Sweet as - the nectar of the gods

Picture / Carolyn Robertson

1. It's the bees-knees

This handcrafted wooden honey dipper is ideal tool for transferring liquid honey to your favourite dish. It comes with a dinky beehive-shaped container. $9.95, from Milly's, ph (09) 376 1550.

2. Savoury and sweet

The great thing about honey is that it works equally well with savoury and sweet. For a wide-ranging selection of honey dressings and glazings try the BeesOnline Recipe Collection. It was $34.95 but has just been reduced to $19.95, from BeesOnline, ph (09) 411 7953.

3. Flavoursome yoghurt

The aptly named Flavour Deli in fashionable Ponsonby Rd is worth visiting for its fresh fruit served with honey and yoghurt. The secret ingredient, apart from the thick Greek-style creamy yoghurt, is the Arataki Rewarewa honey. Its herbaceous aroma, with touches of geranium and dandelion, is simply delicious. $7.50 for the fruit, honey and yoghurt from Flavour Deli, ph (09) 360 0076.

4. Delicious dessert

If it's sophistication and panache you're after for your dessert menu, look no further than Kapiti ice-cream's super premium range. There are eight retail flavours (another 22 available in cafes and restaurants) to choose from but one of our favourites is fig and honey, made with chopped dried figs in Manuka honey icecream. From $9.50 at most supermarkets.

5. Celebrate Christmas early

Christmas is some way off but this Condimentum seedy mustard from sunny Hawke's Bay makes it worth whipping out your festive ham recipe a few months early. This tasty product, a good all-rounder, also goes well on a sandwich with some thick slices of left-over ham. $12.95 from Zarbo, ph (09) 520 2721.

6. Honey-roasted delights

The next time you have friends or family over to dinner, try adding these roasted honey nuts and pumpkin seeds to your cheeseboard. They are especially good with blue cheese, but these glistening treats go equally well with freshly baked pikelets. $14.95 from BeesOnline, ph (09) 411 7953.