NZ's liquid smoke - kānuka tastes like hangi in a bottle

Business and chemical engineering academics are transforming native Kanuka into a 'liquid smoke' startup - tasting like hangi in a bottle. The hidden flavour of Kanuka has been captured in an inter-departmental University of Auckland collaboration, together with whanau from Ruatoria. Dr Kiri Dell is part of the team behind the new business venture, Nuka Institute. She is a lecturer at the University of Auckland lecturer and director of post graduate diploma in Maori business development. Dr Dell says she wanted to replicate the smell of the native tree from her childhood memories and use it as a flavoursome ingredient for food.