When a gift-giving occasion rolls around, my family frequently gives me little goodies that reflect my love of Chinese cooking. (My favorite gift is a pair of pajamas decorated with chopsticks). For Mother’s Day, here are some interesting gift ideas for moms who enjoy Asian food – but nothing that requires going near the kitchen!
1. Starter Gongfu Tea Set
(Alright, this one does require a trip to the kitchen, but hopefully someone besides mom will do the honors). Made from purple clay, Xixing Teapots are famous throughout Asia for their tea brewing capabilities. The clay absorbs the flavor of the tea; legend has it that you can brew a passable cup of tea from a seasoned Yixing teapot by simply adding water to it. The set comes with 1 brewing teapot, 1 aroma teapot, 6 aroma cups and 6 drinking cups.
2. Antique Chopsticks Holder
Here's a neat idea if your Mom is a fan of chopsticks and doesn't know where to put them. Made in Guangdong province, this ceramic chopsticks holder is between 100 and 150 years old. It can be hung on the wall.3. Dim Sum Clock
Here is a great idea for the mom who loves dim sum, from craftswoman Noriko Kuwabara. The clock body is made of a bamboo steamer basket. Instead of numbers, there are dim sum shapes, made of polymer clay, starting with pork buns at 12 o'clock and ending with fried taro in the eleven o'clock position. The battery operated clock is 8 inches in diameter.4. Travel Chopsticks
A great idea for the mom who enjoys Asian food and travels a lot - foldable chopsticks. The top half of the chopstick is made of hollow stainless steel which serves as a storage unit for the bottom half. Collapsed, the chopsticks fit conveniently in the nylon bag that is included. (They're also a good choice for camping, when you're trying to make extra space in a camping box already overloaded with supplies).5. Dim Sum: A Pocket Guide, by Kit Shan Li
Instead of buying a gift, another option is to take mom out for a dim sum brunch. This handy pocket guide takes the mystery out of dim sum dining. It includes photos, common Cantonese names, and descriptions for nearly fifty popular dim sum items, from Shrimp Dumplings to Mango Pudding. Its convenient size means you can take the book with you to the restaurant.6. Lucky Bamboo in Glass Vase
According to legend, a gift of bamboo will bring good luck to the recipient. Native to South-east Asia, this relative of the citrus is known for its distinctive sword-shaped leaves.7. Personalized T-shirts With Chinese Zodiac Signs
If your mom is a fan of Chinese astrology, she'll get a kick out of a customized t-shirt with her name and Chinese zodiac sign. The t-shirt is packaged inside the classic trapezoidal-shaped Chinese take-out box.