Joanna James
New Zealand food fare revolves a lot around dairy and meat, being one of the largest milk producers in the world! However, there are quite a few delicacies that have their NZ origin stamped on them. Make sure to try these out next time you find yourself on kiwi land.
Eating pie is a way of life for New Zealanders, and they take it very seriously that they hold an annual competition to locate the country's best! You will easily come across pies at coffee shops, bakeries, convenience stores and supermarkets – pies can be found basically anywhere! The traditional ingredients include beef mince, lamb, steak, and cheese with mash. However, vegetarian and vegan-friendly options are becoming popular by the day, with ingredients like jack fruit and plant-based meats taking the centre stage.
The original flat white is a kiwi creation! So don't forget to try this coffee concoction at a cafe in New Zealand to get a taste of the real thing. Wellington has a good reputation for serving great coffee, while Auckland has the best cafes. But any coffee shop will serve a flat white just the way it was meant to be!
New Zealand has great seafood, and a platter of fish and chips is a great way to savour it. The type of fish used is usually, snapper, koi, and tarakihi. You will have the chance of getting another seafood option alongside your fish when purchasing from vendors, like scallops, oysters, mussels or calamari. It will be accompanied by a scoop of potato chips or sweet potato chips known as kumara.
The Pavlova was created in honour of legendary Russian ballet dancer Anna Pavlova when she and her troupe toured Australia and New Zealand. Many heated arguments will ensue if you ask a New Zealander about the nationality of the creator of the famous dessert. Despite the confusion regarding its origin, many will acclaim it as a proud NZ product. The desert comprises a mound of marshmallow-like meringue baked until the exterior gets nice and crisp. The top gets piled high with fresh whipped cream and fruits like strawberries, kiwi fruit, passion fruit and mango. The Pavlova is a treat made for special occasions, so it won't be freely available everywhere, but the best hotels in Auckland will most likely feature it on their menus. You can try the likes of Avani Auckland Metropolis Residences when looking for accommodation in and around Auckland.
As one of the biggest dairy producers in the world, New Zealanders consume more ice cream than any other nation on earth! This alone will guarantee you are in for a treat when it comes to ice cream in the land of the kiwi. Among the myriad flavours available, a much-beloved favourite is hokey pokey ice cream. Soft vanilla ice cream gets swirled in with pieces of honeycomb toffee, an NZ classic you must try!
For a very distinctive New Zealand experience, nothing beats a hangi, which is a method used by the Māori people when cooking up a feast for a special occasion. The food gets cooked inside a hole with heated rocks. It is a significant cultural aspect of the Māori. The food usually contains vegetables and meat, which gets roasted to perfection.
A splendid place to enjoy the traditional hangi is Rotorua, a village near the namesake river on the North Island of New Zealand. You can experience this alongside other cultural practices of the Māori in locations like Tamaki Māori Village and Mitai Māori Village.
A true believer that the pen is a mighty weapon, ventures into reaching the minds of every reader with the earnest hope of leaving an indelible stream of thought.
A travel writer who has a passion for fashion and a deep interest in admiring new and exotic attractions around the world.
