Hibernation season can mean only one thing for a foodie: it's time to restock the pantry so that there are endless nibbly bits to indulge in.

We have a bounty of condiments, snacks and everyday essentials made on this beautiful island, so when you’re grabbing those little luxuries for the Christmas season, be sure to buy Irish.

Food and travel content creator, Éadaoin Fitzmaurice shares some of her pantry must-haves for the festive season.

Harry's Nut Butter

Once you try Harry's Nut Butter, it’s pretty impossible to go back to any other – and if you do – you’ll just end up comparing. Born in The Fumbally Café in Dublin 8, where Harry worked as a chef, the nut butter has gained a cult following over the last few years.

I love to use the "Smooth" in my homemade acai bowls, the "Smoked Paprika" on sourdough topped with apple slices and a drizzle of honey, and a dollop of the "Hazelnut & Cacao" flavour on top of pancakes.

White Mausu

The chilli oil from White Mausu has become a non-negotiable in our house. So much so that we will have a fresh jar waiting before finishing the one in use.

The peanut rayu is White Mausu's best-known product, but the smoky chilli oil is my favourite because it’s more versatile for cooking. The black bean rayu is also stunning drizzled generously over eggs.

You’ll be able to pick up a jar in most trendy cafés, or else directly from their website shop.

Tim's Table Lavosh Crackers

I only came across the Lavosh Crackers from Tim's Table recently, but they’ve been one of my favourite finds of the year.

Bursting with flavour and perfectly crunchy, they are the ideal pairing for cheese boards, or dipping in your favourite sauce or paste (which they also make!)

Led by a husband and wife team and based in Limerick, their ethos is led by sustainability and using organic produce. They're currently stocked in select Supervalu stores across Ireland.

Cloud Picker Coffee

There are so many incredible coffee producers in Ireland that I could almost do a full article on them alone. However, there are a select few that I find myself going back to time and time again, Cloud Picker being one of them.

Established on Sheriff Street, Dublin 1, in 2013, this family-owned micro coffee roastery has gone from strength to strength, from opening multiple cafes (even some in Dublin Airport) to stocking in café's across the country.

If you haven’t tried Cloud Picker before, I suggest ordering the "Sam" blend. If you want to try something a little different, they have just released two Christmas blend flavours.

Valentia Island Vermouth

Valentia Island Vermouth is Ireland’s first Vermouth*, born on Valentia Island, Co Kerry. Made using local plants from the Island, wine from mountains near Madrid and blended with caramel.

Best served chilled with a wedge of orange, tonic water and ice. Something a little different to serve to friends who visit this festive season. The perfect pairing alongside those festive flavours, cheese and chutneys.

Nibbed Cacao

If coffee is not your jam but you still want a pep in your step in the morning, cacao is a great alternative. Based in Wicklow and founded by an aunt and niece team, Nibbed Cacao came about during the pandemic in 2020, when chef Lisa Kleiner went into a chocolate making frenzy and discovered the health benefits of cacao.

Nibbed Hot Cacao offers a sophisticated alternative to overly sweet hot chocolate. The benefits of drinking cacao include sustained energy without crashes, improved sleep quality, mood boosting and relaxation.

Treats by Sylvia

Based in Dublin, and established in 2021, these specialty cheesecakes are freshly handmade using the highest quality of ingredients. They're light, creamy, rich in flavour and totally unique.

The cheesecakes won Gold at the Blas na hÉireann Awards this year for best Puddings/Desserts in Ireland. The Banoffee flavour is my personal favourite. Find them on Instagram here.

Arán Magic Sauce

If there is one sauce you need to try in 2024, this is it. Arán bakery and café based in Kilkenny created Arán Magic Sauce to transform your everyday food and capture the essence of Korean cuisine.

Created by Michelin trained chefs Bart and Nicole, and crafted with traditional Korean spices and ingredients, Arán Magic Sauce is plant-based, can be used hot or cold and makes preparing meals easier. Available online or in select Supervalu stores.

Builín Blasta Smoked Onion Mayo

Born in the Gaeltacht, Builín Blasta is an Irish language café in the heart of the Ceardlann Craft Village overlooking Spiddal Beach, serving the breads, pastries, sandwiches, hot food and barista coffee.

Their Smoked Onion Mayonnaise has developed a cult following over the last while for its smoky and creamy flavour. Made with slow-smoked onions, it adds depth to any dish and perfectly complements burgers, sandwiches and salads. It has a smooth and spreadable texture, making it easy to use as a dip or spread. A versatile and delicious addition to your pantry.

Sheridan's chutney & crackers

You may know Sheridan's for their delectable cheese, but their crackers and chutneys are just as good.

Their chutneys were created alongside Janet Drew of "Janet’s Country Fayre", made with apples and plums and designed to be softer and more fruit driven in flavour than your average chutney, with subtle hints of spice.

This time of year, you’ll be able to get your hands on their luxurious winter fruit Christmas Chutney. Made in small batches in the autumn, and preserved for the season. The Sheridans crackers come in various flavours including Brown Bread, Rye & Linseed and Mixed Seed Crackers, with a focus on local ingredients.

Blanco Niño tortilla chips

No festive platter is complete without a bowl of crisps, even better when they're designed for dipping. Blanco Niño began when founder Phil set up his first Mexican restaurant in Dublin and couldn’t find corn tortillas of the quality he had come to love in Mexico’s famous taquerias.

These award-winning slow cooked tortilla chips come in various flavours including Creamy Jalapeno, Chilli and Lime, Smokey Chipotle, Blue Corn and Lightly Salted.

Grá Chocolates

Handcrafted in Galway in small batches by award-winning pastry chef Gráinne Mullins, these exquisite artisan confections are bursting with native Irish flavours. Made from Valrhona Chocolate, Casa Luker cocoa butter and the world’s best dairy produce – Irish cream and butter, each chocolate takes three days to create.

When finished, these chocolates look like works of art, almost too good to eat. Hand polished and hand-painted, each chocolate is filled with a signature recipe, ensuring decadently delicious flavour.

Chimac Korean Sauce

Inspired by Korea, made in Dublin, Chimac have created a "flavour aphrodisiac that’s both sweet and saucy". Their sauces come in a range of flavours including Korean BBQ, Sriracha Caramel and Korean Hot Sauce. Each sauce is bold, punchy and packed with flavour. Perfect for a simple stir fry, or meat marinade.

Zest Active

I start every morning with a Zest Active from Revive Active. Since I’ve started this ritual I’ve noticed my energy levels improve and my immune system strengthen - no random little flus or colds popping up when you really don’t need them.

Zest Active is a Super Supplement with 25 active ingredients, including 12 vitamins, 7 minerals, 4 amino acids, Beta Glucans, and Choline. It is specifically formulated for 18-30 year olds who are looking for an all-in-one solution to support overall wellbeing. It’s ideal for fitness enthusiasts, or people with busy and active lifestyles.

Pop your sachet in a glass of water before breakfast and off you go.

Folláin

Folláin is the Irish word for 'wholesome', and these jams really do add wholesome flavours to your pantry. They’ve been producing jams, marmalades and relishes for over 40 years.

My personal favourite is the blackcurrant jam on a fresh fluffy scone. They also have some interesting flavours like Winter Spiced Rhubarb, Strawberry and Prosecco and Mulled Wine and Winterberry.

Lilliput Trading Olive Oil

Located in the heart of Stoneybatter, Lilliput Stores is an independent artisan grocer and bustling cafe. They produce a range of high quality olive oils originating from the Aragon region of Spain.

The oil is a versatile companion in the kitchen, offering endless culinary possibilities. Whether you’re dipping crusty bread, or drizzling it over salads or fish, these cold pressed Olive Oils are second to none.

RUA Granola

I first discovered RUA Granola in a delicious acai bowl in Park Lane Deli café. To my delight, they were also selling bags of it, so I quickly grabbed one to take home with me.

This crunchy granola is a cut above the rest with premium ingredients such as oats, agave, sunflower oil, pecans, almonds, hazelnuts, goji berries, coconut, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, golden linseed, brown linseed, poppy seeds, sea salt and cinnamon.

Olly’s Farm

A few years ago I had the privilege of visiting Olly’s Farm, a farm house in the Glenasmole Valley. Since then, I’ve had such an appreciation for local honey, and the benefits of consuming it.

Olly's Farm honey is extracted by hand, and cold filtered, meaning it keeps all of the natural health benefits that are lost in mass production. There are lots of different flavours of honey to choose from, from different hives such as Wicklow, Powerscourt, Dublin and Teeling Whiskey Distillery.

My advice is pick up a jar that’s as close to where you live as possible.

You can order online, or book and appointment to pick up the honey directly from the farm.

Achill Island Sea Salt

Achill Island Sea Salt was inspired by the long-forgotten tradition of salt production on Achill Island. Harvested from the wild Atlantic waters in the Gaeltacht of County Mayo, this family-run business is bringing flavour to every table. Its soft and flaky texture enriches dishes and gives it a distinctive taste.

The natural Irish Sea Salt is hand harvested in small batches using a slow evaporation process. A pantry item that you’ll use every single day.

Lolo’s Picklery

Lolo's Picklery is a small Irish pickled onion producer that creates imaginative, unique and versatile jars of flavour. The onions used are Irish and the apple cider vinegar used to pickle them is from The Apple Farm in Tipperary.

The pickled red onion with coriander, fennel and fresh lime juice is my personal favourite. This bright pink jar adds tang and crunch to toasties, tacos, burgers, salads, curries or avocado toast.

AA's Caribbean Jerk Rub

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This hot, spicy jerk rub is loaded with umami flavours, and comes with enough marinade for at least 10Kg of your favourite meat, chicken, fish, seafood or veggies.

We spoke to founder of AA’s Caribbean, Eamon De Freitas recently about how restaurant owners are now moving to product over service. You may have already noticed this to be true with lots of my picks today coming from restaurant owners, who are extending their business and trading by producing key pantry products.

Moyee

Moyee is a radical Irish-owned coffee company that labels themselves as the "world’s first fairchain coffee company".

According to Moyee: "90% of coffee farmers earn less than €2 a day and the majority of coffee growing countries still rely on international aid. Poor prices and hardship for farmers can lead to deforestation and habitat destruction as land is cleared to grow food and help struggling families survive."

Their aim is to share more of the value from coffee with coffee growing countries. They offer a coffee subscription, which would be a great Christmas gift for coffee lovers and sustainability conscious friends and family this Christmas.

Be sure to share your favourite Irish-made pantry items with us!

* Drink responsibly