What better way to celebrate the coronation of His Majesty King Charles III than by indulging in a coronation hamper packed full of classic British food and memorabilia?
Whether you're looking to send a coronation hamper to a loved one as a keepsake, or fancy treating yourself and the family during the celebrations, I've selected the best coronation gifts for the food lovers in your life - all of which can be sent in time for the coronation on Saturday 6th May 2023 where the King and Queen Consort will be crowned at Westminster Abbey.
To keep in with the 'fit for royalty' theme, I've chosen well-known quintessentially British brands including Whittard, Cartwright & Butler, and the jewel in the crown, Fortnum & Mason - for those looking to truly indulge during the royal celebrations. Alongside high-quality brands, I’ve kept sweet and savory options in mind to hopefully cater to everyone in your family, as well as buffet food for sharing and of course commemorative products that you can keep for years to come.
I've tried and tested a range of different hampers during my career - from extravagant Christmas gift boxes to Easter-themed baskets, so I certainly know a thing or two when it comes to choosing the right hamper or food gift - and for me it’s all about the quality of the products (and how many you get in it!), making sure there is something for everyone, and most importantly that it's worth the money. So with that in mind, here are my favorite coronation hampers and food gifts…
Best coronation hampers I'd highly recommend
Other coronation foods I'd recommend
And of course, if you're on a tight budget and can't justify the splurge on a coronation hamper, then I'd recommend some of the following food gifts which give a subtle nod to His Majesty King Charles' coronation with some keepsake choices and delicious patriotic products including my royal favorite, King Colin the Caterpillar.
Here are my top picks for the coronation...
How I test food hampers - and my top tips for buying them
I've tried and tested countless hampers during my career at Goodto.com. Whether it's festive hampers sampled in the run-up to Christmas or Easter hampers piled high with an array of chocolate goodies. Hampers are my specialty.
There are four key things to keep in mind when selecting a hamper:
Who you're buying for: If you're gifting a food hamper the number one rule is to know who you're buying for. There's no point spending loads of money on an extravagant hamper for your grandparents when you know they'll only eat the fruit cake and won't even touch the lavender biscuits or strawberry macaroons. If you're buying for a couple, you won't need a massive hamper just a few high-quality products will do, or if you're buying for a bigger family with kids, you might want to choose a hamper perfect for sharing.
The quality of the products: The hampers I've tested over the years have been thoroughly reviewed in regard to the quality of the products included. There's nothing more disappointing than spending lots, sometimes hundreds of pounds on a hamper to find that the product is lacking in flavor, and variety and is just plain boring.
When sifting through hampers I focus on ones that have delicious, mouthwatering cakes or succulent cuts of meat - that are fresh, well packaged, and have a generous use-by date.
How much you get in it: Quantity isn't so much about choosing a hamper with tons and tons in it, it's about making sure that if you're paying loads of money for a hamper you want to get the right amount of products for your money. What variety are you getting? If you're buying for someone who loves chocolate, does it have enough sweet options, or is predominately savory? If you're buying for someone who doesn't drink alcohol, avoid those heavy-based boozy hampers as they won't be appreciated.
How much it costs and if it's worth it: And last but certainly not least, you need to keep in mind your budget. There's no point spending a fortune on a hamper that you can't really afford - I'm sure your loved ones would much rather you keep your money and not be out of pocket. If you're happy to spend the money, then go for it - otherwise, you could always skip the hamper and choose to buy some of the products from the hamper individually instead - it sometimes works out cheaper and the total cost often includes the wicker hamper itself which is on average about £60.
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Feta and spinach stuffed chickenThis feta and spinach stuffed chicken is cooked in 25 minutes and only has four steps in the method
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Sweet potato and courgette fish cakesThese sweet potato and courgette fish cakes take 30 minutes to make and can be served with chips, salad, or steamed veg on the side...
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Chicken and spinach lasagneThis chicken and spinach lasagne is a great new take on the family favourite and it’s easy to prepare during the day to cook come dinner time...
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Feta and spinach stuffed chicken
This feta and spinach stuffed chicken is cooked in 25 minutes and only has four steps in the method
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Sweet potato and courgette fish cakes
These sweet potato and courgette fish cakes take 30 minutes to make and can be served with chips, salad, or steamed veg on the side...
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Chicken and spinach lasagne
This chicken and spinach lasagne is a great new take on the family favourite and it’s easy to prepare during the day to cook come dinner time...