Curated Boxes of Texas Treats Make the Pandemic-Stricken Holiday Season a Little Sweeter

In 2020, pretty much everybody could use a care package — especially during the holidays! Local companies have made it easy to gift foodie-tastic boxes to friends and family both near and far.

Like many restaurants and small businesses, Kickin' Kombucha pivoted at the beginning of Covid to help Houstonians get their hands on essential goods. But the Kickin' Local Market is now so much more, offering hundreds of items made right here in Houston for delivery and pickup (there's even a drive-through window!). New holiday gift boxes tout delicious groupings of items: There's hot sauce, barbecue rub and salsa in the Some Like It Hot, and the Sweetie has honey, artisan chocolate and more. The Picnic & Pickles gift box will totally make your al fresco feast — or why not send someone oven-fresh cookies from Michael's Cookie Jar, available via Kickin's website? Boxes are all customizable, and available for pre-order or grab-and-go at the Lawndale-area store.

Meanwhile, Becca Cakes Bakery has partnered with other local vendors to create giftable boxes of goodies. Available in two sizes, the packages include a holiday assortment of macarons, an Ellion Joyeaux candle and an Aalvo acrylic ornament. Orders can be placed online, via phone, or in person at the Oak Forest-area bakery.

Based out of Dallas, Foxtrot Market typically only caters to the Big D — but for the rest of the year, they are offering 48-hour shipping anywhere in Texas for a flat rate. The modern market offers made-in-Texas treats, creatively packaged in nearly 20 different boxes that range from $30 to $250. The Foodie box comes in two sizes, with sweet and savory goodies like White Rock Granola, Texas-shaped chocolates, Belle's Gourmet Popcorn, habanero hot sauce, honey butter and more. The CBD Vacation package has infused eye patches, face masks, sour gummies and more; The Coffee Friend includes beans, a thermal tumbler and more; and the Cozy Hot Chocolate has mix, a mug and marshmallows.

And Houston-based Mostess, which curates home-décor and hostess-friendly items in four seasonal boxes per year, will deliver its Winter Box in time for Christmas if ordered by Dec. 13. While folks likely aren't having large-scale gatherings this year, intimate at-home holiday parties are made special with Mostess's items like four faceted crystal coupes, linen napkins, napkin-ring flower vases, mixers and more.