Authentic Spanish Food Products That Make Perfect Gifts

Volcanic wine from the Canaries

Volcanic wine from the Canary Islands is one of a kind. Here, you’ll find some of the
world's most unique vineyards, steeped in hundreds of years of winemaking history. There are 10 local DOs across each of the islands, together with one overarching DO – DO Islas Canarias – covering the whole archipelago.

The quintessential volcanic wine region is DO Lanzarote. This Spanish island is famed for its Mars-like hoyos – meter-deep craters dotted across ash-black, volcanic landscapes. Vines are planted in each hoyo, circled by stone walls that protect the grapes from the wind.

The result is a host of singular, mineral-rich wines with hints of ash and smoky
undertones. The altitude of the Canary Islands also brings fresh acidity and a distinctive salinity. Many Canarian reds and whites also feature touches of tropical fruit and floral notes. This combination makes them truly unique. Wine Shop Lanzarote has a wonderful collection of Lanzarote wines, with shipping to the U.K., Europe, and the U.S.

Award-winning Spanish cheese

Spain is home to a delicious array of cheeses, as evidenced at the latest World Cheese Awards, where Spain took home 20 Super Gold medals and a variety of other awards. The PDO Mahón-Menorca DOP cheese was the big winner with 10 medals, owing to its intense flavor featuring undertones of hazelnut and aged wood.

Another delicious Spanish cheese is Drunken Goat. Named after the process in which the cheese is soaked in red wine, it’s also known as DOP Queso de Murcia al Vino, and is one of Spain’s most popular cheeses internationally. The wine infuses the cheese with a soft fruitiness, which perfectly complements its naturally mild, creamy taste and texture.

PDO Torta del Casar is a heavenly, spoonable sheep’s cheese that melts in the mouth. It’s unlike any other Spanish cheese, with a complex taste that marries an intense savory flavor with a hint of bitterness that makes it one of the most prized culinary products in the western region of Extremadura. In Catalonia, Manchego DOP cheese is king. A nutty, buttery, slightly peppery taste makes it a popular tapas ingredient throughout the area – try marinating Manchego in herbs and olive oil for a simple way to savor the flavors of Spain.

In the Basque Country, sheepherders have been making cheese for thousands of years. PDO Idiazabal is one of the region's best, renowned for its intense umami flavor, hints of smoke and spice, and notes of roasted nuts.

You can buy all of these cheeses and more at Dubai-based online food retailer La
Despensa, while Dibeal sells many Spanish cheeses across Ecuador.

Olive oil from ancient olive trees

Spanish olive oil is the perfect showcase of a country that balances tradition and technology to deliver the finest food products. Take El Poiag, considered to be the world’s most exclusive olive oil. A single-varietal extra virgin olive oil made exclusively from the Farga olive variety, it’s produced on the eastern coast in an area known as the Valley of the Ancient Olive Trees, home to the largest concentration of ancient olive trees in the world. Some are even 2,800 years old.

Only 2,000 to 3,000 bottles are produced each year. Buy a 500ml bottle of El Mil del Poiag, used by top chefs around the world like Quique Dacosta, with a personalized olive wood label for €290.

Another exceptional Spanish olive oil is 9 Oliveres. Made in the foothills of the Sierra Mariola Natural Park, Alicante, the 9 Oliveres Premium EVOO, was named the 3rd healthiest olive oil at the World Best Healthy EVOO Contest in recognition of its exceptional levels of polyphenols.

A single-varietal oil made from the native Frantoio olive variety, it features notes of tomato, complemented by hints of pepper, almond, banana, kiwi, and apple, as well as the fragrance of freshly cut grass. This family-run Spanish EVOO brand offers free shipping to Europe on orders over €99.

Spanish spice fit for a king

Few Spanish food products excite the senses quite like DOP Pimentón De la Vera. Spain’s beloved, russet red spice is nothing like a standard ‘paprika’. It’s a protected product with a unique bittersweet and savory flavor with hints of smoke, a result of handpicked peppers that are smoked and left to dry over oak wood.

Major brands like La Chinata and La Dalia are used by some of the world’s best chefs and are sold at big online retailers such as La Tienda and Despaña. The La Chinata online store sells an original gift box containing the sweet, spicy, and sweet and sour varieties in one set, the perfect gift for foodies looking to bring some smoky flavor to their cooking.

Spain is also home to one of the world’s best saffron-growing regions, La Mancha.
Saffron, known in Spanish as azafrán, is one of Spain’s most prized exports. A hint of bitterness on the top note gives way to hints of toast and grain, with a warm, floral finish. It’s the key ingredient in paella, and can elevate a good dish to exceptional status. La Tienda sells one-ounce tins of Saffron by Princesa de Minaya, D.O. La
Mancha, considered to be among the very best saffron in the world.

Spain’s “black gold”

Spanish black truffle, or trufa negra, is one of the country’s most sought-after products. An intense earthy flavor with hints of smoke and chocolate makes it a very unique ingredient. Like saffron, it can transform the simplest dish, making the
ordinary extraordinary.

Top Spanish chefs use it in Michelin-starred kitchens. Yet, when cooking with trufa
negra, you can simply grate it over classic Spanish dishes like tortilla de patatas or croquetas.

Trufalia sells authentic, fresh black truffles, bringing genuine Spanish flavor to customers around the world. They sell both whole black truffles and a black truffle carpaccio, enabling foodies to experiment with a product used by some of the
world’s best chefs.

Gift hampers and experiences

Can’t decide which of Spain’s many amazing food products makes the perfect gift? Why not buy all of these products in one gift-wrapped package? There are a number of excellent online retailers selling a curated selection of the best Spanish products in boxes, hampers, and baskets.

In the U.S., Mercado Central NYC stocks a wide variety of gift platters and picnic boxes, with everything from paella rice and canned seafood to Ibizan salt and Iberico jam. Also in the States, Despaña has a range of gift baskets including Spanish wines, olive oils, sauces, and pantry items, while La Tienda also specializes in gift boxes and gift sets. There are many other Colmados around the world that sell Spanish gift sets – see our map of Colmados to find one local to you.

Finally, if you’re looking to gift an authentic Spanish culinary experience, seek out Spanish restaurants in your area. Our FWS Spanish restaurants and shops map highlights restaurants that showcase the unique beauty of Spanish cuisine. Many of them offer gift cards, hands-on cooking classes, guided tastings, and unique dining
experiences.