One of the most common questions I get from readers is: where do you find all these ingredients? It is a fair question. Not everything you need for Greek cooking is sitting on the supermarket shelf between the pasta and the tinned tomatoes. Some items require a bit of hunting.

The good news is that Australia has a long and deep Greek migrant community, and wherever that community settled, Greek grocery stores followed. Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, and other cities all have pockets of Greek food retail that stock everything from imported feta to mastiha to grape vine leaves.

Here is my guide to finding what you need.

Sydney

Marrickville is the epicentre. Along Marrickville Road and the surrounding streets, you will find multiple Greek grocery stores and delicatessens. These places stock a full range of Greek pantry items: olive oils from various regions, dried herbs and spices, tinned and jarred goods, cheeses, cured meats, sweets, and baking supplies.

The Mediterranean Wholesalers on Illawarra Road in Marrickville is a warehouse-style shop that carries an enormous range of Mediterranean products, including an excellent Greek section. It is great for buying in bulk.

Earlwood has several Greek shops along Homer Street that have been serving the community for decades. The range may be smaller than Marrickville, but the quality and knowledge of the owners is excellent.

Canterbury and Hurstville also have Greek delis worth visiting.

For specialty items like fresh phyllo, tsoureki, and Greek pastries, the Greek bakeries in Marrickville and Dulwich Hill are invaluable.

Melbourne

Melbourne’s Greek community is the largest in Australia, and the food retail scene reflects that. Oakleigh is the suburb most associated with Greek culture, and its shopping strip has multiple Greek grocers, bakeries, and restaurants.

Richmond and Collingwood also have Greek delis and specialty stores.

The Queen Victoria Market has several stalls selling Greek cheeses, olives, and cured goods.

Adelaide

Adelaide has a significant Greek community, particularly around Prospect and Hindmarsh. The Central Market is also an excellent source for Mediterranean ingredients.

What to Look For

Here is a checklist of essential Greek pantry ingredients and where you are most likely to find them.

Feta cheese - Greek feta from sheep’s milk or a sheep/goat blend. Available at Greek delis and increasingly at good cheese shops. Avoid the pre-crumbled supermarket versions for cooking.

Kefalograviera / Kefalotyri - Hard Greek cheeses essential for saganaki and gratins. Greek delis are your best bet.

Tarama - Cured carp roe for taramasalata. Available in jars at Greek groceries.

Vine leaves - In brine, in jars or vacuum packs. Widely available at supermarkets and Greek shops.

Greek oregano - There is a significant difference between Greek oregano (rigani) and the generic dried oregano in supermarkets. Greek oregano has a more intense, slightly bitter, deeply aromatic character. Buy it from Greek shops, ideally the bunched, dried-on-the-stem variety.

Mastiha - Mastic resin from the island of Chios. Used in tsoureki, ice cream, and some savoury dishes. Available at Greek groceries and some specialty food shops.

Mahlepi - Ground cherry pit kernels used in tsoureki and other Easter breads. Greek grocery stores stock it seasonally.

Greek honey - Thyme honey from Greece is among the finest in the world. Find it at Greek delis or import it online. Australian honey is also excellent, and some producers make thyme-influenced varieties.

Dried beans and legumes - Gigantes (giant white beans), black-eyed peas, lentils, yellow split peas for fava. Greek shops often carry Greek-grown varieties that have a superior texture.

Olive oil - Covered in detail in my separate article. Buy Greek extra virgin from specialty stores for the best range and quality.

Online Options

For those outside major cities, online shopping has been transformative. Several Australian online retailers specialise in Greek and Mediterranean products. I have seen more businesses in the food supply chain adopting technology to manage inventory and logistics, which is making it easier to source specialty items from regional areas. A colleague in the import business mentioned working with AI strategy support to improve demand forecasting for niche products, and it is clear that this kind of optimisation benefits consumers too.

Search for “Greek groceries online Australia” and you will find multiple options that ship nationally. The quality of packaging and delivery has improved enormously.

Substitutions

Sometimes you simply cannot find a specific ingredient. Here are some reasonable substitutions:

• Kefalograviera for saganaki: use halloumi or a firm provolone
• Greek oregano: use regular dried oregano but increase the quantity slightly
• Mastiha: there is no real substitute, but a tiny amount of vanilla can approximate one dimension of the flavour in baking
• Tarama: cod roe is a workable substitute
• Greek feta: a good Australian sheep’s milk feta works well

The most important thing is to start cooking. Do not let a missing ingredient stop you from making a dish. Adapt, substitute where needed, and seek out the authentic ingredients over time.

The Greek pantry is not vast or complicated. A well-stocked shelf of olive oil, dried oregano, lemons, good feta, and tinned chickpeas will get you through most recipes in this tradition. Everything else is a bonus.

Kali orexi.