Inspiration
Made in Connecticut: Gift Giving Ideas
Your search for a thoughtful, unique, never-to-be-forgotten gift is over! We’ve scoured Connecticut from north to south and east to west to come up with this guide that should cover most of your gift-giving (and gift-getting) bases.
Food & Drink
What's more welcoming than a gift of food - and what better way to begin a holiday visit or send greetings to a loved one? But where to begin ... there are so many different kinds of food that are made in Connecticut that it’s hard to summarize. But to get you off to a good start, whether you’re ordering by mail or picking up in person, we’ll suggest:
A female-founded gift boutique that sells the very best Connecticut-made artisan products.
Purveyor of flavorful cured and smoked meats, for pick up or delivery..
Willoughby's Coffee & Tea (New Haven), New Haven
A favorite of coffee lovers, located in New Haven, Branford and Madison.
A natural foods company dedicated to making it easy for families to eat all-natural whole foods...
The cheeses are made by using milk from the 300 prize-winning cows that graze in the pastures in...
Creates custom charcuterie boxes and boards for holiday dinners, lunches with your coworkers, or a...
A women-owned and operated gift company that provides unique gifts for every occasion.
Candy & Sweets
Everyone likes to get candy in the mail (or hand-delivered, for that matter) and Connecticut has a number of candy makers worth noting.
Fascia's Chocolates, Waterbury
Family-run operation offering tours of their chocolate making process.
Bridgewater Chocolate Factory Retail Store - Brookfield, Brookfield
Available in several locations, but it’s a special treat to visit the adorable Village Store.
Thompson Chocolate, Meriden
Offers a range of products for customers looking for delicious chocolate novelties.
Fashion & Accessories
There’s something special about putting something on that hasn’t been mass-produced, isn’t there? You feel good about it, and chances are no one else will be wearing the same thing.
Handmade and homegrown letterpress stationery, urban streetwear, locally-sourced goods.
Stylish yet practical fleece-lined bandanas perfect for wintertime activities.
Cozy, stylishly soft blankets made exclusively from the wool of Connecticut sheep.
Made by Hand
Resist the urge to go to the mall, and consider a homegrown gift from one of many of Connecticut's hometown artisans and craftsmen.
Originally opened in 1818, all the items are still made in Riverton.
Products hand-woven by our artisans who are senior in age, or who have low vision or blindness.
Elsewhere on the Shopping List
Here are some other great gift ideas from Connecticut businesses and artists.
This book brings the Museum’s legacy to life, showcasing its most iconic treasures.
Every kind of bell, for home or commercial use, made in Connecticut since 1832.
Fire trucks, dump trucks and cargo trucks made from sustainable and safe materials.
The items sold here may not all be made in Connecticut, but they still show your Husky Pride.
A one-of-a-kind book tour through exquisitely preserved, chronicled and illustrated historic...
The Gift of Experiences
Know someone who’s impossible to buy for? Why not give them a great Connecticut experience, such as:
- An amazing driving experience at Thompson Speedway or Lime Rock Park
- A fly fishing lesson with Housatonic Anglers
- A foodie tour of gourmet restaurants in New Haven
- A hot air balloon ride over the Farmington River Valley or Litchfield Hills
- A gift card for a visit to a Connecticut winery, such as Sunset Meadow Vineyards in Goshen, Saltwater Farm Vineyard in Stonington, Paradise Hills Vineyard in Wallingford or Preston Ridge Vineyard in Preston
- Find more ideas here
Treats for Yourself
Shopping, wrapping and everything that comes with gift-giving can be stressful. Consider giving yourself (or someone else) the gift of a stress-reducing visit to one of Connecticut’s relaxing spas, like:
Gifts That Give Back
This holiday season, consider gifts that benefit more than just their recipients. Your purchases, or donations, support important philanthropic causes right here in Connecticut — helping your community as you place presents under the tree.
MerchCT.com: Connecticut's official merch store is a great way to gift state pride, with apparel celebrating its pizza prowess, oyster trail, and more. A portion of proceeds will be donated to the select charity of your choosing, including local organizations like the Connecticut Humane Society, Hands on Hartford, Connecticut Foodshare, the Connecticut Children's Foundation, and others.
Home For Good: Thrift with purpose. At this West Hartford thrift store, proceeds directly support Journey Home’s mission to end homelessness in the Capital Region of Connecticut. The store is stocked with donated secondhand furniture, home decor, dining items and other housewares, helping generate revenue to fund Journey Home's community programs year-round.
Good Cause Gifts: As a social enterprise of Futures Inc., Good Cause's boutique blends beautiful, curated gifts with powerful purpose. Every purchase directly supports inclusive employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities, empowering them to thrive in meaningful, community-based jobs.
Gifts of Love Holiday Gift Shop: Want to make the holidays even brighter for local families? The Gifts of Love Holiday Shop in Avon collects new, unused gifts to bring joy to its clients and their families. Your generosity ensures that parents can provide meaningful gifts for their children—and that every member of the household feels cared for and celebrated.
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