Indian Herbs and Spices

[Kilkis]

Long, long ago on a forum far, far away (now extinct) I have a distinct recollection of somebody talking about a shop in Rethymnon that sold a good range of Indian herbs and spices. Do any members of this forum know of such a shop and whether it still exists or not? If it does could they post its name and address? I seem to remember it was near the centre so I am guessing it probably has a street name and number or a Google Earth reference would do.

Warwick

[Mathitis]

It's/they are called 'MOKA' - there are three shops.
They are essentially a 'nuts, berries, spices, sweets, freshly ground coffee type shop, but certainly two of them also have Asian goods.

In the centre, there are two.
After you go through the old gate (straight down from the cark park/park), a little way down you will see a small bakery on your right. To the right you will see Moka - the larger of the two. Not sure if they really have foreign spices as long time since been there.

If you go straight down past the bakery, across the crossroad, and the smaller (original) shop is a short way down on LHS.
I am assuming you can still ask to go upstairs - VERY steep and narrow but an Aladdins' cave of foreign spices, etc., once you get to the next level.

The other, which is larger became regarded as 'Head Office' (they used to be most willing to order anything exotic for you) is the other side of Rethymnon. If you know where the old Fire Station used to be, the shop is a little further along on the LHS on a corner. It is a mostly glass store-front and side, and pretty easy to see.

The spices, etc. always used to hidden a bit i.e. on a very tall shelf unit towards back of the shop on LHS facing the side window (which has a full length blind) - bit like going into a kind of corridor.



(p.s. I just found a forum link from 2010 which might be the one you were thinking about ???
viewtopic.php?t=2782)

[peebee]

Warwick
Before you go all the way to Rethymno, stop off in Kalyves.
There is a shop called 1000+1 flavours, located opposite the laundry, on the junction just down from the main road.
http://traditionalcretanproducts.com/. They sell most stuff loose i.e. if you only want 175gms, he will sell you it
Thee is also another shop worth trying, towards the large Inka about 200m further along on the right called Toko (opposite the Φαρμα shop) http://www.tokokreta.eu

[Daisy]

Looking forward to turkey curry Warwick?
Daisy

[filippos]

Giannis in 1000+1 increased his stock to include Indian/Asian herbs, spices and other items and is planning to increase the range by customer demand if there are requests for items he doesn't stock currently. He has a wide range of goods which, as peebee says, he sells loose. Amongst other things he also has a good range of coffees which he roasts and grinds on the premises. He recently started selling by mail order from his new website, too. If you do come to Kalyves, Warwick, he's about 75m from our front door so you're welcome to call in for a refresher.

[Kilkis]

Thanks for the information folks. I will try the two Kalyves outlets first and see how I get on. I'll drop you an email when I intend to come over Filippos.

I think I found the first two Moka shops on Google Earth, Mathitis. Thanks for that. I'll try them if I can't get what I want in Kalyves. I have been into Rethymnon once in the last thirty years so I am afraid giving directions by landmarks doesn't mean much to me. The one holiday we spent there was an unmitigated disaster from beginning to end so I don't feel particularly drawn back to it. I vaguely remember passing a fire-station when I was there but I have no idea if it would class as an "old" one or a "new" one nor where it was located.

Yes, turkey curry was one of the reasons for asking, Daisy, but also because I want to experiment with some curry recipes. Mostly I have tended to cheat and use packet mixes like Schwarz brought back from trips to the UK. Mainly, however, because I know a Greek lady who wants to experiment with Indian style food and wanted to know where she could get the ingredients, preferably locally.

Warwick

[filippos]

I will try the two Kalyves outlets first and see how I get on. I'll drop you an email when I intend to come over Filippos.

If you mail me a list of the things you want I can check the two local shops, which may save you an abortive trip.

[scooby]

Indian spices here in Chania for anyone else interested, mostly loose. Opposite the shop "Public".

http://www.xo.gr/maps/anazitisi-diefthy ... ania-73135

[SteveH]

Just to add another source of Indian supplies. There is a small supermarket on the Old Road to Rethymno from Iraklio, at Stavromenos. Singh Supermarket was established to supply those from the Asian subcontinent working at Creta Farm. They carry the same sort of stock as your average UK Asian supermarket, if not offering the extended choice.

Singh Supermarket

The two main difficult to acquire ingredients are going to be fresh Coriander & fresh green Indian chilli's. I grow my own. Seed for both are available on line. This is a bit of a passion of mine, there is more information on line. Worth remembering that the UK restaurant Indian curries are very different from the traditional ones!

If you are interested in BIR (British Indian Restaurant) food, try:- here

[johnincrete]

Years ago when I still lived in UK, I hosted an Indian bishop. We talked about food and he said his wife used a special blend for curry. The next time he came he brought me what his wife used. It was in a packet and readily available in UK supermarkets! Big dissapointment.
I like curry flavour but not the fire so I'll go and chat to the Kalives guy. Also for coffee.

[Kilkis]

The friend I was trying to get the information for actually found the ingredients she wanted from a shop in Apokoronou called Γλυκάνισο. Not sure exactly where it is but I guess some of the residents from that area might enlighten us?

Warwick

[peebee]

John
Not sure if Giannis in 1000+1 does the commercial stuff in a packet, he mainly specialises in the individual spices sold loose, find yourself a good recipe and blend your own.
Alternatively, Toko in Kalyves do sell ready made mixes for curries, but don't arrive too early as I don't think they open until 10.30.
We find that a good base for most curries is Garam Masala, try to avoid the ready ground stuff in a bag as it isn't that good.
Find some `Whole Garam', which is all the spices mixed in a bag (Toko have it usually) Empty contents onto a tray and roast in the oven for about 10 mins, grind it yourself, and keep in a screw top jar - FAR superior to the packet stuff.

[Clio]

Quite sad, in a funny kind of way, to discover today that the Rethymno Old Town Moka no longer requires you to ascend the famous scary staircase in order to reach the secret ethnic supplies. They've opened a new ground floor department, on the left as you go in. To be honest the goodies are a bit thin on the ground but I suspect they're awaiting more stock.

Clio
PS To SteveH: Do you know an easier way of getting to Singh's (from Rethymno) than turning off the ethniki into Stavromenos village, turning left, then left again down the lane beside the supermarket, parking in the nice big space alongside the highway then jaywalking across to t'other side?

[SteveH]

Hi Clio, there is an underpass you can drive through here.