NZ’s latest & greatest food and drink launches

Picky’s range of juices and smoothies has expanded to include Hydrate. It’s a line of three sparkling real-fruit hydration drinks with electrolytes that is low in sugar. Ideal for when you’ve just run a marathon or even a 5km walk. Comes in Orange & Mango, Berry and Lemon & Lime.

Traditional pao de queijo is a traditional Brazilian cheese bread made with cassava flour, so it’s naturally gluten-free. Whip these CheeseBuddy’s out of the freezer for a quick pre-dinner snack when you’re feeding a crowd.

Jasmin Hewett, known to her family as Lala, created Missy Lala’s Cook Islands Donut Baking Mix from a recipe handed down from her mother. It’s her way of “sharing a little piece of that family tradition and Cook Islands culture with others”. All you do is add oil and water and in an hour you’ve got seriously delicious Cook Islands doughnuts, coconut rolls, cinnamon rolls, panekeke and more.

Creatine is everywhere at the moment. Yes, it’s something bodybuilders and elite athletes have known about for years thanks to its role in supporting healthy muscle mass, but it does other things too, such as supporting energy, brain health and bone density as we age. Matakana Superfoods Creavitalis Creatine Monohydrate and Matakana Superfoods Creatine Synergy, support modern lifestyles.

Afternoon tea has never been easier with Secret Kiwi Kitchen’s Bake Mixes. The Classic Buttermilk Scone Mix ($9.99) gives you 10 scones in next to no time – simply add butter and water. The Spiced Gingerbread Cookie & Cake Mix ($10.99) is more versatile, giving you the flexibility to make biscuits, muffins or a loaf.

Naked Life’s non-alcoholic Peach Bellini and Limoncello Spritz are just the thing to drink in this “moderation movement”. The Bellini’s white peach and Prosecco notes are delicious, as is the Limoncello with Prosecco notes and Sicilian lemon.

Just a little bit obsessed with Donovans Jelly Bites in Mixed Berry and Tropical Pineapple. The bite-size jellies are covered in dark chocolate –
A marriage made in heaven. They’re also vegetarian!

Abeeco is celebrating 30 years of bee products. If you don’t know, its Bee Pollen Granules are a multivitamin containing 20 vitamins and minerals to support immunity and provide everyday energy. You’ll also be pleased to know it is harvested without harming the bees.

They may call themselves “Two Raw Sisters”, but Margo and Rosa are not raw-food aficionados who don’t go near an oven. They’re simply about healthy eating and this book has more than 100 simple recipes to make, from Savoury pancakes to Coconut, almond and fig granola.

The idea behind Odi Organic from the nutritionist founder was to create nutrient-dense food for families. We’ll leave the Baby Puree Pouches to those under one, but the new snacks, such as Organic Cherry Choc Chip Bar and Organic Cacao & Collagen Sprinkle Balls, both $12.95 each, are making their way into our lunch boxes.

If you add one book to your cookbook collection this winter, make it this one. Dubbed “The new way to stew”, it’s full of braises, soups, curries and stews to get excited about and warm the cockles of your heart. Lucy calls her Champagne hash pie the “epitome of lazy luxe”.

Everything from Hot honey-braised brie to Coq au vin blanc pie and French onion rigatoni is easy to make. With more than 90 recipes to work your way through, you won’t want winter to end.

Electrolux has just launched a range of steam ovens. They can do everything ordinary ovens do, but this steam function is pretty flash – and easy to use. Using steam means you can get perfect baking (bread is out of this world), a juicy roast without sacrificing crispy crackling, juicier meats, tender fish and vegetables.

Well-known Australian chef Matt Stone is a fan, saying the Electrolux combi-steam oven takes the guesswork out of cooking eggs, and is a genius way to cook everything from cinnamon buns to a ribeye roast.

Say hello to a welcome addition to the Shapes stable: Arnott’s Shapes Light & Crispy. The cute little snacks are available in four tasty flavours: Sour Cream & Chives, Balsamic Vinegar & Sea Salt, Honey Soy Chicken and Cheddar Cheese.

They have less than 120 calories per serve, a 3.5 Health Star Rating across the range, 50 percent less saturated fat and 25 percent less sodium than the Arnott’s Shapes Original.

There’s a new pear in the produce aisle: the PIQA Red. It is pear-shaped, ruby red and the promise is that it’s crisp and reliably ripe with a “surprisingly tropical flavour”. Available in supermarkets until September.

I’ll Cook by Sophie Godwin is subtitled “your go-to for having people round”. We’d love an invite to hers. This book is loaded with great and unpretentious ideas for whatever you’re doing, from having mates over after work, a sharing feast, a canape party, mezze plates or a carby dinner – it’s all here, plus tips on how to bring everything together. Make anything from this and it’ll cement your reputation as the host with the most.

Taylors Estate Syrah 2024, has landed. This is a lighter, more refined, elegant red wine (with flavours of raspberry, strawberry, cinnamon, cloves and creamy oak) to the Taylors Estate Shiraz, which is known for its “bold Aussie icon” style. You could even conduct your own wine tasting to taste the difference.

As collabs go, this is a bit left of field: scented candlemakers Ashley & Co and food oil producer The Good Oil have come up with a limited-edition Extra-Virgin Sunflower Oil. We’re not complaining, it’s mighty useful in the kitchen with the Ashley & Co squeezy bottle, and the cold-pressed oil from high oleic sunflower seeds grown in Canterbury is an everyday all-rounder. Bonus points for the cool bottle.

A sharp knife is every chef’s secret weapon. Horl, the cult German rolling knife sharpener, is a hot kitchen item and has now arrived in New Zealand. The system pairs a magnetic angle block to stabilise the blade with a rolling knife sharpener that tracks evenly along the blade for precise sharpness with angles of either 15 or 20 degrees. There are three versions starting with the Horl 3 Cruise.

French writer Marcel Proust’s beloved madeleines have had a posh makeover in the hands of two clever pastry chefs. With creations including Lemon meringue madeleines to Matcha red bean mochi, these are anything but simple. Imagine whipping up a batch for morning tea, though.

Matakana Superfoods is all about organic wholefoods. The latest addition to the range of superfood blends is for kids. There are three to choose from: Acai Blast with berries, fruit and superfoods; Choco-licious with cacao; and Green Monster with – you guessed it – greens. Mix with milk to blend into smoothies. $29.95 (each), matakanasuperfoods.com

Smashed avocado may be the perfect food for many, but elevate it with Cape Herb & Spice’s Smashed Avo Seasoning. The sprinkle contains garlic, onion, herbs and pink salt. Of course, you don’t have to restrict it to avocado – it’s also good with eggs.

New flavour alert by ALBA, the margarita peeps. Raspberry Sparkling Margarita in RTD form is a 5.9 percent alcohol beauty, made from premium tequila and raspberry, lime and agave.

“We soak pink Himalayan rock salt in organic Hawke’s Bay pinot noir so the crystals take on a softly fruity and tannic flavour, along with a deep dusk coloured hue,” say the good people of Apostle.

They then dehydrate it with rosemary, thyme, celery, dill, juniper and Black Doris plum. It sounds like a lot of work for them, but the result is worth it for us.