Ancestral Roots
In New Zealand’s northern reaches, at the base of Mount Ruapehu, flocks of lambs roam freely, enjoying a natural diet of wild grass and fresh, spring water. Every day, members of the Awhi check them for signs of injury or illness, making sure that all animals are as healthy as possible.
The Awhi (pronounced Aah-Fee) are a group of families, with over 9,000 individual members, descended from the ancestral Māori peoples, whose relationship with this land and its creatures spans over 25 generations.
If you think that all of this sounds like a bit too much for an animal that is eventually going to end up on your table, then you’ll be interested to know that recent research has demonstrated that pre-slaughter stress is eroding beef eating quality , so the lamb’s well-being is a net positive for you, too.
Sustainable & Humane
Core to the Awhi is the belief that we must treat with kindness and respect the land and the animals who provide for us.
For the animals, this means providing a life as natural and stress-free as possible. For the land, the collective practices
Rejuvenative Farming (also called Regenerative Farming), making sure that the land is not only preserved, but also improved by its use. They do this in many ways, such as removing livestock from erosion-prone land and waterways, as well as planting native bushes to help with soil retention and regeneration. They also avoid using fertilizers, when possible, and have created a large sanctuary where native flora and fauna thrive in a protected and controlled environment.
By purchasing from the Awhi, you’re not just getting a fantastic product, you’re also contributing to the improvement of some of the world’s most beautiful ecosystems and empowering one of New Zealand’s many native peoples.
Is New Zealand Lamb Healthy?
As much as we love meat (and we certainly do!) the fact is that not all meat is good for us. The World Health Organization recommends that any healthy diet replace fatty meats for lean alternatives. Doing so reduces the risks of diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and cancer.
Lamb is a red meat, and like all red meat it can be fatty if the animal has lived sedentary life and been feed a grain-heavy diet, but New Zealand lamb is fed only grass, and is thus lower in calories, cholesterol, and saturated fat. And thanks to being raised in their natural habitat in the mountains, the animals get to move around much more than most cattle does at industrial farms.
Lamb meat is also higher in protein, unsaturated fats, vitamin E, omega-3 fatty acids and CLA (conjugated linoleic acid (CLA, an omega-6 fatty acid), making it both nutritious and delicious. No need to worry about growth hormones, antibiotics, or other questionable chemicals, lamb meat can be very good for you, as long as you get it from the right place.
We stock only premium products from Broadleaf, a global purveyor of specialty meats for over 30 years, and the Awhi’s official distributor worldwide, so you can be confident that you are receiving only the best produce.
What does lamb taste like?
Luckily for us, lean does not have to mean flavorless or dry. New Zealand lamb meat is flavorful and tender, which makes it very versatile, convenient, and quick to cook.
Having friends over for the big game? Throw some
lamb burgers on the grill! Boss coming over for dinner? Just get some red wine, a little bit of garlic, a few tablespoons of honey, and in just a few hours you can have
Rosemary Roasted Leg of Lamb Recipe that will be sure to impress. Long week? Treat yourself to some
lamb ribs - the best you’ve ever tasted.
And that’s only the beginning, stop by our store page to find all the lamb options you probably hadn’t even considered.
You’ll quickly find that lamb is not just an expensive specialty prepared by experienced chefs at fancy restaurants. And you certainly will find Awhi lamb at the best dining spots thanks to its consistent high quality and yield.
With very little fat to start with, getting the meat ready for cooking is almost effortless, and its natural flavor means that you don’t need as much seasoning. It also cooks faster and at a lower temperature. Bonus, your skillet will be easier to clean after the dirty work is done.
So, fire up that grill, preheat that oven, or sizzle that skillet, and get ready to give this healthier, tastier alternative a chance.