Updated Feb. 12, 2024 3:59 p.m. PT
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As CNET’s resident food fiend I’m partial, but I do think food and kitchen gifts make the best ones. No shade to fresh flowers or a shiny smartwatch — great for telling you when it’s time to eat again — but food gifts are superior in nearly every way. And you’d agree too when I say that food is both soulful and practical. I mean, everybody’s got to eat.
While not everything on this list is edible (I threw some tools in there), the ones that are don’t take up any permanent space, which is perfect if you suspect your Valentine is flush with “stuff” or running low on closet space.
Now that you see it my way, finding the right food gift for Valentine’s Day is all that’s left. I’ve included my favorite calming tea, a few addictive spice mixes and chocolate truffles so good, they’ll make you melt.
All of these eats and drinks clock in at under $25 too. That said, there’s nothing cheap about ’em.
Best Valentine’s Day food gifts under $25
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Read more: Best Snack Box Subscriptions for 2024
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Sugarfina has the market nearly cornered when it comes to adorable sweets. As a bonus, they all taste great and the confectioner features some unusual flavors. For Valentine’s Day, nab a box of these charming Champagne-flavored gummies. The price might seem steep for candy but that’s because they’re made with actual Dom Perignon Champagne, flavored with Brut and rosé.
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Rosé is already an easy Valentine’s Day win, but this Cote des Roses with a rose-shaped bottle bottom takes things a step further. The wine itself is from Languedoc in the South of France with “notes of raspberry and peony.” Best of all, the bottle takes on the appearance of a rose. Sneak one upside down nestled into a dozen roses for a charming presentation.
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Can you spot the wine bottles in this bouquet?
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This salty-sweet treat also happens to be a cheeky way to let them know you think they’re the best. They can drizzle this honey on everything from fried chicken to cake, but if they’re more of a spicy little number, there’s also a Bees Knees hot honey with habanero peppers.
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Smart gardens may get faster results, but in terms of style, they don’t have anything on these teeny tiny burlap bags for growing herbs on your windowsill.
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For the tea lover in your life who also appreciates minimalism, this ceramic cup comes with a lid and single-serving metal infuser insert, so they can brew in the same mug they drink from. It’s available in several solid colors as well as patterns, to suit anybody’s style. And the double-walled design keeps their tea hot and their hands comfortably warm (not scalded).
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This set of boutique lollipops (flavors include lavender lemongrass, vanilla hibiscus, Champagne and roses and strawberry basil) is already sweet enough, but don’t toss those sticks in the trash. Pot them in soil and they’ll sprout into various plants, from herbs to baby blue eyes blooms. Does this count as buying flowers?
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Does it seem a little cheesy to give someone pizza socks for Valentine’s Day? We think not, especially for someone with a healthy sense of humor — and love of pepperoni, of course. (A whole pizza made of socks is even more incredible, but $1 over the $25 limit.) You can also get sushi socks, if that doesn’t seem too… fishy.
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