Ode to Oats

You asked, we listened.. The Hopper shop now features only New Zealand-grown oats! There is a choice of Organic whole oats and rolled oats from Harraway. As we're coming into winter, nothing is as warming as a steaming bowl of oaty goodness. Here are some our staff picks for making ordinary porridge extraordinarily delicious.

Anna loves a bowl of warmth on tramps and camping adventures. Her go-to classic is bananas, seasonal fruit, raisins and cinnamon for the perfect kickstart to an adventurous day! Anna uses the rolled oats. They are easy, light to pack and quick to cook on an outdoor adventure.

Lise likes a hint of middle-eastern spice, with cardamom, cinnamon and allspice added to the mix. She soaks her oats overnight and adds the raisins in with the milk so they get soft. She tops her porridge up with fresh fruit (persimmon from is her current favourite), preserved feijoa's, a teaspoon of tahini, poppy seeds and some hemp hearts.

Francine's her current favourite is blueberries, chopped pitted dates, and chopped almonds (surprise, no chocolate!). Francine uses the organic jumbo oats for her porridge.

Can't have oats? Buckwheat or millet porridge are a great alternative if you'd like to try some of these toppings. Soaking the grains overnight prior to cooking makes it easier to digest, and it takes less time to cook.