During a trip to New Zealand this year, I was fascinated with the cool products they have that I had never heard of. Even better, they actually worked great and in several cases, tasted great, too! So, of course, I had to bring home as many as I could and then try to find them here. Because I certainly didn’t want to have to live without any of these Fabulous Finds from New Zealand….
Whittaker Chocolate
My brother and sister-in-law discovered this chocolate when he was working on a movie in New Zealand. It became our go-to chocolate. The company has been making a variety of chocolate products since 1896 and is now 4th generation. We stocked up both at the grocery store and from the bars provided free in our hotels, but alas they are all gone!
Photo credit Whittaker’s Chocolate.
A few of our favorites are the Dark Almond, the Marlborough Sea Salt and Carmel, and Nelson Pear and Manuka Honey. If you’re lucky enough to be in New Zealand, buy it there. But if not, you can get a few of the products on amazon and here. They are really greatly priced.
Linden Leaves Products
We had Linden Leaves products in our room in Queenstown at the Azure Hotel. We loved them so much that I brought home as many as I could. They smelled great and the shampoo and conditioner left my hair soft and shiny and the body lotion my skin well-hydrated.
Much to my surprise, I found I could buy them online at home and that they actually offered a huge product line. You can even buy sample size portions of many products to try at home or use for travel. Besides the shampoo and conditioner, I bought the Miraculous Face Oil and the eye cream and both met the same standards and am next going to try the exfoliating face wash.
Photo credit Linden Leaves.
Linden Leaves products are made using quality organic and natural ingredients, fruit and flower oils, and unique scent and essential oil blends. The company is devoted to effective, natural products created from the best quality ingredients, that are effective and gentle to nourish the skin and soothe the soul.
Linden Leaves supports ethical and sustainable business practices. It is genuinely dedicated to family, friendship, and respect for one another and the world we live in. This is why I love and support these companies!
Peregrin Wine
We took 2 private wine tours in New Zealand. One in the Marlborough region as their Sauvignon Blanc is my favorite wine and then the area around Queenstown. While we had many vineyards that we loved and could drink with relish, we chose to order and have shipped home wines from Peregrin.
Not only were the wines wonderful, but the wine tasting room was very cool and modern. We brought home of course Sauvignon Blanc, but also the Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Since I haven’t found them in the states, they are being saved for special occasions with friends…and rationed until we get back to NZ.
Manuka Oil and Honey
Everyone in New Zealand tells you about their Manuka Honey. It is produced by bees pollinating the manuka bush which you will only find in NZ or Australia. Its properties are said to far exceed regular honey, because it contains methylglyoxal (MGO) and dihydroxyacetone, two chemical substances with high antimicrobial action.
This means it offers antibacterial and antioxidant protection, for wound healing, sore throats, indigestion, dental health, face mask, flus and colds, skin conditions, prevent frizz, whew…In 2007, the FDA even approved its use in medicated bandages.
While you can certainly use Manuka just like any honey, it is expensive because of its exclusiveness. It is rated by UMF factors, 5 (least pure) to 20+ Manuka honey is very expensive because of its medicinal properties as well as exclusivity. However, given its popularity, it is easy to buy anywhere in the world, including Amazon.
Icebreaker Clothing
We saw this clothing line in an outdoor adventure store and really liked the products. The active wear clothes are designed to be simple, long lasting, and versatile and are a natural alternative to synthetics. The products are made with 85% natural fibers (merino wool) and 15% man-made.
I never thought of wearing merino wool in summer, but they say it’s actually one of the most comfortable things you can wear, because the fine, lightweight fibers absorb large quantities of moisture vapor and effectively transfer it into the air. Merino also provides natural protection from UV light and UVB rays.
Photo credit Icebreaker.
But it wasn’t until I started reading up on the company, that I was really sold. They uphold the best possible standards of environmental, ethical and social responsibility. The company says it exists to lead the outdoor industry towards sustainable solutions. You can buy the products online.
Lewis Road Creamery
Now you can’t buy these products in the states, but if you happen to get to New Zealand check out the chocolate and strawberry milks. They are so unbelievably delicious and you can just buy them in grocery stores! Plus they come in these cute little milk bottles.
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Sherry is one of the TriWivesClub and LifeDoneWell co-founders and contributes to multiple blogs. She is a former co-owner of the California Apparel News and had a career in the healthcare industry. Her passions include traveling, real food, the environment, and animal rescue/welfare. She lives a healthy lifestyle and has been a vegetarian since 1987. She and her husband are parents to two rescue pups and reside in Connecticut.
