A Pinay Mom’s Favorite Finds in Ottawa
Magandang araw, mga momsies!
Today, I’m excited to share some of the Filipino grocery items we bought during our recent food haul at one of our suking tindahan here in Ottawa, Canada. Most of these products are proudly made in the Philippines and bring so much comfort and nostalgia to our home.
Whether you’re a Filipino living abroad or simply love Pinoy flavors, this list will give you ideas on what to stock up on for snacks, breakfast, cooking, and even beauty essentials.
Top 10 Filipino Grocery Items We Always Buy
Below are the items we regularly pick up from Filipino stores — tried, tested, and loved by our family.
1. Filipino Snacks
These ready‑mix snacks are perfect for quick merienda or for the kids’ baon. They’re easy to prepare and always a hit.
- White King Puto Steamed White Cake Mix
- Galinco Sarap Pinoy Maja Blanca Coconut Pudding Mix
- Mr. Gulaman Jelly Powder (Buko Pandan Flavor) – for buko pandan drinks
- Galinco Sarap Pinoy Gulaman (Buko Pandan Flavor) – for desserts
These are lifesavers on busy weekends.
2. Filipino Breakfast Food Items
Breakfast is never boring with these Pinoy staples:
- Lucky Me Instant Noodle Soup – I usually buy a whole box with assorted flavors, plus instant pancit canton. Perfect for quick meals or emergencies.
- Century Light Tuna – Great with steamed rice and ideal for fast lunches.
- Spam Luncheon Meat – A must‑have for spamsilog. The kids love it!
These items make breakfast fast, easy, and comforting.
3. Filipino Recipe Ingredients
For this week’s menu, I planned to cook pancit bihon, so I grabbed:
- Buenas Flour Sticks (Pancit Canton)
- UFC Mung Bean Noodles (Sotanghon)
- Mama Sita’s Pancit Bihon Stir‑Fry Mix
These basics are always in my pantry for quick Filipino dishes.
4. Filipino Seasonings
Aside from the pancit mix, I also stocked up on these favorites:
- Mama Sita’s Caldereta Sauce Mix
- Mama Sita’s Chopsuey / Pancit Canton Stir‑Fry Mix
- Mama Sita’s Atchuete (Annatto Powder)
- Knorr Tamarind Soup Base (Sinigang sa Sampalok)
- Maggi Magic Sarap Seasoning Granules
These seasonings make cooking Filipino dishes so much easier abroad.
5. Filipino Canned Goods (De Lata)
Perfect for desserts and special occasions:
- Angel Evaporada
- Jersey Condensed Milk (Buko Pandan Flavor)
- Alaska Condensada
- Del Monte Fiesta Fruit Cocktail
These are my go‑to ingredients for fruit salad, puto, and other sweet treats.
6. Filipino Dessert Ingredients in Bottles or Jars
I always keep these in the pantry for quick dessert recipes:
- Fiesta Pinoy Sweet Coconut Strings – for buko salad
- Bulacan Ube Halaya – for halo‑halo or ube desserts
These add instant Filipino flavor to any dessert.
7. Filipino Drinks
Nestlé Milo is a staple in our home. The kids love it as a drink, and I use it for:
- Milo ice candy
- Milo ice cream
- Milo milkshake
- Milo cupcakes
- Milo puto
- Milo champorado
It’s versatile and nostalgic.
8. Filipino Condiments
No Filipino kitchen is complete without these:
- Jufran Banana Sauce – perfect for fried food, hotdogs, longganisa, tocino, fish, and street food like fishballs and kikiam.
- Lady’s Choice Sandwich Spread – great for sandwiches and baon.
These condiments bring authentic Pinoy flavor to any meal.
9. Filipino Beauty Products
Most Filipino stores also carry beauty essentials. This time, I picked up:
- Sebo de Macho – a classic moisturizer used to lighten marks from insect bites, pimples, and minor cuts.
A true Filipino household staple.
10. Filipino Whitening Products
I also bought:
- Kojie San Skin Brightening Soap – used for lightening dark underarms, elbows, and knees. It has a gentle scent and works similarly to papaya soap.
I use it with a loofah to exfoliate and brighten dark spots.
Final Thoughts
Maraming salamat po for joining me in this simple food haul of Philippines grocery items in Canada. I hope you enjoyed browsing through our favorite Pinoy finds. If you’re a Filipino living abroad, these items truly bring a taste of home to your kitchen.