I Am Hot Honey Kumara Bites with Kawakawa Salt

Matariki Magic with I Am Hot Honey

 A Starry Feast to Celebrate Aotearoa’s New Year

As the stars of Matariki rise once again in the crisp winter sky, we’re invited to pause.

To reflect. To gather. To honour those who came before us.

And to celebrate new beginnings with food, community, and connection.

What is Matariki?

Matariki is the Māori name for the Pleiades cluster of stars that reappears midwinter.

Its rising marks the Māori New Year, a sacred time to:

• Remember those we’ve lost
• Feast with whānau and friends
• Set intentions for the year ahead
• Celebrate harvest, nature, and renewal

In many Māori traditions, each star in the Matariki cluster has a meaning from food gathered from the sea to nourishment grown from the land. That’s why kai (food) is central to every Matariki celebration.

Recipe: 

Hot Honey Kumara Bites with Kawakawa Salt

A modern take on a traditional root vegetable, these bites are smoky, earthy, spicy, and sweet.

Infused with I Am Hot Honey, they honour the season with a bold twist warming hands, hearts, and bellies.

Ingredients:

• 2 large orange kumara (sweet potatoes), peeled & cubed
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tsp smoked paprika
• 1 tbsp I Am Hot Honey
• ½ tsp sea salt (or kawakawa salt if you can find it!)
• Optional: fresh thyme or rosemary to garnish

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 200°C (400°F).
2. Toss kumara in olive oil, smoked paprika, and salt.
3. Spread evenly on a lined baking tray.
4. Roast for 25–30 minutes until golden and soft.
5. Drizzle with I Am Hot Honey while still warm.
6. Sprinkle with herbs or kawakawa salt for an earthy kick.

These are perfect shared straight from the tray at a community table or passed around in a warm whare with mulled drinks and stories under the stars.

A Moment to Reflect

This Matariki, we’re not just making food , we’re making rituals.

We’re reconnecting to land, people, and purpose.

And while our hot honey is new, its roots are ancient crafted by bees, honoured by whenua, and shared with intention.

Whether you’re lighting a candle, planting a seed, or sharing kai with your whānau, may your Matariki be filled with warmth, wonder, and the courage to begin again.

Ngā mihi o Matariki, te tau hou Māori.

(Matariki blessings, and happy Māori New Year.)