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Naturally San Diego Holiday Gift Guide

Think global, support local 🤓

 

Naturally San Diego gathered some awesome products from up and coming brands based right here at home. Check out these 10 curated gifts from within the NSD community.

Use this list while shopping for your family and friends, and for when you need to bring something special to the party. Not only will you be bringing a unique local item, but you can feel extra accomplished for supporting local businesses this holiday season.

Always remember to shop local, think global, and act with kindness 💚

 

1) The Sipwell Holiday Gift Pack    

This custom Sipwell gift pack is the perfect holiday gift for your favorite wine-loving friend. Each 6 or 12 pack includes a sampler of our award-winning sustainable wines, tasting notes & food pairings for each wine, sticker pack, and option for a handwritten gift note on foil-printed holiday card.

https://sipwell.co/collections/wine-gifts-mixed-packs/products/holiday-wine-gift-pack

 

2) Little ‘Cado’ Avocado Patio Tree gift package             

Fabulous dwarf avocado tree professionally planted and delivered in a stylish container. But first, there is a fancy gift basket with personalized Tree Tag and greeting card! Then, when your giftees are ready, we delivered and place the tree. Planting love. Growing memories.

https://thewishingtreecompany.com/

 

3) Cromchies Amaranth Wafer Cookies           

Cromchies are amaranth wafer cookies made with only natural ingredients and a twist of fun. They are vegan, sugar-free and packed with amaranth, a superfood grain and the best part of all…. you will be satisfied with just one serving. We currently have 4 different flavors amaranth, berries, chocolate and coffee.

https://www.cromchies.com/collections/what-type-of-snacker-do-you-wanna-be

 

4) Gear Hugger Multipurpose Lubricant    

Gear Hugger Multipurpose lubricant is Plant-powered, non-toxic lubricant to keep your gear going longer.

https://www.gear-hugger.com/products/multipurpose-lubricant

 

5) I Eat My Greens: Build Your Own 7-Pack Subscription Plan + Free Toppings + Surprise Gifts

This pack contains 7 (20oz) pouches with 2.5 servings each. Equal to 17.5 servings. Choose 7 of your favorite soup flavors and enjoy your veggies like never before!

https://ieatmygreens.com/collections/shop-now/products/build-your-own-7-pack-subscription-plan

 

6) Beauty Fusion Chocolate Travel Pack

Beauty Fusion Single Serve Packets are a great way to stay consistent with fueling your beauty with essential nutrients on-the-go. Beauty Fusion is the first all-in-one beauty nutrition formula powered by 5 key types of food-sourced collagen, 11 clinically-proven beauty ingredients, and flavored with whole-food nutrients to support healthy skin, hair, and nails.

https://svetewellness.com/product/beauty-fusion-chocolate-box/

 

7) CHUZA Spicy Nopal        

“Dried nopal spiced with our signature chili powder to create the perfect blend of spicy.

The nopal (cactus) is one of the fundamental symbols of Mexico. Apparently, the Gods told the Aztecs to build their city where they saw an eagle on a cactus eating a serpent (it is part of Mexicos flag). It is considered la planta de vida (life-giving plant) as it seems

to live forever.”

https://chuza.com/products/spicy-nopal

 

8) With Pixie Organic Vegetable Powders

9 out of 10 kids don’t eat enough vegetables. With Pixie organic vegetable powders make it easy to add real veggies to all kinds of everyday foods!

www.withpixie.com

 

9) !MPROV Booze-Free Tropical Mai Tai    

!MPROV Booze-Free Tropical Mai Tai is vacation in a can. Enjoy this tropical getaway straight from the can if you’re going dry or spike with your favorite spirit if you’re not. We make the drinks, you call the shots!

Find !MPROV Booze-Free Mai Tai at Total Wine & More throughout San Diego County! And at the NSD Holiday Happy Hour on December 14th.

 

10) Sweetduet Variety Giftbox        

This variety giftbox includes four of organic dark chocolate dipped unadulterated dried fruits: apricot, dates, mango, and pineapple. San Diego local! Buy them online or grab them at your nearest Jimbo’s Naturally!

https://sweetduetchocolate.com/products/holiday-variety-gift-box

 

11) Amaranth Chips

 

Amazing Amaranth Chips are crispy, light, airy and great for dipping. 100% plant based ingredients, Vegan and GF Certified.

www.iamaranth.com

 

Happy Holidays from the Naturally San Diego Community!

 

Naturally San Diego gathered our holiday must-haves and gifts for all your holiday celebrations. We curated this list of amazing local products from within the NSD community.

Use this list while shopping for gifts for your family and friends, and for when you need to bring something awesome for the party or potluck you’re attending. Not only will you be gifting or bringing a unique local item, but you can feel extra accomplished for supporting local businesses this holiday season.

Always remember to shop local, especially on Black Friday and Small Business Saturday. Take a look and purchase directly at all these amazing gifts below! 

 

Epicurean San Diego

Our EPIC San Diego Sunshine Boxes were created to send some sunshine to those we love. As a child, my grandmother used to make sunshine boxes when my sister + I stayed at her house. Each morning, we would get to choose something out of our sunshine boxes to open + brighten our day. By purchasing our artisan boxes, you are supporting 8 local, San Diego small businesses + bringing our epic experiences straight to your door!

Buy directly here. 

 

Dirt Don’t Hurt

Bundle + Save with our Ultimate Self Care Kit includes: Charcoal + Clay Mineral Face Mask + Brush, Bamboo Bowl + Spoon, Rose Face Oil, Citrus Body Oil, Detox + Cleanse Charcoal Body Soap, Detox Bath Soak + Scrub 

Buy directly here.

 

ANSHI

The first ever highly concentrated topical turmeric that can be used from your feet to your face, rubs on like lotion, can be used as a scrub in the shower, or soak in the bath. 

Buy directly here.

 

Kazi

Finely crafted baskets serve as stand-alone gifts or eco-positive vessels to give with little treasures and treats. Cheerful and generous, these beautiful baskets offer a sustainable alternative to traditional gift wrapping of smaller gifts, and will be enjoyed throughout the year.

Handmade in Rwanda. Traditional giving and sharing basket designed to support eco-positive gifting this season.

Buy directly here.

 

NONIKO

The NONIKO Natural Deodorant Starter kit. Meet the first and only plastic-free, Natural Deodorant housed beautiful in reusable packaging. Our cases and inserts are made from 100% stainless steel. The cases are yours for life, and the refills are shipped back to us, where they are cleaned, sanitized and refilled. Our Starter Kits and Refills come in three luxurious scents, Sundaze (bergamot + grapefruit), Unwind (lavender + mint, and Drift (green mandarin – sensitive formula, baking soda free). 

 Buy directly here.

 

Gear Hugger

Gear Hugger is a plant-powered product that restores magically, has incredible lubrication properties and protects against the elements. Gear Hugger restores, lubricates and protects with 1001 different uses!

Buy directly here.

 

I Eat My Greens

For the friend that loves good food. These ready-to-eat delicious veggie soups are made with fresh, clean whole food ingredients that make a delightful treat or meal. They are super easy and fun to eat – just pour and heat in seconds.

Could it get any better? Absolutely! They can also be used as a sauce, base or dressing to prepare endless memorable meals.

Sharing health is the best gift you can give! Chef created. Plant-based. Made with real, fresh Ingredients, no overly-processed junk here! Nutrient-dense veggie goodness. Non-GMO. Dairy, soy & gluten free. Whole30 approved. Made with love in small batches. BPA-Free packaging

Buy directly here.

 

Bear Naked

There’s an old bear saying: Chocolate at night, bear’s delight. Chocolate in morning, better get hoarding. This sage advice helped inspire our Dark Chocolate Sea Salt Granola Bites, featuring Fair Trade Chocolate and sea salt with a blend of peanut butter and cashew butter, whole grain oats, sunflower seeds and millet. Plus, it’s all Gluten-free and Non-GMO project verified. Enjoy it anytime, especially now.

Buy directly here.

 

chipz Happen

Choose your pink party pack of chips, salsa, jerky and hot sauce this holiday season. Use PINK20 for 20% off

Buy directly here.

 

Daybreak Seaweed

The west coast seaweed flakes and seasonings 4 pack! The ultimate combo for the seaweed lover to add flavorful, nutrient-packed seasonings to their cooking and pantry. 4-pack includes: PURE WAKAME FLAKES, SEAWEED SALT | WAKAME + SEA SALT, GOLDEN STATE SEASONING SALT, & SHICHIMI TOGARASHI | YUZU 7-SPICE. 

Buy directly here.

 

Chuza

Chuza is spicing up the snacking game. Chuza spicy dry mango is spiced with our own 100% Mexican spice blend to create the perfect blend of sweet and spicy.

Buy directly here.

 

organifi

green juice is formulated at the highest quality with a clinical dose of Ashwagandha, is certified glyphosate residue-free, and always organic. It is the best tasting greens blend and the foundational morning ritual that provides your body essential micronutrients to feel balanced, energized, and empowered throughout your day. 

Buy directly here.

 

The Mulk Co

Fresh, cold-pressed almond milk that comes in many delicious flavors! Clean label. Clean process. 

Buy directly here.

 

GOODONYA

Organic Electrolyte + Mineral powder: HYDRATE is one of few Certified Organic electrolyte powders in existence. Our real food ingredients taste amazing, like light, fresh lemonade. It’s made with only 1g of sugar and without any so called “natural” flavors, our organic juice combined with some of the best minerals on earth is magic. We are also all the things…….non-gmo, gluten free, plant-based and hangover/paleo/keto/diabetic and kid friendly.

Buy directly here.

 

Organic/Biodynamic Wine Bundles for all your parties!

Buy directly here.

 

Dr. Bronner’s

Delicious & good, for earth & farmers. Dr. Bronner’s saw an opportunity: Pair world-class Swiss chocolatiers with fairly-treated cocoa farmers practicing regenerative organic agriculture to create a rich, delicious dark chocolate that enriches our world. Six flavors—organic & fair trade, 70% cocoa, all vegan, coconut-sugar sweetened, and perfectly balanced! Dr. Bronner’s calls it Magic. 

Buy directly here.

 

National Organizations: 

 

San Diego organizations:

This list will grow as we add more black-owned businesses making food and drink products that you can purchase online.

Basbaas – VISIT WEBSITE

Hawa Hassan’s two sauces—coconut cilantro and tamarind date—lend chili pepper heat and Somali flavor to dishes.

 

Big Red’s Hot Sauce – VISIT WEBSITE

Paul and Tasia Ford started Big Red’s in Phoenix nearly a decade ago. Since then, they’ve built a following for flavors like Banana Reaper Split and Maple Bacon Jalapeño.

 

Calabash Tea – VISIT WEBSITE

Sunyatta Amen’s D.C.-based shop sells intriguing green, herbal, black, and chai teas. But her online shop also extends to moringa and matcha powders, spice samplers, wellness tonics, and more.

 

Callaloo – VISIT WEBSITE

Sisters Malika and Jamila Augustine grew up in Trinidad and Tobago, and now run a subscription box service from Florida. With it, you’ll receive monthly spices, snacks, and sauces from those twin islands.

Capital City Co.

VISIT WEBSITE

 

Arsha Jones founded this wing sauce company with her husband Charles to make mambo wing sauce available to the greater D.C. area. Now, their mild and sweet/hot sauces are available nationwide.

Charleston Gourmet Burger Co.

VISIT WEBSITE

 

Chevalo and Monique Wilsondebriano quit their nationwide search for the perfect burger to just make it a reality on their own. Their Charleston company sells marinades and sauces for burgers, but don’t be timid about using them on non-beef dishes.

Dope Coffee

VISIT WEBSITE

The mission of Atlanta-based Dope Coffee is to break through the pretentious stereotypes surrounding coffee and focus on the drinking part—specifically, through products inspired by black culture.

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The Furlough Cheesecake

VISIT WEBSITE

During the government shutdown in 2018, Jaqi Wright was furloughed from her job in the DOJ, and her sister Nikki Howard was furloughed from her job in the FDA. And so, without work, they started a cheesecake business. The shutdown is over, but their business continues shipping original and sweet potato cheesecakes nationwide.

The Grey

VISIT WEBSITE

Should you be lucky enough to live in Savannah, Georgia, The Grey—one of Esquire’s Most Influential Restaurants of the 2010s—is filling takeout and delivery orders. From further out, you can browse chef Mashama Bailey’s food for nationwide shipping on Goldbelly.

Guidance Whiskey

VISIT WEBSITE

Guidance is an American whiskey distilled in Iowa and aged two years. Founded by Jason Ridgel, it is also “captained” by R&B singer Larry Dodson.

Iya Foods

VISIT WEBSITE

Iya Foods, founded by Toyin Kolawole, is where you shop to fill your pantry with spices and seasonings, flours and whole food powders, cake mixes and soup blends—the list goes on.

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JIVE Juice

VISIT WEBSITE

JIVE (or, Juice Is Very Essential) was started by health coach Tamala Austin in Houston, and became the first black-owned juice to make its way into Whole Foods. Besides juice, JIVE sells smoothies, teas, workout drinks, and more.

Jones Bar-B-Q

VISIT WEBSITE

Perhaps you want to try the legendary, Kansas City barbecue sauce created by the two sisters, Deborah “Shorty” and Mary “Little” Jones, because the Queer Eye crew featured them in Season Three. Perhaps you want try legendary, Kansas City barbecue sauce, period.

Maison Noir Wines

VISIT WEBSITE

This Oregon wine company was started in 2007 by André Hueston Mack. The bottle labels are so cool that you’ll be happy to know Mack also runs a T-shirt shop on the website.

Marjorie’s Beef Jerky

VISIT WEBSITE

Marjorie’s has the distinction of being the first beef jerky company to be owned by a black woman in the U.S. Michelle Timberlake founded the company in 1991 and offers six flavors out of her Alabama headquaters.

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McBride Sisters Wine Collection

VISIT WEBSITE

McBride Sisters is the largest black-owned wine company in America, founded by two (you guessed it) sisters who were raised apart in the wine countries of California and New Zealand. Now, together, they make wines from both regions.

Me & the Bees Lemonade

VISIT WEBSITE

When she was 4 years old, founder Mikaila had the idea to start a lemonade company using her grandmother’s recipe that would also support the bees. It took her less than 10 years to do so.

Pinckney Cookie Cafe

VISIT WEBSITE

Michael Pinckney founded a cookie company in Washington State that specializes in both artisan cookies (for instance: brown butter brown sugar bourbon spice or dark oatmeal chocolate) and “miracle” cookies, which are vegan and gluten-free. Build an assorted box to have shipped your way.

Project Pop

VISIT WEBSITE

 

Chauniqua Major started Project Pop to be “your favorite healthyish kettle corn”—it’s a non-GMO, whole grain, vegan food. It is also, unfortunately, sold out, but only for the time being. You can sign up for updates.

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Red Bay Coffee

VISIT WEBSITE

Artist Keba Konte makes diversity, economic restoration, and sustainability front and center of his San Francisco Bay-area operation. Red Bay roasts blends, single origins, espresso, and more.

Sankofa Beer Company

VISIT WEBSITE

Sankofa was started a few years ago in Washington, D.C. by Kofi Meroe, who grew up in Nigeria and Ghana, and Amado Carsky, who grew up in Nigeria and Benin. Their roots in West Africa inspired the creation of two craft beers: Hypebiscus pale ale and Harmattan Haze wheat ale.

Sol Cacao

VISIT WEBSITE

The three Maloney brothers founded Sol Cacao in the South Bronx to make fair trade, organic chocolate bars with just two ingredients, like they enjoyed in their birthplace of Trinidad and Tobago.

Southern Culture

VISIT WEBSITE

For vanilla pancake and waffle mixes, bourbon praline bacon rub, truffle and sea salt grits, and plenty more (including recipes), head to Erica Barrett’s online shop.

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The Spice Suite

VISIT WEBSITE

You’d have to drop by the Spice Suite’s D.C. store to buy individual jars of spices. But online, founder Angel Anderson sells regularly updated SpiceBoxes full of jars like “Cajun Coffee Rub” and “Citrus Sorrel.”

Symphony Potato Chips

VISIT WEBSITE

Before he made chips, founder Dondre Anderson was using his dad’s chef expertise for a line of spices. Somewhere along the line, they discovered those spices were perfect for chips. And so Symphony chips began, with original and smoked flavors.

Ten to One Rum

VISIT WEBSITE

Marc Farrell, born in Trinidad and Tobago and a former VP at Starbucks (a young one at that), created this Caribbean rum to elevate and progress the conversation surrounding the spirit in the States. Ten to One currently makes a white and a dark rum.

Theopolis Vineyards

VISIT WEBSITE

Theopolis is a small lot winery in California’s Anderson Valley that produce 15 varietals, plus runs a wine club. It was founded by San Francisco trial lawyer Theodora R. Lee, a.k.a. Theo-patra, Queen of the Vineyards.

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Uncle Nearest Tennessee Whiskey

VISIT WEBSITE

Uncle Nearest was created in the name of Nathan “Nearest” Green, a slave who first distilled Tennessee whiskey. He was all but erased from the history books, but Uncle Nearest is making his name known again with award-winning small batch whiskey.

Warcloud Brewing

VISIT WEBSITE

Warcloud Brewing’s craft beer isn’t easy to find, unless you live in LA and can track it down. However, it does sell merch online. Its brand imagery is intense, as is its mission to “treat beer brewing like war.”

Yolélé Foods

VISIT WEBSITE

Chef Pierre Thiam started Yolélé to introduce the ancient, West African supergrain fonio to our kitchens, while supporting the rural, smallholder farmers who grow it.

 

From San Diego Magazine, this is a current list of Black-owned eateries in San Diego:  Ackee Tree Named after the tree that bears the national fruit of Jamaica, this El Cerrito eatery has saltfish with ackee or callaloo for breakfast in addition to jerk chicken, curries and beef patties. 5712 El Cajon Blvd., El Cerrito […]

To Our Naturally San Diego Network, We write to you today, not only as members of the San Diego natural-products community, but as people, deeply disheartened and concerned about the current state of affairs in our country. As we weather through the difficulties associated with the COVID-19 pandemic and a struggling economy, we are witnessing […]