The market
International Grocery in Monterey
We're compact — one room, floor to ceiling — and we use every shelf. Expect products from Iraq, Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Turkey, Iran, Greece, Armenia, Afghanistan, Russia, Poland, Italy, the UK and more. Below is what we carry most of the year; stock changes weekly, so call if you're after something specific.
Grocery
Everyday essentials, done properly
The pantry side of the store: the staples international households cook with every week.
Meats & frozen
Frozen cuts and prepared items, plus Russian pelmeni and piroshki. Ask about the Thursday deliveries.
Bread & bakery
Pita in white and wheat, gyro bread, Armenian lavash, sangak and Afghan bread, with fresh deliveries several times a week.
Cheese & dairy
Feta from several origins, kashkaval, white cheese, Lebanese labneh, string cheese, kefir, yogurt and imported butters.
Spices & bulk
Za'atar, sumac, saffron, whole cardamom, turmeric, paprika and allspice, with bulk spices at fair prices.
Grains, legumes & pantry
Bulgur fine to coarse, freekeh, rice, red lentils, chickpeas, fava beans, tahini, date molasses, tomato and pepper pastes, pickles and turnip pickles.
Olives, oils & preserves
Cracked Syrian olives, Kalamata, olive oils, jams, and rose and orange-blossom waters.
International
Discoveries from the shelves
Tea, coffee, dates, sweets, drinks, and syrups.
Tea & coffee
Loose black teas, cardamom tea, maté, Turkish coffee in several roasts, and cezves, cups and gift sets to brew it properly.
Dates & sweets
Medjool, deglet noor, sukkary and khudri dates — Barhi in season — plus baklava, Turkish delight, halva, honey cake, chocolate-covered dates and imported biscuits.
Drinks
Vimto soda and cordial, non-alcoholic malts, fruit nectars and sodas from the region.
Syrups & Sharbat
Tazah grenadine and rose, ZerGüt raspberry, Sabah sekanjebeen, and Oreen.
Seasonal & specialty
Canned desert truffles in late winter and spring, Ramadan date boxes, and holiday gift baskets made to order.
Basra Bay carries food from many regions, not one — Basra is the story behind the name, not a limit on the shelves.
The shelves
From the market
Photographs of what we actually stock — spices, tea, coffee, dates, sweets, olives, grains and the pantry.
Za'atar and spice blends
Olives
Grains and bulgur
Dates
Earl Grey and cardamom tea
Ceylon tea
Dried black olives
Cardamom tea
Tea set
Chamomile, sage and hibiscus
Turkish coffee & Tea set
Turkish coffee
Coffee service
Arabic coffee pot
Dallah
Turkish delight
Beef kabob over yellow rice
Turkish delight assortment
Halva
Baklava
Pistachio halva
Canned pantry
Fresh herbs
Special orders
Can't find it? Tell us the brand.
We'll try to source it — customer requests are how half of these shelves got started.
Gift baskets
Made to order, filled with food from around the world.
Gift-wrapped on request. Call or email with a budget and the recipient's tastes.
First time here?
Bring a list, or just ask.
Street parking only; the store is small, so weekday mornings are calmest.
Hungry while you shop?
The deli counter is in the back — gyro, shawarma, falafel, baklava and Turkish coffee.