A Full Circle Moment at Secret Kiwi Kitchen
As Chinese New Year arrives, I’ve found myself reflecting in a more personal way.
This past year marked a shift. After years spent building Secret Kiwi Kitchen from my kitchen table, things have begun to stretch outward. The work is still daily and hands-on, but the world around it has grown larger.
I’m Lulu, mum to three, and founder of Secret Kiwi Kitchen. Lately, I’ve been thinking about how much of this business comes directly from my life and how naturally it is coming full circle.
Where the Flavours Come From
I was raised by a Vietnamese woman, Khen, who cooked daily with instinct, generosity, and an unshakeable belief that food is how we care for one another. That upbringing shaped how I cook, how I taste, and how I think about flavour. It taught me balance, restraint, and respect for ingredients.
Our new BBQ spice mixes are exciting because they are personal.
The Thai blend, especially, connects directly to my years immersed in Thai food culture. Those years became my first cookbook and are now shaping my second, which I am finishing as I write this. The Viet Spice is a tribute to Khen. And our Sedona Spice was created in honour of my husband Noah's Mexican uncle, who taught him how to cook. It is the fusion of Northern Mexican and American Southwest flavours.
Flowers, Islands, and Distance That Shrinks
Our edible flower range has quietly grown beyond New Zealand and is now being imported into the Pacific Islands. That still stops me in my tracks. Flowers have always been about beauty, yes, but also about generosity and care. Seeing our dried flower mixes used by cafés and restaurants across the Pacific feels deeply meaningful.
And then there is Iggy’s, stocked as far away as Martha’s Vineyard, where my family lives and where my original brownie recipe was born decades ago at a small farmers' market stall. That recipe now exists in mix form, sitting on shelves in hundreds of stores here in New Zealand.
Looking Ahead
Last year was a big year. I created and launched seven new products, including the Sensational Seeded Cracker Mix, Buttermilk Scone Mix, Ginger Crunch Slice, and our new spice line. Along the way, we were grateful to pick up new awards and welcome additional retail partners.
As we step into the year ahead, I feel grateful, energised, and excited to share new products already taking shape behind the scenes.
Thank you for cooking with us, baking with us, and supporting Secret Kiwi Kitchen. I hope our food continues to be part of your memory-making, in both everyday moments and special ones.
x Lulu
Founder, Director, Secret Kiwi Kitchen
Secret Kiwi Kitchen is a founder-led, New Zealand–made food brand, created by Lauren LuluTaylor in 2020 and is known for premium baking mixes, global-inspired spice blends, and edible flowers. Every product is developed with care, using quality ingredients, and designed to make home cooking simple, beautiful, and shareable.