Oil and vinegar cruets are fast becoming ideal gifts for birthday, anniversary, and housewarming presents.

A derivative of the archaic "cruse" which was a small jar holding oil or water. This ware is referred to in Biblical times and throughout ancient writings as a small earthenware container or flask. See Middle English "crouse," and also Middle Dutch "cruyse," meaning small pot.

A cruet is a small jug-shaped container, usually with a lip or spout, some have handles, some do not, but they always have a stopper or lid. They normally have flat bottoms to sit upright on the table and remain stable. It is similar to a carafe only cruets have stoppers or lid covers.

For use in the Catholic Church, cruets hold water, oil and wine placed at the altar for the Eucharist. Normally, a set of cut-crystal cruets are used for these purposes.

In the culinary world, cruets are small bottles used for serving liquid condiments such as olive oil and balsamic vinegar, especially gourmet quality oils and aged balsamic vinegars. Olive oil cruets are often found on Mediterranean cuisine dining tables.

In France, cruets became popular in pairs, one for olive oil and the other for vinegar. Glass makers and porcelain manufactures began making sets for culinary use.

The use of cruets rapidly spread throughout Italy, where oil and vinegar were already in more frequent use. And ever since then every Italian table, cruets are ever present.

Today a popular style cruet is the Grape Cluster Cruet. This glass article is made from hand blown glass artisans in the Czech Republic. It features a double vessel construction. Olive oil and balsamic vinegar can be stored in the same glass decanter.

Cruets as gift ideas

Most people want to give unique gift ideas, but still be meaningful and most of all practical.

Gourmet gifts are the best kind of gifts that could fit the description mentioned above. Oil and vinegar cruets easily work for numerous gift occasions like weddings, house warming, anniversaries, and Mother’s Day.

See Balsamic Vinegar info

See Organic Olive Oil information