Easter 2017: Top unique and alternative Easter gifts

Looking for a gift that sets your apart from the standard Easter egg with a side of chocolate bars? We have tried and tested some unique and alternative gifts that will excite that chocolate lover in your life, from square eggs to chocolate beer:

The Chocolate Block - £21.99 - Waitrose (OVER 18s ONLY)

4 out of 5

This heavy, full-bodied wine is a delight for lovers of hefty red wine. Hailing from the Western Cape of South Africa, this drink is a blend of Grenache, Syrah, Cinsault, Cabernet Sauvignon with just a hint of Viognier - and thus provides a unique tasting experience.

It boasts deep woody scents, with a hint of cocoa when first opened.

When drank, however, try as I might I could not taste any chocolate notes (which it is described as having) - but loved it nonetheless.

I also found the wine tasted best when left to warm and breathe - and, though I thought the wine was delicious - it did receive mixed reviews with family members. We put this down to the unfamiliarity of the taste, due to its blended ingredients.

Perhaps not one for everyone, but I'd buy it again all the same.

Incidentally, though it does not taste like chocolate to me, it does go very well with chocolate indeed.

Meantime Chocolate Porter - £1.90 per bottle - Waitrose and www.meantimebrewing.com

5 out of 5 (OVER 18s ONLY)

This delicious beer is an excellent replacement for chocolate for adults this Easter.

Packaged in quaint bottles - which look a lot smaller than they actually are - this beer boasts a bitter, moreish malty taste, with plenty of hops, and a sweet, yet subtle, chocolatey taste; perfectly balancing the flavours.

Dark amber and perfectly clear in colour, this porter has delightful bubbles - without being too gassy - and is delightfully easy to drink. At 6.5% ABV, however, care is advised!

An ideal dessert or digestif beer, it is also a superb match for beef or game stews.

Organic dairy free Easter egg - £3.99 - Holland & Barrett

4.5 out of 5

This is a great alternative for anyone with intolerances to lactose and dairy. Made of cocoa butter and rice flour, this egg is surprisingly delicious - and free from any strange chemicals you may find in other 'alternative' recipes.

Before trying the chocolate egg, I had expected it to be more or less tasteless. And, if not, I certainly had not expected it to be creamy.

Despite my initial fears, the chocolate which makes up this egg is delicious. And, if I didn't know otherwise, would never think it was missing any of the normal ingredients. In fact, it's a lot nicer than some of the dairy eggs on offer.

It is small, however, and all you get is the egg (no extras), so perhaps a little overpriced at nearly £4.

Easter Egg chocolate pizza - £11.50 - www.gourmetchocolatepizza.co.uk

5 out of 5

When I first saw the cost of this product, I thought it was vastly overpriced. Once I had bitten into it, I had completely changed my mind.

Ordinarily, I'm not a huge chocolate fan - but this is by far the best milk chocolate I've ever tasted.

Made of scrumptious Belgian chocolate, which boasts notes of tangy cocoa and a light, yet indulgent, creamy taste.

Not only that, but the stunning pizza (which almost looks too good to eat) is also decorated with an edible paper flower, sugar coated chocolate eggs and rainbow drops. It is then finished off with shavings of chocolate and cut into slices.

An absolute gastronomical delight - and one I could have eaten over and over and over.

A wonderful addition to the normal Easter shopping list - and one that would be perfect either as an alternative to an Easter egg or for sharing with friends and family (if you can bring yourself to share it, that is!)

Finest Belgian Dark Chocolate and Butterscotch Egg (300g) - £7 - Tesco

3 out of 5

It's Hip To Be Square this Easter, with this unusual take on the average egg.

Tall, dark and handsome, this stunning egg is made from dark, bitter Belgian chocolate and decorated with pieces of honeycomb and gold shimmer.

Averagely priced, this egg is sadly nothing out of the ordinary when it comes to taste. The dark chocolate is simply mediocre - and the honeycomb, unfortunately, does nothing to jump out from the tangy chocolate.

It's certainly eye-catching, however, and would be a lovely treat for those who love dark chocolate.

Champagne truffle eggs - £18 (for 12) or £30 (for 24) - www.paxtonchocolate.com

5 out of 5

These stunning handmade truffles look incredible - and taste even better.

The box is split into two different flavours: dark chocolate eggs filled with white chocolate Champagne ganache and topped with strawberry, or dark chocolate eggs filled with dark chocolate Champagne ganache and rolled in raspberry and topped with gold leaf.

Though these are admittedly fairly high in price (more than I'd normally spend on chocolates, any way), they are truly stand-out, and nothing like I'd really tried previously.

In each truffle, the tang of the fruit compared to the sweet, creamy Champagne filling was beautifully balanced, creating a luxurious, decadent tasting experience.

Making them even more appealing to give as a gift, these chocolates are packaged in a lovely metal tray, complete with a ribbon.

A gorgeous gift (if you can bring yourself to give it away).

Miffy Mug - £10 - www.miffyshop.co.uk

4 out of 5

This super-cute mug - complete with Miffy ears rising from either side - is a great alternative gift this Easter.

Exclusively available from the Miffy Shop, this unique mug has a black inside, a black handle and cute black outlined ears rising from either side of the white mug.

Turn the mug upside down (or take a sip) to reveal a hidden Miffy face underneath.

A lovely, unusual gift for Miffy fans of any age.

Mini Truffle Pig Gift Set - £15.95 - www.souschef.co.uk

5 out of 5

This indulgent gift set is a wonderful alternative to the normal gift of 'truffles' at Easter.

Spinning the original chocolate-based idea on its head, Sous Chef has brought out this gorgeous array of mini truffle items, perfect for complementing a variety of savoury dishes.

These delightful truffle products are produced in Acqualagna, the home of Italy's truffle market, by Marini & Azzolini who have been collecting and producing truffle products for over 50 years.

The set contains a small bottle of black truffle oil, a little jar of Acacia honey with truffle and a small pot of truffle and mushroom salsa.

The oil, made of primarily Italian extra virgin olive oil, has an incredibly rich scent and earthy flavours. Sous Chef recommends using oil drizzled over beef fillets, mushroom risottos, or even scrambled eggs for a luxurious breakfast dish.

The honey has an exquisite balance of flavours - and the savoury notes of truffle mean it goes very well with cheeses, flavoured crackers and even meat.

The salsa, meanwhile, has a thick, oily consistency and is rich in mushrooms with a hint of delightful truffle. Spoon onto crusty bread, stir through pasta, coat beef with it prior to cooking, use on canapes - or even drizzle over cheese on toast.

A deluxe set is also on offer.

The Lakes Gin 20cl Sloe and Damson with Gift Box - £30 - www.lakesdistillery.com

4.5 out of 5

I'm not a huge fan of chocolate, but one thing I am a huge fan of is gin.

Boasting hints of sumptuous fruits with a smooth texture - The Lakes Distillery of Cumbria produce fine gins that pair perfectly with a sweet Easter treat.

Their gin gift box contains 20cl bottles of their favourite Sloe and Damson gin in sleek, modern decorative bottles.

The sloe gin is delightfully indulgent and slightly herbal in taste, with citrus and cinnamon overtones complimented by nutty, almond undertones.

The unusually flavoured damson gin feels spicy and warm as it goes down the throat with lashings of cinnamon, juniper and various fruits.

Both gins are smooth with strong flavours though they are not overpowering, they work beautifully both straight or when paired with a plain mixer.

The Lakes Gin gift box is the perfect sweet treat for those that don't like chocolate with their lavish and complex sweet flavours.

Tia Maria - £15 - Available from Asda, Waitrose, Tesco and all leading supermarkets

4 out of 5 (OVER 18S ONLY)

It's always time for a cocktail, and coffee cocktails have never been more in demand.

From the espresso martini to the flat white russian, no other liqueurs can make a coffee cocktail quite like Tia Maria.

Tia Maria twins vanilla extracts with Arabica coffee and a splash of Jamaican rum for a strong flavour with a soft and smooth texture.

A full-bodied taste and a milky texture makes Tia Maria the perfect ingredient for creamy, rich cocktails or a secret ingredient in an indulgent coffee.

I teamed Tia Maria with different shots of espresso, milk and even chocolate powder to recreate my favourite coffees with a twist - and the liqueur blended perfectly with the other ingredients without separating and seeming weaker and strong at different parts of the drink. Tia Maria transformed the drinks and added a rich coffee taste with hints of sweet rum and vanilla perfect for a warming evening tipple.

Jack Rabbit Barrel Bag - £30 - www.zatchels.com

5 out of 5

Nothing symbolises Easter to me like the rabbit - with its long ears, fluffy tail and twitching nose.

Combining my love for rabbits and the practical transportation of my treasured items - Zatchel have created a small and unique barrel bag perfect for Easter.

The detail on the bag is exquisite with fine felt inside the ears, bright and bold leathers used to create the face along with appliqued detail and a cute bent over ear for that added touch. The bag is durable as well as intricate and includes a strong magnetic fastening that is discrete as well as strong.

Though small, the bag is perfect for nights out as it can hold all of your essentials safely and provides a great, kooky central feature to compliment any outfit.

Hand crafted for that added special feature, the Jack Rabbit Barrel Bag is highly detailed, durable and dainty.

House Of Disaster Heritage And Harlequin Rabbit Purse Wallet - £21.50 - www.hurnandhurn.com

5 out of 5

A website full of beautiful and unusual gifts for all occasions - Hurn and Hurn have a vibrant and intricate rabbit design purse that is the perfect Easter themed gift.

Instantly striking with it's neon pink faux leather and contrasting forest green insides, this purse is an impossible one to lose.

It is thin, flexible and sleek thus perfect for small and large bags though it contains oodles of storage with 14 card storage slots, a card window and multiple coin slots.

As if the contrasting colour scheme wasn't eye catching enough, the intricate rabbit illustrations were good enough to be framed and hung on my walls at home with golden corners and a small green tassle providing the perfect finishing touches.

Turning an essential item into a statement piece of art, This delightful House of Disaster Heritage and Harlequin Rabbit Purse Wallet is both practical, durable, stylish and worth every penny of it's price.

Rabbit in a Carrot by Teddykompaniet - £5.99 from www.borngifted.co.uk

4 out of 5

A perfect first Easter treat, you can't get much cuter than this soft toy rabbit inside a carrot-shaped pouch. My one-year-old daughter was fascinated with this hand-sized rabbit. The carrot was quickly put aside though and she just wanted to play with the rabbit - until she decided to try and put her rather larger teddy bear back inside the carrot pouch. Rather small and probably not really suitable for children under one but lovely nonetheless.

Wooden Pull-Along Tractor Hen by Janod - £23.99 - www.borngifted.co.uk

3 out of 5

Beautifully crafted this brightly-coloured wooden pull-along tractor delighted my one-year-old. The tractor attaches magnetically to a trailer which carries three eggs, each sitting on a different shape base (a heart, a cross and a star) to promote motor skills and problem-solving. While the manufacture and finish of the toy was excellent, my only criticism was that the magnet attaching the two vehicles wasn't very strong so when my daughter pulled it along they'd separate. Sadly, a most basic fail!

Ginger truffle mini eggs - £3.50 - Waitrose

3 out of 5

Priced at just £3.50, these luxurious truffles are a lovely little something to give as a gift this Easter. Though their flavour wasn't as strong in ginger as we'd have liked, the taste still retains a wonderful, warm flavour.

Shaped into small eggs, these are a lovely mixture of smooth chocolate truffle and ginger - more gingery than a ginger nut, but not as strong as we would have wanted.

For those who like less spicy flavours, however, these would be ideal.

Haribo Chick 'n' Mix - £2. Easter Hunt - 200g for £1 or 400g for £2 - All leading shops

4 out of 5

Kids and adults love them so… So why not invest in a super box of gummy goodies this Easter - ideal for use in an alternative Easter egg hunt, or simply as an Easter gift for those who don't eat chocolate.

Packaged in a cute, colourful box shaped like a chick, the pack includes one bag of mallow flowers, one bag tangfast chicks, one bag Starmix Eggstras and two Easter mini bags.

Super cute, sweet and tangy, this array of sweets is a lovely idea for Easter.

Easter Day Temptation Box - £40.72 - www.bottledandboxed.com

3.5 out of 5

All carefully packaged within a small red felt bag, this hamper is a wonderfully indulgent gift for a special someone this Easter.

Included is a box of Bianca Belgian Cocoa Dusted Truffles, Linden Lady Chocolate Coated Marshmallows, Taste Chocolate Dipped Shortbread, Choc-O-Lait Milk Chocolate Stirrer, Cocoabean Love Heart Plaque, Eternal Grocer Chocolate Coated Nuts & Raisins and a 37.5cl bottle of Diamant Royal Blanc de Blancs Brut.

My favourites in the hamper were the chocolate-dipped shortbread and the dusted truffles.

The shortbread was rich, tasty and indulgent - and was made all the more decadent by the luscious half-casing of creamy Belgian chocolate. The pack was filled with lots of biscuits too - to my delight.

The truffles meanwhile were rich, chocolatey and moreish.

Though far from offensive, the Blancs de Blancs bubbly was fairly tasteless and unfortunately did little to impress.

The luxury marshmallows were not your average flump, they had a chewy and sumptous texture that really gave you something to bite in to, covered in rich milk chocolate and sprinkles for that added sweet flavour.

The solid chocolate love heart melted in the mouth, and is the perfect sentimental gift for a loved one.

The luxury chocolate nuts and raisins were the perfect blend of crunchy and soft textures packed full of natural flavours for the perfect light afternoon snack.

With a wide array of chocolate-y gifts, this hamper is perfect for an Easter feast.

Mr Gladstone's Curious Emporium Rhubarb and Custard Wine OR Pear Drop Wine - £4.99 per bottle - www.tesco.com

4 out of 5 (OVER 18s ONLY)

Though low in price, these unusual wines are delicious and a wonderfully alternative gift this Easter. Perfect when paired with ice and sun, these sweet wines taste exactly like each of their traditional confectionary flavours.

Their low alcohol count makes them wonderful for daytime drinking out in the sunshine too.

The wines - made entirely of natural flavours - also come packaged in stunning, steam punk-style bottles.

Very unusual - and again ideal for those who don't eat chocolate. It is, of course, for adults only.

Glitter Lips in Cocoa Loco - £12.50 - www.beautyblvd.com

5 out of 5

Combine your love of chocolate on your lips and glitter this Easter with the innovative product that is Glitter Lips.

No longer will you be faffing around trying to keep your glitter in place on a night out without the worry of residue ruining the rest of your look - you can party all night without losing any sparkle with it's amazing staying power.

Each pack comes with an applicator, Glitter Lips gloss bond and glitter shade with easy to follow instructions that makes the use of Glitter Lips quick and stress free.

The finished product is mind-blowing - indulgent shades, more sparkle than a glitter ball and clean edges that create a bold look. I also found that Glitter Lips doubles up as a great eyeshadow or just plain body glitter.

Durable, multi-faceted and beautiful - Glitter Lips has made my going out make up routine so much easier and a lot more glamorous.

Richly Replenishing Cocoa & Cupuaçu Butters Body Lotion - £10.99 - www.burtsbees.co.uk

4 out of 5

We're buzzing for Burt's Bees products - and their Richly Replenishing Body Lotion with Cocoa and Cupuaçu knocked it out of the park once more.

Packed with natural botanical moisturisers this lotion is easy on the skin and only lightly scented for a fresh and light application. The cream itself, though thick, feels light and smooth, and sinks into the skin almost immediately.

It left my skin feeling revitalised with a brand new bounce after only a week of use and with a heavenly scent of cocoa and vanilla to boost.

Treat your skin this Easter with this replenishing body lotion.