12 of the best foodie Advent calendars for 2018

Want to have a productive few weeks in the run up to Christmas? This coffee calendar from Perkulatte won’t just keep you fuelled with caffeine during Advent; it’ll also mean you can try a different blend every other day. If you’ve got a mountain of presents to wrap and Christmas parties to organise, we can’t think of a better way to stay alert.

£40 from perkulatte.com

Marshmallows are one of those things that went from being a mass-produced guilty pleasure to a gourmet artisanally made delicacy in the past few years, and now they’re finding their way into Advent calendars. The Naked Marshmallow Co have placed six different flavours of its delicious marshmallows behind twenty-four doors, including caramel, candyfloss and strawberries and cream. Add on the marshmallow toaster and skewers to roast them campfire-style.

£15.00 from nakedmarshmallow.co.uk

Love liquorice? Then this is the Advent calendar for you. Feast on a different liquorice-flavoured sweet made by Lakrids for every day of December and indulge your love of everything aniseed.

£34.95 from souschef.co.uk

Touted as the first (and surely only?!) popcorn calendar in the world, Joe & Seph’s has included twelve different flavours of its gourmet popcorn behind twenty-four doors. Featuring toffee apple and cinnamon, banoffee and raspberry cheesecake, these are a world away from what you get in the cinemas.

£25 from joeandsephs.co.uk

Virgin Wines’ Advent calendar contains twenty-four mini bottles of red, white, rose and even Port with thirty-four awards between them. Check out the online guided tasting for the full experience and expand your wine knowledge as you round off each day with a festive tipple.

£80 from virginwines.co.uk

For those that have money to burn and a passion for fiery whiskies, this Advent calendar from Master of Malt is perfect. There’s a different dram of rare whisky, for every day of Advent, ranging from young and fresh to some matured for an incredible fifty years. One to open towards the end of the day rather than first thing in the morning.

£249.95 from masterofmalt.com

Do you love the feeling of capsaicin tingling on your tongue, sweating profusely as you instantly regret taking a huge bite of something ridiculously hot? Then keep the chilly weather of December at bay with this calendar from Sous Chef. Get cooking with a different chilli for every day of the festive period, from smoky chipotles to the vibrant aji amarillo. The calendar also includes a mini recipe booklet that shows you how to make the most of each pepper.

£29.95 from souschef.co.uk

Even with all these different food and drink-focused Advent calendars to choose from, some of us just can’t imagine opening a little door every day without being rewarded with a little chocolate inside. And if you want the very best, then Paul A Young’s stunning calendar is the one to go for. Featuring twenty-four different individual houses containing the chocolatier’s incredible creations, this is a true treat for the festive season.

£65 from Paul A Young shops across London