Artisanal products found in Eastern Massachusetts

For foods lovers who want more than big name-brand products and everyday staples, there are numerous options north, west, and south of Boston.

Specialty food purveyors offer everything from spices to cheeses, sausages, and chocolates that can’t be found on just any supermarket shelf. Some sellers have established brick-and-mortar stores or online marketplaces, while others ply their goods at farmers markets, food stands, and conventions to get these distinctive creations into buyers’ hands.

Pictured: Beacon Hill Chocolates stocks exclusive lines of artisan chocolate from around New England and further afield.

Mix Mediterraneo

Sirenetta Seaside Chocolatier

Scituate, www.sirenettachocolatier.com

The boxed set of artisanal chocolates includes a variety of limoncello, rosemary, fig, and basil infused candies inspired by the Mediterranean.

Cost: $9 for four-piece box,$17 for eight-piece box, $24 for 12-piece box, $36 for 18-piece box and $47 for 24-piece box.

Available online or at local farmers’ markets. Nov. 23 to 24, Duxbury Art Association Holiday Annual Craft Show at Duxbury High School.

Pictured: Mix Mediterraneo four-piece box.

Fromage blanc

Foxboro Cheese Co.

Foxborough, www.foxborocheeseco.wordpress.com

This light, creamy cheese has a buttery and slightly citrus taste. Seasonal flavors include plain, chives, maple, garlic, and lemon honey.

Cost: $8 for eight-ounce container.

Can be purchased at the Lawton Family Farm stand as well as farmers’ markets and local farm stands. The cheesemakers also sell an Asiago cheese made with fresh milk from a grazing herd of Ayrshires.

Pictured: Fromage blanc cheese container.

Warming Cracker/Cold Water Cracker

G.H. Bent Co.

7 Pleasant St., Milton, www.bentscookiefactory.com

While the name is deceiving, these soft crackers made with cold water are heated to go nicely with tea or coffee and have been around since the 19th century.

Cost: $7 per box of 16 crackers.

Available online or in store. G.H. Bent also sells brownies, cookies, cakes, and the Common Cracker.

Pictured: A bag of Common Crackers.

Cranberry almond rustic bread

The Blue Blinds Bakery

7 North St., Plymouth, www.blueblindsbakery.com

While the bakery also sells pastries, sandwiches, cakes, and soups, its artisan breads such as this one stand out as unique items on the menu.

Cost: $5.50 per loaf.

More artisan breads are baked daily in store with garlic spinach, sundried tomato, jalapeno cheddar, and other varieties.

Pictured: Cranberry almond rustic bread.

Fire Dill

Ruuska All Natural Pickles

Plymouth, www.ruuskapickles.com

Pickle fanatics will enjoy this spicy version of dill, marinated with a Thailand chili pepper and fresh ingredients.

Cost: $6.99, on average, for 32-ounce jar.

Available on shelves at Shaw’s, Roche Brothers, Foodie’s Market, fruit centers, and local stores. Other pickle varieties such as Sour Dill, Sweet n’ Spicy, Spicy Dill, and Bread n’ Butter originate from family recipes.

Pictured: Ruuska’s Fire Dill.

Richard’s Famous Garlic Salt

Cranberry Barn Kitchens

Carver, www.cranberrybarnkitchens.com

This “all natural’’ seasoning, created by a father and son team, contains no preservatives and no MSG. The secret recipe has been tweaked to create the kitchen spice.

Cost: $10 for eight-ounce jar.

Richard and Jeff Freyermuth sell the garlic salt online, and in various stores and markets in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Maine.

Pictured: A jar of Richard’s Famous Garlic Salt.

Cardamom Cinnamon Infused Honey

Queen Bee Honey

Pembroke, www.queenbeehoney.com

This husband and wife team sells honey products such as lip balm, soaps, and candles in addition to this cinnamon spread perfect for scones and breads.

Cost: $18 for 12-ounce glass hex jar.

Available online at the store’s website and www.etsy.com. The honey will be on sale at Plymouth Farmers’ Market this winter.

Pictured: Cardamom Cinnamon Infused Honey.

Gingerbread cupcake

Babycakes

163 Beale St., Quincy, www.babycakesshop.net

These cupcake specialists sell the seasonal cupcake in December, just in time for the holidays.

Cost: $2.25 per cupcake, larger orders available in store.

Filled with chocolate chip whipped cream, it joins the ranks of red velvet, Oreo, and French toast cupcakes.

Pictured: Babycakes cupcakes.

Moe’s Private Reserve Multi-Purpose Seasoning & Rub

Fine Spice Company

Dedham, www.finespicecompany.com

BBQ lovers will want to check out the original and hot versions of this seasoning and rub, which can be used to coat beef, chicken, and pork, or to make dips.

Cost: $7 for eight-ounces online.

The spices are also available at Dedham Exchange and Dedham Square Country Store, as well as at Kravitz Delicatessen in Youngstown, Ohio. Creator Marshall Finesliver said the seasonings can be used with everything and is intentionally made with less salt than other rubs.

Pictured: Moe’s Original and Hot Private Reserve Multi-Purpose Seasoning & Rubs.

Organic Ethiopia Amaro Gayo

Redeye Roasters

3 Otis St., Hingham, www.redeyeroasters.com

For coffee lovers, these international beans contain chocolate and blueberry notes when roasted.

Cost: $15.99 for 12-ounce bag online and in store, or $3 per cup served custom ordered in store at the pour-over bar.

The microroasters also brew and sell coffee beans from Brazil, Burundi, Colombia,and Costa Rica.

Pictured: A latte with a design in the streamed milk from Redeye Roasters.

Caribbean Hot Pepper Sauce

Walters Specialty Foods

Kingston, www.waltersspecialtyfoods.com

This flavorful hot sauce emulates the atmosphere and essence of the islands of the Caribbean, but is not for the tame.

Cost: $9 for eight-ounce bottle, $7 for five-ounce bottle.

Available online or at local farmers’ markets, including the indoor Plymouth Farmers’ Market this winter.

Pictured: Caribbean Hot Pepper Sauce.

Veal sausage

Smoke House

340 Washington St., 781-659-4824

The shop, known for its European sausages and smoked meats, makes this light and flavorful steam-cooked sausage with fresh parsley and white pepper.

Cost: $4.50 to $5 per pound.

Available in store where orders can be called in. The shop also sells a variety of English, German, and Italian sausages, as well as other meats.

Pictured: Smoke House cooked sausages.

Pumpkin Whoopie Pies

Chococoa Baking Company & Cafe, Newburyport.
www.chococoabaking.com.
To make these a spoonful of ginger cream cheese is sandwiched between two pumpkin spice cakes.
They are sold for $1.86 each or $5.58 for three.

Gingerbread Ganache Mini Cheesecake

7ate9 Bakery, Winchester.
www.7ate9bakery.com.
Their light and fluffy classic cheesecake with a gingerbread dark chocolate ganache will leave you smiling.
One dozen for $29.

Plum Island Red Dory Wine

Mill River Winery, Rowley.
www.millerriverwines.com
Made with local grapes, aromas of plums, blackberries, and more.
More than 17 selections during winery tours.
$16 a bottle.

Hickory Maple Blend Gourmet Sea Salt

Beyond the Shaker, Woburn.
www.beyondtheshaker.com
This unique blend of maple sugar, vanilla, unrefined salts, garlic and pepper is hard to find.
2.6 ounces for $13.

Harmony Cheese

Valley View Cheese, Topsfield.
www.valleyviewcheese.com.
This cheese is made from the cheesemaker’s own Nubian goats. it is also blended with Jersey cow milk from the Appleton Farms in Ipswich.
1/3-pound wheels for $10.

Candy Canes

Ye Olde Pepper Candy Companie, Salem and North Andover.
www.peppercandy.net.
These candy canes are twisted and cut by hand. They also come in peppermint and spearmint.
Prices vary from 99 cents to $12 each.

Popovers

Popovers on the Square, Portsmouth, N.H.
www.popoversonthesquare.com.
These popovers are made with homemade maple butter.
They come at $2.75 each or $25 by the dozen.

Note:Yes, we know this is outside of the Eastern Massachusetts region, but I’m sure you’re OK with that.

Creamed Honey

Tomten BeeWorks, Ipswich.
www.tomtenbeeworks.com
Also known as Canadian honey, it is 100 percent raw. This honey can be consumed with tea, oatmeal or by the spoonful.
7 ounces for $5.

Silver Reserve White Rum Silver Reserve White Rum

Privateer Rum, Ipswich.
www.privateerrum.com
This clear rum features shades of cocoa bean, cocoa butter, pineapple, clove, deep brown sugar and molasses.
Available at $24 to $26 per 750-milliliter bottle.

Spiked Eggnog Chocolate Mexicano

Taza Chocolate, Somerville.
www.tazachocolate.com
A unique eggnog that you can eat in solid form. It is 55 percent dark chocolate from Dominican cacao and rum.
2.7 ounces for $5.50.

Fresh Turkeys

Raymond’s Turkey Farm, Metheun.
www.raymondsturkeyfarm.net.
At this farm, the turkeys are raised naturally in an open environment with nothing in their feed.
12 pounds for $3.49 a pound.

Chelsea Wicked Hot Sauce

www.chelseafirehotsauce.com
Inspired by the Chelsea Fires of 1908 and 1973, this hot sauce comes at only $5 per bottle.

Mystic Blend Coffee

Mystic Coffee Roasters, Medford.
www.mysticcoffeeroaster.com
A four-bean blend with fruity notes, vanilla and chocolate. They also have 17 types of coffee on site.
12 ounces for $11 or 16 ounces for $14.

Piñata cake

Serenade Chocolatier

Brookline Village, www.serenadechocolatier.com

A cake-shaped milk or dark chocolate shell filled with artisanal chocolates.

Cost: 6-inch cake for $59 or 8-inch cake for $79

Available online and at stores: 5 Harvard Square, Brookline Village and at South Station

Parmesan & Rosemary Popcorn

Quinn Popcorn

Arlington/Woburn, www.quinnpopcorn.com

This non-GMO snack is flavored with Peruvian and Spanish rosemary mixed with parmesan made from hormone-free milk.

Cost: Three boxes for $14.99 online

Use the store locator on the website to find nearby retailers

Falling Leaves

Doves and Figs

Arlington, www.dovesandfigs.com

Falling Leaves is a chunky spread made from apples, dried figs and dried Cape Cod cranberries. Other favors include Evil Apple, a spicy apple and chipotle conserve.

Cost: $5-$15

Buy online or use the website’s store locator to find nearby retailers

Cinnamon Streusel Coffee Cake mix

Glutenus Minimus

Belmont, www.glutenusminimus.com

This gluten-free cake mix contains no nuts or soy, and is easy to bake. In addition to ready-made mixes, Glutenus Minimus also sells gluten-free cookies, muffins, breads and cupcakes at its bakery.

Cost: $10

Buy online or at Glutenus Minimus’ bakery at 697 Belmont St. Baked goods are also available at other retailers – see website’s store locator for nearby retailers.

Muhummara

Samira’s Homemade

Belmont, www.samirashomemade.com

Muhammara, a dip with Syrian origins, is an original blend of fire roasted red peppers, walnuts and pomegranate molasses. Other specialties include hummus, baba gannoush and ful medammes.

Cost: $4

Use the store locator on the website to find nearby retailers

Apple cinnamon pickles

Root Cellar Preserves

Wellesley, www.rootcellarpreserves.com

As far as fall novelty items go, apple cinnamon pickles are a unique treat. Other flavors include bread and butter, sweet and spicy, and zesty and sweet

Cost: $6.49

Buy online

Sweet potato truffles

Chocolate Therapy

Framingham, www.ctsweetremedies.com

This holiday-themed treat features roasted sweet potato mixed with spices and white chocolate and coated in dark chocolate.

Cost: $2.25 per truffle

Buy individually or in boxes at 60 Worcester Rd., Framingham or online

Apple ice wine

Still River Winery

Harvard, www.stillriverwinery.com

Cost: $24.99

Buy online or at the winery at 104 Bolton Rd.

Pumpkin chocolate chip ice cream

Rancatore’s Ice Cream and Yogurt

Lexington/Belmont, www.rancs.com

Pumpkin chocolate chip, a seasonal flavor at Rancatore’s, joins other favorites including Callebaut Milk Chocolate and Hydrox on a menu packed with ice creams, yogurts and sorbets

Cost: Pint – $6.26, Quart – $9.75

Buy at stores in Lexington – 1752 Massachusetts Ave. – or Belmont – 36 Leonard St.

Maple almond granola

Stark Sisters Granola

Concord, www.starksisters.com

Stark Sisters Granola offers three Vermont maple syrup-sweetened, non-GMO, wheat-free and vegan flavors. Maple Almond is the most popular of the three.

Cost: $6.29-$7.99 per pound

Buy online or at Debra’s Natural Gourmet at 98 Commonwealth Ave.

Pumpkin pie cupcake

Treat Cupcake Bar

Needham/Chestnut Hill, www.treatcupcakebar.com

Fall treats at the Cupcake Bar include pumpkin cupcakes with cinnamon frosting, while winter favorites, coming soon, include blueberry vanilla cupcakes topped with maple frosting and candied walnuts.

Cost: Jumbo – $3.75, Mini per dozen – $18

Buy at stores at 1450 Highland Ave., Needham or 49 Boylston St. at The Street

Herdsman Pless

Nobscot Artian Cheese

Framingham, www.nobscotcheese.com

Made from raw milk provided by the farm’s cows, Herdsman Pless is an alpine style cheese that works well in sandwiches and on crackers.

Cost: $18 per pound

Buy at Eastleigh Farm (1062 Edmands Rd.) or use the website’s store locator to find nearby retailers

Flavor Fanfare Gift Basket

Fastachi

Watertown, www.fastachi.com

This basket is packed with nuts hand roasted in small batches, in addition to Fastachi’s Harvest Nut Mix and its signature Cranberry Nut Mix.

Cost: $55

Buy online or at 598 Mount Auburn St.

Japanese Knotweed honey

Boston Honey Company

Holliston, www.bostonhoneycompany.com

This late season honey is gathered from large, bamboo-like plants. The resulting nectar is dark, nutty and pairs well with cheeses and breads.

Cost: $12 for a 9-ounce jar

Buy online

Lite Balsamic Vinaigrette

Ken’s Steakhouse

Marlborough, www.kensfoods.com

This light vinaigrette is the most popular of Ken’s Steakhouse’s dressings, and can be found on shelves around the nation.

Cost: $2.80 (loal average)

Stop & Shop, Shaw’s, Market Basket, Roche Bros, Hannaford, Sudbury Farms and other supermarkets