Elsie UdohWhat did you hear about being homesick? If you’ve been away from Nigeria for a while, you’re surely not new to that feeling of longing.
But we also know that you long for more than just the people. You also miss the environment, the culture, the food, and more. While there’s little help we can offer to ease the burden of your longing, we can definitely help out a great deal when it comes to the food.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelThis article is here to help you find authentic Nigerian food ingredients in Canada so you can easily source and prepare some of the meals you love and miss from home. Meanwhile, if you’re in the UK and are on the search for Nigerian food ingredients, you’ll find help here.
Best Places to Find Authentic Nigerian Food Ingredients in Canada
Depending on your city, there are several stores where you can find authentic Nigerian food ingredients in Canada to shop from. We will provide you with these locations in cities like Toronto, Vancouver, Ottawa, and Calgary.
Where to Find Nigerian Food Ingredients In Toronto
Toronto is one of the cities in Canada that houses a large number of Nigerians, and the city does a great deal in catering for them. Some markets around the area sell a variety of Nigerian food ingredients. Here are some you can shop from:
Oyato Food Market
This market has a variety of Nigerian food ingredients, such as elubo (yam flour). The market is a popular choice among Nigerians in Ontario due to its great customer service and quality ingredients offered for sale.
| Address | 1550 Jane St, North York, Toronto, ON M3N 2R5 |
| Opening Hours | Mondays to Saturdays: 10 AM – 9 PM; Sundays: 10 AM – 7 PM |
| Popular Ingredients | Yam, plantains, garri, palm oil, egusi, beans, elubo |
| Transport Links | Use the Line 1 subway or Line 320 bus |
Pro Tip: The store opens by 9:45 AM on Mondays, so you can make plans to shop early and go about your daily activities.
African Freshness Superstore
Like Oyato, this store provides you with many options for Nigerian food ingredients to buy. It is especially popular for its sale of fresh vegetables and other Nigerian specials like local pear.
| Address | 2500 Lawrence Ave E, Scarborough, Toronto, ON M1P 2R7 |
| Opening Hours | Mondays to Wednesdays: 10 am – 8 pm; Thursdays to Fridays: 10 am – 9 pm; Saturdays: 9 AM – 9 PM; Sundays: 10 AM – 7 PM |
| Popular Ingredients | Ogbono, okra, dried fish, spices, greens, vegetable/palm oil, tomato paste |
| Transport Links | You can access the store using the Line 1 subway or the Line 95 bus |
Pro Tip: The store also sells beauty products, so you can stock up on that too while shopping for your food ingredients.
Where to Find Nigerian Food Ingredients In Vancouver
Toronto is not the only city in Canada to get Nigerian food ingredients; you will find them in some stores around Vancouver as well. Here are key places to check out:
Africana General Market
As the name implies, this is a market where you can find a variety of things from Africa, and what’s an African market without selling Nigerian food ingredients? So of course, you can shop from here to buy goat meat for your favourite pepper soup and other ingredients.
| Address | 3543 Kingsway, Vancouver, BC V5R 5L9 |
| Opening Hours | Monday to Saturday: 10 AM – 7 PM |
| Popular Ingredients | Goat meat, spices, plantains, garri, palm oil, scotch bonnet pepper |
| Transport Link | Use the Line 019 and Subway, Line 025 bus to access the market |
Pro Tip: You can shop for souvenirs to take home to your family when visiting from here since they sell a variety of African products.
READ ALSO: Planning A Trip Back To Nigeria: A Travel Checklist For The Diaspora
Machi African Store
The Machi African Store is a great place to get Nigerian food ingredients and other essentials. If you’re craving Jollof rice, you will find all the ingredients you need to prepare it for yourself here. Their prices are also relatively fair, making it a go-to shopping spot.
| Address | 445 12th St #443, New Westminster, BC V3M 4H7 |
| Opening Hours | Mondays to Fridays: 11 AM – 6:30 PM; Saturdays: 10 AM – 6:30 PM; Sundays: 1 – 4 PM |
| Popular Ingredients | Spices, noodles, sardines, dried fish, Maggi, peppers, plantains |
| Transport Links | Use the bus and subway that ply the New Westminster route to access the store |
Pro Tip: Machi African Store also sells beverages like Milo as well as beauty and hair products, so you can decide to do general shopping for your home here.
Where to Find Nigerian Food Ingredients In Ottawa
Like Toronto, Ottawa is populated by a large number of Nigerians and has some key stores where Nigerian food ingredients can be purchased. Some of them include:
Food Africana Store
This store is popular for its effective customer service, affordable prices, and fresh ingredients.
| Address | 100 Castlefrank Rd., Ottawa, ON K2L 2V6 |
| Opening Hours | Mondays to Saturdays: 10 AM – 8 PM; Sundays: 12 – 7 PM |
| Popular Ingredients | Yam, beans, palm oil, tomatoes, poundo yam, vegetables |
| Transport Links | You can access the store using any of the bus lines close to your location: 301, 667, 646, 668, 303, 88, 267, 61, and 67. |
Pro Tip: Visit early enough to beat the crowd and get good deals.
Chopfoods
This is an online store based in Canada that offers delivery on a variety of Nigerian food ingredients.
| Address | Online store |
| Opening Hours | 24/7 |
| Popular Ingredients | Garri, elubo, palm oil, beans, iru, ofada rice |
Pro Tip: Stay updated about deals and discounts on their IG page.
Where to Find Nigerian Food Ingredients In Calgary
If you’re in Calgary and want to get Nigerian food ingredients, here’s where you should check:
De-Chosen African Market
This is a convenience African store that stocks up all the groceries that you’ll need. They have a large space that is accommodating enough for you to browse through their variety of products.
| Address | 9641 Macleod Trail SW, Calgary, AB T2J 0P6 |
| Opening Hours | Mondays to Saturdays: 10 AM – 7 PM; Sundays: 12:30 – 6 PM |
| Popular Ingredients | Frozen foods, spices, yam |
| Transport Links | You can access the market using the bus or light rail. These transit lines have routes near the market area: Bus Lines 10, 148, 3, 81, 9 and Light Rail 201. |
Arinka
This is an online store that offers same-day delivery of African and Caribbean products within Calgary, Airdrie, Cochrane, Okotoks, Springbank, and surrounding areas. They have a website where you can easily navigate and place your orders seamlessly.
| Address | 4121 23b St NE, Calgary, AB T2E 7V9 |
| Opening Hours | Mondays to Saturdays: 8 AM – 8 PM |
| Popular Ingredients | Seasoning cubes (Maggi), palm oil, peppers, sardines |
Pro Tip: All orders are typically carried out on the website despite having a physical store. Ensure to place orders early enough for same-day delivery.
Additional Tips for Finding Authentic Nigerian Food Ingredients in Canada
Finding Nigerian food ingredients in Canada can sometimes be difficult. Not because they are not available, but because the available ones are often pricey. However, the stores provided in this article offer the best prices and deals that make it possible for you to get the ingredients you need to cook Nigerian meals, whether Jollof rice or any soup of your choice, without having to break the bank.
In addition to this, here are some other useful tips to keep in mind:
- Arrive early to shop for the best and freshest ingredients.
- In places like supermarkets where Nigerian food ingredients are sold, the prices are usually fixed, but you can bargain prices in the market.
- Follow online stores on social media to stay updated on fresh stock and discounts.
- When you can, buy in bulk. It saves time, makes ingredients always available in your kitchen, and you can avoid any price hike.
Elsie Udoh is an SEO content writer who specialises in writing engaging stories that resonates with diverse audiences. She studied mass communication at the Lagos State University.
