THE CHEST OF CHRISTMAS
FEL’s Christmas Chest is not the usual boring Christmas hamper. It contains only original and exclusive food and goods! All the products you will find in the box have in fact been chosen, tested and selected by FEL’s Imperial council, to let you experience a unique journey through ancient culture and flavours.
When choosing the contents of the Chest we combined traditional foods with merchandise you would hardly be able to find on supermarket shelves. The box was conceived and illuminated by our scribes and will look amazing under your Christmas tree.
The Chest is offered in two versions: Magno or Minuto, with a fixed selection of products. You can add tunics and other products to your order to further customise your parcel.
NB: additional items will be packed in a separate bag.
What does the Christmas Box contain?
Contents of the MAGNA version
To amaze your loved ones at Christmas you don’t need a big Chest, but a truly Great Chest!
- • One artisanal panettone (750g) classic with almonds | La forneria di Pula (CA)
- • Artisanal Renaissance chocolate (70% cocoa - 60g) | Dolci Creazioni (Florence)
- • One bottle of mead (500ml) | Azienda Agricola Ca du Ratto Rossignone (GE)
- • One bottle of hippocras (500ml) | Azienda Agricola Ca du Ratto Rossignone (GE)
- • One Abbey herbal tea (30g) | Kloster Neustift - Novacella (BZ)
- • One jar of artisanal Sardinian myrtle jam (210g) | La forneria di Pula (CA)
- • One jar of wild boar pâté with hippocras | Fabriquée in Bourgogne - France
- • One kitchen apron | Historical illustration with Latin quote | Artwork by FEL
- • One 2026 calendar dedicated to explorers | Illustrations by Fabio Porfidia - Artwork by FEL
- • Themed box with artwork by FEL
Contents of the minuta version
The small Christmas Chest is dedicated to all comrades who desire a more accessible version of the Christmas box that the Emperor has decided to grant to the people.
- • One artisanal mini panettone (100g) classic | La forneria di Pula (CA)
- • One artisanal mini panettone (100g) with chocolate chips | La forneria di Pula (CA)
- • Artisanal Renaissance chocolate (70% cocoa - 60g) | Dolci Creazioni (Florence)
- • One bottle of mead (500ml) | Azienda Agricola Ca du Ratto Rossignone (GE)
- • One Abbey herbal tea (30g) | Kloster Neustift - Novacella (BZ)
- • One jar of artisanal Sardinian myrtle jam (210g) | La forneria di Pula (CA)
- • One kitchen apron | Historical illustration with Seneca quote | Artwork by FEL
- • One 2026 calendar dedicated to explorers | Illustrations by Fabio Porfidia - Artwork by FEL
- • Themed box with artwork by FEL
ARTISANAL PANETTONE
The panettone, both in its 750g and 100g versions, is a lactose-free artisanal product from the ancient bakery of Pula in Sardinia. On the palate, this dessert, which was born in the city of Mediolanum (Milan) in the 11th century, is characterised by a soft and fluffy dough, an intense golden colour and a fragrance of eggs, butter, citrus fruits, vanilla and sugar.
In its classic version you will find raisins (never sultanas!), candied orange peel and a topping of glaze, sugar and peeled almond grains. In the version with dark chocolate chips and cocoa, candied fruit and raisins are absent so as to better enjoy the delicious fruit discovered by the Spanish Conquistadores.
Each panettone requires a total processing time of three days: after the kneading phase it is followed by a long rising with sourdough starter for at least 30 hours, and a slow natural drying of 12 hours after baking, to keep aromas, flavours and softness unaltered.
RENAISSANCE CHOCOLATE
The Renaissance chocolate we decided to include in the Chest is produced following late-Renaissance culinary techniques which required a special cold processing. Unlike hot processing, cold processing was preferred because it managed to keep the flavours of each individual ingredient intact.
Moreover, compared with that used for normal industrial bars bought in GreatMarkets, the cold process makes the chocolate more opaque to the eye and crumbly on the palate. Finally, it is worth remembering that, since neither milk nor soy lecithin is used, the bars are also perfect for vegans and the lactose-intolerant.
Each bar contains 70% cocoa and weighs 60g.
MEAD
Mead is obtained from the fermentation of honey with water and yeast and can be served at room temperature in winter or chilled in summer.
In pre-Christian times, newlyweds were given a supply of mead sufficient for the duration of a lunar month in order to help them with procreation. It was in fact believed that the alcohol level and high sugar content could help young couples have enough “energy” to face their first sexual relations. From this custom comes the term “honeymoon”.
Also recognised for its beneficial properties, it is an anti-inflammatory for the gastrointestinal tract and helps combat insomnia and depression, as well as strengthening the immune system. Drunk hot, it is useful for respiratory illnesses.
HIPPOCRAS
From the skilled hands of medieval master winemakers comes hippocras. The recipe has reached us from the Middle Ages through various refined evolutions. We offer it to you just as it has been handed down over the centuries.
To a wine base are added: sugar, for preservation and sweetness; cinnamon as a relaxant and antispasmodic for the stomach; ginger, an excellent digestive and anti-inflammatory for the airways; galangal, as a disinfectant for the gastrointestinal tract and respiratory mucous membranes.
ABBEY HERBAL TEA
Abbey Herbal Tea is made from organic herbs grown at the Rauter farm in Riol, a hamlet of the municipality of Fortezza in South Tyrol. It is a natural drink prepared by Augustinian monks following the ancient recipe of the Abbey’s pharmacy. With peppermint, lemon balm and chamomile, the infusion has a relaxing effect while at the same time being refreshing and thirst-quenching.
Thanks to the properties of the herbs wisely chosen by the monks for its preparation, Abbey Herbal Tea is a drink which, when drunk hot, has a pleasant relaxing effect, above all thanks to the presence of lemon balm.
The latter is in fact indicated to counter irritability and insomnia, and acts in concert with chamomile, a precious ally against anxiety and tiredness.
SARDINIAN MYRTLE JAM
In the Middle Ages, myrtle berries were used as a spice, especially in Italy, southern France and Spain. In particular, before pepper became widespread (expensive and imported), myrtle was sometimes used as its local substitute, thanks to its pungent, resinous flavour.
In monastic medical treatises and medieval herbals myrtle was mentioned as a digestive, antiseptic and astringent remedy. It was used for infusions, oils and ointments, considered useful against inflammation or to purify the air.
This artisanal jam is made from hand-picked Sardinian myrtle. Prepared with fresh myrtle berries, with no other added fruit and without diabolical colourings, preservatives, flavourings, palm oil, hydrogenated fats or Guelph lard.
Versatile and delicious, this jam is perfect to be enjoyed in many different ways. You can pair it with cheeses, aged or fresh, use it as a filling for cakes or tarts, or simply spread it on a slice of warm bread for your breakfast.
WILD BOAR PÂTÉ WITH HIPPOCRAS
The medieval pâté or terrine (pastez) is prepared by the skilled hands of Burgundian butchers, flavoured with hippocras and aromatic herbs. Note that, for better preservation over time, the pork meat has been cooked directly in the jar.
The wild boar pâté with hippocras is flavoured with the latter together with many spices, including honey, salt, cinnamon, garlic, clove powder, ginger, cardamom, pepper and lemon juice.
It is excellent for teasing the taste buds of your guests before the main courses; perfect spread on dark bread and accompanied by a glass of hippocras.
KITCHEN APRON
Cibi condimentum esse famem, that is, “hunger makes every food tasty”.
On this apron the Socratic saying, taken up by Cicero, is joined to an infernal-hedonistic vision: the ravenous demon gobbles up clerics and landsknechts as if they were tavern snacks, while devotees and other victims crowd around.
The message is clear: enjoy frugal meals, since hunger enhances flavours and gives value even to the humblest of dishes.
Gluttony finds its representation in the demon in an illustration inspired by the Thirty Years’ War between Catholic and Protestant forces (1618 - 1648).
CALENDAR 2026
Immerse yourself in the fascinating world of ancient explorers with the MMXXVI Calendar by Feudalesimo e Libertà! Forged by the skilled hands of master papermakers and illuminated with the finest pens and pigments in Europe, this fine artefact aims to celebrate the most illustrious and influential travellers who, between the Middle Ages and the early modern age, explored distant and exotic lands.
Among them were those who set sail in search of new trade routes (Columbus and Magellan), those who went on pilgrimage to spread the word of God (Dominicans and Jesuits), and those who merely wished to gain new lands (the Conquistadors). Some of them left memoirs and diaries of what they saw (think of Marco Polo’s “Il Milione”), while others are known to us thanks to oral tradition or the accounts of their contemporaries.
In addition to the best-known European explorers, in the Calendar you will also find some travellers and wanderers from other lands: from the Chinese admiral Zheng He, who with his fleet of junks came to touch the African coasts, to Leif Erikson, the first Norseman to reach the American continent five centuries before Columbus, via the great Berber explorer Ibn Battuta and his expeditions in Persia, India and South-East Asia.
