Buzz
[COMPETITION: This list previously held a competition that has now closed. Check out the featured comment for the names of the lucky winners!]
The word 'Kiwiana' refers to objects that embody New Zealand’s history and cultural identity. These items are either distinctly native or have been so widely embraced that they’ve become icons of the culture. Below are examples of food and beverages that represent New Zealand and its endearing, sometimes quirky, charm.
[Note from JFrater: as the proud owner of Mytour and a Kiwi myself, I couldn’t resist sharing a list full of my personal favorite foods and drinks! Consider this my 'vanity list' of the year!]
10. Pavlova
Pavlova, or simply 'pav' as it’s affectionately known, is a dessert that looks like a giant meringue. It’s widely believed to be named after the famous Russian ballerina Anna Pavlova, who visited New Zealand in the 1920s. The dessert boasts a crispy, crunchy exterior, but inside, it’s soft, light, and marshmallow-like. It’s often topped with whipped cream and fresh fruit, usually kiwifruit and strawberries.
(Fun fact – the green fruit with fuzzy skin is called 'kiwifruit' in New Zealand to avoid any confusion with the small, flightless, and endangered kiwi bird.)
Made from a mixture of beaten egg whites, superfine sugar, vinegar, vanilla extract, and cornstarch, pavlova is typically served during Christmas, although it’s available year-round. The dessert has sparked nearly a century-long debate about whether it originated in New Zealand or Australia. The true answer, of course, is New Zealand. Here is the most traditional recipe from the Edmond’s Cookbook, a beloved book found in most Kiwi homes, often given to teenagers when they leave home and start 'flatting'.
9. Cheese Rolls
At its simplest, a cheese roll is made from a slice of buttered white bread, topped with cheese, rolled up, and lightly grilled. Optional ingredients may include evaporated milk, sweetcorn, pineapple, or finely chopped onion. Seasonings like Worcestershire sauce, mustard powder, or onion soup powder can also be added.
Cheese rolls are one of the few New Zealand foods that are more associated with a specific region. They are particularly popular in the South Island, especially in the 'Deep South,' where they are humorously referred to as 'Southern Sushi.'
The earliest known recipes for cheese rolls date back to the 1930s. In the southern regions of New Zealand, family recipes for this simple dish are often closely guarded, passed down through generations.
Crispy and crunchy on the outside, yet soft and gooey on the inside, a cheese roll is the ideal companion to a warm bowl of soup on a chilly day.
8. Lolly Cake
Lolly cake is a no-bake, fudge-like slice, featuring a beloved Kiwi candy in the mix. Eskimo candies (or fruit puffs, if needed) are pastel-colored, soft, sweet, and resemble firm marshmallows. Their name comes from their shape, which is said to resemble smiling Eskimos (much to the dismay of Canadian visitors!). Eskimos also make an appearance in the popular Kiwi ice cream treat called an Eskimo Pie.
Quick and simple to prepare, Lolly Cake is made by combining crushed plain malt biscuits (cookies) with chopped candy, melted butter, and sweetened condensed milk. The mixture is then shaped into a log, rolled in coconut, and chilled. Once set, it’s cut into slices. Here’s the ultimate recipe for it.
It’s a hit with both kids and adults. One slice is never enough. Neither is two. Or three. You get the idea.
7. Whitebait Fritters
Whitebait refers to small juvenile fish from the Galaxiidae family, often found swimming in large schools. In New Zealand, they are considered a true delicacy and are eaten whole, including the skin, heads, bones, and innards.
The most popular way to enjoy whitebait in New Zealand is in a whitebait fritter, which is essentially an omelette mixture that holds the delicate fish together. The preferred mixture is an egg white omelette, lightly seasoned with salt and white pepper, allowing the subtle flavor of the whitebait to shine through without being overpowered by other ingredients. Here’s the full recipe.
These fritters are often served between two buttered slices of soft, fresh white bread, accompanied by wedges of lemon.
Sadly, habitat loss and overfishing have resulted in four out of the five types of whitebait found in New Zealand being classified as either endangered or at serious risk of extinction. Conservation groups, like the Forest and Bird Society, have called for a ban on all commercial sales of whitebait until the population recovers.
6. Paua
Paua (pronounced pa-wa) is the name given by the Maori to a large marine gastropod that resembles a snail. While it's commonly known as abalone elsewhere, paua is a unique variety found only in New Zealand. Although paua is most famous for its brightly colored, iridescent shell often used in jewelry and souvenirs, the large, black, muscular foot of the shellfish is considered a real delicacy.
New Zealand paua has a bold flavor, which some say resembles steak more than shellfish. Like calamari, it becomes tough and rubbery if not cooked properly, so it's best enjoyed minced or thinly sliced and made into a fritter. Here’s how you can prepare it.
5. Hokey Pokey Ice Cream
Hokey pokey ice cream doesn’t involve putting your left foot in and shaking it all about! In New Zealand, hokey pokey refers to a crunchy honeycomb toffee. The Tip-Top ice cream company invented a method of creating small, hard balls of hokey pokey and mixing them into plain vanilla ice cream. This combination resulted in one of their most popular flavors, now a beloved cultural icon.
New Zealanders rank as the world's second-largest consumers of ice cream per capita, indulging in an average of 26 liters of ice cream per person annually.
4. Afghan Biscuits
An afghan biscuit is a cookie made with powdered cocoa, plain flour, sugar, butter, and cornflake cereal. It is topped with a chocolate icing and a half walnut.
These biscuits are soft, crumbly, rich, and dense, thanks to their relatively low sugar content. This also gives them a slightly bitter taste due to the amount of cocoa powder, but the sweetness of the icing balances it out. Here’s a fantastic recipe for afghans.
3. Pineapple Lumps
Pineapple Lumps are rectangular, soft, and chewy candies flavored with pineapple, all coated in chocolate. First introduced in the 1950s in the southern town of Oamaru, the closure of the Cadbury factory in Dunedin in 2018 led to public outcry, as Pineapple Lumps were then imported from Australia.
Changes to the recipe caused Pineapple Lump enthusiasts to complain about the weaker pineapple flavor and the often gooey or sometimes gritty texture of the Aussie-made versions. This resulted in the remaining Kiwi-made Pineapple Lump candies being highly coveted, with some selling for astronomical prices on online auction sites. Still, they remain a beloved treat for most, even if made across the Tasman.
+ L&P
L&P, or Lemon and Paeroa, is a much-loved sweet soft drink. As the name suggests, it was first created in the small North Island town of Paeroa using sweetened lemon juice and carbonated mineral water. Originally produced in 1907, the brand is now owned by the global giant Coca-Cola.
L&P’s playful slogan 'World famous in New Zealand' has become an iconic part of the nation’s language. Additionally, it's a popular mixer for Southern Comfort whiskey.
2. Feijoas
The feijoa, also known as pineapple guava, is a small fruiting tree from the myrtle family. Its green fruit, roughly the size of a chicken egg, has a sweet and fragrant flavor. The taste is uniquely complex, with some describing it as a mix of pineapple and mint, while others find it reminiscent of soap.
The inside of the fruit has a jelly-like, opaque flesh, while the area near the skin has a gritty, pear-like texture.
Although it thrives in warm-subtropical climates, the feijoa is also frost-resistant and grows abundantly across New Zealand. Though feijoas are often used in baking or for making preserves, they are most commonly eaten raw by slicing in half and scooping out the flesh with a spoon. The unique texture adds a fun twist to fruit smoothies.
1. Marmite
Marmite is a thick, concentrated yeast extract, a by-product of beer brewing. Since 1919, it has been produced in New Zealand by the Sanitarium food company. Due to trademark ownership, the original English version of Marmite cannot be sold in New Zealand under that name. New Zealand's version, which is notably tastier than its Australian counterpart, Vegemite, features a strong flavor profile that combines sweetness, saltiness, and a tangy kick. It’s definitely a 'love it or hate it' kind of food.
It is typically enjoyed as a spread on toast or crackers, or even in Marmite and cheese sandwiches.
After the Marmite factory in Christchurch was deemed unsafe following a major earthquake in November 2011, the subsequent Marmite shortage led to widespread panic buying and price-gouging on online auction sites. This event was dubbed 'Marmageddon'. Ex-pat Kiwis always ensure they have a jar stocked up.
++ Competition
At midnight Pacific Standard Time tonight (in 24 hours), ten lucky commenters will be chosen at random to receive a bag each of the delicious candies listed here: Eskimos and Pineapple lumps. This contest is open to participants from all countries. Just to clarify, each winner will receive two bags of candy... plus perhaps a little extra surprise! Comments must be relevant to the list and not just aimed at winning (such as repetitive comments).
THE WINNERS ARE: batlady, Missmv, Maria, mac.attack, Wyrmwood13, TriumphofDeath, Jonathan H. Kantor, TheStoneOfSisyphus, Jean Shepard, howard38, Chelseagirl74.
Congratulations to all the winners! Please email [email protected] with your username here, full name, delivery address (no PO Boxes), and phone number for the courier to complete the delivery!
