The WV-made holiday shopping guide
If West Virginians are known for one thing, it’s our enormous state pride. This holiday season, spread the Christmas cheer for local artists and businesses by stuffing stockings with local goodies.
You’ll be putting money back into our tight-knit communities AND putting a smile on your loved ones’ faces.
1. Calling all Tudor’s Biscuit World enthusiasts!
Because it’s not really feasible to wrap up a beautifully crispy Mary B, try the next best thing for the Tudor’s Biscuit World lover in your life: a biscuit-themed tee! Brand Yourself in Huntington’s Heritage Station allows you to display the line of unique biscuits proudly for all the world to see!
2. Ship a sweet gift for a sweet friend
In between the mountains of West Virginia, a tiny kitchen churns out authentic Swiss chocolates. Holl’s Chocolate shops in Vienna and Charleston still offer the same authentic chocolates Fritz Holl whipped up in the 50s when he immigrated here from Switzerland, in response to an ad placed by Broughton’s dairy company for a Swiss-trained chocolatier.
Holl’s is happy to do custom orders, and they ship, too (taking extra care that those delicious chocolates don’t melt until they hit your mouth)!
DeFluri’s in Martinsburg also crafts fine artisan sweets, including award-winning wine chocolates and fresh cream truffles.
3. Turn a loved one’s meals into a work of art
Fiesta ware, made in Newell, provides the perfect palette for turning dinner into an artistic endeavor. Their vibrant line has made them the most collected dinnerware in history. Add a burst of sunshine to anyone’s kitchen with a set of poppy mugs, a peacock canister, a tangerine casserole dish or a lemongrass teapot.
You can find Fiesta ware at their shops in Flatwoods and Newell, as well as many major department stores and online.
4. Sprinkle a stocking with hand-harvested salt
An adorably packaged jar of J.Q. Dickinson Salt-Works is the perfect stocking stuffer. Their “brilliantly clean” artisanal salt is harvested by the hands of a 7th generation salt-making family. It’s 100% local too, coming from right underneath the Appalachian Mountains in the Kanawha Valley.
5. Get sudsy
Wild Mountain Soap Company handcrafts bath and body products using all natural ingredients. Your body will be clean, refreshed and moisturized after lathering up with their beautiful soaps (see: “Cashmere;” it’s tie-dyed!) And if there’s a rugged man in your life, the “Rugged Man Beard Balm” is a must try.
6. Flaunt that WV pride!
From sweatshirts flaunting the glistening State Capitol building to “West by God” toboggans, Kin Ship Goods in Charleston has an array of Mountain State-themed goodies. The owners, Dan and Hillary, print their apparel right there in house, alongside their 1-eyed, 4-legged beagle buddy, Lazy Hazy.
Their online shop has gained nationwide attention— even Mindy Kaling was spotted wearing one of Kin Ship’s snuggly sweatshirts on her hit show, the Mindy Project.
7. Keep tradition alive with a homemade quilt
This one-of-a-kind gift is memorable and unforgettable. Cabin Creek Quilts are 100% handcrafted by quiltmakers in the hills and hollows of West Virginia. When you buy one of these works of art, you’re supporting artists who work in their homes to keep the longstanding tradition of quiltmaking alive. Bright, bold fabrics separate Cabin Creek Quilts from the rest, landing their work in prestigious private collections, including the White House.
8. Pack a party in a present
For the flavor lover in your life, how about a sampler of the Mountain State’s best spirits? Throw together a sampler 6-pack. Don’t forget the uniquely West Virginia Mothman Black IPA from Greenbrier Valley Brewing Company and an Almost Heaven Amber Ale from Mountain State Brewing Company. Add in a bottle of Kirkwood Winery’s Ginseng Wine. A bottle of Pinchgut Hollow Distillery Apple Pie Shine couldn’t hurt, either.
9. Gift some heat from the hills
Blue Smoke Salsa’s homemade, kettle-cooked salsas come in 6 varieties, starting at mild and stretching to “triple-x hot.” Their variety gift box allows you to try a little of each of them. If you’re aiming to go all out, their deluxe gift basket features 2 bags of their famous guacamole chips, 4 Blue Smoke Salsas, pepper mustard, coal cookies, chocolates, White House Apple Butter, pumpkin butter, soup and honey.
Which WV-made gifts are you giving this year?
Find more WV giftsThis post was last updated on March 15, 2022