Is this a shit gift?

[OhhBetty]

A group of friends and I are doing secret santa this year with a 15 pound limit. The person I've got is so hard to buy for! She just buys everything she wants as she is very wealthy! Things like bath stuff or anything girly is a no no. She does like her spicy food and spent a lot of time in India and her partner is Indian and she cooks that style of food.

I've come across a gift set with all kinds of spices in including some rare ones. Does this sound ok to you or does it sound like a shit present?!

I think it sounds lovely, are far more thoughtful than your generic Boots gift set.

Sound great! I've given something like this as a gift before and the recipient loved it

If she cooks that style of food, she probably has the rare spices. In fact she more than likely brought them back from India

So I would find something else

And* FFS

That sounds

What would be great is if you visited some Indian food shops and get some good recipes to go with them :) you could write them up nicely and would be a great personal touch!

My dad used to go to the Indian spice selling lady at the market and get loads of great recipes from her! - sadly she is no longer with us :(

I wouldn't. I would imagine the spices have been sitting around for ages.

Which spices? Out of interest.

I agree with Sparklesilverglitter if she cooks that food she will already have to spices and definitely as she spends a lot of time in India.
You can't go to India and not bring back an array of spices it's the law

Although a thoughtful gift I'd pick something else

Thanks I think I'll get it! She hasn't been over to India for a long time. I just didn't want it to look like "happy Christmas, now go and cook"

Ohh maybe not then!!!

Rose that sounds like a nice idea!

I wouldn't give that as I agree with OP if she cooks that food she will have the spices and they will be good quality ones

I'd worry about how good the spices were in a gift set of that price TBH as well

Thoughful idea but I'd get something else

I think it's really thoughtful and especially in a secret santa shows you have considered her circumstances and likes

I wouldn't give it as a gift to someone that often cooks that food and more than likely had a vast array of spices anyway

I like you though behind it and it is thoughtful but I'd go for something else

Any alternative gift suggestions? I'm totally stuck!!

I wouldn't as a good cook will have all the herbs/spice anyway

Just because someone is wealthy doesn't mean they won't enjoy or appreciate a thoughtful gift!

A nice nail varnish? A lovely mug and some posh hot chocolate?

Paneer is an indian cheese and really easy to make (expensive to buy in shops). A cheese cloth and recipe may be really nice.

But herbs and spices get used up - I burn through stuff like cumin and coriander. I think it's a lovely idea. I use the website Spices of India a lot - can recommend.

www.vegrecipesofindia.com/how-to-make-paneer-homemade-paneer/

What about a really good cook book like Pimp my Rice? It's Indian based but more modern, it's so good! And Nisha Katona who wrote it has the most amazing restaurants (Mowgli) in Manchester and Liverpool

You sound too kind and are overthinking this. Fairly generic gifts are fine for Secret Santas. Most people love a nice scented candle or room diffuser. Nice hand cream. Posh tights. Really nice bone china mug and posh teabags. Molten Brown bath oil.

Just avoid the dreaded Gift Set and she will probably be happy. Never assume that people who can afford to buy themselves nice things don't still appreciate a gift.

Thanks again everyone!
under she doesn't use nail polish and the mug wouldn't match the others so wouldn't go down well! I know she would appreciate it but I want to give something thoughtful.
Thanks Hassled I'll take a look

I think the spice set is a good idea so long as the spices are a decent quality and fresh, you can never have too much of some spices in my opinion as they get used up fairly quick. I think you are on the right track if you know she loves this style of cooking.

Spices go off if not used quickly enough and in a gift set may have been sitting around. A nice clay chai cup, a balti dish or some nice chutney? The cheesecloth is something I'd really appreciate as well. I love Indian cooking but I lust after Ottolenghi books, middle eastern recipes utilise some of the rare spices in my cupboard as well. It's lovely that you're thinking outside the box, OP. People have bought me lovely soap/lush sets that I can never use because of my skin