Holiday Hostess Gifts: Pickle Gift Boxes That Beat Another Bottle of Wine

Between Thanksgiving, Friendsgiving, holiday open houses and New Year's Eve, the season is one long string of "what do I bring?" The usual answer is a bottle of wine, which gets added to the pile by the door and forgotten. If you want a hostess gift that gets noticed, opened and actually used, bring pickles.

Here is why a pickle gift box beats the usual suspects, and which box to bring to which kind of party.

Why pickles make a better host gift than wine

• It is memorable. The host will get six bottles of wine this season. They will remember who brought the pickles.
• It can go straight on the table. A jar of pickles is useful the moment you walk in, next to the cheese board or the leftover-turkey sandwiches.
• It works for everyone. Non-drinkers, families with kids, the vegan cousin: our jars are gluten-free and vegan, with no dyes and 79% less sodium.
• It keeps. Unopened jars are shelf-stable for up to two years, so the host can save them for a quiet night after the holidays.
• It is local and handmade. Every jar is made in small batches in our Atlanta kitchen with Georgia-grown cucumbers, and our pickles have won a Good Food Award and Flavor of Georgia.

Which pickle gift to bring to which party

Thanksgiving or Friendsgiving dinner: the 3-Jar Pickle Party Pack

The 3-Jar Gift Box is the all-rounder: a classic, one with a kick, and a wildcard. Hand it over at the door and suggest opening one for the relish tray. Bringing food instead? Our Friendsgiving pickle tray guide covers the no-cook potluck dish.

The brunch or Bloody Mary host: The Bloody Mary Box

Holiday brunches run on Bloody Marys. The Bloody Mary Box packs three jars picked for garnishing: The Zesty Okra, The Spicy Green Beans and The Spicy Okra. It is the gift that gets used the next morning.

The host with a sweet tooth: The Sweet Box

The Sweet Box brings The Bread and Butter, The Heat and Sweet (made with red jalapeños) and The Banana Pepper. A good pick for hosts who say they "aren't pickle people".

The dill purist: The Dill Box

For the friend who eats pickles straight from the jar, The Dill Box holds The Power Sour, The Dill Chips and The Vintage. It runs the whole sour scale from mild to bold (see our extra sour pickles guide).

The heat lover: The Blazing Box

The Blazing Box climbs the heat ladder to The Ghost Pickle, our only 4 out of 5. Read more in our Ghost Pickle guide.

The big family gathering: the 6-Jar Gift Box

Going to a house with a crowd? The 6-Jar Gift Box covers classic dill, spicy, sweet and tangy, so there is a favorite for every person at the table.

Small add-ons that make it feel personal

• A Christmas pickle ornament. Tuck a Pickle Ornament ($16) on top of the box for a December party. The host hides it in the tree, and whoever finds it first gets good luck. The story behind it is in our Christmas pickle post.
• A card. Add a Pickle Greeting Card ($4) with a note.
• Pick every jar yourself. Build Your Pickle Box lets you choose 2, 3 or 6 flavors, and the $5 Gift Box add-on packs them gift-ready.

The host gift that keeps giving: [PICKLES] CLUB

For the host who has done you a lot of favors this year, the [PICKLES] CLUB sends six curated jars every month at 15% off. See how it works in our Pickle of the Month Club guide.

Shop hostess gifts

Order a week or two ahead of the party, since every jar is handcrafted to order. Spend $150 and a jar is on us. Buying for a whole team or client list? See our corporate holiday gifts guide, and for everyone else on your list, the Christmas gift guide for pickle lovers.

3-Jar Pickle Party PackA classic, a kick and a wildcard. The all-round host gift.Shop · $65.002-Jar Gift BoxA crowd-pleasing pair, gift-boxed.Shop · $44.00The Bloody Mary BoxThree garnish jars for the brunch host.Shop · $65.00Pickle OrnamentThe Christmas pickle, for the top of the box.Shop · $16.00

Hostess gift FAQ

How much should I spend on a hostess gift?

There is no rule, but you do not need to overspend. A 2-Jar Gift Box ($44) or a 3-Jar Gift Box ($65) feels generous without going overboard, and both ship free in the US.

Will the host have to refrigerate it right away?

No. Unopened jars keep for up to two years on the shelf. Refrigerate after opening.

Is a pickle gift box a good gift for someone who does not drink?

Yes, that is one of the best reasons to bring one. It is a treat that everyone at the table can share.

Can I choose the flavors?

Yes. The themed boxes have set flavors, the Party Packs are curated from our bestsellers, and Build Your Pickle Box lets you pick every jar.