So we are all in love with Gin right now – and following our passion for ‘G’ is an increased interest in ‘T’ – with a vast array of Tonics arriving on our shelves in the last year or so.

But what if you’re after a long drink with a little less punch than a Gin & Tonic – well you’re in luck! The Spanish and Portuguese (who are both big consumers of G&Ts) have been experimenting for generations…

P&T
White Port – yes, it’s a thing – made from white grapes, but otherwise made in the same way as other Ports, fortified part way through the fermentation, so there is always a nice amount of residual sweetness from the grapes. Add Tonic, and you have a long refreshing drink at around half the alcohol of a G&T, enjoyed in the North or Portugal for years, and increasingly in Gin bars all over the world

How to make a thirst-quenching P&T:
-    Fill the glass ¾ full with ice
-    Add 50ml white port (we have Dow’s Fine White Port and Quinta de la Rosa)
-    Add 100ml good quality tonic (Fever Tree Indian Tonic is a classic, or try Fever Tree Elderflower for a lifted style)
-    Gently stir to ensure a good mix in the glass
-    Add a twist of lemon, orange or grapefruit as a garnish

V&T
Vermouth has followed the rise of Gin, with the similarities being clear – Gin is a spirit infused with Botanicals (always with Juniper at the fore) – and Vermouth is an aromatised wine – that is, wine infused with Botanicals (traditionally lead by wormwood). There are even a number of craft gin producers who have turned their hand to making vermouth – locally, Reid & Reid from Martinborough have done extremely well with their red Vermouth, and their dry white Vermouth. Dry Vermouth makes a delicious and again, lighter alternative to a G&T, with more herbaceous botanical character than an P&T.

Here’s a Dry Vermouth and Tonic Recipe from Laura MacFehin’s recent article in the Dom Post:

“Last summer, some hip young things were proclaiming the death of the G&T in favour of this drink. This is a ridiculous suggestion. The gin and tonic will never die because it is a superlative drink that brooks no rival when you're in the mood for it.

However, you can tire of even great things and I urge you to give dry vermouth and tonic a go. It is lighter in alcohol and therefore easier on your head, and is one of my favourite summertime drinks.”

Dry vermouth and tonic:
60ml dry vermouth
30ml tonic
Fill a tumbler with ice, add the dry vermouth and top up with the tonic.

Have fun, experiment with different vermouths, different tonics, and let us know how you get on!

Cheers!

Whether you are looking to start a vegan diet, or start enjoying more plant-based food, you can be sure to find a lot of vegan and dairy substitutes at Moore Wilson's.

Vegan Dairy Substitutes:

Replacing dairy products in your recipes is easy. A plethora of plant-based non-dairy milks are available, such as soy, oat, almond and rice. If you need a non-dairy milk to curdle in a baking recipe, go with soy. If you need the most neutral flavour possible, such as when making a sauce, unsweetened almond milk is a good choice. And don’t overlook plant-based cheeses: there are some wonderful options out there, particularly those made from nuts.

As dairy products usually provide a significant amount of calcium to the diet, it is a good idea to choose a non-dairy milk fortified with calcium, which is advertised on the label and included in the nutritional information panel.

Commercial Vegan Cheeses:
Usually made from soy protein and/or coconut oil, with the addition of colours and flavours. Available in many different varieties, such as cheddar and gouda. Uses: Use to make vegan cheese sauces, in sandwiches, and on pizza and pasta dishes.

Nut Cheeses:
Nut cheeses are generally soft cheeses made by blending nuts with water, and adding a non-dairy probiotic to ferment the cheese. Uses: Spread on sandwiches and bagels, stir through pasta, and add to cooked dishes such as lasagne.

Nut Milk:
Made by blending soaked nuts (such as almonds, hazelnuts or cashews) with water and straining through muslin to remove the pulp. The flavour and nutrition varies depending on the nut used. Uses: Drinking, cooking and baking.

Oat Milk:
Made by blending oats and water: it has a slightly sweet and nutty flavour.
Uses: Drinking, cooking and baking.

Rice Milk:
Made by blending brown rice with water: it is a thin milk with a sweet nutty flavour. Uses: Drinking and cooking.

Soy Milk:
Made from whole soy beans or soy protein that is blended with water, and usually sweetened with added sugar. It has a slightly sweet and beany flavour. Uses: Drinking, cooking and baking. Curdles when acid is added.

Vegan Baking Substitutes:

Replace Egg With:
Chia or Flax Seeds Ground
1 egg = 1 Tbsp flax meal plus 3 Tbsp warm water.
Whisk together flax meal and warm water, and let it stand 15 minutes before using.

Banana
1 egg = 1 medium, ripe mashed banana.
Use in chewy recipes, such as cookies.

Apple Sauce
1 egg = 4 Tbsp apple sauce.
Use in quick breads and cakes, for reduced fat baking.

Replace Egg Whites With:
Agar Flakes
1 egg white = 1 Tbsp agar flakes plus 1 Tbsp water.
Whisk together agar flakes and water, refrigerate for 5 minutes, and use immediately.

Aquafaba (Chickpea Brine)
1 egg white = 2 Tbsp Aquafaba.
Add to baked goods, or whipped to make chocolate mousse, pavlova or meringue.

Replace Butter With:
Plant-based Butter
Use same amount as butter.
Use the same as butter. Do not attempt to brown in a
recipe that calls for browned butter.

Non-hydrogenated Shortening
115g butter = 6 Tbsp  shortening plus 1 Tbsp water.
Use sparingly. Provides structure to recipes where butter is creamed with sugar, as well as frosting recipes.

Coconut Oil
225g butter = 240ml coconut oil plus 1 Tbsp water.
Coconut oil is soft-solid at room temperature and firm solid when chilled. Use solid to cream with sugar.

Grapeseed, Olive Oil
225g butter = 6 Tbsp oil.
Use in cake, cookie and quick bread recipes.

Replace Light Cream, Evaporated Milk & Double Cream With:
Drinking coconut milk, canned coconut milk and full fat coconut milk or cream.
The same volume.
Shake cans well to combine before use. If substituting double cream, refrigerate coconut milk or cream overnight . Remove thick, solid ‘cream’ at the top of the can, and use as a substitute.

Replace Honey With:
Agave, Nectar, Maple syrup, Rice Malt Syrup.
The same volume.
Substitute in any recipe.

Replace Gelatin With:
Agar
The same volume.
Agar needs to be heated to dissolve properly, and will set in about an hour at room temperature. Use to create firm jelly.

Find everything you need to start a vegan diet or alternatives suited for plant-based dishes at Moore Wilson's.

Need more inspiration?
Check out our new range of vegan cookbooks online:

Jackfruit & Blue Ginger

Yarrows Pre-Proof Croissants 

Flakey outside with a rich buttery taste, Yarrows Croissants are a delight. Available to purchase from our Foodservice department as a full carton purchase only 70gx90 CTN.

Find the baking instructions below:

Fresh artesian water at our Tory Street Site.

In the early 1900’s Moore Wilson’s Tory Street site was occupied by Thomson Lewis & Co., Wellington’s major soft drink producer of the era. Thomson Lewis Lemonade, Soda Water and their then famous Camroc Dry Ginger Ale were the mixers just about everyone used. In the 1920’s, the owner of the business  Mr. A.M. Lewis became convinced there was artesian water running underneath Tory Street. To test the theory Mr. Lewis employed Bill Brogden a renowned water diviner from the Manawatu.

Bill Brogden duly arrived at Tory Street and did indeed divine water on the site but was unable to estimate the depth - which he normally could for the relatively shallow bores he divined in the Manawatu. Undeterred Mr. Lewis employed the Richardson Drilling Company (also from the Manawatu and still in business today) to drill a test bore. At normal depth nothing was found but because of his faith in Bill Brogden, Mr. Lewis told them to keep drilling. Eventually at some 497ft they struck water, installed a pipe and Thomson Lewis now had their own continuous supply of pure artesian water.

The Tory Street water, from an underground river believed to originate in the Wairarapa, was used by Thomson Lewis to produce aerated soft drinks for the next 53 years or until the business was purchased by Coca Cola and the building sold. During that time the water was capable of flowing at 500 gallons an hour and was tasteless and odourless. Continuously monitored by the Health Department the water was always found to be remarkably pure and never needed filtering. The only time it ever discoloured was following the Murchison earthquake of 1929. When Thomson Lewis sold their business the bore was capped but the water is still accessible today inside the Moore Wilson building.

This story has been captured by renowned Manawatu artist Paul Dibble in the form of a sculpture which you’ll see in the Piazza of our Tory Street store.

Today the Artesian Bore is free for our customers to enjoy a quick drink or fill up a bottle to take home. We do ask that if you’re filling a bottle you make a donation for the Wellington Free Ambulance. Since we opened the bore in 2009 over $18,000 has been raised for the Wellington Free Ambulance.

Following are some of the staples of Middle Eastern cuisine that you'll find at Moore Wilson's Fresh:

Bulgur Wheat A roughly ground wheat grain commonly used in tabbouleh (a grain salad with pomegranate seeds and herbs) and kibbeh (little stuffed croquettes).

Chickpeas The main ingredient in houmous, chickpeas are also really common in Middle Eastern salads and stews.

Za’atar This earthy dried herb mix is often served with bread and olive oil before meals, or as a seasoning for meat and fish. Fresh and punchy.

Sumac Tangy, fresh and packed with citrus flavour, sumac is often used in salad dressings or dips for a bit of added zing!

Ras-El-Hanout A precious, potent Moroccan blend of up to 30 spices; each merchant has his own unique blend.

Harissa A Tunisian hot chili pepper paste that is as complex as it is spicy, with hints of garlic and cumin. Spread it on sandwiches, mixes it into yogurt, and drizzle harissa oil over fried olives.

Cumin Some say this spice “makes everything Middle Eastern”. Pungent, earthy, and unmistakable.

Turmeric  Fresh turmeric has a spicy bite and deeply orange flesh.

Pistachios One of the jewels of Middle Eastern cuisine, bright green pistachios are delicious toasted and scattered over salads, or baked in classic desserts such as baklava. 

Pomegranate Molasses Rich and sticky pomegranate molasses works brilliantly in sweet or savoury dishes. It has a lovely bitterness to it, and pairs well with stronger flavours such as mackerel and fennel.

Labneh You can strain plain yoghurt to make your own labneh – a soft cheese. It’s delicious spread on toast, or served with an omelette.

Dates Nature’s candy, dates are delicious with a cup of sweet tea. They’re also brilliant for sweetening spiced milkshakes, or as petit fours.

Preserved Lemon Luxuriously soft lemons that, even whole, melt in your mouth. They are bright and yellow and satisfyingly salty. Used in many savoury dishes.

Kataif  Thinly shredded filo dough, and while it doesn't taste like much on its own, it's a great source of crunchiness and texture.

Tahini Used in dressings, sauces, dips, even baked into flatbreads and cakes, nutty, rich sesame-seed paste is essential to Middle Eastern cuisine. Look for tahini that is smooth and light in colour. The natural oil will rise to the top; stir to incorporate before using.

Rose and Orange Flower Water These fragrant waters are distilled from the Damascus rose and the Seville orange tree, respectively. An essential ingredient in many Middle Eastern desserts and Turkish Delight.

New Zealand homes throw away over 120,000 tonnes of food per year, all of which could have been eaten. This is enough food to feed the whole of Dunedin for two years! Wasting this food costs the average household $563 a year.

There are two main reasons why we throw away food: we don’t eat our leftovers and some food goes bad because it is not stored properly. The foods we waste the most are bread, leftovers, potatoes, apples, chicken and bananas.

Here are five easy ways to waste less food in your own household:

1. Use the whole vegetable

• Make stock with the off cuts and use to flavour soup, stews, and risotto
• Dice up stems of broccoli, cauliflower, and silverbeet and add to chilli con carne or bolognaise bases
• Make a crunchy slaw with broccoli, cauliflower, and silverbeet stems and celery leaves.
• Keep skins on apples, potato, and kumara
• Preserve excess as pickles, jellies or jams

2. Plan your menu to use leftovers through the week, for example:

• Risotto > arancini balls
• Rice > fried rice
• Potato/Kumara/Pumpkin > hash
• Leftover salad/chicken > filo parcels
• Fish and vege > fish cakes
• Cooked vege > puree to make soup
• Casserole > pies
• Cooked leftovers > frittata

3. Eat a range of cuts

• Support producers by eating a range of cuts from premium fillets to slow cook cuts and sausages or smallgoods
• Make stock or sauce from raw or cooked bones for soups, stews, or sauces.

4. Storage

• Make sure you keep the cool chain going to ensure limited spoilage.
• Have good quality reusable storage containers on hand
• Check dates regularly and freeze if it is not going to be eaten
• Invest in a Foodsaver to pack product airtight for fridge, freezer, or pantry
• Wrap cheese in paper to avoid sweating
• Crumb, dry, or freeze stale bread

5. Shop regularly

• Where practical, Moore Wilson’s Fresh has most produce lines loose, so you can just buy as much as you need, often.
• Vacuum packed meat has a longer shelf life than repacked products. Having protein fresh in the fridge encourages cooking without having to defrost the day before.

On 1st June 2018 Moore Wilson's are be celebrating 100 years in business! Following are some of the key events and highlights from our first 100 years:

Frederick William Moore

6th April 1892: Frederick William Moore, founder of Moore Wilson & Co. Ltd, arrives in Wellington. Frederick was born in West Derby, Liverpool on 26th August 1868. At age 24, in search of new opportunities, Frederick booked a passage to Wellington, New Zealand aboard the R.M.S Arawa.

Moore Wilson & Co. Ltd

1st June 1918: Frederick Moore officially opens Moore Wilson & Co Ltd. First premises in Wakefield St.

Wilson Withdraws

2nd December 1919: J.H. Wilson, an original director and naming partner of Moore Wilson’s,  withdraws from the partnership. According to Frederick’s son Stan, Mr Wilson left as he didn’t see a future for the business but Frederick liked the ‘Moore Wilson’ name so kept it on.  

Lorne Street

1927: After purchasing land in 1923, a custom built warehouse is opened on Lorne Street, just down the road from Moore Wilson’s current site.

Second Generation

Mid 1930’s: Frederick’s son Stanley Osborne Moore commences full time work with the company.

Masterton Store

1944: Moore Wilson’s second store opens on Dixon Street, Masterton, on the site of Cameron’s Service Station.

Lorne St Closes

March 1956: Due to extreme pressure on store space and handling and an uncooperative City Council, Moore Wilson’s are forced to shut down their Wellington operations.

Ross Cole Investments

Late 1956: Capital from selling Lorne Street property and plant is used to start up Ross Cole Investments Ltd, specialising in motor vehicle hire purchases. Company offices were on Oriental Bay, with the business running until the early 1980’s.

Third Generation

August 1960: Current Managing Director, Graeme Moore, starts work full time.

Masterton Travel Centre

1960: Moore Wilson’s purchase and operate the Masterton Travel Centre. Closed in 1971.

Porirua Store

1960: Moore Wilson’s re-enters the Wellington region with a new store on Kenepuru Drive. This is the company’s first ‘self service’ cash n’ carry store.

Miramar Store

1964: A store is opened on Miramar’s Maupuia Peninsula. Moore Wilson’s now has three stores operating.

Wright Street

1969: Miramar store closes and operations are moved to a larger warehouse in Wright Street, Mt Cook.

Moore Wilson’s Card

1969: The Moore Wilson’s card is introduced to help provide a more efficient, tailored service for Trade Customers. Previously trade only, the card is also a way around zoning laws, allowing non-trade customers to shop with a wholesaler.

Porirua Flood

20th December 1976: The Kenepuru stream bursts its banks causing a massive flash flood at the Porirua store. Some 30 people, including staff and Christmas shoppers, had to be taken to the roof and ferried to safety by officers from the Porirua Fire Brigade. Stock damage was estimated at $250,000-$300,000.

Bigger & Better

Early 1977: After being redesigned by Athfield Architects, the Porirua store reopens just months after the devastating flood.

Upper Hutt

1978: A fourth Cash & Carry store is opened in Upper Hutt.

Home on Tory Street

12th August 1983: Moore Wilson’s purchase the Thomson, Lewis & Co. Ltd property on the corner of Tory & College Streets. In the early 1900’s Thomson Lewis were Wellington’s major soft drink producer. The site is home to a pure artesian water bore.

Moving Again

10th September 1984: After building at Tory Street is complete, the Wright Street store is closed and Moore Wilson’s move to our current home. Just in time, as  Wellington’s cafe and restaurant scene was taking off.

Dominion Tavern

1986: Originally built in the early 20th century, the Dominion Tavern (adjoining to Moore Wilson’s Tory Street store) was purchased. Moore Wilson’s ran the pub for four years before it was demolished in 1991 to extend the store.

Wingate Store

1989: Moore Wilson’s Wingate store opens. All of the foodservice products at Upper Hutt were moved to Wingate, leaving Upper Hutt a Variety only store until its closure in 1998.

Liquor Category Added

1991: The Dominion Tavern was demolished and Moore Wilson’s Tory Street store extended towards Lorne Street. On the licensed site of the old Dominion, liquor was now available for sale at Moore Wilson’s.

Fourth Generation

1991: Julie Moore, current Executive Director, started full time in the role of Liquor Buyer.

Cuisine Centre

1997: The Cuisine Centre opens in Tory Street, providing Wellington’s only cooking demonstration kitchen. Local and international chefs held demonstrations and the room was available for suppliers and hospitality training companies to hire.

Fourth Generation

1998: Nick Moore commences full time work. Today Nick looks after operations for all four stores and is the Tory Street Store Manager.

A Fresh Way of Thinking

December 1998: Moore Wilson’s Fresh Market, a concept believed to be a world first, opens on Lorne Street on the site of the old Elim Church. The naysayers said it wouldn’t last, but after just two days the store was so busy that Graeme had to pull the advertising.

Porirua Fresh

1999: The Fresh category is introduced at Moore Wilson’s Porirua.

An Evening with Jamie

May 2000: Jamie Oliver visits Moore Wilson’s Wellington, with a large crowd filling the entire lower carpark. Jamie, then just 25 years old, entertained with his signature Essex charm, demonstrating recipes at the event MC’d by Wellington food personality Ruth Pretty.

Masterton Fresh

2002: Fresh category introduced at Moore Wilson’s Masterton.

Restaurant Association Award

2002: Moore Wilson’s Fresh awarded Innovator Award by Restaurant Association of New Zealand.

Cuisine Award

2004: Moore Wilson’s Fresh named Supreme Winner of the Cuisine and Matua Valley Wines Awards of Innovation and Excellence.

Porirua Farmers Market

July 2006: A weekly market called Moore Wilson’s Farmer’s Fresh begins, running on Saturday mornings in the bulk warehouse across the carpark from the main Porirua store. The market closed in 2010.

New Fresh Market

December 2008: After outgrowing the original space, a new larger Fresh Market is opened on the College Street side of Moore Wilson’s Wellington site. Liquor moves from inside Grocery to the standalone building that housed the old Fresh Market.

Dibble in the Piazza

April 2009: A sculpture by renowned Manawatu artist Paul Dibble is unveiled in the Tory Street Piazza to tell the story of the artesian bore that runs under the site.

Fresh Workshops

March 2011: Fresh Workshops begin. Workshops ran on Thursday mornings from 2011 to 2015 in a room off Moore Wilson’s Tory Street Fresh and were hosted by guest chefs, bakers, food personalities, and cookbook authors.

Wellingtonians of the Year

2012: Graeme & Julie Moore awarded Wellingtonians of the Year in the Business category of The Wellys.

The Chook Wagon

August 2012: The Chook Wagon opens in the carpark above Moore Wilson’s Wellington Fresh Market, recreating the traditional French ‘Poulet Rotisserie’ experience served from a replica of the iconic 1947 Citroen H-van. The Citroen was designed and built by Miramar’s Human Dynamo Workshop.

O’Sushi Tory Street

December 2013: O’Sushi opens in a custom built kiosk in the Piazza of Moore Wilson’s Tory St.

Moore Wilson’s Wine Direct

March 2014: Moore Wilson’s launch first e-commerce website “Moore Wilson’s Wine Direct”. The website featured a small hand-picked range of wines available for delivery nationwide.

Berry Culture

September 2014: The Berry Culture frozen yoghurt truck parked up in the Piazza of Moore Wilson’s Tory Street, serving natural yoghurt with live cultures and a range of premium topping. The Citroen hit the road in March 2016, returning to Christchurch.

Moore Wilson’s Online

October 2015: A new website “Moore Wilson’s Online” is launched with an increased range of wine, beers, and spirits as well as products from the Kitchen and Homeware department available to purchase online. Content including recipes, events, supplier profiles and product trends is also added.

Pop-Up Food Pods

April 2016: Pop-Up Food Pods are introduced in the Tory Street Piazza with the aim of giving our trade customers and suppliers the chance to showcase their cafes, restaurants, food trucks, and products.

Building Strengthening

June 2016: 18 months of building strengthening work by L.T. McGuinness at Moore Wilson’s Tory Street Store are completed. The new buckling-restrained braces had their first test (and passed with flying colours) when the Kaikoura earthquake struck in November.

Business Hall of Fame

July 2016: Moore Wilson’s inducted into the Wellington Region Business Hall of Fame.

Porirua Wine, Beer & Spirits

July 2017: With the help of Human Dynamo, Porirua’s standalone Wine, Beer & Spirits store underwent a nautical makeover, paying homage to the regions sea-side location.

Felix Awards

October 2017: Moore Wilson’s accept the award for Outstanding Supplier at the 2017 Felix Awards.

O’Sushi Porirua

November 2017: O’Sushi opens at Moore Wilson’s Porirua. The exterior features a stunning painting of Mana Island by Human Dynamo director Sue Dorrington, continuing the nautical theme from the Wine, Beer & Spirits store across the carpark.

Celebrating 100 Years

1st June 2018: Moore Wilson’s celebrates 100 years in business.

Moore Wilson’s Fresh Market 20 Years

December 2018 : Moore Wilson’s Fresh Market celebrating 20 years.

The Retail Hotlist Awards

September 2019: Moore Wilson’s wins Hottest Retail Business in Operation over 20 Years at the Gem Retail Hotlist 2019 Awards.

Masterton Redevelopment

Redevelopment of our Masterton store was completed in June 2021. A completely redesigned concept, customers will find foodservice grocery, frozen foods, fresh produce, meat, cheese, specialty ingredients, local artisan products and kitchenware all in the one open plan store.

Queen Sally’s Salads in the City

Moore Wilson’s is very excited to start a new adventure with Queen Sally’s Diamond Deli! Opened on Monday 1st of May, our Citroen wagon, level one Tory St will be serving delicious fresh seasonal vegetarian salads delivered fresh direct from Queen Sally’s daily as well as other yummy goodies!

Solar Panel Installation

We are proud to have completed and installed 290 panels at Lower Hutt, 280 panels at Masterton, 310 panels at Porirua and 680 panels at Tory Street With over 1500 panels across all four stores, there is the potential to generate up to 609kwh!

Moore Wilson’s POS Upgrade

We have been busy upgrading our point of sale, checkouts, and back office system, which has rolled out over the past four weeks across all stores.

Honey has a long history of human consumption. Apparently humans began hunting for honey at least 8000 years ago as evidenced by some ancient cave paintings found in Spain. Honey is also found in the records of ancient Egypt and it is acknowledged that the art of beekeeping has existed in China since time immemorial.

Honey, of course, is made by bees using nectar from flowers. Honey gets its sweetness from a combination of fructose and glucose. These two sugars don’t need to be broken down by our digestive system so honey is quickly absorbed into the bloodstream, giving a quick energy boost to the body.

The flavour of the honey depends on the plants and flowers where the bees have collected their nectar and this is why New Zealand honey is quite special. New Zealand’s long isolation from the rest of the world and its island biogeography means that the flora and fauna here is extraordinarily unique. About 80% of this flora only occurs in New Zealand and this uniqueness has a remarkable influence on our locally produced honey. One of the most common examples of this unique flora is Manuka, a local evergreen tree. The intensely scented Manuka flowers bloom in summer and bees absolutely love them.

Today there is even a registered trademark called UMF which means Unique Manuka Factors. It has become a world renowned trademark because Manuka honey is internationally acknowledged as having anti-bacterial properties that remarkably support the body's health and well-being. In particular 15+ Manuka Honey is being increasingly used in the treatment of burns.

Along with being renowned for its health properties, Manuka honey is a wonderful eating experience. The dark cream to dark brown honey has a distinctive taste profile; slightly bitter, herbaceous, with intense woody and slightly nutty flavour notes.

In fact New Zealand’s unique flora results in a wide range of different honey flavours and our local honey producers are making the most of this uniqueness. Mono-floral (single flower) honeys are  increasingly popular and honeys available include Beechwood, Pohutakawa, Kamahi, Rata, Tawari, Rewarewa and also honey made from imported field flora such as clover and thyme and various wild flowers (such as bugloss). The diversity of the New Zealand honey range is quite outstanding.

Honey colour ranges from almost colourless to dark amber brown.  In general, honeys from forest floral sources are darker in colour and richer in flavour while honeys from field floral sources are lighter in colour with a delicate fine flavour. And honey, of course, can be presented in a variety of forms including comb, liquid and creamed.

NZ Honey brands available from Moore Wilson's Fresh include Arataki (Hawkes Bay), J Bush and Sons (Blenheim), Earthbound (Auckland), J Friend & Co. (Christchurch), Local Flavour (Wellington), and Silverstream (Upper Hutt).

There are many wide and varied uses for honey including:

FOOD

• The most common use of honey is to simply serve it on bread or toast. Increasingly popular is a little honey mixed with your breakfast muesli
• It is also widely used as sweetener in baking, as an ingredient in glazes, or as a flavourful addition in Asian dishes
• Use to sweeten your homemade nut milks
• For something different, try infusing your honey with different flavour combinations like ginger and lime or apple cider and dried figs

HEALTH

• Honey is a natural antiseptic so will help to heal wounds, cuts, scraps and burns
• Combine with the juice of one lemon to sooth sore throats and coughs
• Combine equal parts honey, vinegar and water and drink to remove parasites

BEAUTY

• Use as a moisturizer, simply rub on to dry or patchy skin and let it sit for around 30 minutes before washing off
• Add a teaspoon to your normal shampoo to help smooth damaged locks
• Relax and soak your skin in a soothing honey bath – dissolve 2 tablespoons of honey in 1 cup hot water and add to your bath along with a couple of drops of lavender oil
• Combine 2 teaspoons of milk with 2 tablespoons of honey for a natural face mask. Cover your face and let it sit for 10 minutes before washing off

The 1980s was not the best time for wine drinkers – for most of us there was not a huge choice, and imported wines especially were often the mass produced and lower-end of the spectrum.

Some wine regions have struggled to shake off the reputations made for them, but in these more enlightened times, we know there is more to German wines than Piesporter and Black Tower, so much more to Sherry than flagons of Pale Cream, and so so much more to Greek wine than the Retsina you drank from a tap in the wall on your holiday in Corfu!

Greece is one of the oldest wine-producing regions in the world, with evidence of winemaking dating back 6,500 years, and in Roman times wines from Greece were renowned for their quality.

Despite the surge in popularity of wine in recent years, modern Greek wines are only just coming to the attention of the world’s wine drinkers, and those who are adventurous enough to give them a try will be rewarded with interesting wines made using varieties you’ve never heard of.

We’ll be the first to admit we struggle to pronounce some of these names (especially after a glass or two) but don’t let that put you off – we’ve added pronunciation guides for each wine…

Boutari Moschofilero  (mo-sko-feel-er-oh)

A strong varietal aroma of flowers and citrus fruit on the nose and palate, with white rose and orange blossom prevailing. A fresh wine, full and balanced, with a long finish. In an effort to literally save the Moschofilero variety from extinction and in recognition of the enormous potential of this strongly aromatic variety, Boutari worked hard to produce their now famous Moschofilero.

Boutari Agiorgitiko        (ah-jor-yee-tee-koh)

Deep red, attractive colour and a rich aromatic bouquet, with a balance of red fruit aromas, like plum and the sweet notes of ageing, vanilla and cocoa. Rich, well-structured, balanced, with a velvety aftertaste. Similar in style to Merlot, but with slightly more spice.

Cambas Mavrodaphnie Of Patras            (mav-roh-daf-nee)

A remarkably affordable example of this famous sweet red wine from the hilly northwestern region of Achaia. Aromas of raisins, dark chocolate and cinnamon, with a rich textured palate and a long finish. Serve slightly chilled as an aperitif, or at the end of the meal with a decadent dessert.

Retsina Cambas Karavaki  (ret-see-nah) - ideally in an Essex accent, for that authentic Brits-abroad Greek island holiday vibe…

Ok ok, so we’ve done a lot of taking-the-mickey out of Retsina – but it is a specialty of Greece, a white wine infused with the sap of the Allepo pine tree. Aromas of linseed oil and lime peel that lead into flavors of apples and roses, with a subtle piney, saline finish. And as with all things, there are better examples. This Karavaki Retsina by Cambas is one of the lighter examples, with bright fruit aromas underpinned with the resinous pine backbone. Try with richer seafood such as octopus or shellfish.

Eat The Food, Drink The Wine... As with many older wine regions, the best way to appreciate the wines of Greece is with the local cuisine. It makes sense really, as the style of the dishes and the style of the wine have evolved alongside each other over many centuries. Many Greek wines have an element of spice and rich aromatics, which perfectly balance the intensity of Greek foods. So grab some Kalamata olives, some quality feta and dig in!

Kombucha is a fermented beverage of black tea and sugar. It contains a colony of bacteria and yeast that are responsible for initiating the fermentation process once combined with sugar. Kombucha has become popular recently for its probiotic qualities. Its fizzy bite makes it a great alternative to sugar-laden soft drinks.

A wealth of research can be found online around the benefits of drinking Koumbucha. Possible benefits include improved digestion, prevention of disease through reduced inflammation, mental clarity, and mood stability.

Kombuchas that are raw and unpasteurised are a living product that must be refrigerated at all times, these varieties are said to have the greatest health benefits.

Following is a guide to the Kombucha brands available at Moore Wilson’s Fresh:

Daily Organics

Situated in the quiet rural countryside of Matakana New Zealand, Daily Organics is a unique micro brewery creating traditional wild fermented kombucha. Each small batch is hand blended, individually brewed to a bespoke recipe taking over two months to mature. With no added sweeteners, preservatives, flavourings or additives, Daily Organics Kombucha is 100% Organic Bio Gro Certified and contains no gluten or dairy. Raw and unpasteurised.

Their Original flavour is a traditional brew using a bold blend of black tea, delivering an uncomplicated full body taste with a subtle hint of peachiness. Winter and Summer brews available when in season.

Happy Belly Ferments

Our most local Kombucha, Happy Belly produce both Kombucha and Kefir Water in the Wairarapa.

Happy Belly Kombucha is a raw, natural and active brew, meaning each batch will be slightly different. Unlike Kombucha which is made of tea, Water Kefir is made with  water and sugar which is fermented out, fresh lemon juice and fresh ginger. Typically both contain the bacteria lactobacillus.

Organic Mechanic

Finely craft-brewed and fermented Organic Mechanic Living Probiotic Kombucha from Parnell, Auckland. Ginger infused for extra digestive anti-inflammatory support.

Kombucha King

Kombucha King was first company to brew kombucha commercially in New Zealand. They began production in 2009 in Hawke’s Bay and in 2015 became organically certified under AssureQuality. Low in sugar, have no artificial flavours or sweeteners, have no colourings or no preservatives, gluten free and dairy free. Naturally carbonated via the fermentation process. Not pasteurised or heat treated. Flavours available include original, berry and ginger.

Rene’s Kombucha

René Archner is an internationally well known living foods chef and advocate for raw eating. René’s Kombucha is fermented/cultured for 6-8 days. This, and the use of our selected organic teas, assures a very pleasant flavour. René’s Kombucha is not pasteurised and hence contains the live cultures provided by the SCOBY. Available in red berry, pomegranate and lemon ginger.

Goodbuzz

Good Buzz has become extremely popular around New Zealand and can be found in cafes, healthfood shops, supermarkets, gyms, even some bars! It takes a little over two weeks to make a bottle of Good Buzz. A symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast is put in a sweetened tea brew and the bacteria feed on the sugars converting them into organic acids, which gives kombucha its iconic tang.

Every Good Buzz is certified organic by BioGro NZ, fair trade certified by Fairtrade NZ, approved by the Coeliac Society (certified gluten-free) and approved by the Vegetarian Society of NZ. This is a great one to try if you’re new to kombucha with a range of pleasant flavours—feijoa, original, and raspberry lemon.

Due to its live nature, Kombucha is available in store only. Look out for our full range in the fridge at Moore Wilson's Wellington Fresh Market.