Ask a New Zealander living overseas what they miss most, and the answer is often food. Not fancy restaurant meals — the everyday things in the pantry. A row of chocolate after dinner. Peanut butter on toast before work. These small tastes say “home” like nothing else. Here are two Kiwi pantry icons we always keep on our shelves, and why people love them.
Whittaker’s: the chocolate Kiwis are proud of
Whittaker’s has been making chocolate in New Zealand since 1896, and it’s still family-owned today. For many Kiwis, it’s simply the chocolate — the block you share at a barbecue, slip into a lunchbox, or bring as a thank-you.
What makes it special is the texture: thick, creamy blocks with generous squares. There are plenty of flavours, but if you like it dark, try ours:
- Whittaker’s Dark Ghana 250g — $7.90. A 72% cocoa special blend made with Ghanaian and African cocoa beans. Rich and smooth, with a gentle bitterness that dark chocolate fans love.
How Kiwis enjoy it: a few squares with a cup of tea, grated over pavlova at Christmas, or chopped into homemade biscuits.
Pic’s Peanut Butter: straight from Nelson
Pic’s started in Nelson, at the top of the South Island, and grew into one of the country’s favourite peanut butters. Its secret is simplicity: roasted peanuts with very little else.
- Pic’s Peanut Butter Smooth 380g — $9.90. Creamy, rich and very spreadable.
How Kiwis enjoy it: thick on hot toast (with honey, if you’re feeling fancy), stirred into satay sauce, blended into smoothies — or, let’s be honest, straight from the jar with a spoon.
Other Kiwi classics worth knowing
New Zealand’s pantry has plenty of other famous favourites — from Marmite on toast to pineapple lumps and a cold L&P on a summer’s day. Ask any Kiwi and you’ll get a strong opinion about each one. We’ll keep adding New Zealand favourites to our Food & Wine range, so let us know what you’d love to see.
Food gifts that always land well
Food is one of the easiest gifts to get right: everyone eats, and a little taste of New Zealand feels personal without being complicated. A few ideas:
- The Toast Lover: Pic’s Peanut Butter + Whittaker’s Dark Ghana — $17.80
- The Thank-You Treat: a block of Whittaker’s tucked into a card — $7.90
- The Care Package: two of each for a friend who’s moved away from home — $35.60
Orders of $79 or more ship free anywhere in New Zealand, so it’s easy to stock up for yourself and a friend.
A quick tip for warm weather
Kiwi summers are hard on chocolate. In warm months, store Whittaker’s somewhere cool, and pop it in the fridge for 10 minutes before eating if it’s gone soft. We pack chocolate carefully, but on very hot days it’s best to bring your parcel inside as soon as it arrives.
Stock your pantry with a taste of home
Whether you’re a Kiwi who loves the classics or someone discovering them for the first time, these pantry favourites are a little piece of New Zealand you can taste. Browse our Food & Wine range, and every order is hand-checked and packed in Auckland.
More ideas: Kiwi Gift Guide · New Zealand Souvenirs
