Grocery shopping in foreign countries is an exciting activity in many Singaporeans’ itineraries, because it’s wholesome fun to explore international foods. As the local supermarket chain that’s pretty much synonymous with global imports, Cold Storage brings that thrill and myriad of choices right to home soil.
In fact, this year marks their 123rd anniversary of bringing exciting new food and beverages from all over the world to our sunny shores. In the spirit of marking this incredible milestone, these are the top picks which you may or may not have tried yet. Leave it to Cold Storage and their 123 years of experience, their reccs won’t miss! And in true anniversary fashion, you can look forward to some sweet deals for many of these items.
There’s a reason why Singaporeans who venture Down Under are tasked by their friends and family to bring home Red Rock Deli Potato Chips as souvenirs. The gourmet chips are known for being thin, delectably crispy shards that are uber satisfying to crunch on.
Their best flavours are the Honey Soy Chicken, Sweet Chilli & Sour Cream, and a refreshing Lime & Pepper. For an extra savoury and punchy flavour, try the Trio Of Cheeses. Each chip packs the taste of cheddar, parmesan, and camembert in a single bite. Meanwhile, those craving more simpler flavour profiles can go for good ol’ Sea Salt, or the tangy Sea Salt & Balsamic Vinegar.
Price: $5.85 (U.P. $6.50)
Similarly popular from Australia, but a sweet treat to round off your meal or as a midday pick-me-up: Arnott’s Tim Tams. You can’t go wrong with the Original Chocolate Biscuit, featuring crunchy chocolate malted biscuits sandwiching a chocolate cream, before being coated in even more decadent chocolate.
There’s Tim Tam White if you’re Team White Chocolate, and Tim Tam Chewy Caramel that packs an ooey gooey caramel centre. If you’re seeking a more bitter-sweet variety, opt for the Tim Tam Dark Chocolate Biscuit.
Price: $5 for Original and Dark Choc, $5.90 for White Choc and Chewy Caramel (U.P. $5.65-$6.80)
Continuing with the theme of tea time treats is Jules Destrooper, a Belgian pastry company that is rich in history, and produces rich, buttery biscuits. The brand was founded in 1886, and they’ve been in the biscuit biz for well over a century. The ultimate signature item is definitely the Butter Crisps Biscuits, which are satisfyingly thin, crunchy, and will melt in your mouth after the first snap.
That intensely rich flavour profile can be chalked up to the biscuit’s 18% pure butter content, accompanied by only premium and natural ingredients – from the wheat flour and eggs, to a dash of sea salt to bring out that caramelised sweetness.
Price: Any 2 for $10 (U.P. $12.50)
You’ve likely spotted Tyrrells Potato Chips on supermarket shelves, with packaging sporting quirky photos and no hint of actual potato chips. It could be said that the brand is so confident in their offerings that they don’t even have to advertise their product out loud, and they certainly have the qualifications to back it up.
Tyrrells is an English brand, drawing from years of British crisp-making heritage. Even with modernisation and big production factories, the brand insists on hand-cooking premium crisps in controlled batches to ensure quality. They also abide by a strict gluten-free, and no artificial colours, flavours, or MSG policy – using only natural flavours to create seasoning blends like Cheddar & Chives, Sweet Chilli & Red Pepper, and Sea Salt & Black Pepper.
Price: $9.50 for bundle of 2 (U.P. $6.10 each)
Give your morning cuppa a major upgrade with Lavazza, an Italian coffee brand founded in Turin 1895. The brand takes great pride in bringing authentic Italian coffee experiences for customers all over the world to savour, from the bean selection to roasting process.
Their signature blend is called Qualità Oro, comprising 6 varieties of Arabica beans sourced from Central and South America. For convenience, Qualità Oro can be used to whip up a perfectly aromatic and smooth cuppa using a filter coffee maker, French press, moka pot, or professional coffee machines. You may also opt to purchase their coffee beans whole.
Price: $22.50 each for ground coffee or coffee beans
Image credit: Cold Storage
Another Italian coffee brand worth being on your radar is Illy, whose logo you’ve likely spotted in many cafes in Singapore and abroad. There’s a reason why dining establishments swear by it; for one, the brand uses an air-free pressurised can packaging to seal in flavour, aroma, and freshness throughout the exporting process.
They also employ a specially calibrated roasting process to ensure that each batch has its natural flavours and aromas enhanced to the highest possible degree.
Price: From $21.95
If you want to elevate your home-cooked pasta dishes closer to restaurant standard, the first step is to use premium pasta instead of generic brands. La Molisana is an Italian brand founded in 1912 in Southern Italy, so you know they’re the real deal.
You’ll notice that the pasta noodles and pieces, made using 100% Italian-sourced durum wheat, have a rougher surface than that of other brands, owing to the bronze die-extrusion process. The rough texture is great for helping the sauce to cling on better, resulting in more flavour-packed mouthfuls as opposed to slippery noodles.
Price: $3.70
Eating clean, and enjoying a delicious sweet treat that’s rich and creamy – those 2 don’t sound like they can be true of the same thing, but the Chobani 15g High Protein Greek Yogurt satisfies all the aforementioned criteria. It’s crafted using authentic straining methods, and delivers 15 grams of natural protein per serving.
It’s also packed with all 9 essential amino acids and no added sugar, giving you a nutritional boost that you can look forward to savouring. Try out their delicious flavour options, including Vanilla, Cookies & Cream, Strawberry, Blueberry, and Passionfruit.
Price: $7.90 for bundle of 2 (U.P. $4.45 each)
Whether you’re looking for an uncomplicated accompaniment with which to enjoy charcuterie bites like meats, cheeses, and spreads, or are hankering for a savoury snack, OB Finest‘s range of specialty crackers will not disappoint.
The brand hails from Australia, and is a fan favourite both in its home country and abroad, for having a light and delicate texture that makes it irresistible to scarf down by the dozen.
They’re gluten-free, and are studded with actual dried fruits and chunks of nuts such as cranberry, fig, almond, pistachio, and pecan. What you get is a wonderful medley of textures, and tart bursts of fruit flavours in between.
Price: $8 (U.P. $9)
If you’re looking for an easy way to manage your cholesterol, go for the F&N Magnolia Cholest Care Milk. It combines the goodness of fresh milk with clinically proven benefits of Benecol plant stanols, helping to lower LDL or “bad” cholesterol as part of a balanced diet.
Each recommended daily serving of the Cholest Care Milk gives you 2 grams of plant stanols, which help to reduce cholesterol absorption. That’s in addition to the milk being high in calcium and low in fat, preservative-free, halal-certified, and Nutri-Grade B.
Price: Any 2 for $6.80 (U.P. $3.95 each)
Whether you’re restocking pantry staples or hunting down new international favourites, there’s no better time to shop than during Cold Storage’s 123rd anniversary celebrations. Beyond the brands we’ve highlighted, there are plenty more anniversary promos happening in-store, so keep an eye out as you browse the aisles.
Head down to your nearest Cold Storage supermarket to snag these limited-time deals, and celebrate 123 years of getting to try the world’s best food and drinks without even having to leave Singapore.
This post was brought to you by Cold Storage.
Photography by Wani Khan.
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