Where To Buy

Where to Buy Nigerian Ingredients in the USA

This page covers every Nigerian ingredient referenced across our recipes and guides — what it is, where you’ll typically find it, and any USA-specific buying notes. For a directory of physical African grocery stores by city, see our African Grocery Stores in the USA guide instead — this page focuses on the ingredients themselves.

General rule of thumb: African and Caribbean grocery stores carry the vast majority of what’s listed here. A growing number of items are also showing up at regular supermarkets (especially in the international aisle) and through online African grocery retailers that ship nationwide — useful if you’re not near a major city with a large Nigerian community.

Swallow Flours & Staples

Fufu flour — Stocked at essentially every African grocery store. Also sold as plain “cassava flour” in the gluten-free baking aisle of many mainstream supermarkets — same product, different marketing. Full fufu guide →

Cassava flour — Same availability as fufu flour above. Full guide →

Poundo yam flour — Reliable at African grocery stores. Fresh Nigerian white yam is pricier and less consistent — don’t confuse it with the orange “yams” (actually sweet potatoes) at regular US supermarkets. Full guide →

Garri — Widely stocked at African grocery stores, both yellow and white varieties. Full guide →

Ofada rice — Less consistently stocked than regular rice; check a well-supplied African grocery store or an online retailer. Sometimes labeled “local rice.” Full guide →

Soup Bases, Leaves & Spices

Egusi — Sold pre-ground (most convenient) or as whole seeds at African grocery stores. Full guide →

Ogbono — Pre-ground is standard and widely available at African grocery stores. Full guide →

Ewedu leaves — Frozen is the realistic default; fresh is harder to find outside major cities. Full guide →

Afang / okazi leaf — Frozen, pre-shredded is your best bet; availability varies more than staples like garri. Full guide →

Bitter leaf — Pre-washed frozen is the standard and widely available. Dried, for tea, is also common. Full guide →

Oha leaf — One of the harder-to-find items on this list; check well-supplied stores specifically, availability is inconsistent. Full guide →

Uziza (leaf and seed) — Dried seed is more reliably stocked than fresh leaf. Full guide →

Banga spice / banga fruit concentrate — More specialized than staples; check with a specific African grocer if your regular store doesn’t carry it. Full guide →

Pepper soup spice — Pre-made blends are standard and widely stocked. Full guide →

Alligator pepper — Sold as whole dried pods, shelf-stable, widely available. Full guide →

Scent leaf — Fresh, sometimes shelved near basil and cilantro. Basil is the honest substitute if unavailable. Full guide →

Ugu (pumpkin leaves) — Frozen is increasingly common; fresh spinach is a widely accepted substitute. Full guide →

Okra — Fresh, stocked at regular supermarkets, not just African grocery stores. One of the easiest items on this entire list to source. Full guide →

Cocoyam — The corm (root) is fairly reliable; fresh leaves are a harder find. Full guide →

Red palm oil — Look specifically for “red palm oil” — some Western retailers stock a refined/bleached version instead.

Proteins, Beans & Specialty Items

Black-eyed peas — Widely available, often at regular supermarkets in the dried beans aisle, not just African stores. Full moi moi guide →

Suya spice (yaji) — Pre-made blends widely available; individual spices (ground peanuts, ginger, garlic, cayenne) are easier to find separately if making your own. Full guide →

Garden egg — Fresh only — no frozen or canned version exists. African grocery stores are your only realistic source. Full guide →

Tiger nuts — Dried, increasingly available at health food stores too, not just African grocers. Full guide →

Meat pie ingredients (flour, butter, ground beef, potatoes, carrots) — All standard supermarket items; curry powder and thyme are the only mildly specialty items, and both are widely stocked. Full recipe →

Baking & Drink Basics

Yeast — Standard supermarket item, needed for puff puff. Full recipe →

Nutmeg — Standard supermarket spice, used in both puff puff and chin chin. Puff puff → · Chin chin →

Curry powder — Standard supermarket item, used in Nigerian fried rice and stew. Full guide →

Zobo (dried hibiscus) leaves — Also sold as “sorrel” in Caribbean stores or “hibiscus flower” in health food stores if your African grocer doesn’t carry it under the name “zobo.” Full guide →

Didn’t Find What You’re Looking For?

Check our directory of African grocery stores by city to find a well-stocked store near you — larger stores in cities with a big Nigerian community tend to carry the more specialty items (oha leaf, banga spice, garden egg) that smaller stores might not.