L&P onion rings: The best thing you've never tried

06:45, Mar 16 2022
Brook Sabin
The small town of Paeroa is having an L&P revival, but this time, it's in food.

L&P onion rings. These three words on the menu were enough to turn my stomach. If you ever wanted to know what the opposite saying of “peas and a pod” was, I think I found it: onions and L&P. They just don’t go together.

L&P onion rings are just one of the L&P-inspired items you can try on the menu.
Brook Sabin/Stuff
L&P onion rings are just one of the L&P-inspired items you can try on the menu.

I’m in Paeroa which, of course, is where Lemon and Paeroa (today known as L&P) was created in 1907. But the story of this drink goes back far earlier, to the 1600s, when early Māori recognised the fine water bubbling up from springs in the area.

The European gold miners also took advantage of the spring water, which was thought to have medicinal powers.

READ MORE:
* World Famous in New Zealand: Paeroa's giant L&P bottle is an irresistible selfie-magnet
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* Getting crafty on the Coromandel Peninsula

The L&P onion rings are crunchy, salty and sweet.
Brook Sabin/Stuff
The L&P onion rings are crunchy, salty and sweet.

Fast-forward to the early 1900s, when lemon was added to the fresh water, and it eventually became the iconic drink we all know today.

One hundred years later, the brand is owned by Coca-Cola Amatil – but there’s still an L&P Cafe in town where you can try heaps of crazy creations. How about eggs benedict with L&P hollandaise, L&P flavoured pork ribs, and even L&P chicken salad?

But I wanted to live dangerously. I went with a pairing I thought would be a disaster: L&P onion rings. Onions and a sweet fizzy drink? Surely not.

Watch the video above for Brook Sabin’s reaction.

Staying safe: New Zealand is currently under Covid-19 restrictions. Face coverings are mandatory on all flights and public transport. Proof of vaccination and vaccine exemption may be required in some venues under the traffic light system. Follow the instructions at covid19.govt.nz.

The author’s trip was supported by Destination Coromandel.