Zimbabwean Foods Available in the UK: Where to Buy Sadza, Matemba, Dried Vegetables, and Other Staples

For Zimbabweans in the UK, finding familiar foods is both a practical necessity and an emotional anchor. The good news is that the UK's large and well-established African diaspora community has created a thriving market for Zimbabwean and Southern African staples, with options ranging from dedicated African grocery shops to mainstream supermarkets and online retailers. **Sadza and Mealie Meal** Sadza is the cornerstone of Zimbabwean cooking, and mealie meal is widely available across the UK. The most commonly found brands include Roller Meal and Gloria, though these are sometimes sold under generic maize meal labels. White maize meal — the fine-grade variety used for proper sadza — can be found in most African and Caribbean grocery shops. Shops will typically stock both fine and coarse grades. In London, areas such as Peckham, Brixton, Tottenham, Hackney, and Woolwich have high concentrations of African food shops where mealie meal is a standard shelf item. Outside London, cities with significant African communities — including Birmingham, Manchester, Leeds, Leicester, and Coventry — have specialist African grocers that carry these products. A 5kg bag typically costs between £5 and £10 depending on the brand and retailer. **Matemba (Dried Fish)** Matemba, the small dried kapenta fish essential to many Zimbabwean meals, is one of the more challenging ingredients to source but is available if you know where to look. African and Asian grocery shops in urban areas often stock dried kapenta or similar small dried fish under various names. It is worth asking specifically for kapenta or matemba, as staff will often know exactly what you mean. Some online African food retailers also stock it. The smell and taste may vary slightly from what you remember at home, as sourcing and drying methods differ, but the product is recognisable. Larger dried fish varieties used in stews are generally easier to find in shops serving West African communities. **Dried Vegetables: Covo, Muriwo, and Nyevhe** Dried indigenous vegetables including covo (collard greens), muriwo unedovi, and nyevhe (spider plant leaves) are among the most distinctly Zimbabwean items to source. These are not commonly found in general African grocers but are increasingly available through Zimbabwean-run online shops and community sellers. Facebook groups for Zimbabweans in the UK are one of the most reliable ways to find these products, with community members often selling home-prepared dried vegetables or directing buyers to trusted suppliers. Some specialist African online grocery platforms have started stocking dried Southern African greens. Frozen alternatives to covo, such as frozen collard greens or sukuma wiki, are more widely available and can serve as a reasonable substitute. **Chibuku and Other Beverages** Chibuku Shake-Shake, the traditional opaque sorghum beer, is not commercially sold in UK supermarkets due to its short shelf life and the logistics of cold-chain distribution. However, it is sometimes produced informally within communities for cultural events and gatherings. Traditional home-brewed variants made from sorghum or millet are occasionally available through community networks. For a commercial substitute, some African-owned shops stock sorghum-based beverages from South Africa. Maheu, a non-alcoholic fermented maize drink, is similarly difficult to find commercially but is sometimes available in concentrated or powdered form from online African grocers. **Other Staples and Where to Find Them** Peanut butter (peanut butter used for dovi sauce) is straightforwardly available everywhere, though the natural, unsweetened variety closest to home use is best sourced from health food shops or African grocers. Biltong — including beef and game varieties — is widely available across the UK, with dedicated biltong shops and online retailers stocking Southern African-style products. Dried beans, including sugar beans and nyimo (Bambara groundnuts), are available in African and Asian grocery shops. Maputi (roasted maize/corn nuts) and similar snacks appear in African food shops and occasionally in world foods aisles of larger supermarkets. **Online Shopping** For those without easy access to a physical African grocery shop, several online retailers deliver across the UK. Websites such as AfriculinaryAfrica, My African Food Shop, and various Amazon marketplace sellers stock Southern African products. Searching specifically for 'Zimbabwean groceries UK' or 'Southern African food UK' will surface current options. Delivery costs and stock levels vary, so comparing a few sources is worthwhile. **Community Networks** Zimbabwean community Facebook groups, WhatsApp groups, and local church networks remain the most reliable source for hard-to-find items. Members regularly share seller contacts, arrange bulk imports from Zimbabwe, or bring goods back personally after visits home. These informal networks carry products that no commercial retailer currently stocks at scale.