Ten Fantastic Holiday Gifts from Asian-Owned Businesses!!! (ZAN! #14)
The 2023 ZAN! gift guide is here 🎉
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Holiday gift shopping season is here! On cozy nights in, I love scouring the internet for the perfect gifts, for both others and myself. (Mostly myself.)
So I’m thrilled to present this year’s list of gifts from Asian-owned businesses that anyone would love to receive. Lots of these businesses already have holiday sales going on, so don’t hesitate to support your favorites now.
Let’s dive in! 💃🏻
🪴 For both experienced and aspiring plant parents…
The Sill
Filipina-owned business The Sill delivers potted plants both big and small straight to your door.
They provide lots of options that help you cater to you or your loved one’s preferences — including easy care, low light, and pet friendly choices (like this lovely parlor palm).
☕️ For the coffee aficionados…
Nguyen Coffee Supply
If the coffee lover in your life isn’t already familiar with phin filters, a kit from Nguyen Coffee Supply makes a great gift! (I got this for my husband on his birthday.)
The slow, lazy brewing style of Vietnamese coffee is a fun learning experience for anyone who likes to tinker with grind sizes. What’s more, brewing Vietnamese coffee is a great opportunity to give robusta beans another shot, which are potentially a more sustainable choice over arabica beans.
🍵 For tea loyalists…
The Qi
If you’re more of a tea person, The Qi offers absolutely gorgeous flower-based teas. They bloom gently inside of a cup or carafe of hot water, with delicious options like rose, blue lotus, and chrysanthemum (my favorite).
How much do I love the teas from The Qi? So much that my husband and I made these our wedding favors (no joke). I’m still happily brewing the leftover packets.
🤩 For LITERALLY EVERYONE…
Baggu
While this mother-daughter-founded brand is primarily known for their sustainable shopping totes, they make LOTS of other excellent bags that are perfect for anyone and everyone.
Baggu boasts plenty of patterned options for the Gen Z kiddos, as well as lightweight totes and bags that make great gifts for your in-laws. (If there’s anything I know, it’s that Asian moms love a lightweight bag.)
🍁 For the hygge lovers…
ILHA Candles
I’m a huge fan of this Taiwanese female-owned business out of New York. Out of all the candles I’ve lit so far this year, these hand-poured soy candles are the clear winners.
Try the Autumn Pear scent, which will fill your home with an unmatched sweetness and warmth. (It’s my personal favorite.)
💥 For the politically engaged…
Biting the Hand (From Yu and Me Books)
Biting the Hand is one of the most powerful and engaging books that I’ve read this year. Written by professor Julia Lee, this book is part memoir, part essay collection on race in America. (I reviewed it in ZAN! #5.)
For a double whammy of support, consider purchasing from Yu and Me Books, an Asian-owned bookstore in New York City whose physical storefront was devastated by a fire earlier this year.
🥬 For anyone who needs to cut a fruit or veggie…
Material
Do you have a friend who still insists on using their flimsy, cut-up plastic cutting boards? Help them upgrade with the reBoard from Material. I own three of them myself — one for meat, one for veggies, and a small one for fruit.
The board in the shade “To Pó-Po, with Love” is extra special — 50% of profits go to NYC-based organization Heart of Dinner (which hand-delivers groceries & love to Asian elders around the city).
(If you’re not a board person, this peeler also looks really, really nice.)
✊🏼 For the community-oriented New Yorker…
Heart of Dinner (Merch)
Sure, it’s not quite a small business, but speaking of Heart of Dinner, they’re a fantastic community organization with… really cool merch?!
I’m obsessed with this persimmon canvas tote (the top right corner says “Heart of Dinner”). They also recently added some brightly colored baseball caps that are worth checking out.
🧥 For the fashionistas…
Sundae School
Please look closely at this Bojagi Pocket Fleece because it has A LITTLE POCKET INSIDE OF THE BIG POCKET. Wow. Perfection. This one is definitely for the fashion-foward person in your life who is all about the little details.
🍱 …And for the foodies
Yun Hai holiday gift set
Taiwanese pantry Yun Hai’s holiday gift sets are currently on preorder, and they look phenomenal! With various combinations of dried fruits, sauces, and pantry staples, these sets are sure to please the foodie in your life. (This one includes Clarissa Wei’s fantastic cookbook, Made in Taiwan.)
(Also, did you know that Yun Hai has a newsletter here on Substack? If you want to learn about the in-depth history and culture of Taiwan, as seen through food, I highly recommend subscribing at
.)🎁 ❄️ 🎁 Thanks for reading! ❄️ 🎁 ❄️
Hope you enjoyed this list!! Anything catch your eye? Anything other businesses to add? Let me know in the comments below.
For my US-based readers, hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
🙇🏻♀️ Now, it’s your turn!
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Until next time,
Rebecca
I have bought plants from the Sill for a friend, but I did not know it's Asian-owned! I'd also recommend a very special cookbook where no specific amount of ingredients are listed on the recipes so that we could all be somewhat free from recipes. It's called Cooking at Home by David Chang and Priya Krishna.
can confirm: The Qi's tea is quali-tea and the flowers are edible! so if you've ever wanted to feel like a bunny enjoying a nice little snack in a flower field, you can (which I did)