The holiday season is finally here, and with it comes the joy of festive gatherings and the much-anticipated white elephant gift exchange aka the best part of the holidays!

It's the time of year when laughter and surprises take center stage, and finding the perfect white elephant gift becomes a mission of delight.

But what is the right gift for your next white elephant exchange? If you're on the lookout for a unique and affordable gift, look no further.

Texas Hill Country Olive Co. has a huge selection of options in the White Elephant price range that are perfect for any budget. These thoughtful gifts will not only tantalize taste buds but also add a touch of gourmet flair to your celebrations. A standout gift for any home cook or foodie, these gifts are a safe bet when trying to please anyone and everyone. So be the hit at your next white elephant party, and win by bringing the gift of all gifts!

Best White Elephant Gift Ideas for Foodies & Friends

What is White Elephant?

A white elephant gift exchange is a fun holiday party game where folks bring wrapped presents, but unlike secret santa gifts, they're not for a specific person. People take turns picking a wrapped gift or snagging one from someone else. The term "white elephant" hints at something rare or quirky. The whole point is the surprise factor and the interaction of choosing and swapping gifts.

It's a festive tradition that adds a playful twist to holiday get-togethers. Some would argue it's not a competition, but to us it is a little bit. The best white elephant parties are slightly competitive! 

Picking Gifts in Your White Elephant Budget

White Elephant Gifts often come with a budget in place and spending limit. We've seen different budgets depending on the group that is exchanging. But, typically, White Elephant budgets are $50 and under, and more often than not, $30 or $20 and under.

Playing with family members, friends, or coworkers may help establish the budget, but no matter what, the goal is to find an amazing gift that anyone would love!

If you know the people in the group are foodies, and have a set budget, then we've got just the gifts to help you pick the perfect White Elephant gift. We've broken down our gift picks into price categories to help you choose one in the price point you need. So get ready to find a great white elephant gift at any budget!

Gifts $30-$50

Lemon Vinaigrette Recipe Box: $48

This is the perfect gift set if you're trying to outshine all other gifts during the White Elephant exchange.

Besides being a beautiful olive print box (pictured at the top) this gift is full of delicious products and recipes.

It contains a 100ml Extra Virgin Olive Oil, and 100ml Balsamic Vinegar, and a vinaigrette dish towel and recipe card.

Love this box, but not the contents as much? We have other options! Check out the Balsamic Brussel Sprouts Olive Box.

The Little Dipper Box: $33

Our Little Dipper Box is the perfect White Elephant Gift! It contains some of our best selling products in a cute small packaging, at a price point that works well for many White Elephant exchanges.

With 100ml bottles of our Award Winning Sola Stella Extra Virgin Olive Oil, our best selling Traditional Balsamic, and our crowd favorite Italian Bread Dipping Spices, it's the perfect gift for anyone new to our company. They get to try a few of our most popular items!

Plus, it is sure to stand out amongst the other gifts.

Gifts $20-$30

Pairing Recipe Box: $27.95

This box was designed with this type of gift in mind: a low price point gift with incredibly high value.

Each pairing recipe box contains a 100ml Extra Virgin Olive Oil and a 100ml Balsamic Vinegar. Not only that, but it includes a recipe card that contains a recipe that includes both products! Plus the different colors of the ribbons adds a nice festive touch.

So either base the gift off of the recipe inside, or the products themselves for separate use. Choose between the Lemon Ricotta Cannoli Box (pictured), and the Roast Root Vegetable Box. 

Trust us when we say, everyone will be swapping to get this gift!

500ml Extra Virgin or Balsamic: $28-$30

With so many options to choose from, a 500ml bottle is a great gift depending on your target audience.

500ml is our largest size, and gifting one bottle ensures the recipient will get a lot of use out of the project.

Our 500ml bottles of Balsamic Vinegar are $30, and our 500ml Extra Virgin Olive Oils are $28-$30 depending on the type you choose.

Looking for an award winning olive oil? Try our Sola Stella Extra Virgin Olive Oil or our Texas Miller's Blend Olive Oil. (We also sell Infused Oil 500ml bottles, but they are $32).

Looking for a best selling Balsamic? Try our White Lemon or Traditional Balsamic!

Gifts $10-$20

Vinaigrette Recipe Dish Towel: $10

Who doesn't love a multi-purpose item? These dish towels are not only beautiful and high quality, but they are handy as well!

With a recipe for a classic vinaigrette, this towel can help out someone in the kitchen in more ways than one.

And the recipe is pretty delicious, if we do say so ourselves.

Want to pick a different dish towel? Check out our Texas Meets Tuscany Dish Towel, where the stunning print of our orchard mural truly stands out in a kitchen!

250ml Extra Virgin or Balsamic: $18-$20

A 250ml bottle of Extra Virgin Olive Oil or Balsamic Vinegar is a great gift for under $20!

There are so many delicious options to choose from, including some best sellers, like our Bourbon Aged Balsamic Vinegar, and our Hot Honey Balsamic Vinegar!

They are so delicious and unique, that people will be fighting over it during exchange time!

And don't forget all of the other wonderful 250ml products you can choose from. The world is your oyster!

Gifts Under $10

Stuffed Olives: $7.95

Looking for a delicious White Elephant Gift that can stand out on it's own? Stuffed Olives are the perfect choice! 

In a world full of Martini and Bloody Mary lovers, stuffed olives are a great choice when it comes to affordable gifting. Have people that don't drink? Well who doesn't love stuffed olives on a charcuterie board?

And we have so many options to choose from! Besides the Spicy Garlic Stuffed, we also have Feta, Jalapeño, Garlic, and Pimento to choose from! So pick the crowd pleaser and get one of these for your White Elephant Gift!

Dipping Spices: $5.95

Last, but certainly not least, the dipping spices! Although they're not the flashiest gift, they are one of the most delicious.

These spices have so many uses, from an olive oil bread dip, to a marinade seasoning, to a topping on foods like pizzas and hummus, these go a long way!

Who knew such a small gift could make such a huge impact?

Try the Italian Bread Dipping Spices (pictured), or pick another flavor, like the Garlic and Herb, Lemon Garlic, or Tuscan Herb.

Happy Holidays!

Although funny gifts or a gag gift can be a good time, we think the best gifts are the ones that are useful and high quality! Texas Hill Country Olive Co. products are a great way to show you care. Because everyone eats, right? So who wouldn't want something high quality they can use in their kitchen?

A new gift of award winning gourmet products is an easy way to guarantee a top pick amongst the gifts. Great white elephant gifts should check a few boxes, including being a practical gift as well as a thoughtful and unique gift.

So we hope these gifts guide you during your holiday traditions and are the perfect present and welcome addition for your white elephant gifting. Plus, if all else fails, you can always get a gift card.

 

Photos: Tomas Segura