Foodie culture has splashed onto the scene thanks to the help of social media - uncovering the avid food-lovers among us. Chances are, you have a foodie friend among your social circle; the one who's always talking about the newest take-out spot or sharing photos of their most recent meals online.
We'll also bet, there's likely a special occasion around the corner in which you'll need to think of a gift for your foodie friend or family member - and when that occasion comes - you'll be glad you stumbled upon our Canadian list of taste-bud-tingling and eco-friendly gifts for them.
At Good Earth Gifting, we know the importance of gift-giving as an avenue to spread the message of sustainability. Whether this message is coming from the giver or in the interest of the recipient, we believe that any time is an opportune time to think about the environmental impact of your purchases. Using your hard-earned dollars to support local artisans and businesses making great strides in employing sustainable practices in their operations is a win-win scenario. Not only are these companies doing what they can to help reduce waste and lower their carbon footprint but you are also getting products with clean, natural and familiar ingredients that are ethically procured. So the question becomes, why NOT purchase from these amazing companies and inspire a circular economy?
Company: The Chef Upstairs
Unique culinary venues located in Vaughn and Toronto, The Chef Upstairs offers an intimate dining experience with talented chefs and delicious food. The latter location (Toronto) offers a sustainable Food Lover's 5-Course Cooking Class, where talented chefs provide step-by-step instructions to prepare outstanding dishes using fresh, local ingredients. The class teaches participants the necessary skills to easily replicate dishes at home, while allowing for fun cooking collaborations and pairing of each course with the perfect wines.
Their 'food for everyone' philosophy is embodied through various classes offered and themed menus to cater to different tastes - all of which are 100% nut and peanut-free, and easily modified to accommodate allergies, dietary restrictions and preferences.
Looking for a chef catered dinner party? Their Private Chef at Home experience is perfect for small gatherings or big events, with limitless menu options and a full-service team to look after everything.
So whether it's their cooking class or hiring a private chef, the foodie in your life will love this unforgettable dining experience.
Company: McCamus Maple Syrup
This is as pure as it gets! Located in Cavan, ON, the McCamus Family produces 100% Natural Maple Syrup from their farm with no artificial additives, while their Maple Butter is the whipped-up version with a smooth and fluffy texture. Once you have a taste of REAL maple syrup, you'll never go back.
Sustainability: They practice sustainable tapping, which means making the smallest, least invasive holes possible when collecting sap from Maple trees and only tap trees that have reached a maturity threshold (12 inches or 30 cm in diameter). This prevents hitting the heart of the tree, allowing it to heal itself. The smaller the tap hole, the quicker the healing process. Wood is also gathered from their forest floor, a carbon-neutral practice, to turn sap into maple syrup using their environmentally-friendly, high-efficiency instruments.
Company: Galerie Au Chocolat
Fact: we all love chocolate. Give your foodie friend a stay-at-home fondue experience with Galerie Au Chocolat’s deep, bold 72% Dark or creamy Matcha White Fair Trade Chocolate, which are both perfect accompaniments to any fruit, dessert or cheese course.
Sustainability: Headquartered in Saint Laurent, QC, Galerie au Chocolat believes sustainability is a rewarding mission for all parties involved. Their ingredients are ethically-sourced, all-natural, and contain no GMOs and their dark chocolates are vegan-friendly. They aim to source responsibly by working exclusively with environmentally friendly suppliers of raw materials, packaging, equipment, and services who benefit society and who share their vision of an eco-conscious brand actively working to bettering their supply chain.
Find Galerie Au Chocolat's Fair Trade chocolate in our Workday Snacks box.
Company: Eatable
Handcrafted popcorn by Eatable is sourced locally from Canadian farms and made in small batches in their Toronto facility. Their most popular flavours, “Pop the Salt and Tequila”, “Whisky on the Pops” and “Pop the Champagne” - are crowd favourites for good reason. They make for easy snacking at the office with alcohol-infused flavours but with virtually no alcohol content (burned off during its cooking process).
Sustainability: Eco-friendly features include the popcorn being vegetarian, non-GMO and having no artificial flavours or colours. As a plastic-neutral company, they are committed to collecting, processing, and removing as much plastic from nature as used in their products and packaging. They also support hunger relief by donating a portion of every online sale to Second Harvest Food Rescue - Canada's largest food rescue organization.
Company: Muskoka Roastery Coffee Co.
How about a foursome sampler from Muskoka Roastery Coffee Co.? Handcrafted in Huntsville, ON their Truly Canadian Sampler includes flavours like Northern Lights, Lumberjack, Aki Organic Blend, and Granite Roast. Each roast is made with natural ingredients and has its own unique aroma and taste.
Sustainability: Being a Certified B Corp means their business meets the highest verified standards of social and environmental transparency and accountability. With a focus on sustainability and the environment, Muskoka Roastery runs on 100% green electricity, green natural gas, and green fuel in all levels of their production to eliminate their energy-related emissions footprint. They are the first roaster in Canada to attain the 100% Rainforest Alliance certification and are proud to make the commitment to the environment and to be creaing a cleaner, healthier Canada.
Company: Drizzle Honey
Honey is a great pantry staple. This Foodie Bundle, featuring mouthwatering varieties like Hot, Cinnamon Spiced and Cacao Luxe, is sure to be a hit for food enthusiasts, cooking aficionados, and those who likes to experiment with unique ingredients.
This collection comes complete with a sustainable bamboo honey dipper. Whether drizzled on pancakes, blended into smoothies or added to favourite recipes, these incredibly versatile products offer some sweet inspiration for culinary creativity.
Sustainability: What makes this bundle a more heart-warming idea? Drizzle selectively sources bee-friendly hives and donates to pollinator research. A women-owned, Certified B Corporation, Drizzle goes above and beyond in implementing green practices and is in support of local farmers.
Company: Southbrook Farms Limited
Have a great wine night with your foodie friend(s) starting with this 6-pack crisp and fruity Framboise from Southbrook Farms Limited. Better yet, plan a trip down and visit their winery in Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON to see their architecturally eco-friendly facility together.
Sustainability: Southbrook Vineyards guarantees 100% locally-sourced grapes and is committed to sustainability with a number of certifications and initiatives to prove just that. Their entire vineyard has been deemed organic and biodynamic (meaning the farm's soil has a balanced interrelationship with its plants and animals). What’s unique about their facility is their self-regulating light and temperature energy consumption, making them the first to be awarded for their environmental design.
Company: Local Food Tours
Book with Local Food Tours and your foodie friend will get to indulge in delicious and diverse food experiences discovering local food. With a couple of walking tours to choose from, they can spend time in diverse neighbourhood food scenes and secret restaurants, hearing about unique histories and tasting the town. Tours are available in Toronto, Montreal, and Quebec City. Check this blog out for more unique experiences in Ontario!
Sustainability: Local Food Tours work with shop owners and artisans who share their fare on reusable plates, and encourage vendors to recycle any disposable items used. They also ensure all items tasted on their tours are sourced locally.
David Asher’s class for D.I.Y Cheese through The Black Sheep School of Cheesemaking is a unique experience and is now offering live virtual classes! He teaches you how to make beautiful cheeses right in the comfort of your own home using traditional methods, natural processes and easy techniques. It's a one-of-a-kind educational experience your giftee will love!
Sustainability: Asher mentions that teaching these traditional cheesemaking skills is more than just an eye-opening event; it’s stirring the pot of a food revolution. With his background as an organic farmer, he shares his knowledge to empower students on how to move away from chemically controlled, environmentally destructive productions.
His cheesemaking school isn't a traditional kind, but a mobile one - partnering with food-sovereignty-minded organizations around the world, offering his classes through community kitchens, educational farms and sustainable food businesses.
By showing love to local businesses with innovative sustainability practices, you are supporting a greener future. To become more responsible towards the planet and your community, choose gift products that give back in their own, unique ways.
It’s Your Turn
Whether you choose to go with an amazing product or a unique experience, look no further for more thoughtful, sustainable gift ideas for your friends, family, and loved ones. And now that you’re armed with a handful of ideas for an eco-friendly gifting tradition, let us know if these ideas were helpful to you. Also, we’d love for you to share your thoughts below!
If you are interested in technology, you can find interesting gift ideas on our Eco-Friendly gift ideas fir Techies blog. For more Eco-Friendly Canadian gift ideas follow us on Facebook, Instagram @goodearthgifting, and TikTok @goodearthgifting!
Each brand we feature has been independently selected and reviewed by our team. Should you make a purchase from the included links, we may earn a small commission.