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Welcome to the Wonky Pantry – the spot where you can read a little more about some of the extras available to add to your next box.
Every month, we hand-pick a range of delicious, waste-fighting products that deserve a second chance – whether it’s a batch of surplus goodies, a quirky crop that’s too wonky for grocery shelves, or a perfectly good pantry staple in need of a home. We also love spotlighting local legends who share our mission to make the most of every bite.
This month, there are a few extra-special picks in the mix – from fresh Easter treats to new brands we’re excited to welcome on board, plus a handful of popular favourites making their return. Ready to stock up? Let’s dig in!
It’s the breakfast equivalent of a standing ovation. New Zealand Manuka honey, toasted coconut, crunchy almonds, and a hint of vanilla – all bundled into a low-sugar, planet-kind granola that’ll give your mornings a serious upgrade.
Made by Blue Frog (the most awarded cereal crew in the country!), this granola is the real deal: organic ingredients, no weird fillers, and B Corp certified to boot. We’re stocking it because surplus shouldn’t mean second-best – and your breakfast deserves better.
Weekends were made for pancakes – and this mix is flipping fantastic. Packed with protein (hello, almonds and hemp hearts), made with real vanilla beans, and free from added sugar, it’s everything you love about pancakes… without the post-brunch guilt.
A batch of surplus landed in our laps, and we knew exactly what to do: pop it in the pantry so you can turn any lazy Sunday into a café-worthy feast. Just add your favourite toppings and try not to lick the plate.
240g makes approx. 12 pancakes
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Rich, earthy and packed with real veg – this is proper stock, not a powder pretending to be one. Made with 45% real mushrooms (plus carrots, celery, cabbage and more), it’s a plant-based staple that adds instant depth to autumn meals.
We’ve rescued a batch heading toward its best-before date (07/05/2025), and it’s looking for a good home – preferably one that enjoys risottos, lentil soups or mushroomy pasta nights. Dairy-free, gluten-free, and full of flavour.
Think cheesy, crunchy, totally snackable – but without the orange dust or weird ingredients. These gluten-free puffs are made with organic peas and actual cheese (what a concept!), baked instead of fried, and packed in family-friendly 5-packs.
This lot was part of an over-order, but they’re still oven-fresh and utterly moreish. Pop a pack in your glovebox, lunchbox, or snack drawer – they’re dangerously easy to demolish.
🧀 Best Before: 01/07/25
This local NZ tea company does things properly – sourcing great ingredients, blending in small batches, and keeping it local. These particular teas didn’t make the retail cut because of a few production quirks – a slightly coarser grind, a stronger-than-expected flavour, or a few extra stems in the mix. But none of that changes what matters: they’re still delicious, functional, and worth your mug.
• Premium Matcha (50g) – A little more textured than usual, but still smooth enough to whisk into your morning. Grassy, grounded, and great in oat milk.
• Glow Tea (45g) – The hibiscus came in strong this round, giving it a tart, punchy edge. Ideal if you like your herbal tea with a bit more bite.
• Radiance Tea – This batch dried a little longer than planned, adding a subtle toastiness to the usual earthy blend. Great for autumn sipping.
• Peppermint Tea – A few extra stems in the bag, but still just as minty and refreshing. Spot on after dinner or a big lunch.
• Elderflower Tea (65g) – Heavier on the florals than intended, so you’ll get a more intense aroma and flavour. Very spring-forward, and great cold or hot.
Wonky in process, not in quality – enjoy sitting and sippin'
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Back by popular demand – and now with a zesty new addition. These cold-pressed juice pouches have been flying off our virtual shelves, so we’ve brought them back for another round. This time, we’ve added lime to the line-up – sharp, bright, and ready to lift everything from salad dressings to spritzes.
Each 245ml pouch is packed with nothing but pure juice – no preservatives, no shortcuts. Just organically grown ginger, turmeric, lemon or lime, sourced from Fijian farms and sealed for maximum freshness. Whether you’re mixing up a tonic, adding zing to your cooking, or making your Friday G&T a bit more interesting – these are a smart little fridge essential.
You know those fancy dried cranberries? This is them – but in their tart, fresh, straight-from-the-bog glory.
Grown wild and harvested by hand on the West Coast, these cranberries are weather-dependent and fleeting – available through April, if the harvest gods are kind. Use them in chutneys, baking, or to zhuzh up a roast. Fresh, zingy, and not your average berry.
Crunchy, juicy, and the perfect balance of sweet and tangy – these Hawke’s Bay-grown Yummy SweeTango™ apples are up there with the best. Grown by one of NZ’s top apple growers, this variety is famous for its big flavour and award-winning, record-breaking crunch.
We’ve picked up a fresh batch from recent surplus – perfectly good fruit that just didn’t fit the usual retail rhythm. Great for lunchboxes, fruit bowls, or whenever you’re after something naturally sweet and satisfying.
Curly, bumpy, not quite supermarket-perfect – but super sweet! These red and green Palermo peppers from Pukekohe are the tasty result of a very hot summer which has brought an oversupply.
They’re ideal for autumn mezze spreads, slow roasts, or straight-up snacking.
Tiny, sweet, and a bit shy at first. These red kiwifruit from the Bay of Plenty are smaller than usual – but inside? Juicy, berry-like magic.
They’ll arrive firm (so they don’t bruise in transit), but leave them on your bench and they’ll soften into something spoonable and sweet. A seasonal treat with a short window – don’t wait too long to bag your bunch!
📝 Ripen at room temp, then pop in the fridge once soft.
Fresh herbs, straight from the Waikato. Our grower’s had a bit of an abundance lately, which means your kitchen gets to reap the rewards. Availability will shift week to week depending on what’s thriving – but when they’re here, they’re well worth adding to your box.
Perfect for everything from tabbouleh to tandoori, minty cocktails to rosemary roasties – these herbs are an easy way to lift your cooking and make things feel a little more put-together (even if it’s just Tuesday night).
Dry weather, quirky crops, and plenty of good veg at risk of waste. Here’s why autumn’s the perfect time to rescue local produce.
Bendy carrots? Wilted greens? Sad veggies? Don’t chuck them! Revive, store & reinvent your produce with these simple, waste-free hacks.
Turn spotty bananas, wrinkly kiwifruit & citrus past their prime into delicious dried snacks with this how to guide!
This month’s Wonky Pantry is packed with rescued snacks, fresh produce, and pantry staples that deserve a second chance. Shop our Autumn rescues!
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