gift guide for tcm lovers & home cooks
There are so many products out there, which one is worth buying??? I’m fortunate enough to have the opportunity to work with and try many products inspired by Traditional Chinese Medicine and healthy eating. Here is a list of products I think could be great gifts for your friends, family, and yourself. (Honest feedback + discount code included!) I do get a commission on some of the products, but I didn’t include them in the list because of that. I included them because I truly think they are great products. Keep this list, because after Xmas, there is NYE, after NYE, there is Lunar New Year, Valentine’s Day…. and Xmas again ;)
With Love,
Zoey
Elix Healing Digestion Duo
Zoey’s Digestif is a product that I designed with Elix Healing. It contains delicious herbs like hawthorn, sha ren, and ginger that acts to warm the center and remove food stagnation. Perfect for your loved ones who always complain about bloating, slow digestion, and overeating. I trust elix to make this tincture because I know they do an amaizng job at herb extraction. They work with trusted, experienced factory in China to make each bottle to ensure the “good stuff” is actually being extracted.
How lovely is it to have your loved ones thinking of you every time they use this tincture before their meals? This set also includes a wonderful ginger tincture!
2. Signature Tea Bundle by RECHI
It is so rare to find a good bag of TCM-focused herbal tea that contain whole herbs, rather than just tiny brown-color pieces that don’t provide enough dosage. I love RE:CHI tea bags because they each contain at least 13g of chopped up whole herbs! They are very easy to use as well. Simply steeping each tea bag in boiling water to brew 4-5 cups of tea! You can also soak these bags in alcohol to make your own medicinal liquor or boil with bones to make herbal bone. So versatile!
I helped RE:CHI with formulation and there are some great herbs in there!
*Disclaimer: I receive a commision with the code below.
3. Nakano Knives
Good kitchen knives are not only a sign of adulthood (lol), they are also one of the most important things to help you cook better, save time, and ensure safety in the ktichen. However, good knives are usually expensive. I am so glad to know about Nakano Knives, a Japanese knive company that produces truly awesome knives for home cooking that are affordable and durable. I've been using their knives every day and they are still working very well!
They offer many different kinds of knives and knife sets. Pick one for yourself or that friend who can really upgrade their kitchen game!
*Disclaimer: I receive a commission with the code below. Discount until 1/15/2024.
4. NOOK by Lettuce Grow
I always dream to grow my own food. Living in a small apartment in NYC makes it a practically impossbile dream, until I found Lettuce Grow. It is a beautiful stand that allows me to grow vegetables indoor! Not a bit of sunlight required! It waters the plants and turns on/off the light every day automatically. All I need to do is to watch the beautiful seedlings grow! If you have a rooftop or an outdoor area, they also have outdoor versions.
It is the most fun and healthy to eat fresh vegetables harvested literally seconds ago at home. If my friend gifts me this, I would cry out of happiness.
*Disclaimer: I receive a commission with the code below.
5. Essential Mist by YINA
Founded by a TCM dermatologist, YINA has been putting out great products. I’ve tried all of them, and this product is my favorite! The invigorating mist is composed of an White Tea and Rosewater base with a reparative blend of Prebiotics and East Asian Medicinal plants of Ginseng and Tremella.
It keeps my skin (combination type) hydrated without being sticky or irritated. Truly grateful for this product.
*Disclaimer: I receive a commission with the code below.
6. Ming River Baijiu
Why would I recommend alcohol? If you have issues with drinkings, then this gift is not for you. However, if you don’t mind consuming a little booze, I highly recommend trying baijiu, a high-proof traditional Chinese liquor that has been historically used to make herbal tincture and traditional cuisine. I recommend soaking beginnger-friendly herbs like goji, chrysanthemum, osmanthus, jujube, longan etc in baijiu and let it sit for at least 2 weeks. The liquor will taste so special, while taking on the medicinal benefits of these herbs! It will be so special if you bring to your holiday party a bottle of medicinal liquor!
There are many different kinds of baijiu. A balanced and complex spirit, Ming River is the original Sichuan baijiu. Each batch starts with locally harvested red sorghum grain and the purest waters from protected wells. It is fermented in earthen pits with naturally harvested yeast cultures native to Luzhou that impart the distinctive terroir of Sichuan style baijiu. After two months, the mash is unearthed and distilled in small batches using a traditional Chinese pot still. The spirits age for up to two years before the master blender balances them into Ming River’s distinctive flavor.
7. Consultation with Zoey!
Gifting your loved ones health and wellness is always special. This gift certificate includes a full nutrition consultation session with me, a Chinese Medicine food therpaist and Registered dietitian. The session will help:
- identify imbalances from the perspecitive of both Chinese medicine and clinical nutrition
- identify poor dietary choices and habits
- give practical, achievable, flexible dietary goals for healing
- prescribe herbs, if necessary
8. Made Here Cookbook by Send Chinatown Love
Made Here is more than a cookbook, and it's about more than just making food — it's about making a home, making a life, and making it in New York City.Send Chinatown Love is a volunteer-run organization providing financial and resource-based aid to NYC’s Asian businesses. 100% of net proceeds of this cookbook will go back to funding Send Chinatown Love’s community-building efforts.
I love reading through the stories of each recipe. Truly a treasure, a specical gift for your loved ones and the community.
9. Renewal Ritual Set by CLE Cosmetics
I use CLE Cosmetics products every single day. From their skincare line, to their CCC cream, to their lovely melting lip powder... My skin loves everything they put out! Most of their products also contain TCM ingredients, which I appreciate.
This set includes a really cute ceramic piece created by Dong Su Shin that can be used as a body massager. The Palo Santo infused Multi Oil smells DIVINE. Rich in Vitamin E and calming plant-based oils, the set will both enhance your senses while restoring and strengthening the skin barrier.
