Back Country Cuisine

About

Back Country Cuisine is New Zealand's most trusted freeze-dried meal brand — made in Invercargill, using NZ-sourced ingredients, and designed for the specific demands of southern hemisphere tramping. After a long day on the Routeburn or a cold night at a DOC hut, a hot meal that actually tastes good makes a real difference. The range covers breakfasts, mains, and desserts across a wide variety of flavours — including strong vegetarian and gluten-free options. All meals are freeze-dried (not just dehydrated), which means better flavour, texture, and faster rehydration than most alternatives. Freeze-Dried vs Dehydrated Freeze-drying removes moisture at low temperature under vacuum — it retains more flavour, texture, and nutrition than heat-based dehydration, and rehydrates faster (8–10 minutes vs 15–20). Back Country Cuisine uses freeze-drying throughout their range. The result is meals that taste closer to real food than most trail meal alternatives. Choosing Your Meals Calorie count: On a full day's tramping, most adults need 500–700+ calories per meal. Check the label — a "two-serve" pouch can vary significantly in total calories depending on the meal. Single vs double serve: Back Country Cuisine offers both. For hungry trampers or long days, double serve is worth the extra weight. Dietary requirements: Strong vegetarian range; several gluten-free options clearly labelled. Check individual product descriptions for specifics. Frequently Asked Questions How do I prepare a Back Country Cuisine meal? Boil water, pour the required amount directly into the pouch (listed on the back of each pack), seal, and wait 8–10 minutes. Eat straight from the pouch — no dishes required. A lightweight camp stove like the MSR PocketRocket or WindBurner is all you need. In cold conditions, insulate the pouch inside a cosy or sleeping bag while it rehydrates to maintain temperature. Are Back Country Cuisine meals actually good? Better than most trail meal alternatives, yes. Freeze-drying