Bahrain & Saudi Suppliers
A challenge I was prepared to face when I returned home from culinary school in the USA, was trying to adapt to utilising the limited ingredients that we have access to in this part of the world where desert is all you see! I have faced this already for my 2 point something years of expat living in Saudi Arabia. Hence why I lived it up when I was in Oklahoma recently, eating the most amazing raw food, some of which I made myself thank you very much 
What I was amazed to discover yesterday, whilst out sourcing ingredients and supplies for my upcoming raw tasting evening, was that things are changing in this region of the world. And for the better.
For those local readers who keep asking me where do I get my ingredients and supplies here goes:
Usually I find Artisana Raw products like coconut butter, coconut oil, almond butter etc and raw bars here, but today I was amazed to find these just sitting there on the clearly marked out ‘Organic & Diet Food’ wall at the back of the store.
Um hello? Was I in Wholefoods?
I also found some lovely looking young thai coconuts – you know how much I love them!?! (usually these are also available in Lulu in Khobar, Saudi but not this week) next to some stinky durian fruit.
Earlier in the day I was back home in Saudi and I ventured to Tamimi on the corniche where they always tend to have one surprise or another for me, but the products never seem to be consistent.
This time I found organic dried herbs, buckwheat and a terrific range of fresh produce. I didn’t see any organic however, but I wasn’t really looking. People often ask me where do I get my organic fruit and vegetables from if I eat a high raw diet. I would love to eat ALL my diet organic, but as hard as it is in the the West, it is even harder here in the Middle East to get organic, so I do my best and also do ‘veggie baths’ as I wrote about here.
I also found a terrific catering supply store called Jameel Store (whom I am assuming supply to mainly hotels, restaurants and large companies) where I picked up some awesome commercial kitchen supplies as well as some more usual kitchen gadgets (they had julienne peelers for making vegetable pasta like I filmed about here).
These are just a couple of the places that I discovered yesterday and wanted to share, especially with my local readers who continue to send me emails asking me where do I get all my ingredients.
It is encouraging to see that things are slowly beginning to change here (I’ve even heard the compound commissary is started to stock more organic and vegan items), and as they say in Food Inc we can vote with our dollar (or Riyal or Dinar) everytime we shop. So let’s start being more demanding and our suppliers with provide!
Something extra to read – I’ve been slowly updating my website in anticipation of my upcoming new design, so why not take a look around at some of these links:
- What is Raw?
- Raw Related Studies/Courses
- Local suppliers
- Some of my raw food photos from 105degrees
- My how to videos
- Upcoming Events
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Wow, I am so glad you found such great products locally!
Yay for Young Thai Coconuts and Durian! Both my favorite!
That’s great that you can get more raw, vegan products over here. It is SO slow coming over to the UK. But I think we’re getting there. Unfortunately, I get the impression that in the UK raw and vegan products are more associated with being a “crazy hippie” than health. Ah well. x
Let’s hope that changes really soon eh? For our benefit as well as everyone else’s!!!
That’s great that you can get more raw, vegan products over there. It is SO slow coming over to the UK. But I think we’re getting there. Unfortunately, I get the impression that in the UK raw and vegan products are more associated with being a “crazy hippie” than health. Ah well. x
ya your back!!!!!!!!!!
Yay
Yay! Always good when things are easier to find, esp those beloved staples. And yay for yummy coocoonuts!
That’s awesome that you were able to find all those yummy foods! Can’t wait to see what you’ll be making!
Glad you’re able to find more and more of the healthy things you love — That is an awesome selection of Navitas goodies! Look at that yummy wall of superfoods
OMG! So great to find another bloggie based in the Middle East? I think Bahrain has come a long long way with organic/whole food shops – the amount of choice available is astonishing considering how small this tiny little island is
My favourites are Geant and Carrefour’s organic food aisles, the Organics Cafe and shop in Seef Mall (it’s like an Arab’s version of Whole Foods – LOVE it- have you been there yet? They sell loads of raw products and even excalibur dehydrators! I was impressed.), and Nature Valley in Juffair.
Sorry for the book of a comment I’m just so excited that you’ve been to/shopped in Bahrain before
Will definitely be reading more.
Hey comment away! Glad to hear you are in my hood!! Yes I agree with you on all those places too although Organics at seed is very disappointing to me. I come to Bahrain at least every month to shop and play. Are you based in Bahrain?
I know where to get organic food in Riyadh – call me 966 – 43 zero 989 finally twelve