocolate, you can either gift chocolate-making classes (starting at $45) or unique chocolate bars ($6-8). The bars are all made in Hawaii, some with locally sourced cacao and the rest from organic cacao collectives in Mexico. The passion fruit and Hawaiian dark chocolate bar incorporates passion fruit pulp for an almost chewy texture, and the popped amaranth dark chocolate blends hints of creamy caramel with the crunchy texture of amaranth. Available at Ala Moana Farmers' Market, Saturdays 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Ala Moana Center, Kokua Market, 2643 S King St., 941-1922. For more locations and more information, visit madrechocolate.com.
 

Photo: istock

3) Adopt-a-Beehive

Bees and a beehive under the Christmas tree? Sounds more like an April Fools joke than a holiday present, but with the University of Hawaii’s Adopt-a-Beehive program, you're not actually delivering a live beehive. Rather, by “gifting” a beehive, you're supporting UH Hilo's education in healthy beehive practices (which is more crucial than ever now, as nearly a third of all honeybee colonies in North America are dying every year). What this also means is sweets for your sweet, who will receive her own supply of honey and invitations to join Chef Alan Wong at bee and agriculture related activities during the 2011-2012 season. There are three levels of adoption, from $300 to $1,000. For more information, visit their website.