The holidays are coming, and we can’t think of a better gift to give than a local product made in North Carolina. Here are a few of our favorite things when it comes to shopping local.
See more: Celebrate the Holiday Season With Made-in-North Carolina Products
Sauces, Rubs and Dips
You can find dozens of North Carolina-made barbecue sauces, no matter if you’re team Lexington-style BBQ (pork shoulder and a sweet, ketchup-based sauce) or a fan of Eastern-style BBQ (whole hog and a peppery vinegar-based sauce) – or an equal opportunist. And beyond barbecue, many local businesses have crafted their own rubs, hot sauces and dips, too. Here are a few of our favorites:
Big Delicious Brand Dips, Greensboro: The signature Carolina Sausage Dip features fresh pork sausage from eastern North Carolina, while Original Hot ’Cue Dip highlights pit-cooked pork barbecue from the central region. The unique and flavorful Pineapple & Country Ham Spread uses country ham originating in western North Carolina. Shop online or find a retailer near you at bigdelish.com.
Mike D’s BBQ, Durham: Mike D’s signature sauce nods to North Carolina’s barbecue history as a flavorful hybrid of tomato-based and vinegar-based sauces. Current varieties include Mike D’s Big Sauce, Spicy BBQ Sauce, All Purpose Rub and Sweet & Spicy Rub. You can find all products at Mike D’s BBQ Supply and General Store in Durham. For more information or to purchase online, visit mikedsbbq.com.
Rising Smoke Sauceworks, Mebane: No matter your heat preference, Rising Smoke has a sauce for all with flavors including Pineapple Oasis, Buenos Nachos, Smoldering Embers, Synergy, Slow Death and more. Bring their bold flavors home with nine hot sauces, three barbecue sauce varieties and two spice blends. Visit risingsmokesauce.com for more information or shop for signature sauces or spice collections.
Slawsa, Cramerton: Featured on “Shark Tank,” the cabbage-based topping is a cool, crisp take on relish with a salsa twist. It’s available in several flavors – original, spicy, garlic, spicy garlic and fire – tastes great on hot dogs, brats, burgers, tacos, as a dip for chips and much more. The original flavor starts off a bit sweet then finishes with a quick heat, and Slawsa always keeps a satisfying crunch. Find more information, including where to buy, at slawsa.com.
Sweet Treats
Mrs. Hanes’ Moravian Cookies, Clemmons: Several North Carolina businesses produce the wafer-thin sugar treats known as Moravian cookies, but we’re partial to this one in Clemmons, which uses a recipe passed down from Moravian (Eastern European) settlers in 1753. Owner Evva Hanes took over her mother’s business in 1960, so it’s definitely got longevity on its side. Each year, her family’s company produces 10 million delicate crisps – ginger, sugar, chocolate, butterscotch, lemon and black walnut – all carefully rolled, cut and packaged by hand. Buy them online at hanescookies.com.
Red Bird Candies from Piedmont Candy Company, Lexington: Customers young and old have been enjoying Red Bird’s soft stick candies since 1890, and today’s owners use the same melt-in-your-mouth recipe more than 125 years later. Although peppermint is the most popular, Red Bird puffed candies and mints come in other flavors including cotton candy, birthday cake and a six-flavor fruit mix (lemon, lime, orange, grape, strawberry and green apple). You can get Red Bird candies at Walmart, Dollar Tree, Family Dollar, Dollar General, Harris Teeter and so many other stores, or purchase them online at piedmontcandy.com.
Rusty’s Peanut Brittle, Tarboro: Unlike many peanut brittle varieties, which can be sticky, Rusty’s has a light and crispy, melt-in-your-mouth texture. The signature recipe is made one batch at a time using 100% North Carolina-grown peanuts. Each batch is hand-measured, handmade and broken by hand into perfect bite-size pieces. To learn more or purchase Rusty’s Peanut Brittle online, visit rustyspeanutbrittle.com or call (252) 823-3611.
Southern Supreme Fruitcakes, Bear Creek: Berta Scott’s fruit cake recipe includes dates, raisins, pineapples, red cherries, pecans and English walnuts – and it’s so good that it has changed many minds about the much-maligned holiday dessert. “Every single day, we have people who come in and say they don’t like fruitcake, and they end up loving ours,” according to Scott’s daughter Belinda Jordan. See for yourself by visiting their showroom, or ordering online at southernsupreme.com.
Videri Chocolate Factory, Raleigh: Open a box of chocolates from Raleigh-based Videri Chocolate Factory, and you know exactly what you’re going to get – locally roasted, handcrafted artisan chocolate treats made from the finest cocoa beans the world has to offer. The company opened in 2011 and quickly gained a large following among chocolate lovers across the state and beyond. Learn more or shop online at viderichocolatefactory.com.
Savory Snacks
Aunt Ruby’s Peanuts, Enfield: The company in Halifax County, one of the largest peanut-producing counties in the state, offers raw shelled peanuts, honey roasted, roasted redskin, peanuts in the shell and more in its line of products. You can also create your own tin combinations, which makes it the perfect curated gift for the salty snacker on your gift list.
Five Points Baking Co. Cheese Straws, Raleigh: Produced in small batches, the Raleigh-based company makes natural, artisanal cheese straws from almonds that are free of gluten and wheat and are naturally low-carb. After developing the perfect diabetic- and celiac-friendly cheese straw, the bakery has expanded to pumpkin spice and almond shortbreads, snickerdoodle cookies and even some custom orders. Find out where to buy and learn more about Five Points Baking Co. at fivepointsbakingco.com.
SausageWorks, at select Lowes Foods stores around the state: SausageWorks offers a long list of sausages made with surprising flavor combinations, including those made with seasonal ingredients and local products. A few of the most creative varieties include The Margarita, a pork sausage made with tequila, lime, salt and orange zest; The Hoppyummy, a beer brat made with local Foothills Brewing Hoppyum IPA; and The Vampire Hunter, a blend of spicy garlic, fennel and parsley made with Italian pork sausage. Learn more at visit lowesfoods.com/sausageworks.
North Carolina Wines & Spirits
Wine all you want with a bottle of local wine from one of the state’s many vineyards and wineries. From cabs and chardonnay to muscadine and more, you’re sure to discover a vintage that pleases any palate. Looking for something a little stronger? North Carolina distillers have got you covered, using local products like corn, small grains and even sweetpotatoes.
Broadslab Distillery, Benson: Broadslab’s products include several types of corn whiskeys as well as two types of rum. Owner Jeremy Norris says that it’s important to them not only to use local products and teach consumers about North Carolina agriculture, but also to keep the tradition in their business.
Covington Spirits, Snow Hill: the mighty North Carolina sweetpotato is the star of the show, used by the distillery to craft a unique vodka. Unsuitable for sale as produce, whether because of shape or size, the sweetpotatoes not only make great-tasting vodka but also help reduce waste. Find out where to buy at hamfarms.com/our-products/covington-spirits.
Hanover Park Vineyard, Yadkinville: Located in North Carolina’s wine region of the Yadkin Valley, Hanover Park features barrel-aged wines, blends and everything from a dry rose to a sweet port. It also offers a wine club that makes a perfect gift for the wine lover on your list. Learn more at hanoverparkwines.com.
Laurel Gray Vineyards, Hamptonville: The farm traces its roots all the way back to 1773, and the descendants planted their first grapes in 2001. Today, Laurel Gray Vineyards grows French vinifera grapes including chardonnay, cabernet sauvignon, viognier, petit verdot, merlot and more. They also operate a tasting room and an online shop offering a range of wines and homemade sauces – including a unique caramel sauce made with a bit of the vineyard’s chardonnay.
Cozy Socks
Farm to Feet, Mount Airy: Located in the upper Yadkin Valley near the Virginia state line, Mount Airy is home to Farm to Feet – the leading manufacturer of performance merino wool socks. Shop online at farmtofeet.com.
Mayo Mills, Tarboro: This fourth-generation family business has been crafting quality, American-made socks since 1932. Learn more at mayomills.com.
Do you have a recommendation for a North Carolina gift? We’re always looking for ideas for future issues of North Carolina Field & Family magazine, so let us know in the comments.
