Delve into that kiwi culture by indulging in the below tasty New Zealand Foods! New Zealand lamb, Hokey Pokey Ice Cream and the traditional Hāngi – all unique and special to New Zealand. There are heaps more than this, but here are the top 15 foods you have to try when you’re in New Zealand!
1. Hokey Pokey Ice Cream
Ice Cream doesn’t get better then Hokey Pokey flavour. You can get this in all supermarkets and dairies. It’s crafted with vanilla ice cream and small lumps of honeycomb toffee. You’ll want to go back for more!
2. Fish and Chips
Fish and Chips is a favourite kiwi take away. On the beach or in the comfort of your own home, Fish and Chips for tea (dinner) is an affordable affair for the whole family. It’s only complete with tomato sauce, and maybe some tartare sauce too. Opt for blue cod as your choice of fish! A must-try New Zealand food!
3. Pies
The humble savoury pie is a kiwi classic. There are heaps of flavour varieties to choose from now, but the old favourites are steak and cheese and mince and cheese. Try your local bakery for a good, flaky, pie.
4. Lamb
New Zealand lamb has a taste like no other. The good stuff is grass fed and free range, sometimes from the high country. Often paired with mint sauce and roasted root veggies, it’s fantastic local food.
5. Whittakers Chocolate
Made in New Zealand, Whittakers are makers of really good chocolate that is beloved by the locals. It has become a trolley staple over other chocolate brands. Try Peanut Butter or Berry & Biscuit, or check out their Artisan range including Hawke’s Bay Black Doris Plum & Roasted Almonds in Dark Chocolate. Yum!
6. Hokey Pokey Squiggles
Squiggles are a vanilla biscuit topped with a hokey pokey flavoured cream and hokey pokey pieces, then covered in dairy milk chocolate and finished with the signature yellow squiggle. These are as tasty as they sound! Add them to your list!
7. Paua
Kiwi’s love seafood! New Zealand is an island country after all. Paua is harvested year round and is a treasured seafood species. They also have exceptional coloured shells that are often used in jewellery making.
8. Pineapple Lumps
They are soft, chewy, pineapple flavoured lumps coated in chocolate. These are widely known as a real ‘Kiwiana’ product and are a popular souvenir. Even pineapple haters will love them!
9. Jaffas
Another kiwi treat is orangey, chocolatey Jaffas. They have a soft, chocolate centre and a red, orange flavoured hard coating. A dangerously good snack to have on your New Zealand road trip!
10. Hāngi
Hāngi is a traditional Maori method of cooking food with heated rocks and buried in the ground as a pit oven. It produces a wonderful smokey, flavoursome feed. A Hāngi is still prepared for some special occasions.
11. Manuka Honey
Manuka is a plant that is native to New Zealand. Many varieties of honey are made in New Zealand, but this one is an outstanding favourite. This highly valued food is sweet and addictive. Manuka Honey is known to have many great medicinal properties too.
12. L&P
Not technically a food, but L&P is a must-try drink when in New Zealand. Standing for Lemon & Paeroa, this soft drink was originally from the town of Paeroa and was made using lemon juice and carbonated mineral water from the small New Zealand town. It’s sweet, sharp and scrumptious!
13. Mussel fritters
Grab a mussel fritter at any good seafood festival or market. These are always the best ones. Mussels are a tasty shellfish, New Zealand Green-Lipped mussels being some of the most sought out. Making a delicious fritter with this seafood is down right genius.
14. Kumara
Not to be confused with the town on the West Coast of the South Island, Kumara is a fantastic root vegetable that is popular in kiwi homes. Roasted kumara, kumara mash, kumara chips – this is one tasty and versatile vege!
15. Bluff Oysters
If you happen to be in New Zealand during Bluff Oyster season make sure you try these little morsels of goodness. These are a wild caught oyster, from the Foveaux Strait off the coast of the small town, Bluff and have a beautiful, unique flavour. Bluff Oyster season is from March to August (depending on the season this may change slightly).
