What’s an Ōamaru sweet maker doing giving away a product remarkably similar to the late, lamented Snifter? Amanda Thompson searches for the truth behind a minty mystery. I’m not in this for laughs, people. I’m not playing. At the time of writing, things are bad, they don’t seem to be getting better, and our Easter … Read more
Looking back on 10 years of wild, weird and wonderful food stories in Aotearoa. It’s been a hell of a decade for food here in New Zealand. Sure, there have been tedious trends aplenty – the rise of bloody kale, bloody coconut oil, bloody poké bowls – but the following list is not about fads; … Read more
It’s accepted wisdom that a box of assorted chocolates is the perfect Christmas gift for one and all. But now Roses are rubbish, what to choose? Amanda Thompson is here to help. Approximately one million clickbaits ago I spread this wisdom throughout a grateful New Zealand, with a completely factual article about how buying Cadbury … Read more
We review the entire country and culture of New Zealand, one thing at a time. Today, The Spinoff office hoons two bags of Perky Nana Lumps. Last week the internet exploded with the news that a yet another Kiwiana fusion product was to crawl its way out of the ocean and onto our shores in … Read more
Marshmallow justice warrior Amanda Thompson visits a real-life chocolate factory and quite possibly saves the Easters of the future. What’s in a shape? When is an egg not an egg? When it’s a cheaty hoval, that’s when. Last month I wrote a ranking of the world’s most important foodstuff, chocolate-covered marshmallow Easter eggs. What motivated … Read more
With the erstwhile corporate king of Easter now a persona non grata, where’s a marshmallow egg fan to turn? To this list, that’s where. Let’s be honest here. Let’s be truly blunt with each other, New Zealand. The only reason we need a Top Five Marshmallow Easter Eggs 2019 is because you can no longer … Read more
It might feel like Cadbury has done enough damage already, but things could just be getting started. First Cadbury came for Roses, and we all screamed. Then they came for the marshmallow eggs, and we all screamed again. Then they cut down their Family Bar size, and we started to tire of screaming. When their … Read more
We devise a genius plan to return the tragically transformed seasonal treats to their former glory. It was this week revealed that corporate choc-monster Cadbury has committed yet another crime against a beloved New Zealand product. In the latest unforgivable act, marshmallow Easter eggs, widely regarded as the best thing about the long, long, long … Read more
We review the entire country and culture of New Zealand, one thing at a time. Today, Alex Casey laments the loss of a Kiwi classic. Before we get to the ruinous truth: there’s no denying that Roses are New Zealand’s ultimate choco gift. Favourites are fine, but rustling your way through the long vertical box … Read more
Dunedin can sometimes seem like the neglected afterthought of New Zealand’s main centres, unappreciated by all except those who choose to live there. Peter Newport reports on what’s coming next for Dunedin after Cadbury shuts its doors. Some words are so powerful that people should need a licence to use them. I’m going to use … Read more
We review the entire country and culture of New Zealand, one thing at a time. Today: Calum Henderson tries the New Zealand sweetie fusion to (hopefully) end all New Zealand sweetie fusions. “Oh they haven’t, have they?” – Toby Manhire, Spinoff Politics editor, 9:15am Oh yes they have. Pascall – the confectionery company owned by … Read more