If great food made with traditional ethnic ingredients tempts your tastebuds then you should make you way to Lower Hutt - a foodies’ paradise.

A quick walk around Lower Hutt’s city reveals a plethora of ethnic food markets or supermarkets where you can buy authentic ingredients for tasty dishes.

The South African Pantry started on the Kāpiti Coast but passionate support from the wider Wellington region saw them open in Lower Hutt in 2023.

Owner Cindy Marais says Lower Hutt is the perfect place for her supermarket.

"We've been warmly welcomed by both South African expats and curious locals eager to try something new. The area has great foot traffic, supportive neighbouring businesses, and a strong sense of community - making it an ideal location."

The South African Pantry is best known for its authentic South African meats, especially biltong, droëwors, and boerewors, all made in New Zealand using traditional recipes.

And if you fancy making a burger to rival the best anywhere then Marais says you’re in luck.

"Our imported Mrs Ball’s Chutney is hands down the go-to condiment. Its sweet and tangy flavour adds a uniquely South African twist to any burger, making it a favourite for home cooks and chefs alike."

Family-owned Bombay Bazaar spokesperson Tulsi Lathia says they opened their Lower Hutt branch in October last year because they wanted to be in a vibrant, diverse community that embraced multicultural food.

"Being located here allows us to serve customers looking for authentic Indian groceries while also introducing Kiwis to new ingredients and flavours. The central location and strong community support have made it an ideal place to expand our range and grow our business."

Lathia says if you’re looking for a condiment to jazz up a burger, their market provides a flavour passport.

"We stock mint, tamarind, Schezwan, coriander, and several other chutneys, but our most popular is Samosa Chutney. It's a tangy, spicy spread used by street vendors in India for their famous sandwiches."

She says regular visitors to the shop includes "chefs from neighbouring restaurants visiting the store to explore our interesting range of ingredients."

Lakdiv market has been offering authentic Sri Lankan food in Lower Hutt since 2021. Owner Sanjaya Ranaweera says Lower Hutt sparkles as a place to do business.

"The area is perfect for running our business. We get tremendous support for entrepreneurs to provide goods and services to the local community. We believe diversity brings more value to the city."

Pop into Lakdiv and you will find all sorts of tempting foodstuff from Pineapple, Mango and Woodapple jams to authentic curry sauces, spices and dried, crystalised pumpkin called puhul dosi.

Council’ s Economy and Development Director Jon Kingsbury says the range of food available in the city is breathtaking.

"Lower Hutt’s full of hardworking people running great businesses and our food scene shows it. These supermarkets and markets bring real flavour to the CBD. This is exactly the kind of local hospitality that’ll help keep our city centre buzzing while Te Wai Takamori o Te Awa Kairangi [RiverLink] construction is underway."

It should come as no surprise that Lower Hutt is bursting with the flavours of global cuisine.

The city has a strong multicultural flavour with Māori (20%), Asian (19%), Pasifika (12%) and Middle Eastern/Latin American/African (2%) making up our population - all above the national average. Those who identify as European make up 64% (4% below the national average) of our 115,000 population.

Kingsbury says Council has an important role in backing a city where ethnic diversity isn’t just welcomed - it’s part of everyday life.

"We’re now an accredited Welcoming Community, and we’ve backed that up within our Events Strategy that creates more space for ethnic events. We're working directly with local operators to make it easier to do business and grow. That’s what helps build a vibrant, inclusive city."

One of the latest success stories is the Hutt City Night Market with a dozen food trucks rolling into Dowse Square every Thursday. From Italian pizzas to Indonesian satays, Filipino barbecue to Mexican tacos, it’s a movable feast attracting around 2000 visitors each week.

It just goes to show that In Lower Hutt, the flavours of the world aren’t just imported, they’re embraced, celebrated, and served fresh daily. Now that’s food for thought.

Ethnic markets/supermarkets within the Lower Hutt CBD include:

• Lakdiv market (Sri Lanka)
• Bombay Bazaar (India)
• The South African Pantry
• House of Spices (India)
• Japan Mart
• Yans supermarket and restaurant (China)
• Balay Pinoy & Asian Grocery Store (Philippines)
• SHIVAAY Spices & Food (India)

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