Here’s some London-based secret Santa gifts for colleagues you hardly know

Veggie, cheap, tasty. There’s a good variety of cookbooks out there, even from Mob themselves, but this should please pretty much everyone and has enough of a quirky and useful theme that it doesn’t look like you’re saying they can’t cook! Mob is based in London, and there’s plenty of inspiration from grub you’d find around the city, but you know, making it at home is cheaper. £2.50 or less a meal, that'll stop the giftee splurging at lunch. 

Vessles to hold water (or whisky) in are prety important, and sure, there's usually some generic glass object that does the job just fine nearby. But often they're not personal, or just tactile and nice to look at and use. Fortunately, these little tumblers from good old M&S are. Whether it ends up being used to sip scotch or as a nice glass for keeping hydrated al desko, it'll no doubt be appriciated. 

For a cosy, luxury, non-caffeinated gift that'll nourish their soul – why not opt for the good hot choclate? There's a variety of flavours which will allow them to enjoy different treats on rotation through the winter, or simply open them up to a new favourite. Choice is good when you hardly know the person. As is hot chococlate, most people love it. Even if in secret. 

If there's one hot chocoalte maker in London to go for, it's Whittard. They've been selling fancy hot drink bases since 1886. That's a long time. In this box you'll be gifting white, orange, mint, rocky road, salted caramel, and good old normal hot chocolate. 

There's one thing that can be figured out about a colleague even if you don't know too much about them: Whether they're partial to a post-work pint or not. If they are, beer is a shout. Especially nice craft beer brewed in London itself (if not just for the lower carbon footprint and supporting a local business). From your end, this mystery box means you know your gift is punching above its value (they're £30 but always worth at least £40) and, if they aren't keen on a beer style in the box, well it's a mystery isn't it! Not your problem! 

Did you know that 36% of UK adults struggle to sleep at least weekly? Quite bad that isn't it, given sleep is very important. It makes sense though, we've all noticed someone slumping in their chair, head tumbling down and then flashing back up like a fish. They drifted off, didn't they. Anyway, show them you care with this cult product. It's made with cruelty free, vegan ingredients and 89% of their panel fell asleep faster than ususal when using it. So even if the person you're buying for doesn't seem the type to spray some lavender on their pillow, they'll likely be grateful for the gift. 

Look, it's a truth universally acknowledged that people love chocolate. So why not just provide them with a top-quality chocolate fix? Only one place for that. Dark Sugars, makers of what is widely considered some of the best choc in all of London. Of course, they do non-vegan stuff too, but as it’s a gift why not show how good the more ethical stuff is (plus, they might be lactose intolerant so it’s a safer bet). As these are truffles, you might have to tell the lucky reciever to knock them in the fridge, but they’ll keep for up to ten days. That’s just over a week of lunchtime treats! 

If you know they’re always using the analog note taking device. Why not help them out with some nice stationary for it? Something that beats the office’s cupboard stuff. When it comes to top product from London, Aspinal of London have a bit of a claim to being one of the finest purveyors of the old concealed ink writer tools. Some of their pens are in the hundreds, but this neat little thing is a tenner. Nice. 

Hand soap, we all use it. Doesn't say someone is smelly or anything like that does it? Quite simply says, hey fellow handwasher, here's a nice handwash that'll add a nice lift to the day each time you wash your hands. That's exactly what this gift does. Plus, it's sustainable, a little revoultionarily so actually. The idea is you'll buy them a starter (the dispenser with the gel inside) and in future they can buy refils, which come in aluminium cans. They get one to start out with too. Doesn’t really matter which of the refills you gift them, as they can stick or twist down the line. Ideal. 

There’s not a single person on the planet that doesn’t like a candle. And these east london ones allow for customisation, personalisation, and they’re great.

If you know they like a book and spend time browsing the city, why not give them a nice pocket-sized book that'll help them discover a variety of new stores and places that they're bound to love. If shopping isn't their thing, there's also guides to pubs, sweets, vegan spots, green spaces and more from this little publisher based in Hoxton. Given they're priced at a tenner, you could get a trio for £30 (there's free delivery over £20).