Does anyone know anywhere in Sheffield where I can buy the more unusual chillies. Not the standard ones that you find in Tesco, I'm after the more exotic ones such as Anchos and dried Mulatos.

If you want to know the kind I mean take a look at http://www.southdevonchillifarm.co.uk/

I would buy from here but they are out of stock of the specific ones I want till the autumn and I would also rather buy locally.

I've tried most of the Indian shops on London Road and the Chinese shop oposite the spa shop also on London Road

ta

not sure as to the exact brand but there are quite a few places you could try-
there's an asian food shop in broomhill [couple of doors up opposite the broomhil tavern]
or there's a lot of food stall in castle market that stock all kinds of chillis and spices so you're bound to get something suitable there!

I would say somewhere on London Road is your best bet, the Asian grocers have a fantastic range of "unusual" fruit/veg and spices.

As I said, I've tried a lot of the shops on London road and no luck. The kinds of chillies I'm after tend to be more Chinese than Indian.

Most of the Indian shop owners just look blank when I mention the names of the different variaties which implies that it is unlikely that anywhere other than a specialist shop will have them.

The same chillies can often go by different names, which is why you may have received blank looks!
Another place worth trying is on London Road, I'm afraid, the Thai supermarket Thai Chada (past where the road divides to become London and Abbeydale Roads).
The Tai Sun supermarket on Matilda Street is a call.
If you're looking for heat you can't get much stronger than the widely available Scotch Bonnets (from the continental food store at Sheaf or the West Indian outlet in the basement).

I haven't tried the thai place I missed that when I went looking.

I'm not just after heat, anchos are a nice mild one that when stuffed and fried come out really well.

I looked round the shops and they didn't have anything even resembling what I was after. Most, after the blank looks, just showed me either small dried ones or the standard red and green ones that you can get anywhere.

The chinese shop did have some that were a bit closer but it was a massive vacume packed bag and they couldn't tell me what the contents actually were.

If you are after speciality ones you could try ordering them off the internet, a quick search gave me this:

http://www.hanovernet.co.uk/brightchili.htm

but I'm sure there's others. When you get them invite me round for some food!

Well found, I've mailed them to ask about stock levels as the other web shop I mentioned is out of stock.

I'd still rather buy locally but till I find somewhere I'll get them from whereever I can.

Beanies do quite a wide range of dried chillies, although I think more Mexican than Chinese.

Also there's a Chinese grocer's on London Road (on the left going out of town, about 300m down from the roundabout) which may have them, they have a great range of Chinese & Thai stuff there (including fresh kaffir lime leaves... mmm!)

I don't know any roundabouts on london road, if you mean the place oposite the spa shop then I've already tried it. (see previous message)

Sorry, not the roundabout, I meant the end of London Road, where it meets the ring road (I just assumed that, as its on the ring road, there's a roundabout there; forgot that isn't the case).

I'm not sure whether there's a spa shop opposite, I think the noodle bar is pretty much opposite.

Ye, sounds like the place I tried. I'll have another look for others next time I pass just in case

Try this place and see if it's any good to you.
http://www.southdevonchillifarm.co.uk/?referrer=hotsauce

Originally posted by owdlad
Try this place and see if it's any good to you.
http://www.southdevonchillifarm.co.uk/?referrer=hotsauce

Ta for the reply, but that is the company that I mentioned in my original message, the one that is out of stock till later in the year.

This company has come up and have what I want in stock so I'm going to give them a try. http://www.chillipepperpete.com/

Sorry about the replication, it's my age you know :rolleyes:

You could however have a further browse through this lot

http://www.ringoffire.net/

ye, ta. The site I found is a member of that, very apt name I feel :-)

I'm going to have a flick though see if there are any around here, if not then it'll be on-line buying.

On the subject of chillis, if you're ever 'darn sarf' in August, I would heartily recommend the West Dean Gardens (in Sussex) Chilli Fest. We went a few years back and it was awsome.

www.westdean.org.uk

6 & 7 August 2005
CHILLI FIESTA
If you like then come into the garden! 200-plus chillies, 60-plus stallholders, fiery food tastings, Latin rhythms and dancing make this the UK's premier gathering for all aficionados of nature's napalm!

Very tempting, that is going in the diary.

Hello - just joined the forum after doing a google search for "Thai Ingredients Sheffield".

I have today been to the aforementioned Thai Chada in London Road.

I was amazed at the choice of completely fresh ingredients - I have come away with kaffir limes & leaves, coriander (with the root not just the leaf), holy basil & sweet basil - all very cheap & extremely fresh.
The lady owner was also very pleasant indeed.

I have loved Thai Food since spending a month there in the early 1990s & used to cook a fair bit when I lived in London (there was a large Wing Yip in Croydon where you could get some fresh stuff). I havent cooked much Thai since living in Sheff as I didnt seem to be able to buy the ingredients. Now I have found the Thai Chada, things will change.

Thanks for posting the shop details!