Waitrose & Partners

THE HOT LIST

10 must-buy ingredients and food products this month

Make your kitchen cupboards instantly aspirational with these must-have products and ingredients for December, which include posh pasta, star-topped pork pies and an English fizz you'll be drinking on repeat this festive season.

1. Cherry beer 

1. Cherry beer 

Savour a swig of this ruby-tinted Belgian brew and you’ll find a glimmer of almond within its frothy, fruity body. It’s giving Bakewell tart, and we absolutely love it.

Shop Cherry Chouffe

2. Nicolas Alziari olive oil  

A buttery texture and fruity flavour make this French creation an elite choice for drizzling over ribbons of pasta and winter salads. The colourful tin doubles as a kitchen display – win-win.  

Shop Nicolas Alziari Extra Virgin Olive Oil

3. Elsinore Lumpfish Caviar

Add some swag to your Christmas party canapés – or pasta and soups – with a dollop of this briny, buttery caviar. We also love it on Pringles... Don’t knock it ’til you’ve tried it.  

Shop Elsinore Chilled Lumpfish Caviar

4. Chocolate almonds 

A tin of these caramelised almonds, dipped in velvety milk and blonde chocolate, make a thoughtful little gift – to yourself, ideally.

Shop No.1 Blonde & Milk Chocolate Caramelised Almonds

5. Festive pork pie 

5. Festive pork pie

We’re going wild for pies this Christmas, especially this No.1 pork pie that's stuffed with British turkey and pork, wrapped in cranberry and port jelly.

Shop No.1 Starry Night Pork Pie

6. Posh pappardelle

Made with 100% Italian durum wheat semolina and free-range eggs in the foothills of the Apennine mountains, it’s a dream partner for a hearty, homemade ragù.

Shop No.1 Italian Egg Pappardelle

7. Fig and shallot chutney

An indispensable sidekick to cheese, paté and Twixmas turkey curry, this jar of sweet stickiness is a staple for the festive season. 

Shop Bonne Maman Violet Fig with Shallot Chutney

8. Gusbourne English fizz

This delicious English sparkling wine brings together citrus, sweet spices and orchard fruits, thanks to a Champagne-style blend of grapes grown in Kent vineyards.

Shop Gusbourne Exclusive Release

Roastworks Brazil Pico whole coffee beans

9. Roastworks coffee beans

Nutty, chocolatey and with a hint of dried fruit, Roastworks Brazil Pico Mirante beans make the perfect brew to accompany a slice of No.1 Hazelnut Creme Panettone.

Shop Roastworks coffee beans