Easter is all about celebrating rebirth with the traditional gift of an egg is symbolising this, while we are all too familiar with the chocolate egg, before the rise of commercialism, it was a standard hens’ eggs that Easter revellers could look forward too. But this doesn’t mean you have to stick to tradition, if you’re looking to give a gift with a little more imagination this Easter, we’ve got some goodies that will knock the Easter bunny off his perch!

Sweet Treats
If you want to stick with a sweet treat as your gift of choice, a jar of sweets is perfect for those who aren’t chocolate fans (there are some) or have a diary intolerance. Fill up one of our mini jam jars with the individual’s favourite sweets, or even make your own for a colourful injection of sugar that’s a bit more personable! At a size of 65ml, these jars are perfect for parents looking to ration a child’s sugar intake and can protect what’s inside for up to 6 months, for those who have a little more willpower!

Something for The Adults
Purchasing Easter gifts for the adults in your life can always be tricky, particularly if you’re one that likes to stick with tradition. If you’re looking for something that celebrates spring time and rebirth, infusing spirit with some spring time flavours is sure to be a hit. Why not pick some rhubarb, or purchase some berries and pop them in a swing top bottle for a sophisticated and flavourful gift for the more mature!
​
Out of The Box
For someone who doesn’t stick to the beaten path and looks for a bit more extravagance in their gifts, our range of cosmetic containers can help form a quirky offering. Use a bottle to house a personalised essential oil, a jar to home a scented candle for bath time, or even just paint and decorate a powder jar for ornamental purposes. Whatever you decide to do, there are all manner of out of the box ideas that can be crafted with the help of our extensive online shop!

If those wedding bells are chiming, then you know all too well that the time is coming to get our wedding favour ready for the most important day of your life. Often left until the last minute in planning, many of these small details can actually be prepared well in advance leaving you to get on with planning the seating arrangements and getting to the church on time!

Toasting the Hosts
No wedding would be complete without a toast to the newlyweds and many wedding planners opt to slip in a favour at this very moment to get the reception off to a flying start. Laying each table with a tipple especially for the occasion is traditional but what you choose is up to you! A homemade liqueur or infused gin is very in fashion at the moment and when stored in a Mini Spirit Bottle with a label, they can even double as place settings.

Keep Things Fresh
Whether you’re keeping with tradition and having a sit-down meal or waving your hot food in favour of a food truck or a buffet, one thing is certain; everyone will need to clean up afterwards. Popping a few containers of table mints on every table is a small but generous detail and when displayed in an attractive pot such as our Round Wedding Favour Jars complete with ‘love bird’ label, they look the part as well.

Sweet Goodbyes
If you want your guests to remember your wedding (most will anyway) then sending them off with a souvenir can serve as a constant reminder of the fun they had! Whether you choose a jar of sweets encased with the order of ceremony or a small tipple, packaging them attractively is bound to leave a lasting impression. Our clear fronted gift bags with tag and ribbon give a window into the gift and are stylish and sophisticated.

Valentine’s Day is all about showing that special someone how much you care for them and for many offers the chance to get a little bit romantic. Whether it’s a heartfelt gift or a cosy night in, we’re of the impression that homemade gifts are the most well received. If you’re looking for something thoughtful to give to your beau or to spice up your Valentine’s Day, then we’ve got a few cherubs to share!

Sweets for my Sweet!
The most appreciated gifts are not those that come with a huge price tag, but rather those that invoke feelings of nostalgia or romance. Surprising your love with a tumbler of their favourite sweets shows that you know them well and that you’re observant to the things they like, which Is bound to make them swoon. Why not fill a Luminarc Pot Club Sweet Jar with a selection of their favourite treats for an attractive and sweet gift.

Relax and Romance
If you’re planning a cosy night in this Valentine’s Day, then why not set the scene for romance with a gift of relaxation. Aromatherapy is a great way to unwind and gifting your beau with some essential oils to pour in a hot bath or burn in an incense burner is a delight for all the sense. If you’re feeling ambitious you could even mix a few of their favourite scents together to form a unique oil that you could even name after them. Just purchase the best and mix equal parts in one of our Aromatherapy Jars and design a personalised label.
​
Toast Together
If you’re cooking up a storm and looking for something to toast your love with, why not concoct a special and personalised drink? Whether its an infusion of gin, a home brew wine or something you drank on your first date, decanting into a home brew bottle gives it a rustic and personalised edge that’s not going to go unnoticed.  
Set the scene for romance and order your supplies today!

Made famous by Paddington Bear, Marmalade is a quintessentially British treat and best enjoyed spread thickly across some crunchy toast. That being said, there are infinite uses for marmalade from desserts to cocktails and if you’ve got a hunk of festive oranges left over from the festive season, now is the perfect time to whip them into a zesty and Moorish spread.

 The Classic
Marmalade comprises of three ingredients; oranges, lemon juice and sugar! Simply boil your fruit for a couple of hours, warm your sugar in a low oven, slowly reduce the cooking water and sugar together before adding your segments of orange zest. Whether you opt for thick cut, grated or sliced citrus pieces, marmalade has more a visual appeal when jarred than other preserves. Store yours in an airtight Orcia Jars for a look that is as quirky and distinct as the spread itself!

With a Twist
Despite being a succulently sweet spread, marmalade has a number of uses in savoury cooking thanks to it’s bitter and acidic aftertaste. Cutting through many strong flavours with ease, marmalade is the ideal accompaniment for cooking a joint of ham in. A firm festive favourite, if you’re left with a hock, why not turn it into an orange and pork terrine? Ideal for a fancy starter, late night snack or even as a gift, they look the part in a variety of Verrine Jars.

Mixing It Up
Now we’ve covered the sweet and savoury uses its time to cover the piece de resistance! Everybody loves a cocktail from time to time and marmalade can be a cheap and quick way to fix yourself a stiff one. What’s more, if you’re hosting a party and want to treat guests to a welcome drink, a marmalade cocktail can be pre-prepared and served up in a fancy Mini Milk Bottle for that real wow factor. Simply mix together a teaspoon of marmalade, 50ml of gin, 5ml of Campari, 15ml of lemon just and a dash of orange bitters, decant and enjoy!

If you’re in need of any glass jars or bottles for marmalade or otherwise, visit our online store today.

The festive season in another month closer and many retailers and Christmas enthusiasts are well underway with their preparations for this year’s winter holiday. One of our favourite things about this time of year (aside from the seasonal fruits) is mulling our very own wine, for a tasty and traditional tipple. If you’re not a big fan of the drink itself, you can still have some fun making some for your friends and family.  
Classic Mulled Wine Recipe
Mulled wine is made using a range of fruits and spices that infuse into the steadily heated wine, as not to boil off the alcohol. The following recipe makes enough for 1-litre bottle so can be easily multiplied for more!

Ingredients

• 2 Oranges
• 2 Lemons
• 3 Star anise
• 2 cinnamon sticks
• 4 whole cloves
• 100ml of honey
• 1 bottle of red wine
• 250ml apple cider

What You’ll Need

• A large pan
• Wooden Spoon
• A peeler
• Measuring Jug
• 1x litre bottle

Recipe

1. Add the cider and honey to your pan on a low heat and warm through until bubbling and slightly reduced.
2. While the cider is reducing, peel skin directly from your oranges and lemons, small pieces of about 3cm in length are ideal.
3. Pour your red wine into the pan along with your freshly peeled citrus skin, turn the heat down and stir gently for 2 minutes.
4. Next, add the cloves, cinnamon sticks and star anise, turn the heat down even more and leave to infuse for 20 minutes, being careful not to boil the wine.
5. Sieve your wine into a large measuring jug and leave to cool completely.
6. Bottle your wine and leave in your pantry for as long as you can resist! The spices infused in the wine will keep it from spoiling and the longer you leave it, the more intense the flavour becomes.

If you’re not a huge fan of mulled wine, you can use the same recipe using 700mls of cider in place of the wine and 250ml of a liquor, such as Grand Marnier or brandy, in place of the cider. Make sure you’ve got all the bottles you need for this festive season simply order your supplies online today.

Planning a wedding can be stressful at timed, but no more so than in winter. Not only have you got intense competition for a venue and a whole hoard of guests to organise, the weather can cause untold stress for brides and grooms to be. But one thing that won’t dampen your big day is our beautiful range of rustic wedding favours.

Chic Seating Plans
Everybody knows that the seating arrangement is one of the most challenging parts of planning a wedding; trying to ensure your guests are sat with people they know, relatives are together and plus ones are accounted for is no easy task. But once that’s finished, creating your place setting allows for a creative release and can be one of the most enjoyable elements of the preparations. Our range of wedding favour Stephanie Bottles with labels are an attractive and practical alternative to traditional card prints, simply fill with a tipple of your choosing, write on the names of your guests and let them take pride of place as your chic settings!

Light It Up
There’s nothing more romantic than candlelight which makes it perfect for celebrating your love with friends and family. Tealights are a simple and elegant way to add a touch of amour to your wedding and when encased in a small jam jar they can spread their light and give a homey and warm feeling. Whether you choose to scatter them across the tables, line the alter or edge a room, they make a uniquely special addition to any big day.
​
Something Sweet
Something old, new, borrowed, blue and sweet! After the sit-down meal and a few drinks, guests can often be found hunting for something sweet to sample. If a sweet table is written into your wedding plans then you can dress it up as well as the rest of your venue, using our classic sweet jars. Shaped like the classic bell jars of sweet shops, they’re bound to spike some romanticised nostalgia amongst your guests.
For all the finishing touches for your big day browse our selection of wedding favours and order online.  

​Although technically September is still summertime, the autumnal fruits and vegetables are starting to yield.  In season this month are delicious delights such as apples, sweet peppers and tomatoes and with Christmas cheeseboards just on the horizon, there’s no better time to make some chutneys!
Autumnal Apples
Arguably the most popular of all the chutneys is the classic apple. Deliciously sweet and terrifically tart at the same time it’s truly a taste sensation that conjures up the classic taste notes of Christmas. Whether you have some atop of cheese and crackers, basted over some roasted ham or even spread thickly on a sandwich it always hits exactly the right spot. If you fancy putting a twist on a classic; sliced up ginger, or even a little bit of star anise ads a subtle but powerful note. Displayed in a classic 16oz chutney jar, your apple-tastic creation can take pride of place in the pantry.
Gearing Up for Gifts
Chutneys make excellent gifts whether as a stocking filler or as a contribution to a tombola but when receiving a gift, everybody likes something a little different to tingle their taste buds. With this in mind, a tomato & pepper chutney popped into a miniature 212ml jar  complete with a gingham lid makes for a gift that excites all the senses. Kind on the eye, but fiery on the tongue this spicy sensation leads the way in unusual gift giving.
Chutney Challenge
If you’re overwhelmed with abundant autumnal fruits for chutney, or if you’re making a huge batch for a later date, then rather than purchasing jars with small volume our half gallon chutney jar could save on space and money. Whether you’re making a one-off wholesale lot or you’re in the chutney or preserving business, these jars are available in pack sizes of 1 and 12.
Get a head start this chutney season and order all your jars online now. Take a look at our website to see our full range and place your order.

Summer is the ripest time of year for many crops and the warm temperatures are known for inspiring the fast fruition of garden goodies. Staring into your patch and conjuring a plan for just how you’re going to eat all that cucumber before it’s past its best can be challenging! Just as plentiful fruit creates a hoard of sweet and delicious jam, a vast array of vegetables can be pickled to keep them in an edible state for longer and it couldn’t be easier! A brine base of sugar, salt vinegar and water can be rustled up in just a few minutes.

Garnish with Garlic
As a member of the onion family, garlic is great for pickling and has a much wider range of uses than the traditional pickled onion. Simply separate and skin the cloves, pop them into a 200ml mini clip top preserving jar and pour over your brine. Once pickled, they can last up to 3 months and in a mini jar, they won’t take up much room in the fridge should you want to further extend their shelf life. After just 24 hours your garlic will be pickled and ready to pop into some mashed potatoes, season vegetables with, create an indulgent sauce or even just eat straight from the jar!

Classic Cucumber
A ripe harvest of cucumbers can be particularly daunting, with most plants sprouting 2 or 3 at a time and the lifespan of only a few days. The humble pickle itself is in fact just pickled cucumber and so preserving this fruit (yes, cucumber is actually a fruit!) makes for some delicious sandwiches, cheeseboards and salads. Whether you choose to cut them up into rings or sticks, using a larger preserve jar such as the 750ml clip top is recommended, as the cucumbers will lose a lot of water in the pickling process. They also absorb a great deal of flavour from the brine, spicing it up with mustard seeds, turmeric or even paprika can give a real kick to your pickle!

If you’re looking to pickle this summer take a look at our vast array of preserving jars online and order your stocks today!