Making brunch is a go-to move on Mother’s Day — but if you can’t be with her (or if you’re an overachiever), an edible gift is sure to be a hit. Since we’ve written a lot about drinks, specialty ingredients, sweet treats, and other foods over the years, I dug deep into our archives to surface the most special pro-approved and Strategist-beloved items. Below you’ll find picks that last a while, like a splurge-worthy bottle of olive oil; things she can share with friends, like an expertly curated collection of cheese; and deliveries that are meant to be enjoyed on the holiday itself, like a spread of bagels and lox from a favorite New York City shop. There are many options at a variety of price points, all of which are sure to please your mom (or any mom-like figure in your life).
For the mom who’s fussy about her olive oil
You (and she) have likely heard of Brightland’s lovely olive oils before — but this limited-edition variety will make an extra-thoughtful gift. It’s pressed from everyone’s favorite snacking olive, the Castelvetrano, giving it a supersmooth, rich taste. Tell her this one is luxe enough to be saved for drizzling and dipping.
For the mom who makes an ace salad dressing
Not all vinegar is created equal — but we love this one from Forum, which comes recommended by recipe developer Andy Baraghani. “There’s some residual sugar, so when you taste it, you’re not getting a sensation so intense that your cheeks tingle,” he says. “It has an almost honeylike quality that makes it very well rounded.”
For the mom who makes an ace salad dressing (and wants something a little more interesting)
If you think she’d enjoy something not so traditional, Acid League’s vinegars, which experts and a couple of Strategist staffers love, are made of exciting and unusual flavor combinations. We’re partial to the Meyer Lemon Honey (a perfect balance of sour and sweet), the Garden Heat (which has a nice vegetal quality), and the Strawberry Rose (just as good drizzled over ice cream as it is whisked into a dressing).
For the mom who drinks coffee
Give her coffee — but with the added bonus of beautiful chocolate bars. Driftaway’s boxes pair select roasts (which you can get whole bean or ground) with offerings from Raaka Chocolate. They’re meant to go well together, but we won’t tell if she starts the day with one and ends it with the other.
For the mom who prefers matcha
Ippodo comes highly recommended by tea-drinking experts. If she already loves matcha, consider the Ummon variety, which is earthy and creamy. Or if she’s new to the drink, try Sayaka, which is particularly balanced in its bitterness.
For the mom who prefers tea
Bellocq makes beautiful tea blends and packages them in their lovely signature yellow box. This one comes with five varietals — a mix of green, black, and white — along with filter bags. If you want to go one step further, pair it with one of the tea cups or mugs Bellocq sells (there are lots of styles to choose from).
For the mom who takes honey in her tea
California-based Blue Ridge makes five different types of honey: sweet and citrusy orange blossom, nutty buckwheat, mild sage, wildflower honey (for fighting allergies), and avocado-blossom (thicker than the others, with a molasses flavor). Smita Satiani, co-founder of Alaya Tea, says all are delicious, so just choose the one you think your mom would like the most.
For the mom who lives on pasta
Sfoglini pasta is 100 percent organic and made in Brooklyn. With a subscription (shipped every three months), the mom in your life gets six boxes per quarter (for six months or a full year) of the brand’s signature shapes. Each delivery comes with recipe cards to inspire delicious meals.
For the mom who under-salts her pasta water
These compressed salt discs from Jacobsen Salt Co. (a company that, generally speaking, makes delicious salt) take the guesswork out of adding the ingredient to water when boiling pasta or blanching vegetables. There are even ratios listed on the jar, which will practically guarantee that her food tastes more vibrant than ever.
For the mom who scrapes every bit of peanut butter from the jar
If she loves peanut butter, she’ll probably like Soom, a silky, ultracreamy, chef-approved tahini that Strategist senior editor Jessica McNamara says “you can just hit straight out of the jar.” (Here’s another instance where you might want to gift a different tiny spatula that one Strategist contributor uses to scoop up every last drop of Nutella and tomato paste.)
For the mom who thinks a pinch of salt fixes everything
Her food will never be under-seasoned again with this giant tub of Maldon. (If you think she doesn’t need a whole tub, you can get her a smaller box, too.)
For the mom who already has Maldon
This white-truffle-studded jar of salt is a beauty. (The brand freeze-dries the truffles and mixes them in.) While it’s small, a little goes a long way, so she’ll savor it for months to come.
For the mom whose house always smells incredible
Okay, so this isn’t strictly food — but this stunning box includes a luscious bottle of olive oil (worthy of drizzling only) and a decadent jar of honey. Plus, there’s fancy hand soap, body wash, and a candle all in gorgeous earthy scents.
For the mom who likes a sweet breakfast
This swirly, braided loaf is considered one of the best in New York City (and is beloved by more than one Strategist staffer). Pro tip: If she can’t eat it all right away, she can slice and freeze pieces to heat up later.
For the mom who likes a savory breakfast
Because she’s convinced New York City tap water yields superior bagels, and therefore won’t eat them from anywhere else. Shipping is free, and you can select it to arrive the day before the holiday.
For the mom who likes a simple breakfast
Getting a delivery of baked goods is definitely exciting, but if she tends to like things simpler (or if you want to do most of the cooking yourself), this sampler of jams comes with three lovely flavors: cherry chai, blueberry sumac, and strawberry lemongrass.
For the mom who likes dessert more than breakfast
Pecan pie is great, but have you ever tried pecan pie laced with bittersweet chocolate? Brooklyn’s pie lords, Four & Twenty Blackbirds, have reinvented the classic, making it less one-dimensional and not so sickeningly sweet.
For the mom who likes cake more than pie
Strategist senior writer Lauren Ro loves regional treats and says that this cake would make a great gift for any occasion or just for everyday eating (you can freeze it for up to six months). “It’s definitely very sweet, as it’s basically just cake and caramel, but it’s packaged beautifully, thaws and presents well, and feels festive,” Ro says.
For the mom who likes ice cream more than cake
Butterscotch budino with caramel-rosemary swirl, Amarena cherry with amaretti, and salted peanut butter with crunchy peanuts are just a few of the mouthwatering flavors offered in this gift set of gelato from iconic Los Angeles restaurateur Nancy Silverton. Mom will get nine varieties in four-ounce jars so she can sample them all at once or savor them over time.
For the mom who enjoys mixing a cocktail
This Italian amaro is a deeply nutty, slightly bitter, entirely sippable bottle that will also happen to look beautiful on her bar cart. If she needs a cocktail idea, take a page from cookbook author Odette Williams, who uses it to make a paper plane: equal parts amaro, lemon juice, Aperol, and bourbon. It’s a perfect drink.
For the mom who enjoys a cocktail (but doesn’t like to make them herself)
NYC’s famed Via Carota makes fully ready-to-go cocktails in bottles worthy of her bar cart. Each drink option (there are several to browse from) is as easy to prepare as this negroni, which you simply serve cold over ice and garnish with an orange peel.
For the mom who enjoys a mocktail
Ghia recently rereleased its nonalcoholic apéritif with an even more concentrated flavor and some new extracts. Beloved by Strategist staffer Dominique Pariso and former staffer Stephanie Downes, the bitter-leaning bottle is a fantastic base for a refreshing mocktail. “Even though there’s no alcohol, it still feels like a special cocktail,” says Downes. She likes to make a spritz by adding sparkling water, a big rock of ice, and an orange twist.
For the mom with a wine collection
This sommelier-approved subscription ships a monthly selection of natural wines that she most likely won’t have tried before. Subscriptions start at $85 for three bottles per delivery, and she can always take over paying for it if she loves it and you don’t want to foot the bill for an entire year.
For the mom who can’t have wine without cheese
Murray’s knows how to curate a cheese board, and this one made especially for Mother’s Day is sure to be a treat. It has six different kinds, including a Brie-inspired Vermont variety and a spice-coated, truffle-studded wedge. And it should go without saying that the whole thing would pair quite nicely with a glass or two of wine.
For the mom who hosts splashy affairs
If she likes the finer things in life (and you have the budget), she’ll love this trio of caviars from Pearl Street. It comes with 12-gram tins each of Keluga, Ossetra, and Siberian Select. She can enjoy them right away with all the accompaniments they send, too (chives, chips, crème fraîche, and a tiny mother-of-pearl spoon), or save the tins for a few weeks to break out on an occasion.
For the mom who hosts splashy affairs (but you’re on a tighter budget)
If she doesn’t have a taste for caviar, or if you’re trying to keep your gift more affordable, consider this fun package of Jamón Ibérico. It’s still super special — a real treat set out on a board with cheese and olives — just a bit more approachable. Strategist senior editor Chelsea Peng calls it “the hammiest jamón I’ve ever had.” Choose expedited shipping at checkout to ensure your gift arrives on time.
For the mom who needs to clean out her spice cabinet
Even if she’s an avid cook, chances are her spice cabinet could use a refresh. No set will get the job done better than this collection of ethically sourced spices. Trust us: They taste better than anything she’d buy at the grocery store. If you really want to go all out, consider adding a spice grinder to go along with.
For the mom who loves to snack
Grown in California, Rancho Meladuco’s Medjool dates have a reputation as some of the best you can find — way better than in any clamshell package she’d snag from the grocery store. Sweet and plump, they’re perfect for adding to salads, setting out on a cheese board, or snacking straight from the box.
For the mom who can take the heat
If she’s a hot-sauce-on-everything kind of person, you can’t go wrong with Zab’s, which is beloved by multiple Strategist staffers (and an expert cook, too). Both are vinegar-based, but the St. Augustine has a slightly sweeter heat. Choose expedited shipping at checkout to make sure your order arrives in time for Mother’s Day.
For the mom who always keeps cookies in the cabinet
Shatila Bakery is a Detroit-area institution known for its sweet and gorgeous baklava. This stunner of a gift box is full of assorted varieties like pistachio-and-cashew burmas, orange-scented basma, and crispy ballourie made with shredded filo.
For the mom who prefers shortbread
Laurie Ellen is a baker (formerly of San Francisco’s famed Tartine) who turns out seasonal packs of shortbread cookies that she sells online. She sources ingredients from some of our favorite companies — including Burlap & Barrel, Heilala Vanilla, and Murray’s Cheese (all of which make an appearance on this list). This two-pack includes Ellen’s chocolate-orange and jasmine-green-tea varieties.
For the mom who loves to bake
Laurie Ellen isn’t the only pro baker who turns to Heilala for her vanilla. Not only does the company work closely with farmers in Tonga to ensure sustainable growing and fair labor practices, the vanilla simply tastes better than the extract you find at the grocery store. The paste comes close to a real vanilla bean as you can get without all of the work (or the steep price) and it’s studded with flecks that will make anything Mom bakes stand out.
For the mom who never turns down a seafood tower
While we haven’t found one of those to send her (yet), these made-in-Maine lobster rolls would surely have her salivating.
For the mom who can’t get enough chocolate
San Francisco–based Dandelion Chocolate makes some of the most elegant sweets around. This gorgeously wrapped box of not-too-sweet toffee is sure to please her sweet tooth. The bottom layer is darkly caramelized and covered in 70 percent chocolate, toasted cacao nibs, and a sprinkle of sea salt.
For the mom who can’t decide between chocolate and fruit
Go all out with this showstopping chocolate basket — yes, an actual edible basket — filled with bite-size truffles, buttery caramels, and chocolate fruits from California. Your order will arrive in time if you choose expedited shipping at checkout.
For the mom who likes all the sweets
This box is packed with an array of more unusual (and very pretty) treats. It includes things like a cherry pâte de fruit, maple café latte bonbon, and pistachio cookie bar with fig jam — so she won’t have to choose from chocolate or fruit or cookies.
For the mom who’s always adding a squeeze of lemon
Chef and writer Lauren Joseph uses this preserved lemon paste (essentially whole preserved lemons that have been blended to a smooth consistency) whisked into yogurt dips, on top of meats, in cakes, and in cocktails. Talk about versatile.
For the mom who needs a pantry reset
Botanica is a lovely Los Angeles–based restaurant that also operates a market out of its space. This collection of goodies includes dukkah, chile oil, preserved local lemons, homemade granola, a versatile spice blend, plus stand-alone jars of sumac, pimentón dulce, and za’atar.
For the mom who likes a weeknight shortcut
This gift set from Brooklyn Delhi comes with tomato achaar made with tamarind, sesame oil, and chile; garlic achaar, made with roasted garlic, lemon, oil, and a mix of Indian spices; and mango chutney, a sweet spread of mango, golden raisins, ginger, and garam masala. Each one is a great base to start dinner.
For the mom with busy mornings
Strategist senior writer Liza Corsillo received this granola pack as a gift after her baby was born — and she loved it so much she bought more to gift to a friend shortly after. She says the flavors are all great, and this bundle will let you taste each one: turmeric and super seed; sour cherry and pistachio rose; strawberry and salty peanut; and blueberry and sunflower butter.
For the mom with a still-life-worthy fruit bowl
Receiving a giant box of specialty citrus is truly a joy. Pearson Ranch (a family-run citrus farm in Porterville, California, in the San Joaquin Valley) sells boxes of Meyer lemons, limes, limequats, kumquats, Ojai Pixies, blood oranges, mandarins, yuzu, and more. The fruit is top-notch — juicy and plump with a mix of ripenesses, so she doesn’t have to use it all at once. Shipping times vary depending on where you live, so pay attention at checkout.
For the mom who has a collection of shucking knives
For its monthly subscriptions boxes, Real Oyster Cult, run by a family of oyster farmers, curates peak-season oysters from farms around the country. Each shipment is a surprise of 20, 40, or 60 ready-to-eat oysters.
For the mom who likes her fish in anchovy form
The latest release from Fishwife is this three-pack of plump, rich anchovies in olive oil. They’re sourced from the Cantabrian Sea of Spain, which is known for producing the world’s highest-quality anchovies. These aren’t the kind of fish you want to dissolve into a pasta sauce; eat them whole on bread with a smear of butter. Choose expedited shipping at checkout to ensure an on-time arrival.
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