Eden Salilig

New Zealand’s food culture is deeply influenced by the British with a mix of Mediterranean and Pacific Rim cuisine. Other cultures such as Southeast Asian, East Asian, South Asian, and Maori also make up the culinary traditions of New Zealand. Their diet mainly consists of fresh vegetables, fruits, meat, sea food, and dairy. Popular Food In New Zealand The country’s abundant pastoral land allows cattle and lamb to grow healthily. This makes lamb one of the country’s specialties with families often cooking lamb roast during Sundays. Another popular food item in the country is Kiwifruit. It is not native to New Zealand but it adapted its new name when New Zealand began to export them from China (known then as Chinese gooseberries) in the 1950s. Tamarillo is another fruit that’s popular among the kiwis as it has a sweet and tart taste that is often used in ice cream, mayonnaise, and chutneys. Speaking of sweet treats, if you’d like something that you can take home with you after your trip to New Zealand, get chocolate. Make sure you get one that is unique to the country such as Whittaker’s chocolate (comes in different flavors, yum!), pineapple lumps (chocolate coated pineapple), chocolate fish (chocolate coated marshmallow), Afghan biscuits (chocolate biscuits topped with walnut), and Jaffas (Cadbury orange chocolate balls). Food Customs In New Zealand Food customs in New Zealand are fairly common. Meal times are similar to Australia where breakfast starts at 7 to 8 a.m., lunch is around 12 to 2 p.m. and the main meal, dinner, happens between 6 to 8 p.m. During dinner, family members gather in one table and share an evening meal together. Being the friendly people that they are, Kiwis typically socialize and bond over food. You’ll see it in people having a picnic at the beach, parents gathering at a child’s school, or neighbors having a barbecue. If you’re invited over to someone’s home for a meal or a party, it is polite to bring a plate of food or alcohol to share. This allows the host to conduct large gatherings without incurring too much expense. Even if the host tells you not to bring anything, you can still bring a small gift like chocolate or fruit. It’s also customary to wait until everyone has something on their plate before you begin eating. Kiwis, with their laidback attitude, often prepare their food in a simple way. During summer, there will be a simple barbecue outside while winter season invites hearty meals by the fire. If you’re eating at a public place, tipping is not expected. The same goes for cafeterias and fast food joints. If you’re dining at an expensive restaurant, tipping may be required. Must-Have Food Items In New Zealand Don’t leave New Zealand until you try their sumptuous dishes like hunter’s pie, mussels and pici, roast shorthorn beef with kawakawa, Maori potato bread, yoghurt pikelets and kiwifruit jam, and Anazac hokey pokey ice-cream sandwiches. These sumptuous meals give you a preview of New Zealand’s diverse offering of high-quality meats, seafood, vegetables, and wine.