Every family has one. The person who writes the Christmas list, buys the presents, sets the table and still remembers to text everyone what time lunch is. By Christmas Eve they have barely sat down all week.
This year our team in Parnell has found a small gift that gives that person a reason to stop. It's the Adashiko Sipp'n Glow Collagen Infusion Kit, a fruity drink kit that you make up in its own jar. After a day of steeping it turns a pretty rosy pink, and there's a sachet of Adashiko Pure Collagen to stir in at the end.
A slow little ritual for a busy week
Once you add hot water to the jar, it needs to rest for 24 hours. During that time the flavours and the rosy-pink colour gently develop. As the box says, "Good things are worth the wait."
We love that the waiting is part of it. If your friend starts the jar around lunchtime on Christmas Eve, it will be ready to strain for lunch on Christmas Day. Then all that's left is to pour a glass over ice, put their feet up and enjoy a quiet moment before the dishes.
A beauty gift with collagen
Adashiko comes from Collagen New Zealand in Napier, and every kit includes one sachet of their Pure Collagen. Collagen is a protein your body makes naturally, and it's found in your skin, bones and joints. You'll find the rest of the range in our Adashiko Collagen shop.
What is in the box
Inside the red printed box is a frosted jar with a white lid. It holds a bright dried fruit blend and jewel-toned sugar cubes infused with hibiscus. There's also one Adashiko Pure Collagen sachet in the box.
On the ingredients list you'll find orange, lemon, strawberry, infused raspberry and hibiscus sugar cubes, plus a sachet of 100% pure peptide collagen (porcine). Adashiko describes the flavour as sweet strawberry, sun-kissed orange and lemon, softened by the hibiscus sugar cubes for a delicate floral finish and a rosy-pink flush.
The kit is made in New Zealand from local ingredients, and the Pure Collagen sachet inside it is made in Japan.
How to make it
There are just three simple steps.
Pour. Add 250ml of hot water straight into the jar, give it a stir, then pop the lid on.
Steep. Leave the jar to rest for 24 hours.
Strain, stir and serve. Strain the infusion, tear open the Pure Collagen sachet and stir it in. Top it with ice and sparkling water or soda, which the box says work beautifully.
That's all there is to it. Each kit makes 4 to 5 drinks, depending on your taste.
Who we would give it to
The first person on our list is whoever is hosting Christmas this year. Bring it round on Christmas Eve and they can start the jar that afternoon. By lunch the next day, there's something rosy pink ready to pour.
Next is the friend who always puts herself last. A gift that asks her to sit down for a few minutes is a lovely way to say thank you.
We'd also tuck one into a stocking or a Secret Santa. Just keep the 24 hours in mind. If it comes out of a stocking on Christmas morning, it will be ready on Boxing Day.
We stock it in the Verdo Store as a Christmas gift and as a stocking filler, so it works for a small present too. If you're still working through the rest of your list, our posts on Christmas gift ideas for mum and teacher gifts for the end of the year might help.
Good to know
The collagen in the sachet is porcine (it comes from pigs). That means the kit isn't suitable for vegetarians or vegans, or for anyone who doesn't eat pork.
Keep the kit in a cool, dry place until you're ready to make it.
Our online store delivers NZ-wide, and delivery starts from $10.
You'll find the current price and all the details on the Sipp'n Glow product page.
We think this might be the nicest little gift on our shelf this year, especially for the person who looks after everyone else. If you're shopping for a few people at once, have a look at the rest of our Christmas gifts below.
The Verdo team
Adashiko's Sipp'n Glow Collagen Infusion Kit turns a simple drink into a treat. It is loaded with a bright dehydrated fruit blend, jewel-toned hibiscus-infused sugar cubes and a sachet of Adashiko Pure Collagen.
Sweet strawberry, orange and lemon are softened by the hibiscus sugar cubes for a delicate floral finish and a rosy-pink colour. Each kit makes 4 to 5 drinks, depending on your taste.
It comes boxed, so it is easy to wrap as a Christmas present, a stocking filler or a Secret Santa gift.
How to make it
Pour. Add 250 ml of hot water straight into your jar, stir, then pop the lid on.
Steep. Let it rest for 24 hours while the flavours and that rosy-pink colour slowly develop.
Strain, stir and serve. Strain your infusion, tear open the Pure Collagen sachet and stir it in. Top with your favourite mixer and ice. Sparkling water or soda work well.
Ingredients
100% Pure Peptide Collagen (Porcine) Sachet. Orange, Lemon, Strawberry + Infused Raspberry + Hibiscus sugar cubes.
Good to know
Made in New Zealand from local ingredients. The Adashiko Pure Collagen sachet is made in Japan.
The collagen is porcine (from pigs), so this kit is not suitable for vegetarians or vegans.
Store in a cool, dry place.
Available at Verdo in Parnell, Auckland, with NZ-wide delivery from $10.