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?!

A photo-based gift from one of those websites is always thoughtful.

Maybe you have pictures of your friendship group from the past or from her wedding

I think the spices sound great. alternatively Fortnum and Mason Florentines £14.95. If she does not like them she can give them to guests. They come In the distinctive Fortnum's tin.

This site is great for photo based gifts. Pretty much everything you could ever want - including tablecloths.

Also remember with a lot of these sites you just need to upload an image - so a personalised quote or their name or their catch phrase is an alternative. It doesn't have to be a photo.

www.bagsoflove.co.uk/

Mugs and teatowels are under your spending limit. There are probably other things too if you search around.

www.bagsoflove.co.uk/kitchen-gifts.aspx

I'd go for the tea selection - can't go wrong with tea!!

If she likes cooking and spicy good, maybe something similar but a different cuisine e.g. Thai if she already cooks Indian?

I think a good recipe book. What about 'Spice Trip'. By Stevie parle and Emma grazette. Out a few years so wouldn't be expensive but the recipes are lush. Isbn number is 978-0-224-09572-3 if you want to look it up x

I usually buy a bottle of Prosecco and a Panettone, unless my Secret Santa recipient doesn't drink and is gluten intolerant. In which case I'd go for a cloth covered journal and some posh pens.

Oh and I meant to say Emma grazette is one of the people behind the spicery as others have recommended

super wibu to buy some for myself too? It all looks delicious!

A photo gift might be a nice idea!

Ooohh a sloe plant (plants4presents.co.uk/Giftoptions.aspx?gif=481&sit=25) and a sloe gin recipe?

I like the paneer/cheese cloth idea. Or how about a nice pestle and mortar? Is that something that's useful for spices? Also decorative

What about an unusual cooking utensil instead - like a chapati rolling pin. / board. You can get some quite pretty ones and you could probably include a mix for your budget as well.

Where there are spices and love of cooking, herbs aren't usually far behind - how about going down the herb root - no pun intended!
Maybe grow your own herbs, either a 'kit' or put something together yourself and get a really cool looking container or something along those lines?

duck that's actually a fab idea!
jem I hadn't thought of herbs! Grow your own herbs might be good!

If they eat chapattis chances are they will already have all the kit to make them and these suggestions are starting to look slightly ridiculous.

If her DH was British would you buy her some oxo cubes and a dumpling mix? Cooking food is not really a hobby, it's kind of essential to day to day life.

Someone bought me a year's supply of Paxo once.

Barbara it's a hobby to her, a passion actually. And I've said already she was into Indian food/culture years before she met him.

Secret Santa presents are usually shit, but less so when someone has actually put thought into it. So no, you're fine, and well done for making more effort than 80% of people do.

Just don't get annoyed when you open your present and find that whoever got you didn't make any effort at all and got you a truly shit gift...

Ace gift!

Rococo chocoloate is fine, but I don't think worth it. L'Artisan du Chocolat on the other hand...

However, I am going to echo those who have mentioned a Spicery subscription. They have loads of different cuisines, lots of boxes each month to choose from or just get sent a "default" box so it's a surprise, are usually unusual dishes you may not have heard of, and are delicious. So meets the "like cooking, likes spicy food" but also not "the same as she always makes".

have a look on raffis spice box. they do some lovely gift sets.

failing that if it were me i'd love a pickle tray for all the lovely sit down indian meals i don't cook

The subscription is something I'm leaning towards definitely.

WLF46 I won't be disappointed! I just love giving gifts! But I worry about if they will be liked!

The subscription sounds perfect. Cooking absolutely can be a hobby - I love it!

I love cooking and always appreciate a nice cook book. If it's a hobby you can never have too many! I cook a lot of spicy food and am always running out of spices too. I would not turn my nose up at such a gift (or any gift tbh)!

One of these? I'm sure you could get one for £15
www.amazon.co.uk/Zinel-Spice-Masala-Comparments-Stainless/dp/B01BDIET0E