Zimbabwean Food Shopping in the UK: Where to Find Sadza, Matemba, Covo, and Other Staples

One of the most persistent challenges for Zimbabweans in the UK is sourcing the foods that feel like home. Supermarkets stock everything except what you actually want, and the search for roller meal, matemba, or fresh covo can feel surprisingly complicated in a country with such a diverse food scene. Fortunately, a combination of African grocery shops, Caribbean markets, online retailers, and a few mainstream supermarkets can cover most of what a Zimbabwean kitchen needs. **Sadza and Roller Meal** Sadza is non-negotiable, and roller meal is the foundation. The most widely available brand in the UK is Gloria Roller Meal, alongside Ng決 and PGI brands imported from Zimbabwe and South Africa. These are typically found at African and Caribbean grocery shops rather than mainstream supermarkets. In London, shops in Peckham, Brixton, Dalston, Woolwich, and Tottenham stock roller meal reliably. Cities with substantial African populations — Birmingham, Nottingham, Manchester, Leeds, and Leicester — all have African grocery stores that carry it. When roller meal is unavailable, some Zimbabweans substitute coarse white maize meal or ugali flour, which is stocked in many East African shops. The texture differs slightly, but it cooks to a comparable consistency. White Hominy Grits are not a suitable substitute. Online options include African food retailers on Amazon and dedicated sites such as Afro Caribbean Foods, My Sasun, and similar platforms that deliver nationally. **Matemba (Dried Fish)** Dried kapenta (matemba) is available in most African grocery shops, typically sold in small to medium bags. It is sometimes labelled as dried kapenta, mukicha, or simply dried lake fish. Quality varies — look for shops with high stock turnover, as older matemba loses its flavour profile. Brixton Market and Peckham's Rye Lane corridor in London are reliable hunting grounds. Manchester's Longsight and Moss Side areas, and Birmingham's Soho Road and Lozells neighbourhoods, also have shops that carry it. Matemba is sometimes found in Chinese or Southeast Asian supermarkets under the category of dried fish, though the species and preparation differ from the kapenta Zimbabweans are accustomed to. **Covo and Muriwo (Leafy Greens)** Fresh covo — the broad-leafed rape — is the trickiest item to source consistently. Some African grocers stock it fresh, particularly in London and Birmingham. It is sometimes labelled simply as rape greens or African spinach. Frozen covo is more widely available and works well for cooking muriwo unedovi or stewed greens. Spring greens, cavolo nero, and Portuguese couve are the closest widely available substitutes in mainstream supermarkets. Spring greens from Tesco, Sainsbury's, or Lidl cook similarly to covo and absorb groundnut sauce in much the same way. Sukuma wiki (collard greens), sold in East African shops, is another workable alternative. **Peanut Butter and Dovi** For dovi, natural peanut butter with no added sugar or palm oil is the closest equivalent to the groundnut paste used in Zimbabwe. Meridian 100% peanut butter, available in Sainsbury's, Tesco, and Holland & Barrett, works well. Dedicated African shops sometimes stock imported brands such as Bama or Black Cat from South Africa. For those who want to grind their own, raw peanuts are sold in bulk at Asian grocery stores and some market stalls. **Maputi (Popcorn Maize) and Snacks** Maputi — the large-kernelled Zimbabwean popcorn — is less commonly found, but some African grocers do stock it, particularly around festive periods. Regular popcorn maize from supermarkets produces a similar result. Biltong, while South African in origin, is widely available in the UK at Afrikaner shops, online, and even in some Waitrose and Marks & Spencer branches, and scratches a similar itch for dried, seasoned meat. **Practical Tips** Building a relationship with a local African grocery shop owner pays dividends. Many will order specific items on request, especially if there is consistent demand. WhatsApp groups within UK Zimbabwean communities — church groups, burial society networks, and ZANU and MDC diaspora associations — often share information about new shops, online deals, and seasonal imports. Some Zimbabweans travelling home or receiving family visits ask guests to bring items like Tanganda tea, Mazoe orange crush concentrate, and Lobels bread mixes, which are not commercially available in the UK. These informal imports are permitted in small quantities for personal use under UK customs rules, though large volumes can attract attention.