The Essential Aussie Food Shopping List: How To Eat Like A Local

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So you’ve landed in Oz.

Collected your bags, dropped off your things at your accommodation, and you are starving. Before the jetlag really kicks in, you’re on a mission to find your local convenience store and stock up on snacks and essentials to cover your first week or so in the land down under. Whether you’re up before the birds, or insatiably hungry at midnight, these trusty, unsuspecting corner shops are filled with everything an Aussie could ever have a craving for, and they’re open almost all hours.

But how do the locals do it? In this article, we’re walking you through what should be on your grocery list, for an authentic culinary experience, à la maison. Don’t let your budget constraints keep you from a taste of Australia – with our handy shopping list for travellers with adventurous taste buds.

Keep reading to learn what you should be buying to eat like a local.

Vegemite

The age-old debate, Marmite or Vegemite? Well, Vegemite is an Australian product, so whilst you’re here, the answer’s obvious. Spread it over toast, with cheese, or as an umami swap-out for items like miso and soy sauce in braised dishes and chilli stews. In 2023, the company celebrated their 100th year in business, so now is the time to show your red-and-yellow support and buy a pot of the brown stuff.

Coffee

The Aussies love their coffee. So much so that if you tell a Sydneysider the coffee’s better in Melbourne, or vice versa, you’ll be considered lucky if they ever speak to you again. The good news is that this national pride in serving quality joe means you’ll be hard-pressed to find a bad one, from the specialty warehouse roasters to the 24/7 convenience stores. Grab yourself a bag of pre-ground beans, and get home brewing. It won’t be long before you become a coffee snob like the rest of us.

Avocados

Us Aussies have a bit of an ongoing love affair with avocados. Allegedly, avocado toast was ‘invented’ by Australian chef Bill Granger, and his brunch-serving joints with avo toast at the top of the menu created a blueprint for cafés all over the world (and a scapegoat for those of us who can’t afford to buy a house). Put it in salads, serve it with marinated tofu, or just whack it on a bit of toast with a squeeze of fresh lime and some chilli flakes.

Mangoes

If you’re lucky enough to arrive in Australia during mango season, you’ve hit the jackpot. In markets and shops across the country, you’ll find huge, juicy abundances of mango crates, and often at very affordable unit prices during peak harvest. Treat yourself to one for breakfast, dessert, or anytime in between – so long as you have access to napkins! Late September to March is when you’ll find these beauties on the shelves, but the festive period around December is when they’ll be at their prime.

Anzac Biscuits

Head to any deli, café or pub, and you’ll find a jar of Anzac biscuits on the counter. These oat-based cookies got their name from their history when they were sent by wives and women’s groups to soldiers in the Australia & New Zealand Army Corps in WWI, since they didn’t spoil. See what all the fuss is about for a fraction of the price in a convenience store. Anzac Day is in April, so you’ll find plenty around this time of year. Alternatively, buy the raw ingredients and make your own. You’ll need golden syrup and desiccated coconut, alongside all the other baking essentials.

Macadamia Nuts

Macadamia nuts originate from Australia and are grown across a long stretch of the East Coast. They cost a pretty penny, but if you’ve not tried one before, get your hands on a bag. They’re great in salads and granola mixes, sometimes used in baking, and perfect as a stand-alone, calcium–rich snack. They also contain antioxidants and potassium, so all round they’re a bit of an Aussie superfood.

Kangaroo Meat

Those cute kangaroos you see on all the tourist posters for Australia, arguably the symbol of the country? Did you know Australians love them so much that we like to eat them? More typically, you’ll find kangaroo meat diets in rural areas of the country, but it’s becoming increasingly common to see some kangaroo steaks at Australian restaurants across the country.

 

Believe it or not, they’re actually considered a pest due to their large numbers, so each year licensed hunters are allowed to kill millions, and some wind their way into the supermarket shelves. The red meat is very lean due to their athletic physique. You may prefer to try a kangaroo burger in a restaurant, but for many locals, it’s a cheap, tasty source of protein to keep you fuelled on your day trips!

Lemon Myrtle

A native plant to Australia, lemon myrtle has been used as an ingredient for generations in Indigenous communities, thanks to its inflammatory and antimicrobial properties, as well as its medicinal qualities. It can be used to treat diarrhoea, bleeding, sore throats, headaches and skin conditions.

Aside from that, it has a gorgeous citrus smell and tastes like a softer version of lemongrass. Shop it in the form of dried leaves or ground powder as a herb for cooking, or find it in the tea section.

Tim Tams

Australia’s favourite chocolate biscuit, Tim Tams, falls into the category of ‘if I open the packet, I’m going to finish the packet.’ With the sandwich-like structure of an Oreo and the flavour mixing somewhere between a Breakaway and a Twix, they really do hit all the right spots. Available in multiple variations from salted caramel to choc mint, try one of these indulgences with an afternoon coffee, or a sugary pick me up. But be careful – addiction follows not far behind.

Grab your tote bag and head to the nearest store with your Aussie staple shopping list in hand. Start the day with your flat white and vegemite-and-avo toast, followed by a zingy mango and macadamia nut salad for lunch. Enjoy an afternoon lemon myrtle tea with your Anzac biscuit, before dining on your kangaroo steak – and plenty of Tim Tams for after!

You’ll have had the most Aussie culinary experience there is, and be saying ‘G’day’ in your sleep.

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