The Land Of The Long White Cloud (New Zealand) has many wonderful and unique things. I must admit that the rose-tinted blur of nostalgia has long dropped before the 20-20 vision of hindsight when it comes to reviewing my time there, but one thing remains crystal clear.

A drink. And not just any drink. L&P.

The Great L&P

For those who have never faced the enlightenment of this soft drink, proudly stated as "World famous in New Zealand" let me introduce you. L&P is the abbreviated title of Lemon and Paeroa. Originally made by combining lemon with soda water from the New Zealand town of Paeroa, Coca-Cola have since taken over and produce it on a much larger scale. In New Zealand, it's about as popular as Coke.

It also tastes really really good. I don't know quite what makes it so superior to all other soft drinks I've encountered (Nostalgia hasn't blurred that one.) but I have never found a substitute, and having not been to New Zealand in quite some time I miss it. Oh L&P, why did you leave me?

More to the point the lack of production outside of New Zealand renders it near impossible to get. I just don't understand why something so unbelievably awesome has failed to breach the international market just yet. A long time ago at the New Zealand scout Jamboree, a bunch of worldly visitors were introduced. Not one from the Australian contingent could understand why L&P hadn't managed to "hop the ditch" just yet so it could be enjoyed in the West Island too. A few people even brought bottles back with them out of spite for the shipping companies.

Oh, L&P, thy slightly tangy sweetness never ceases to be a point of much adoration. Please come back to me. Please.

On a final note, anyone in New Zealand for holidays should pick up a bottle and try it. Truly, it is the elixir of the Gods.

Image credit: http://i3.ediy.co.nz/

I fell strangely compelled to try it now. I don't even like soft drinks that much.

I'll have to make a note of it next to "go to Australia and New Zealand" on my list of things to do during the next five years.

Order online?

At least it wasn't a lump of green putty I found under my armpit.

Good ode :)

Labyrinth:
...West Island...

I'm sorry, but we're actually a continent.
My totally random guess is that it'll taste like the pineapple flavoured soft drinks you can get. Because I find those to taste superior to just about everything.

If you happen to live in Australia, this delectable beverage is available at New Zealand Natural Ice Cream Stores, so there must be a way of importing it.

On another note, there is also an L&P Dry, if you haven't been back to Aotearoa for a while, as good as the original, just not as sweet for a different palate.

Darkside360:
Order online?

So is that a no?

Darkside360:
Order online?

6x600ml, or the much cheaper 1.5 litre bottles. Shipping is dashed expensive, but you could aleviate that by buying many on one go.

Never tried it, but it sounds nice enough. They've got a crappy webpage design though.

Also, TIZER!

That sounds insane. Doesn't look very appealing but... Lemon and Paeroa. I would give anything to try that right now. Maybe. I might be exaggerating a little.

I miss vanilla coke. That stuff was the bomb. An alcoholic version can be made with some plain coke and a double tot of galliano.

Ah, L&P. We had a brief thing back when i was working in the good ol' NZ. Interesting flavour. i was the only one in my apartment who liked it. It's so quintessentially kiwi, it's irresistible!