Kakulas Brothers

My shopping spree at Kakulas Brothers in Perth was one of the highlights of my recent visit.
From the outside it looks like a dusty old grocery store, but step up and through the wooden doors and it is like stepping into Aladdin's Cave for foodies. It even smelt wonderful, predominantly of cumin and mixtures of other curry like spices. By the door, an old man in a grocer's apron stood behind a long timber counter, fronted with the decorative lead panels that you see in the ceilings of old Australian homes. The floor is all timber and the shelves lines with products from Europe and Asia. I didn't get a good look at all the items on the shelves, but I did snatch up some Morello Cherry jam from Poland.
All the dried fruits, herbs, spices, grains, rice, everything you can think of, are laid out in big bags, grouped together with similar products. It was heaven to wander through the store wishing I lived closer so I could try a little bit of everything regularly, rather than remembering whatever I bought had to be packed in a suitcase.
I bought some onion flakes and garlic flakes. These have been put to use in a jar of oil with char grilled capsicum.
I was out of star anise at home and there in front of me was the biggest bag of them I had ever seen. No small supermarket plastic containers here. Two large handfuls, that managed to send their wonderful fragrance through most of my luggage cost $1.19 ($7.99/kg)
I managed to fill my basket with steel cut oats, dusting polenta, nigella seeds, black sesame seeds, all sorts of soy and rice chips and fruit balls for the kids. Cinnamon came by the bundle

Goji Berries $2.25 ($7.50/kg).

A product of Asia, goji, or wolfberries are have long played important roles in traditional Chinese medicine where they are believed to enhance immune system function, improve eyesight, protect the liver, boost sperm production and improve circulation, among other effects. In traditional Chinese medicine terms, wolfberries are sweet in taste and neutral in nature. They act on the liver, lungs, and kidneys and enrich yin. They can be eaten raw, consumed as juice or wine, brewed into an herbal tea or prepared as a tincture.

In the West, dried wolfberries are also eaten as a snack, like sultanas or other dried fruit. Their taste has an accent of tomato and is similar to that of dates, dried cranberries or raisins, though drier, more tart, less sweet and with an herbal scent. Dried wolfberries are also used frequently in raw food diets These dried Ruby Blood Plums are great for eating just as they are.
These dried strawberries, although they make a great snack, are for a cake or some muffins. These cost 84c. ($22.50/kg)

There is a similar store in Fremantle, Kakulas Sisters. The story goes that the daughters were not permitted to work in the family business, so they decided to set up their own store. Unfortunately I didn't get a chance to visit - you go girls!

Kakulas Bros.

183 Williams St

Northbridge