25 Foods You Have to Try in New Zealand
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Loading... - Claire Lavigne
- 31 May 2022
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The Top New Zealand Food, Snacks and Traditional Meals
Trying the local cuisine is part of the parcel that is travelling, so why not try some of the famous New Zealand food while you’re exploring Aotearoa?
Admittedly, New Zealand isn’t world-famous for its culinary delights, but there are certainly some meals, snacks, desserts and even drinks that Kiwis are extremely proud to claim as their own. As a country with around 15,000km (9,320 miles) of coastline, it comes as no surprise that seafood is a staple of the Kiwi diet. Additionally, food or “kai” has been a significant part of the MÄori culture for hundreds of years producing must-try traditional meals, whether it’s hÄngÄ«, fried bread or kawakawa tea.
So, what New Zealand foods are worth sampling? Get a taste of the New Zealand food culture through our list of New Zealand’s famous food.
1. HÄngÄ«
Let’s start with the traditional MÄori hÄngÄ«! More than just New Zealand cuisine, hÄngÄ« is MÄori cuisine at its finest. This involves meat and vegetables slow-cooked in an underground oven. Although it was a common cooking method for hundreds of years in New Zealand, today, a hÄngÄ« is saved for more special occasions (mainly because it takes all day to prepare!) Prepare to be overfed but extremely satisfied at hÄngÄ« buffets served at Maori cultural experiences.
2. Crayfish
Another traditional New Zealand food is crayfish! Crayfish or lobster is a Kiwi favourite mostly because it is something many fishermen and divers pride on catching themselves. Known to sometimes cost up to NZ$80 for a full crayfish, it’s not exactly the most affordable food, but it’s definitely worth a try when the opportunity presents itself. Then you’ll understand why Kiwis go “cray” for crayfish!
3. Kina
Ok, New Zealanders love their seafood so we’ll just hop straight onto another foodie delight from the ocean. Kina is the local name for a type of sea urchin with a hard spiky outer shell and thin fleshy (and edible) insides. It has been a New Zealand delicacy for centuries.
4. Kiwi Burger
You’ll either think it’s weird or genius but it’s still a staple of New Zealand cuisine. What makes a Kiwi burger “Kiwi” is the fact it has beetroot and a fried egg along with your standard burger patties, lettuce and whatever else goes between two burger buns. Don’t knock it until you try it!
5. Jaffas
Another New Zealand famous food are Jaffas! Jaffas are a confectionery favourite among New Zealanders. Jaffas are small sugar-coated chocolate balls with a subtle orange flavour. You can pick up Jaffas at any supermarket or dairy (convenience store).
6. Pavlova
Ask an Australian and they will swear that Oz invented the pavlova. Ask a Kiwi and they will tell you differently. Either way, pavlova is a much-loved dessert in New Zealand made with meringue, whipped cream and fresh fruit. While this dessert can be found on the odd dessert menu in New Zealand, Kiwis traditionally consume this refreshing dessert for Christmas. Try making some yourself following the recipe in our 5 Traditional New Zealand Recipes.
7. L&P
We’ll sneak a beverage in early on this list just because it’s very proudly Kiwi. L&P stands for “Lemon & Paeroa” named after the North Island town it was invented in. It is as common as any soft drink in New Zealand, tasting a bit more lemony and sweeter than Sprite.
8. Whitebait Fritters
Don’t visit the West Coast of the South Island without trying whitebait fritters. Whitebait is a collective term for immature fish, usually around one to two inches long. You’ll see heaps of keen “whitebaiters” setting up temporary shacks and jetties along the river mouths of the West Coast between mid-August and November. What they catch is used to make whitebait fritters; think of them as a fishy omelette. However, be aware that this typical food in New Zealand is controversial as overfishing may endanger the stock of local fish in New Zealand’s rivers.
9. Manuka Honey
A classic food of New Zealand: world-famous manuka honey! Highly-sought on the international market, manuka honey is acclaimed for its medicinal purposes. The purer the manuka component of the honey is, the healthy (and more expensive) it is. Manuka honey also makes a great souvenir to bring back home.
10. Kumara
Kumara isn’t just a sweet potato; it is an epic sweet potato. Kumara was brought to New Zealand by the early MÄori settlers and still remains a favourite vegetable in New Zealand. The best way to try kumara is in a hÄngÄ« (see above), but there are heaps of ways you can incorporate kumara into your own cooking. We’ll make it easy for you; check out Why Every Traveller in New Zealand Should Cook With Kumara.
11. Hokey Pokey Ice Cream
Kiwis prefer hokey pokey ice cream (that’s ice cream with pieces of caramelised honeycomb) over pretty much anything. If there’s only one ice cream flavour you’re going to try in New Zealand, make it hokey pokey! Read More...
