Our community is a melting pot of different cultures and tastes. This allows us to explore food from all across the globe. You can go to a wide range of area restaurants to enjoy these flavors—whether you want a taste of your family’s home country or just enjoy trying new things.
But what if you want to make these dishes at home? Finding the ingredients can sometimes be very difficult. We’re here to help!
Between the area’s diverse specialty grocers and a robust online selection of options, sourcing even the hardest-to-find world ingredients can be accomplished. For international staples that don’t require refrigeration, ordering online is often the easiest way to find them. For fresh produce and meats, your best bet is to shop at small, local and independently owned specialty markets.
Don’t know where to start? Below, we’ve shared some good online and local shopping options.
Local Specialty Markets
Prioritize local markets for freshness and last-minute needs. Many of the larger supermarkets have expanded their world food aisles, but local specialty shops tend to have more choices. It’s always a good idea to call the store before you go to see if they have the specific ingredients you’re looking for.
Here is a list of specialty markets in Canton and Plymouth, or within a short drive.
Cantoro Italian Market & Trattoria
Inspired by the famous Italian markets in Rome, Venice and Palermo, Cantoro has locations in Plymouth and Livonia. It specializes in Italian imports, house-made baked goods and a wide range of deli items. It is the largest Italian market in Michigan, boasting a diverse selection of food and wines, including items that can’t be found anywhere else in the country.
As the name suggests, Saad offers specialty halal ingredients and meats. It caters to Middle Eastern and South Asian cuisines.
August Chinese Market in Canton specializes in all Asian ingredients, from common to extremely obscure. They offer fresh produce, a vast seafood and meat department, and aisles of sauces, noodles, spices, and more from China, Japan, Korea, Thailand, Vietnam and the Philippines.
Punjabi is a small store in Canton offering a variety of South Asian groceries, including Indian sweets and fresh produce.
Pande Grocers Canton
Pande Grocers does not have a website, but is located at 44272 Cherry Hill Rd in Canton Township. They offer a wide selection of authentic Indian products and flavors, including a variety of spices and unique ingredients.
Located in Detroit’s Mexicantown area, Honey Bee sells a large selection of Mexican and Hispanic ingredients.
If you’re looking for a wide variety of locally sourced ingredients, Busch’s is the place to go. From farm-fresh produce to handmade treats, they carry hundreds of local products grown, crafted and made in Michigan.
Ordering Online
For international pantry staples that do not require refrigeration, ordering online is often the easiest method, especially for niche spices, sauces, and packaged foods. Beyond the big shopping sites like Amazon, here are some specialty sites you might want to explore.
This site features everything you need to fill your pantry. It specializes in providing hard-to-find spices and seasonings.
Their mission is to serve German food fans with familiar, new and innovative specialty foods and beverages from Germany and Central Europe. All of their products represent the region's unique culinary heritage.
Brits R U.S. is your source for authentic British and Irish food and groceries. They offer a wide range of foods and gifts, each carefully selected to represent the rich heritage of the UK and Ireland.
Looking for More?
This article from Eater has an extensive list of online specialty food shopping sites, sorted by region. Then, they list shopping sites by type of food (cheese, condiments, meat and seafood, spices and seasonings, etc.).
That’s our list of the many ways you can take your taste buds on a trip around the world without ever leaving the area. Explore exciting new tastes or rediscover treats you miss from afar. Bon appétit!
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