1 Waiheke Island Herbs has legions of loyal fans with its Original Herb Spread having near-cult status. Now get ready to try some glorious new flavours. Italian Herb Spread is bursting with parsley, oregano, rosemary, thyme, sun- dried tomatoes, olives and capers and flavour-bombs any Italian-style dish to next level. The gorgeously aromatic Asian Herb Spread is packed with parsley, coriander, ginger, chillies, garlic, lemongrass and lime – try it tossed with soba noodles for a refreshing salad. $12 for a 200g jar. waihekeherbs.co.nz
2 We couldn’t wait to try Lot Eight’s new G&T Olive Oil – what’s not to love about a juniper and quinine-flavoured oil, with hints of pine, Japanese Sancho pepper and green Sichuan pepper? It’s a dream with raw fish (see Ginny Grant’s recipe for Fish Crudo with Stone Fruit, Fennel & Chilli on page 64) and, trust us, a drop in a gin cocktail will surely impress. $32.95 for 250ml. lot8.co.nz
3 Lighthouse Gin has taken its signature nine-botanical gin and rested it in pinot noir barrels retired from service at Mt Difficulty wines. Lighthouse Mt Difficulty Barrel- Aged Gin has a citrussy flavour with a hint of thyme and a touch of Central Otago red berries. $90 for a 700ml bottle. lighthousegin.co.nz
4 We love the deliciously rich and smoky Aoraki Pōhutukawa Hot Smoked Salmon so much that we didn’t think it could get much better! But this Aoraki Smoky Salmon Spread blends it with cream cheese, lemon juice and chives – so crank up your crackers this summer. $12 for 180g from Oceans North Seafood. oceansnorth.co.nz
5 Here’s a spicy, smooth chilli oil packed full of mouth-popping flavors. Hoot Smoked Chilli Oil is New Zealand rapeseed oil infused with smoked ginger, chilli peppers and sun-dried tomatoes – it’s not going to blow your boots off, but it will wake up your tastebuds. It goes deliciously with, well, just about everything, we think. $19.95 for 250ml. Hoot Smoked Chilli Sauce features in our Mango & Mint Salad with Smoky Chilli on page 59. hootsauce.co.nz
6 For instantly Instagrammable presentation, grab a jar of chive flowers, cornflowers or calendula petals from Edible Dehydrated Flowers. Just a pinch of these bright blooms scattered across your dish adds a beautiful touch of colour and pizzazz. The flowers are organically grown in Central Otago, guaranteed to be pesticide-free and packaging is all sustainable and locally sourced. $12.50 for 3g jar. edfnz.com
