10.11.2011 Torn Ranch Plum Tree

 

It's the perfect product to have around the holidays.  Torn Ranch's Ruby Red Plum Tree is an attractive gift but the best part is the taste.  These ruby red plum are absolutely delicious and your clients will rave about them!  Visit their website at www.tornranch.com.

07132011-3 Empress Chocolate Company

I received these gorgeous and perfectly sized boxes for review but after further review of their website, this isn't their best product.  Wait until you see their themed globe chocolates.  They are perfect for city themed gifts and for the amount of San Francisco themed gift baskets I make, its going to be fun!


Empress Chocolates is out of Brooklyn, NY and each truffle is individually wrapped.  Their diamond box (shown above) is perfect for gift baskets. It's got a beautiful top that will show nicely with any collection of products.



Empress Chocolate Company
http://www.empresschocolate.com/

07132011-2 Diane's Sweet Heat

These darling little jars showed up on my desk for review and I've gotta tell you, this is a party in a jar.  The Mango Habanero Jam is my favorite and size of the jar is ideal at just 5 oz for gift baskets.  I'll be using this in a variety of gift baskets including our Happy Hour, Hot & Spicy gift baskets and in May, our Cinco de Mayo gift basket.   Diane has more than just mango - she also offers blackberry, blueberry,  raspberry, strawberry  and peach.  The quality of this product from start to finish is fabulous and your customers will love it.  The only ingredients used are pure cane sugar, fruit, red bell peppers, habanero peppers, apple cider vinegar and fruit pectin. No artificial flavorings or colorings are used.





Contact Diane's Sweet Heat and get them a try!

http://dianessweetheat.com

07132011 - Wine Country Soda

It's been a long time since a product has blown me out of the water and I've got to tell you - this is such a great gift basket item.  Vignette Wine Country Soda comes in three flavors:  Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Rose'.  It's non-alcoholic, bubbly and has a gorgeous bottle and label, is priced right and I can already see these in a wine gift basket.   The flavors of these sodas are so amazing that you're going to have a hard time keeping them in stock.

If you're looking for a fresh, new and exciting gift basket product, contact them and get your order in.  I'm crazy about this product and can't wait to spec them into my new designs.

Vignette

Wine Country Soda

http://www.winecountrysoda.com/home.html

06122011-1 Patrick's Sunscreen

 

If you're making summer time gift baskets, this is a great product to include.  Patrick's Sunscreen towelettes come in this small pocket pouches that slide perfectly in between products within your summer gift baskets.    They're sold in small quantities, prices perfectly and have attractive pricing perfect for our industry.   And, whats even better - the product itself is great.  I'm going to use these personally!  They smell great, aren't greasy and fit perfectly in my purse and beach bag.  Sunscreen "beyond the bottle".

www.patrickssunscreen.com

05152011-6 Longhorn Imports - New Pink Golf Bag

As if the green golf bag wasn't cute enough, here comes Longhorn Imports with a pink version.  The first person to make this up and send me a hires photo will get into Trends and Tips Gift Basket Magazine!  I just love this design.  It's great for a sports gift for a lady golfer and amazingly wonderful for Breast Cancer Awareness month, activities/fundraisers related to breast cancer awareness.  A great thing about this bag is the amount of pockets and little areas where you can stuff products.

Longhorm Imports
info@longhornimports.com
(800) 641-8348

05152011-5 Cape Cod Provisions

I can't say enough positive things about Cape Cod's line of chocolate covered fruits.  They have a two new products including milk chocolate and dark chocolate covered strawberries as well as dark/milk and yogurt covered cranberries.  Typically, I just try a few but on these, I ate the entire bag.  The strawberries are so amazing in either chocolate and the cranberries are my new favorite.  Not only are the flavors delicious, the package is absolutely perfect for any type of gift basket.  It's an "A" frame box with about an inch base and the front of the box denotes the delicious fruit inside.

Cape Cod Provisions

www.capecodprovisions.com

05152011-4 Kernel Seasonings

Not only do I love the bright and fun packaging of this product, I love the flavor and variety.  Often times you'll taste flavored seasonings and they taste fake and phony.  These popcorn seasonings from Kernal Seasons are great and a great addition to a movie time basket or any type of snack basket where popcorn is present.

Kernel Seasonings
www.kernelseasons.com
www.nomorenakedpopcorn.com

05152011-3 American Vintage Beer Biscuits

This new product will knock your socks off in flavor.  The pizza and beer flavor is my favorite because, well it tastes just like pizza and beer.  It's the perfect addition to a Father's Day or guys snack basket....any sport basket and is another one of those products you might find yourself using in any type of a gift basket.

American Vintage Beer Biscuits
www.americanvintage.com

05152011-2 American Vintage Wine Biscuits

The label on these delicious wine biscuits gives great character to any wine or snack basket.  Available in three flavors, the American Vintage Wine Biscuits offers their hand cut cracker with no preservatives, no trans fat and no cholesterol in white bags with a glossy label.  The price point is great too as well as the flavors including red wine & black pepper; white wine with shallot and cayenne and chianti with oregano and crushed red pepper.  Each have their own "bite" and will be a great add to your gift baskets.

American Vintage Wine Biscuits
info@americanvintage.com
www.americanvintage.com

05152011-1 WineTime

I just never know what I'm going to get in for review and today, I received a very unusual and high quality product.  WineTime offers two flavors of their "bars" which have so much wine flavor its crazy.  Both bars are packaged in beautiful, upscale packaging making it the perfect addition to any wine themed gift basket.  From a flavor standpoint, they aren't what you'd expect but are tasty and full of great ingredients.  They're heart healthy filled with more resveratrol than 50 glasses of red wine.

WineTime
ResVez Inc.
www.winetimebar.com

04152011-1 Honey Ridge Farms, Washington

I had the distinct pleasure of receiving samples of the Honey Ridge Farm Lemon Honey Creme.  Available in a small 2.25 oz, its the perfect condiment for gift baskets.  With a gold lid and gorgeous labeling, it will fit perfectly in the front of you breakfast gift basket, afternoon tea gift basket or gourmet gift basket. 

I love the flavor, packaging and everything about Honey Ridge Farms, Lemon Honey Creme and hope you'll love it as much as I do! 

Visit them online at their gorgeous website www.honeyridgefarms.com.

04082011-2 Tate's Bake Shop, Southhampton, NY

If you like real, homemade cookies, then Tate's Bake Shop has an amazing treat for you.  Their gluten free chocolate chip cookies taste like they just came out of the oven - I just wish they were hot!  I sampled their 7 ounce bag which holds two containers of cookies each holding these crispy treats.  Truly a homemade flavor ready for dunking in coffee, hot chocolate or just a great snack.

These bags will work in gift baskets.  They're a bit larger than what we usually work with but make a great impact.  The bag is attractive in a minty green color and has their company name at the top in bold letters.  It's about three inches deep and ready for any type of gift basket theme.

04082011-1 Mia Dolci, Partners Crackers, Kent, WA

Partners Crackers does it again!  As their encore to the ever tasteful Wisecrackers, Partners launches another line of all natural products available in four amazing flavors - all of which I was able to sample.  Cinnamon Crisp, Toasted Hazelnut, Chocolate Vanilla Swirl and Lively Lemon are the cookie flavors and for gift basket companies, there are several benefits. 

Their box is printed for portrait or landscape placement.  This is especially helpful for smaller baskets when placing the box vertically is the only option.  The title of the product, which means "my sweet", is at the top of the box making it easy to see/read when the basket is photographed for the web.  Lastly, the depth of the box is the perfect size so as to not take up too much room in the basket but big enough to make a solid statement.

What's amazing about this product is the flavor.  My favorite is the Lively Lemon and its lively but not over done.  I had mine with a hot cup of coffee last night but they'd be great with ice cream.  Each flavor is perfectly balanced without artificial flavors to make them taste fake.  You'll get compliments on this product from your customers. 

Love Mia Dolci and highly recommend it for gift basket professionals!

Available at www.cookiesrock.com

040242011-1 Amella Caramels, El Segundo, CA

I think I'm going to have to put a new rule out there.  If you're going to send me products that taste as delicious as Amella Caramels, you have send a case!  Unbelievable all the way around.  Not only is their packaging beautiful, the taste of their product is just delicious.  These passion fruit, carrot cake and black forest caramels are soft and are full of the real flavor they infuse. 

Aside from flavor, what makes these caramels perfect for the gift basket industry is the size.  These delightful caramels are packaged in slender, tall boxes and will fit nicely in any gift basket.  And, as with any product that has this amazing flavor, they are all natural and certified kosher.

I absolutely love everything about Amella Caramels and highly recommend that you buy them for your gift baskets.  Just be sure to buy some extras - you'll be taste testing regularly.

03282011-2 Savarozza, New York

If you're looking to impress your customers with authentic delicacies, then Savarozza is the trick.  Their imported Italian tortas are one of the best cookies I've ever had.  The quality is amazing, the flavor even better and they're perfect in Italian dinner gift baskets, coffee gift baskets or just a general gourmet gift basket.  Available in singles or larger versions, they ship out of New York - no import fees, yeah!

Savarozza Inc.
www.savarozza.com

03282011-1 Willa's Shortbread, Madison, TN

Key Lime meets shortbread and then we all scream for more!  Not only do these tasty, crisp cookies leave you wanting more, they'll do the same for your customers.  Willa's serves up a variety of their shortbread cookies but the key lime is by far my favorite.  Great in margarita gift baskets, summer gift baskets and an excellent thank you gift for one of your clients, they're packaged in a variety of different ways - ready to go.

Willa's Shortbread
www.willas-shortbread.com

03242011-2 A Well Dressed Nut, Cliffside Park, New Jersey

What a delightful surprise to receive their sample pack today!  I spoke to Joan last week and was thrilled to hear these two ladies (Joan Kass and Lynn Street) started their own company.  They have a sincere passion for their product and I have to say, I'm quite impressed.  Not only does their product taste amazing, but the packaging is gorgeous.  Their rich colored labels will be perfect in gift baskets.  They keep it really simple - a small variety of flavors and sizes and they even sell a sample pack. 

We recommend you use these products in upscale gifts, corporate gift baskets and gift baskets for men. 
A Well Dressed Nut
http://www.welldressednut.com/

03242011-1 Peppernuts, Spokane, Washington

Several weeks ago, Phil contacted me asking if he could ship me some samples of his product, Peppernuts.  I told him I'd be happy to give them a try but I don't like pepper.   The interesting part is that there isn't pepper or nuts in these darling, tasty ginger cookies.  Once I received them, I was an immediate fan.  The packaging is perfect for gift baskets, price points are right on target and the best part is the freshness of the products.  Our customers will love these!

Peppernuts
http://www.peppernutcookies.com/index.html

Welcome to Debbie Q's New Gift Basket Product Review Blog!

So where do we put the product reviews that I do ever week?  Shouldn't they be public?  Sure!  Why not?  I hope you'll enjoy my new blog called, "Debbie Q's New Gift Basket Product Review Blog"! 

We've got a little backlog of products to review but we're starting with Peppernuts!  You'll see them in the next post.

If you have product you'd like reviewed, please contact The Gift Basket Association at info@giftbasketassociation.com.  Please note that product reviews can take up to two weeks.  Products sent must include pricing and terms for gift basket companies.  Debbie Quintana will provide feedback on flavor, packaging, website and overall impression for use in the gift basket industry.  You might even make it in her magazine, Trends & Tips Gift Basket Magazine!