By Loaf & Ladle is a small Aberdeenshire food business, and A Letter from the Kitchen is its monthly letterbox subscription: for £7 a month a letter, a seasonal recipe card, a puzzle and a tea or infusion arrive in an envelope through your door. There is no box and nothing to unpack, just paper, a tea bag and a nudge to bake something from scratch away from your phone. It is a gentle, thoughtful little gift and a refreshingly cheap way to try a subscription. Our news story on A Letter from the Kitchen covers the launch.
By Loaf & Ladle price and plans
| Option | What you get | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly subscription | One letter a month: letter, recipe card, puzzle and tea | £7 a month |
| One-time purchase | A single letter, to try or to give | £7 |
| Gift | As many months as you like, even one | £7 a month |
| Delivery | UK delivery is free, overseas is charged | £0 in the UK |
The brand says you can cancel at any time, and the one-off option means you can test a single letter before committing. Twelve months costs £84 with free UK delivery. The brand does not give a fixed posting date each month, so check the product page if you need a letter by a deadline.
What’s in A Letter from the Kitchen
Every month brings four pieces of the By Loaf & Ladle kitchen in one envelope:
- A letter: a personal note from the kitchen about what has been baking and the season
- A seasonal recipe card, designed to build into a collection you keep
- A puzzle: a crossword, quiz or other paper-and-pencil activity
- A tea or infusion chosen to suit the month’s theme and recipe
The first letter featured a Maple Pecan Cookies recipe card for 14 servings, a Cosy Crossword and a tea bag in a small sleeve. You buy the ingredients yourself, so think of it as a recipe subscription rather than a baking kit. Source: By Loaf & Ladle.
Who is By Loaf & Ladle?
By Loaf & Ladle is the one-woman business of Clare, who says she makes everything that is ordered, from every bake to every box to every grazing table. Based in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire, it sells seasonal bake boxes, charcuterie boxes for two in limited drops, charcuterie cups, event and gift boxes and grazing tables, all made in small batches. A Letter from the Kitchen is the cheapest way into that world.
More from the By Loaf & Ladle kitchen
If the letter whets your appetite, the shop’s other boxes show the same careful presentation. The seasonal bake box is a curated, pre-order-only box that arrives with a theme, and the charcuterie box for two is released in limited local drops.
Is By Loaf & Ladle worth it?
Yes, as a small treat. At £7 you get paper, a recipe and a single tea bag, so this is not a meal kit and it will not fill a cupboard. What you are paying for is the ritual: a real letter on the doormat, a recipe worth keeping and a screen-free hour with a puzzle and a cuppa. It will suit keen bakers, anyone who misses getting post, and gift buyers who want something thoughtful under £10 a month. If you want ingredients delivered with the recipe, a baking subscription such as BakeBox, which includes the dry ingredients, is a better fit. We like the low commitment and the one-off option, and we would try a single letter first.
Pros
- Cheap at £7 a month, with free UK delivery
- A lovely, screen-free gift that can be bought for as many months as you like
- Cancel at any time, with a one-off option to try it first
- Made by a small independent Aberdeenshire business
Cons
- No ingredients included, so you buy them yourself
- Just a single tea bag, so the value is in the recipe and the letter
- No fixed posting date is stated
- A new subscription with few reviews so far
Best alternatives to By Loaf & Ladle
- BakeBox: a monthly baking subscription that supplies the dry ingredients.
- Bird & Blend Tea Co.: choose-your-own tea with subscribe and save deliveries.
- Puzzler Presents: a monthly dose of puzzles if the crossword is your favourite part.
For more ideas, browse our recipe subscription boxes and food subscription boxes.
By Loaf & Ladle FAQ
How much does A Letter from the Kitchen cost?
It costs £7 a month on subscription, or £7 as a one-time purchase. Delivery is free across the UK and charged overseas.
What is in A Letter from the Kitchen?
A personal letter, a seasonal recipe card, a puzzle and a tea or infusion, posted in an envelope through your letterbox.
How do I cancel A Letter from the Kitchen?
The brand says you can cancel at any time. For any problems, email [email protected].
Can I give A Letter from the Kitchen as a gift?
Yes. Add the recipient’s name and details at checkout and choose as many months as you like, even just one.
Questions & reviews
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