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May is Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, making it an especially auspicious time to spotlight, celebrate, and support these communities. We’ve put together a list of nice gifts under $50 that you can buy from Asian and Asian American–owned brands and small businesses, most of which we’ve written about before, for all sorts of people and occasions — whether you’re searching for a gift to bring to a friend’s housewarming, something to celebrate a sibling’s promotion, or just an “I’m thinking of you” present for your parents. And if you’re looking for other ways to support the AAPI community, check out our list of organizations you can donate to.
Food gifts
Brightland’s smooth, peppery Castelvetrano olive oil is delicious drizzled over charcuterie. Plus, the design-forward bottle makes for a lovely host or housewarming present.
Country Archer Provisions uses 100 percent grass-fed, pasture-raised beef for better-tasting jerky. This three-pack includes original, teriyaki, and mango habanero flavors; the teriyaki is my personal favorite.
Gochujang and ssamjang are Korean-pantry staples; Potluck’s are made in small batches in Korea with all-natural ingredients and no added sugars or preservatives. They’re perfect for spooning over rice bowls or spicing up a salad.
Another delicious condiment combo, this one from Fly by Jing. The brand created by Szechuan chef Jing Gao is a hit with foodies, including Ghetto Gastro co-founder Jon Gray and Samin Nosrat, who wrote the cookbook Salt Fat Acid Heat. The set includes jars of Sichuan Chili Crisp, sweet-hot Zhong Sauce, and nutty Chengdu Crunch.
For those who aren’t into traditional coffee but could still use a pick-me-up, Marquis’s sparkling caffeine drinks contain green coffee, yerba mate, and green tea. Julia Haart is a fan because they don’t “take like grass” or have an aftertaste, describing them as “bubbly and fun.”
Omsom co-founders and sisters Vanessa and Kim Pham started the compnay to bring classic, restaurant-quality Asian spices right to your home. These Southeast Asian-flavored samplers would make an excellent gift for foodies and new homeowners.
Enthusiastic snackers will love munching on Yun Hai’s selection of dried fruits, which includes golden diamond pineapple, Irwin mango, green mango, wax apple, and pearl guava.
This Japanese barbecue sauce can be drizzled over anything from short ribs to grilled vegetables, and it comes in a gluten-free version too. It’d also make a great Father’s Day gift.
For your vegan friend with a constant craving for Cup o’ Noodles, immi’s low-carb, high-protein instant ramen is 100 percent plant-based. This variety pack includes black garlic “chicken,” tom yum “shrimp,” and spicy “beef” flavors.
Sanzo’s sparkling water is available in fun Asian-inspired flavors, such as lychee, calamansi, mango, and yuzu. You can buy one type if you know your recipient has a favorite, or you can get a sampler so they can try them all.
Wildwonder’s probiotic sparkling beverages were inspired by founder Rosa Li’s grandmother, who would brew healing tonics for her as a child. This sampler pack includes three fruit-forward flavors: guava rose, mango gold, and peach ginger.
Noona’s has been making ice cream and frozen desserts in Asian-inspired flavors since 2016. The popular Thai-iced-tea flavor is a best seller, or if you want to branch out, this black sesame ice cream sounds just as tasty.
This kit from Nguyen Coffee Supply comes with a bag of coffee and a phin filter to use in the Vietnamese way of brewing coffee. The phin – a small metal cup that fits over a mug — brews more slowly but makes a stronger coffee that resembles a thicker, more caffeinated espresso.
With Bokksu’s subscription box, they’ll be sent a monthly pick-me-up package bursting with snacks, candy, and tea sourced from family-run businesses in Japan.
If they don’t live near a Chinatown, a shipment of MìLà frozen soup dumplings delivered straight to their doorstep is the next best thing.
Elix founder Lulu Ge relied on her family’s roots in traditional Chinese medicine to create a range of natural remedies for soothing period cramps, headaches, and nausea. Whenever I feel a cold coming on, I like to add a few droppers of this Ginger Aide elixir to a cup of tea to bolster my immune system.
Gifts for the home
Poketo’s paper goods are equally beloved by stationery enthusiasts and folks who appreciate great design. The blank pages in this notebook are suitable for doodling, bullet journaling, and even jotting down a daily to-do list. Plus, it comes in lots of vibrant patterns, including this punchy tangerine grid.
The persimmon is a symbol of luck in Chinese culture. This miniature jar shaped like the fruit would make for a great tea, herb, or jewelry holder.
This stunningly illustrated tarot deck from visual designer Grace Duong is perfect for the budding TikTok witch in your life.
An easy-to-care for plant from The Sill for the person who loves greenery but struggles to keep it alive.
Any neat freak on your gift list will appreciate this sleek, sustainable kit from Blueland that comes with hand soap, multi-surface cleaner, bathroom cleaner, and glass and mirror cleaner — all of which are refillable.
Material Kitchen’s cutting board is a best-in-class pick that comes in six charming colors, like a punchy yellow and calming light blue, so it’ll look nice on any countertop. If you purchase the color To Pó-Po with Love, 50 percent of the profits go toward Heart of Dinner, an organization whose mission is to fight food insecurity and isolation among elderly Asian Americans.
SuChin Pak told us about these attractive handmade bowls that are sure to please pet owners as much as they (or what’s in them) satisfy their pets.
You really can’t go wrong with a candle as a housewarming gift — but this one, which has a 50-hour burn time and is hand-poured in Queens, seems less-expected than the norm.
A handwritten note can be extremely meaningful — especially when written on a card that shows you put some thought into it. This one from Amy Zhang, a Denver-based graphic designer and illustrator, will be sure to put a smile on their face. The price shown is for one card, but you can also get a set of eight if you’re shopping for a stationery fiend.
Wing On Wo & Co. has been open since 1925, making it the oldest store in New York City’s Chinatown. It’s known for its porcelain wares, so gift the tea lover in your life this beautifully intricate set.
For something a bit more modern, consider this tea set from the Qi, which contains two glass cups with matching saucers. The brand specializes in tea brewed from flowers, so the transparent glass makes it easy to document the unfurling petals for the ’gram.
Beauty gifts
This innovative melting powder from CLE Cosmetics transforms from pigmented powder into a matte, long-wearing tint that can be layered on eyes, lips, or cheeks.
Soft Services’ exfoliating buffing bar — one of our favorite body scrubs — now comes in a delightful green banana scent for an even more sensorial shower experience.
Founded by OG beauty influencer Michelle Phan, Em Cosmetics is, in my opinion, a highly underrated beauty brand. The Color Drop liquid blushes are especially lovely for imparting a rosy glow.
Chinese cosmetics brand Florasis is known for its intricately sculpted designs that are almost too beautiful to use. This versatile four-pan palette works as a contour, highlight, blush, or eyeshadow.
Fragrance brand Ellis Brooklyn’s hair-and-body mists come in four summer-ready scents, perfect for bringing to the beach. Sea contains notes of Italian mandarin, tonka bean, and pineapple leaves.
Our beauty writer Rio Viera-Newton loves this hair mask from Tokyo-based brand NatureLab. Not only does it “smell like a dream, but the ingredient list is jam-packed with yummy ingredients like antioxidant-rich prickly pear (which protects your hair from free-radical damage), argan oil (for deep conditioning), and bamboo stem cells (which strengthens your hair and promotes growth),” she writes.
Viera-Newton also swears by this cleanser because of how “gentle, hydrating, and brightening” it is.
Superegg’s pleasingly round hand cream comes in a floral bergamot-and-lavender scent and nestles conveniently into your purse or pocket for on-the-go moisturizing.
Byroe’s lineup of superfood-infused skin care almost sounds like a salad recipe. If you’re not sure where to start, this five-piece discovery set includes a kiwi cleanser, a bitter green toner, a golden carrot overnight mask, a pear oil, and a beet serum.
Recent Northeast transplants (and their skin) will thank you for this oil from Pink Moon that Strategist writer Arielle Avila credits with helping her eczema-prone skin survive its first New York winter. She says her skin drank up the luxuriously thick oil and her “hands reverted to their normal state and even had a nice sheen.”
This nourishing serum from Krave Beauty harnesses the Tamanu nut to repair and protect the skin barrier. The reparative formula neutralizes environmental pollution, so if they live in a densely populated area, it could be the difference between dull and dewy.
David Yi first launched his skin-care line, Good Light, in 2016 with the aim of pushing the boundaries of traditional gender norms. SuChin Pak recommends this toning lotion, which she’s found to be “super-light, milky, and not greasy and will drench your skin in a dewy glow.”
If they’re already set with creams, cleansers, and serums, get them this de-puffing face roller from Mount Lai, a brand inspired by founder Stephanie Zheng’s grandmother and traditional Chinese medicine practices.
Youthforia’s color-changing blush oil goes on clear, then reacts to the skin’s natural pH to create a rosy flush that’s unique to each wearer.
Perfumery brand Elorea creates genderless, small-batch scents inspired by Korean culture and heritage. The Forgotten Words discovery set contains samples of four fragrances based on native Korean words that are rarely used in modern times.
Mango People founder Sravya Adusumilli draws from her South Asian roots to create cosmetics that incorporate natural ingredients like fruit extracts, botanical oils, and Ayurvedic herbs. These intensely pigmented multi-sticks are safe for sensitive skin and come in a wide range of colors for all skin tones.
Self Made’s silky, sensual body oil is perfect for gifting to a partner or to yourself. The nonirritating serum features arnica flower to increase blood flow and anti-inflammatory copaiba balsam.
An excellent gift for the friend who finds it meditative to do their own nails. We like this calming cornflower blue, but Sundays’ colors run the gamut.
For a little more pizzazz, JINsoon polishes are available in plenty of glittery and sparkly options as well as this rainbow-bright confetti.
For those who prefer gel to regular polish, Strategist contributor Alyse Whitney says these custom-fit stick-on gel manicures last just as long (if not longer) than the gel manicure you’d get at a salon, but cost half as much. There are tons of cool designs, from stars to floral patterns, so you’re sure to find one that suits your recipient’s style.
Peach & Lily’s Glass Skin serum is a “holy grail” product for beauty editors and skin-care Redditors. Along with the serum, the set includes the brand’s best-selling gel cleanser, toning essence, and cream moisturizer for glowing, luminous skin.
Viera-Newton can’t get enough of Tower28’s lip glosses, reporting that they’re “extremely high-shine with a soft, subtle pigment” and give your lips a “wash of color with a juicy, high-impact glaze.”
Blogger Sabrina Molu tried Hero Cosmetics’ TikTok-famous pimple patches after they showed up on her “For You” page and was instantly won over: “They’re cheaper than other brands and they’re thin enough that I can put them along my nose or on my hairline without killing when I take them off,” she says.
Fashion & accessories gifts
Bag designer Lo & Sons has a collection of Chinese zodiac charms made from Saffiano leather. While this year’s dragon charm has sold out, last year’s rabbit charm is still available — and adorable.
If they’re over scrunchies, how about an on-trend claw clip? In addition to this pastel-colored one, Chunks offers dozens of other hair accessories, from barrettes to headbands to combs.
We have yet to meet anyone who can’t find a use for Baggu’s lightweight, durable, and extremely packable tote bags. Even if they’ve already got some, we are willing to wager your recipient will never turn down more.
A charming pair of earrings that will stand out — but not too much — these mini-hoops are sold as single earrings so you can mix and match colors that include blue, orange, yellow, and white.
Dauphinette’s garden-inspired jewelry is made of real flowers and fruit dipped in eco-friendly resin. Each earring comes secured to wildflower seed paper that you can plant and watch grow.
Maison Miru makes some of our favorite stud earrings, with designs ranging from classic hearts to evil eyes. These mini crystal studs are the Little Black Dress of earrings, perfect for pairing with literally everything. There’s also a comfortable-to-wear flat-back version.
Made from repurposed deadstock raffia dyed in eye-catching colors, Verloop’s crocheted pouch can hold pencils, makeup, chargers, and more.
Buying a ring for someone else usually involves some guesswork, but with these adjustable enamel bands, you won’t have to worry about sizing. The clever mechanism accommodates sizes five through nine, and you can wear them alone or in a rainbow-hued stack.
No matter how you feel about their taste in footwear, the Crocs loyalist in your life will appreciate this set of hand-beaded floral charms from Not Impressed.
For the sneakerhead in your life, this kit comes with a bottle of shoe cleaner that will last for up to 100 pairs and a soft-bristle brush that’s perfect for getting dirt and grime off the midsoles and undersoles.
Additional reporting by Chloe Anello and Sanibel Chai
The Strategist is designed to surface the most useful, expert recommendations for things to buy across the vast e-commerce landscape. Some of our latest conquests include the best acne treatments, rolling luggage, pillows for side sleepers, natural anxiety remedies, and bath towels. We update links when possible, but note that deals can expire and all prices are subject to change.
