Spicy, Saucy, and Salty: Our Condiment Lovers Gift Guide Is Packed with the Ultimate Stocking Stuffers

They're pantry essentials, sure, but condiments are also powerful. Shaking seaweed salt on grilled vegetables immediately upgrades a plant-based dinner into something extra special. And what would a burger be without the ketchup? From hot sauce made with kelp and a ketchup that's anything but basic to mole sauces that your loved one will want to use every night, we've rounded up a selection of condiments that are sure to bring lots of joy to your loved ones this upcoming holiday season and beyond. And what better way to add some fun and taste to January than by giving an inspired condiment gift this year?

When you gift one (or more!) of these condiments, you can be sure they will become staples for serving meals at home. Some will inspire new recipes while others will become the gifts you begin to reach for instead of a bottle of wine when you need a hostess present. Many of the brands included in this guide are even actively working to save the planet by reducing carbon emissions and mitigating the effects of the climate crisis—if that's not a gift that keeps on giving, we don't know what is.

If your gift recipient spent many childhood summers at the beach, treat them to a special sauce made for fish and chips that will make them nostalgic for their youth. For the traveler who hasn't been able to get away, a shoyu made using traditional methods is like a trip to Japan. And, of course, we haven't forgotten lovers of heat: They can ratchet up the spice level on their morning eggs with artisanal hot sauces.

You'll find brilliant ideas here for gifting from stocking stuffers to a whole pantry. There are even condiments just right for your impossible-to-shop for relative! Better act fast, though: The holidays are coming, and several of these gifts are primed to sell out.

Whoever you gift this sauce to won't be able to get enough of its briny, savory, bullwhip kelp flavors. Barnacle Foods pairs the kelp that's abundant in Alaskan waters, where they're based, with piri piri pepper for a umami-packed sauce. Plus, kelp is helping to mitigate the effects of climate change, so this is a gift you can feel doubly good about giving.

Shop Now: Barnacle Foods Bullwhip Kelp & Piri Piri Hot Sauce, $25 for three, goldbelly.com.

Whether as the star ingredient in a glazed chicken or the topping for a hot dog, mustard is a pantry essential, but that doesn't mean it has to be boring. Wilder Condiments makes bright, sunny mustard in a variety of flavors, including horseradish and jalapeño. 

Shop Now: Wilder Condiments Mustard Quartet, $35, amazon.com.

The secret to cooking flavorful Penang curry, fried forbidden Rice, Asam laksa, and more is a well-stocked pantry. Umamicart's Southeast Asian Pantry Essentials collection has all the basics—sambal olek, sriracha, nam prik pao, and 12 more items—to make cooking anything but basic.

Shop Now: Southeast Asian Pantry Essentials, $52, umamicart.com.

A backyard barbecue is only ever as good as the sauce used on the mains. Make sure the grill master in your life always has the best with this collection of Lillie's Q Carolina BBQ Sauce, mustard-based Gold BBQ Sauce, and Memphis-style Smoky BBQ Sauce.  

Shop Now: Lillie's Q Barbeque Sauce Variety Pack, $25.40, amazon.com.

Stirring strawberry-infused balsamic vinegar into morning oatmeal adds a touch of spring to the coldest winter days. But make sure the lucky recipient of one of these glorious elixirs doesn't stop there. Any of the 11 flavors—from black currant to pomegranate—of these made-in-California wine vinegars that you choose to gift will upgrade everything from poached fruit to waffles to pastas and cocktails. 

Shop Now: Global Gardens Fruit Infused Balsamic Vinegars, $30, food52.com.

Made in Hawaii, this versatile garlic sauce works well as a hot sauce or as the star ingredient in dips, sauces, marinades and more. The Hawianna chili gives the sauce a punch while the orange adds brightness.

Shop Now: Slow Island Sour Orange Chili Garlic Sauce, $10.00, commongroundkauai.com.

Your friend who loves fish and chips will adore this gut-friendly sauce. The popular fermentation company uses apple cider vinegar infused with spices and herbs for a delicious sauce that will have your friend coming up with excuses to make more fries.

Shop Now: Acid League's Fish and Chip Sauce, $7.99, amazon.com.

Gift this plant-based umami to the relative who really wants to eat more vegan meals but is struggling. Yondu proves that plant-based dishes never have to be boring. Beloved by chefs for its versatility, their vegetable umami adds deep flavor to vegetable dips, as a swap for salt, and so much more.

Shop Now: Yondu-Vegetable Umami, $8.99, amazon.com.

Hot sauce is good, but hot sauce infused with truffles is better. For that friend who always orders the truffle fries, you can't go wrong with TRUFF's Truffle-infused hot sauce, which is available in three flavors (mild, mild-white truffle, and hot). But why not go ahead and buy the limited edition set of three? It's perfectly fine to admit that "that friend" is actually you.

Shop Now: TRUFF Truffle-Infused Hot Sauce Limited Edition, $72 for three, food52.com.

Grab a few bottles of this small-batch shoyu made using tane koji sourced from Japan or opt for a gift set of Moromi's original shoyu and Chili Moromi, which adds chili peppers. Your hard-to-shop-for brother will thank you when he uses it to dip dumplings and raw vegetables, to anoint noodles, and for marinades. 

Shop Now: Moromi Shoyu, $15, moromishoyu.com.

Roasted Hatch chile peppers, garlic, preserved lemon, and slow-cooked tomatoes come together in this bright condiment that pairs well with pita alongside hummus, replaces ketchup on hamburgers, or can even be used to make shakshuka.

Shop Now: New York Shuk Matbucha, $12.95, nyshuk.com.

Packed with umami flavor, Saltverk's hand-harvested seaweed sea salt is a blend of different seaweeds found along the shores of Iceland, where the company is based. It'll add instant depth to any dish. Plus, the company has a zero carbon footprint on the environment and no carbon dioxide and methane emissions, so this is a gift that's as good for the planet as it for your recipient's tastebuds.

Shop Now: Saltverk Hand-Harvested Icelandic Sea Salt, $12.99, amazon.com.

Your favorite uncle is grill a master, sure, but how's his condiment game? Upgrade it with this pack of ketchup, spicy brown mustard, and mayonnaise from Sir Kensington's.

Shop Now: Sir Kensington's Condiments Perfect for Grilling Mixed Picnic Pack, $18.49, amazon.com.

Buy at least two. Seriously, there's no way you're not keeping one of these hot pepper sauces for yourself. You can use it on fish, meat, vegetables, eggs, add some to a creamy dressing to up the spice on a salad. Once you've tried this hot pepper sauce, you'll wonder why you didn't know about it sooner—and you'll want to gift it to all your spiciest friends!

Shop Now: Shaquanda's Hot Pepper Sauce, $10, shaquandawillfeedyou.com.

Your friend who's always hosting Taco Tuesday night will love these vegan, gluten-free heat-and-serve mole sauces from famed chef Susana Trilling who has long championed Oaxacan cuisine. The three varieties—Negro, Rojo, and Coloradito—are sold individually and as a set. They're just right not only for tacos and meat, but also as a complement to fried plantains or even dipping burritos into them.

Shop Now: ¡Ya Oaxaca! Tres Moles, $24.99 for three, yaoaxaca.com.

We haven't been able to get enough of these hand-crafted vinegars from Keepwell. They add instant complexity and acidity to many different dishes. Gift the budding chef in your life this set of Chanterelle, Carolina Gold Rice, Black Garlic, and Celery Leaf rice vinegars.

Shop Now: Chef's Vinegar Gift Box, $34, keepwell.com.

What's better than honey? Honey with a kick. Put this hot honey on everything from pizza to chicken to breakfast sandwiches. Plus, at less than $10, you might as well buy a few of these for when you need last-minute stocking stuffers or Yankee swap item.

Shop Now: Mike's Hot Honey, $9,99, amazon.com.