The 2026 Yankee Food Awards: The Tasteful 10
Presenting our annual celebration of local treats from every New England state, all perfect for gifting and entertaining … and mail-order ready.
By Amy Traverso|Oct 23 2026|
A sampling of products from this year's Food Awards.
From decadent chocolates and artisan cheeses to small-batch jams and savory snacks, our annual Yankee Food Awards celebrate 10 delicious New England finds. All are available by mail order, making them perfect for holiday gifting, entertaining, or treating yourself.
The 2026 Yankee Food Awards
Sweets
Credit: courtesy of Bridgewater Chocolates
Creamy Caramels | Bridgewater Chocolates
Brookfield, CT
Packed in an elegant Regency-style tin (is there a Bridgerton fan on your gift list?), these award-winning caramels are dusted with cocoa, cinnamon, and sugar for subtly layered flavors. $25.95
Credit: courtesy of Harbor Sweets
Sweet Sloops Gift Box | Harbor Sweets
Salem, MA
These sail-shaped candies feature tender almond buttercrunch toffee enrobed in your choice of white, milk, or dark chocolate. All are delicious, though we’re partial to the dark. Available in 12, 24, 36, or 72 pieces, $18.50–$79
Jams & Syrups
Credit: courtesy of Sidehill Farm
Raspberry Peach Jam | Sidehill Farm
Brattleboro, VT
This three-generation-strong family business prides itself on making jam the old-fashioned way, with just fruit and pure cane sugar. All the flavors are wonderful, but we love how the peaches and raspberries in this particular blend taste like summer in a jar. $7.95
Credit: courtesy of Pen & Cob
Spruce Syrup | Pen & Cob
Pembroke, ME
Way Down East, just 10 miles from the Canadian border, the Swann family forages and farms to produce their jams and syrups. Spruce syrup, made with young, spring-harvested tips, has bright citrus and herbaceous flavors—wonderful in cocktails or vinaigrettes, or tossed with roasted veggies. $26
Savory Snacks
Credit: courtesy of Cabot Creamery
Sharpness Tasting Cheese Sampler | Cabot Creamery
Cabot, VT
Invite some friends over and sample these six cheddars aged from 9 months to 10 years. You’ll notice how the flavors go from mild and creamy to buttery, tangy, and nutty. $52
Credit: courtesy of Port City Pretzels
Tasty Ranch Dill Pretzels | Port City Pretzels
Portsmouth, NH
In our opinion, no cheese board is complete without a bowl of these addictively savory pretzel twists. True to their name, they taste like ranch dressing sprinkled with dill, and they scratch that itch for something salty and crunchy. $7
Credit: courtesy of Backyard Food Co.
Bread & Butter Heirloom Pickles | Backyard Food Co.
Warwick, RI
Pickles are having a moment, and these crisp chips—offering a delectable balance of sour and sweet, onion and mustard—will keep you munching. $12
Drinks
Credit: courtesy of Wood Stove Kitchen
Candy Cane Sparkle | Wood Stove Kitchen
Bow, NH
We’ve long been fans of Wood Stove Kitchen’s more traditional mulling and hot toddy syrups, but this glittery mixer is just plain delicious fun. Made with cranberry, peppermint, and food-safe mica sparkles, it’s great with vodka, gin, rum, or plain seltzer. $24
Baking
Credit: Winky Lewis/courtesy of Ragged Coast Chocolates
Craft Chocolate Brownie Mix | Ragged Coast Chocolates
Westbrook, ME
Ragged Coast has garnered accolades for its sumptuous artisan chocolate (including a previous Yankee Food Awards nod), so it tracks that this brownie mix, made with cocoa powder and bittersweet chocolate, has the richest, most layered chocolate flavor and a perfect fudgy texture. $14.95
Credit: courtesy of Curio Spice Co.
Baker’s Joy Culinary Gift Set | Curio Spice Co.
Cambridge, MA
Get out your mixing bowls: This charming kit contains Sri Lankan ground nutmeg, Vietnamese cassia cinnamon, Madagascar vanilla paste, a Sichuan five-spice blend, and Kandy, a mix of cinnamon, ginger, cardamom, and other warming spices. Curio sources directly from small farms, and everything is as fresh as it gets. $39.95
Bring Home a Yankee Food Awards Winner
Just in time for holiday giving, you can shop for current and past honorees of the Yankee Food Awards in our online store. Shop current and past Yankee Food Awards winners, all in one place.
For a limited time, you’ll also find specially curated Food Awards collections—perfect for gifting, sharing, or keeping all for yourself. Yankee’s NewEngland.com Store brings the best of New England home: distinctive gifts, local flavors, books, home accents, travel finds, and goods made by New England artisans.
