A Very Puglia Christmas | Christmas gifts from Puglia 🎄
Bring good tidings, enjoy a very Puglia Christmas with a festive gift from Puglia this holiday season. It’s the thought that counts and a gift from Puglia goes a long way. From premium olive oils and bold wines to handcrafted ceramics, small-batch food products and artisan crafts.
The Puglia Guys 12 gifts of Christmas.
No links in this post are affiliate links. If you make a purchase our reward is the pleasure of bringing you a little piece of Puglia.
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1. Extra virgin olive oil | Puglia’s liquid gold
Puglia produces nearly a third of Italy’s olive oil, making our region one of the top producers of best quality olive oil in the world.
Flavours vary depending on the olives’ ripeness and harvest conditions. For a fruity, green oil, look for varieties pressed from 40-60% ripe green olives, while a peppery kick comes from riper fruits. Traditional cold-press methods ensure the best quality.
Whether drizzled over burrata or used to lift a simple salad, extra virgin olive oil (Evo) from Puglia is a gift that will keep on giving long after the holidays. Rich in vitamin E, Evo from Puglia protects the body’s cells from oxidative damage.
Buy | we really enjoy artisan producer justpugliafactory Olive Oil Collection. Their Aroma Evo oil is particularly fine. The Evo oil and lemon is beautifully flavoured, neither sharp nor bitter, but undoubtedly lemon – it tastes exactly how pulling a lemon zester over fresh lemon smells! The chilli oil has a distinct heat without burning or choking.
Alternatively consider their Bruschetta KIT MIX 20ml bottles (Pack of 5) or the beautiful EVO BLEND -Glass Collection 100ml *Lui&Lei (shown below with the limited edition Olio Nuovo 2024/2025 Extra Virgin Olive Oil 100ml).
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2. Handmade ceramics from Puglia | art you can eat from
You will see ceramics all over Puglia. Grottaglie is the centre of Puglia’s ceramic traditions. Artisan potters (some of whom produce for better known retailers) have workshops where you can buy reasonably priced, practical Christmas gifts. From espresso cups to decorative plates and serving dishes.
Buy | we regularly shop at:
FasanoCeramiche srl | Nicola Fasano has distinctive, beautiful pieces. Some smaller items are still good value, but the larger pieces tend to be more expensive, though beautiful and functional | Nicola Fasano website.
Antonio Fasano | we love the green colours of many of his pieces. Still one of the more expensive ceramicists, but again completely worth it for beautiful, functional pottery | Antonio Fasano website.
Cretaglie | very good value pieces. We stock up on coffee (espresso) sets and shot cups. Choose faces that resemble friends, to give as gifts. Spectacularly good value.
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3. A taste of Puglia | Sophie Grigson’s ‘Exploding Tomatoes’
’Exploding Tomatoes’ is Sophie Grigson’s second book since she “packed herself into her small car to move to Puglia in the south of Italy”. Filled with simple, seasonal recipes, this book celebrates the rich culinary traditions of three neighbouring regions. The perfect way to share a bit of Puglia with anyone who loves to cook and eat Puglia.
We recommend orecchiette e cavolfiore (orecchiette pasta with cauliflower, p55), a dish we cooked for Sophie when she visited for lunch. And if you happen to have a glut of figs then why not try our Puglia Kitchen garden pickled figs, which Sophie reproduces on p110.
Buy | amongst others, shop it on Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.it
Composite The Puglia Guys.
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4. Red, red wine | Puglia’s signature reds
Puglia is Italy’s second top wine producing region, best known for producing bold reds. If you’re looking for a wine to warm up the winter nights, pick up a bottle of Primitivo, Negroamaro, or Nero di Troia. These spicy, robust wines are perfect for pairing with holiday roasts or sipping by the fire.
Buy | available from all good wine suppliers and vendors.
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5. Orecchiette pasta | a taste of tradition
Orecchiette are the iconic pasta shape of Puglia. Food writer and Guardian columnist Rachel Roddy praised them as “promiscuous” for how well they pair with almost any sauce. Traditionally served with cime di rapa (broccoli rabe), this pasta is also delicious with simple tomato sauces or hearty meatballs.
Buy | you can easily find dried orecchiette at specialty shops, even in the supermarket’s pasta aisle. For an extra touch of authenticity, try getting it fresh.
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6. Luminarie | light up the season
Every Christmas, towns across Puglia are adorned with luminarie, elaborate light displays traditionally used for patron saint festivals. Scorrano, in particular, is famous for its breathtaking displays, turning the town into a winter wonderland of color and light. While you may not be able to ship an entire light show, you can bring a touch of Puglia’s festive spirit home with decorative luminarie-inspired trinkets or small light installations.
Buy | we bought these lights from i Luminari 3D, based in San Vito dei Normanni but with an online store.
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7. Olive wood charcuterie and chopping boards| rustic elegance for the kitchen
Wood from Puglia’s ancient olive trees is used to create stunning kitchen boards. These rustic, hand-carved boards are perfect for serving cheese, charcuterie, or even bread. Each piece is one-of-a-kind, reflecting the natural grain of the olive wood, making it a thoughtful and sustainable gift for the eco-conscious chef.
Buy | we bought these from Ostuni’s antique and artisan craft market (held in and around Parco Rimembranze on the second Sunday of each month). Hand crafted by the seller, these cost a lot less than store bought. The ones pictured, respectively, 40€ and 30€.
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8. A Very Puglia Christmas | evoke the scents of Salento
For a very Puglia Christmas scent we shop at Gallipoli’s Salentum. Whether it’s the smell of olive groves, wild herbs, or Mediterranean breezes, there are soaps, diffusers, and perfumes that capture the essence of life in Salento.
The diffusers are topped with ceramic anemone in various colours. Refills are available.
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9. A Very Puglia Christmas cocktail | burnt orange & cranberry Aperol Spritz
For a festive and refreshing drink, try our Burnt Orange and Cranberry Aperol Spritz. Combining the bitterness of Aperol with the tartness of cranberry juice and the warmth of charred orange, this cocktail is a crowd-pleaser at any Christmas gathering. Add a sprig of rosemary for a fragrant, seasonal touch, and toast to a very Puglia Christmas!
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10. A Very Puglia Christmas | spaghetti all’assassina in a box
We love our spaghetti all’assassina, whether cooked at home, or eaten out in Bari.
But as a fun gift, spaghetti assassina in a box works. We tried it at our Puglia Guys Ostuni HQ. It’s the wildest thing! So, for those feeling Boxing Day blues (or just not brave enough to try our Puglia Guys authentic spaghetti assassina recipe), relax and try the AssassinaBox.
Shop | we can buy it in our local supermarket. But you can buy from the maker at Assassina.
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11. Wake up and smell the coffee | Quarta Caffè
The Quarta Caffè company was founded in the 1950s with a small coffee roasting company located inside a bar in the historical center of Lecce. Since the beginning, the coffee roasting company has distinguished itself in terms of high quality of coffee, and a symbol of Salento.
With their new Barocco blend, Quarta Caffè pays homage to the land of Salento. For moka lovers, the Quarta Caffè dispenser is essential. Place the dispenser on the moka filter, make three rotations with the practical handle, and voilà, the right dose of coffee is served. The dispenser adapts to all moka formats.
Shop | look out for Quarta Caffè in your speciality store or at the supermarket. Alternatively, order online from the Quarta Caffè website.
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12. Wake up and smell the tomatoes | Rosso Gargano tomato passata
When we go to the market early on summer mornings, we smell the tomatoes before we see them. Our favourite shop bought tomato passata, packed with Puglia sunshine and full of flavour.
Whether we’re making our spaghetti assassina, a ragù or making a simple tomato sauce using passata, we love the velvety texture of this passata from Gargano, Puglia.
Shop | check at your supermarket or speciality Italian store. If they don’t have buy it direct from Puglia from the Rosso Gargano online store.
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A Christmas Bonus | Puglia: A Love Story
There’s no shortage of coffee-table books. Large, expensive and lavishly illustrated for casual reading. We have a number at our Puglia Guys HQ. But this Christmas one of the best Puglia themed coffee-table books we have seen has finally arrived. Puglia: A Love Story, curated and edited by journalist Fabio Mollica with photography by aerospace engineer and enthusiast Marco Falcone.
The narrative behind Puglia: A Love Story explores the region’s transformation from an overlooked corner of Italy to a global destination. Tinged with the melancholy of south to north “brain drain”, a theme that runs through many of the declarations of love included in the book. Several contributors recount their youthful dreams of leaving Puglia for better opportunities, only to later return, driven by nostalgia or a deep-rooted connection to their homeland.
This is a true photographic celebration of Puglia , its purpose is emotional: to evoke Puglia’s essence. This is a special gift for everyone who has fallen in love with Puglia – and anyone who hasn’t yet.
From the publishers of amazingpuglia.com | Puglia: a Love Story by Fabio Mollica and Marco Falcone (39,00€) is available in bookshops across Puglia: Feltrinelli (Bari via Melo and Brindisi), Mondadori (Brindisi, Casarano, Ostuni), Europa (Maglie), Minopolis (Monopoli). Domestic and international delivery available from the publisher direct by emailing pr@nextbook.it.
This holiday season, why settle for the ordinary when you can give gifts rich in history, flavour, and beauty? A gift from Puglia is more than just a present—it’s an invitation to experience the soul of southern Italy.
The Puglia Guys are Puglia ambassadors. Brought up on sun, sea and spaghetti all’assassina, our guides are written from local experience and insight. We live in Puglia full time and provide practical tips on getting around, cultural insights and unique local experiences: from pizzica dancing to wine tastings, cooking classes to road trips.
We don’t accept payments or freebies for positive coverage or recommendations. Our reviews are anonymous to ensure we have the same experience as any visitor.
