Where To Buy Ingredients From Around The World

If you’ve ever wanted to try a recipe, but you had no idea where you could get all the ingredients from then you are not alone. At first, finding specialist ingredients can be daunting, but they don’t have to be expensive and thanks to the internet they are easier to find than you might think. There’s a whole world of food at our fingertips just waiting to be explored, you just need to know where to look.

In bigger cities, supermarkets have really upped their game over the last few years and some now offering an amazing selection of hard-to-find ingredients. If you aren’t already familiar with your local ‘world food’ aisle, then you should get down there and see what they have to offer. Often items are ‘dual sited’ in the supermarket and you’ll find more options of ingredients like soy sauce, chickpeas and coconut milk in the world food aisle and often much cheaper.  It’s best to start your research there and you might just be pleasantly surprised.

The internet has totally changed the game and seeking out hard to find food ingredients can be a pleasure rather than a chore. Here are some of the best places to source specialist ingredients in the UK :

My Favourite Shop On the Internet!

I have to start by talking about Souschef.com which has to be my all-time favourite place to find ingredients. I talk about it all the time because it’s easy to navigate and always delivers when I’m looking for something that is a bit niche. Their herbs and spices come in generous sizes. One of the best gifts I have ever received was a subscription to their monthly food boxes. Every month I’d eagerly anticipate the arrival of the mystery box and always loved being surprised by the ingredients and figuring out how I’d incorporate them into recipes. It’s a great way to push yourself out of your comfort zone and the perfect gift for any foodie (or yourself). As you can probably gather, I LOVE IT! Get £10 off your first order with my code by following this link!

Mexican Wonderland

When Birria Tacos were trending all over TikTok, everyone was searching for ancho, guajillo and pasilla chillis because they were just too hard in the shops. The Mex Grocer really is a fantastic website with everything from seasonings and sauces to tequila and tacos and even handmade fashion and crafts. There’s so so much more to Mexican cooking than the Tex-Mex we have come to know in the UK and it’s high time we learned more about the beautiful Mexican food and culture.

All The Wine

I am not ashamed to say I am obsessed with Majestic Wine. I used to find this place intimidating but now I very rarely buy wine from anywhere else, especially now they sell single bottles as well as offering great deals when you buy 6. I now live two minutes from a Majestic and go in there all the time, literally all the time. There’s always a selection of wines open that you can try for free, and the staff are super helpful; hey even host wine tasting nights which are a great way to get an introduction to wine and learn a bit more about what you like.  Yes, they have expensive options, but prices start from about a fiver and their deals are always excellent. They also sell magnums and jeroboams of rose in summer which make really fun birthday gifts.

Japanese Excellence

Japan Centre is an amazing place to discover Japanese ingredients. Their online store is great, but their actual shops are even better! I couldn’t go to their old Leicester Square store without buying a few bags of frozen dumplings so it’s great they’ve just opened a new store there. I can’t even pretend to know much about Japanese ingredients which is why I love to go there and brose the aisles and discover brand new things each time. They also have an impressive selection of takeaway options so may I recommend a trip there at lunchtime to make the most of it?

Excellent Seafood, Sushi Grade Fish and More

I often find fishmongers intimidating because it can be hard to know what to order and how much to buy. More than once I’ve bought a couple of pieces of fish and been a little shocked at how expensive it is but I’ve said nothing because it’s already been cut. Ordering from an online fishmonger like The Fish Society removes some of the guesswork and can give you even more options to browse through before you decide. Their website has information on the cuts, quality so you can do some research before you commit to buy. It’s also one of the few places that you can buy sushi-grade raw fish. They also have things you don’t really see in the shops like Black Cod and Monkfish. 

A Taste Of Spain

Spanish Passion Foods is a website that curates artisanal Spanish foods from small producers from the heart of rural Spain. Their range is full of high-quality authentic produce from award-winning suppliers. Up your olive game in their ‘Olive Emporium’ or check out their phenomenal range of Spanish meats and cheeses. It’s the kind of website where you just know the owner feels so passionately about the product and that feeling rubs off on you when you’re browsing.

Ever Wondered Where To Get Wagu Steak?

If you’re looking for something extra-special then look no further than the Fine Food Specialists. They really are specialists when it comes to the finer things in life. The website specialists in luxurious produce alongside premium essentials and international ingredients too.  You’ll find things like Wagu steaks, caviar, truffles and exotic mushrooms. Fancy!

Organic Only

If you like organic food then the chances are you already know about Able & Cole. Well-known for their vegetable boxes and the quality of their organic ingredients Able & Cole pride themselves on reducing the amount of packaging and food miles meaning they only deliver to certain areas on certain days. You simply subscribe to one of their fruit or veg boxes and then add on the rest of your organic shopping to the order from their huge range of meat, fish, bakery and store cupboard items. They then deliver on the pre-agreed day they’re in your area which is how they reduce those food-miles. Literally, every single thing is certified organic including the washing powder so you know you’re in safe hands.  They have some great offers for subscribers including free boxes so it’s well worth taking a look.

Wing Yip

If you have a Wing Yip superstore near you then you’re very lucky because their huge family-run oriental supermarkets are well known for being a cornucopia of amazing ingredients. Their online store is great, but their huge superstores with their signature Chinese Arch entrances are iconic. With over 4,500 different products the chances are if you’re looking for it, they will have it there and so so much more.

Molecular Gastronomy  

Whether you want to be the next Heston Blumenthal, or you’re just interested in the science of food, you need to know about a place called MSK Ingredients. Specialising in all things molecular gastronomy it’s a fascinating site full of all sorts of equipment to make food-magic. Even if molecular gastronomy isn’t your thing, it’s well worth having a browse just to appreciate the attention and paraphernalia that goes into creating those magic-Michelin meals we see on TV.

Shop Local

You might be surprised what amazing specialist ingredients you can find in your local area, and shopping local is a great way to support your local community. I recently discovered an amazing Italian deli near my house that sells an array of Italian store-cupboard ingredients most of which are cheaper than elsewhere. I’d wrongly assumed it would be more expensive so it’s always worth having a browse to look at the prices. I also live near Tooting which has a large Pakistani community and some amazing Pakistani shops selling the most wonderfully fresh and store cupboard ingredients at excellent prices. It’s worth getting to know your local community and the amazing food that’s around you.

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