Everybody loves an edible gift. But why stop there? Why make it that easy? If you or your loved one likes science, tech, or DIY—and has the impulses, perhaps, of a very small child—read on.
A decent Go-Pro mouth mount is key for easily shooting video while doing adventure sports—particularly those that don’t involve much in the way of garb, like surfing or wakeboarding. $35 on Amazon
DIY Powdered Booze
Powdered alcohol, which you can make yourself with maltodextrin and a high-proof spirit, turns water into booze, which, honestly, seems very appropriate for Jesus’s b-day. Bonus: since it’s not in liquid form, all of this alcohol is TSA compliant.
DIY Quick Pickles
If you’re going the cheese and crackers route, consider making a few jars of quick pickles—instructions, this way.. A jar of pickled ramp bulbs (pictured) or beets makes a basic spread feel quite fancy.
Yes, tools for dental hygiene make an unorthodox gift, but one Pop Sci editor evangelizes this stuff. “Dr. Tongue: it changed me,” she says. Here’s the deal: the floss expands when it’s between your teeth, so it removes up to 55 percent more plaque “than some of the most popular flosses,” or so the marketing copy claims. Plus it’s waxed with vegetable and bee waxes rather than the petrochemical stuff. Oh, and the package is biodegradable, too. $7 for 30 yards.
These suckers may look like the planets (and star) of our solar system, but they taste like key lime, tropical punch, blackberry, guava, and marshmallow. They’re great stocking stuffers. $26 for 10 on Amazon.
This slick-looking gin-making kit holds the power to transform cheap vodka into herb-y gin in a day and a half. It’s a science project! It’s a happy hour! It’s a reason to keep repeating the word “botanicals” like you’re an old-timey apothecary! $44 on Amazon.
These miracle berry tablets recreate the effect of Synsepalum dulcificum, a little red fruit whose pulp makes sour foods taste sweet. Wrap it with a few lemons, balsamic vinegar, and cream cheese. $15 for 10 on Amazon
The beloved stocking haul of your childhood is back. Pop Rocks Inc. is selling its crackling namesake (made that way with 600 pounds per square inch of carbon dioxide gas introduced in the candy’s syrupy stage) in the original cherry flavor, with packaging looking just as it was in the 1970s. $18 for a pack of 24 on Amazon.
For the city slicker with the impeccable herb garden, grab this super contained mushroom farm. All the giftee has to do is spritz the soil substrate for 10 days and—presto change-o—oyster mushrooms for risotto, ragout, and a mean goat cheese frittata. From $19 on Amazon.
There is nothing not fun about making your Diet Coke travel a great distance before it lands in your mouth. $6 on Amazon.
Each of these jelly drops contains as much caffeine (50 mg) as a half-cup of coffee. $37.
Laser-Sighted Blowgun
Another DIY gift: a dart gun powered by your lungs. The project costs just $3 and includes a laser to help you aim. For adults only, please..
If you’ve got a friend that loves spicy food—a trait that may very well be hard-coded into their personality—consider this hot-sauce-making kit. It comes with chipotle, arbol, and guajillo peppers—enough to make six separate sauces. $40.
Tooth-conducting Phonograph
Give the gift of listening to records with your teeth. The full how-to is right this way.
These light-saber chopsticks need no explanation. Just look at them. $15 on Amazon