With chocolates being a popular pasalubong from Filipinos traveling overseas, the Kiwi treat ‘jaffa’ will surely be a hit. Native to New Zealand, jaffas are dark chocolates encased in hard orange shells. These are eaten by Kiwis by the millions, and are a must-try for anyone born with a sweet tooth.
These delectable pocket-sized jaffas are linked to the city of Dunedin, New Zealand’s fifth largest city. Dotted with impressive Edwardian and Victorian architecture, the South Island city is home to one of the world’s rarest marine wildlife, the country’s grandest castle and oldest university.
It also has the landmark called Baldwin Street, which holds the title of the world’s steepest street.
On an ordinary day, the 350-metre Baldwin Street is a place for tourists to take quirky photos for their social media feeds and for locals to take their morning runs.
However, one annual event called ‘Jaffa Race Day’ shows how much Kiwis love their jaffas. Thousands upon thousands of jaffas are made to roll down the street’s steep incline, with 75,000 jaffas recorded for this year.
The sight of these chocolates tumbling down the slope for the winner’s slot is a tasteful visual treat that must be crossed from every traveller’s bucket list.
The race is the flagship event of the Cadbury Chocolate Carnival. The iconic Cadbury Jaffa has been made in the country since 1931. Cadbury Chocolate World, one of Dunedin’s popular tourist attractions, is set to complete by late next year its new chocolate factory that will feature a magical elevator, historic displays, and public open space providing a one-of-a-kind chocolate experience.