Daree Salam African Market

The small, colorful storefront caught my attention, and the ability to buy goat drew me in. My daughter, and I were curious as to what we’d find on the shelves inside Daree Salam. Dry milk powder, cassava root flour, spices (curry powders, peanut products), and dried fish play crucial roles in meals for so many countries in Africa. Dried bony fish caught my attention since I grew up eating dried anchovies like chips.
Sani, (the owner), explained fish caught in many areas are small due to the environment, and the smoking/​drying process is the tried, and true way to preserve food. A tidbit many would understand, and some might get squeamish about.
A few freezer cases were stocked with frozen vegetables, goat meat, and other products that are common in African meals. Most products are from Ghana, but you’ll see familiar names like Goya, and products like peanut butter, and palm oil. You’ll also find fresh plantains, and cassava root.
My daughter liked the African clothes, and jewelry sets available for purchase here.
I bought spices, a huge bag of frozen okra, Kenyan tea, and a bag of goat meat on my first trip inside Daree Salam. I’ve never bought goat meat in a store, (anywhere), only because I got my meat from the ranch. I’m looking forward to preparing something, to see if the taste will be similar, or entirely different from what I’m used too.
The market is very basic, not flashy, and to most customers who will shop here, just enough to bring a taste of home here to Pittsburgh. Sani is friendly, and willing to spend time talking to you about what he carries, and he’s interested to learn from his customers too.

The wife and I have been meaning to stop in to the «African Grocery Store» for a couple months (after seeing an article about it in the PG), but never got around to it until now.
The owner, Sani, seems to be a genuinely great guy. He immediately welcomed us and asked if we had been to the store prior (probably judged by the dazed look on our face of where to start). I was open and honest that I knew pretty much very little regarding African cooking and he offered without hesitation to take us around the store and explain all of the items he had for sale and what they’re used for.
While I wouldn’t exactly call the store expansive, it does seem to cover all the bases needed for a comprehensive meal (proteins, grains, fruits, veggies, etc.). There were definitely a large variety of products I had never seen (nor heard of before).
Overall, we’ll definitely head back with a targeted meal in mind. While you can’t replace any grocer with Daree Salam, you can definitely supplement it, and support a local business exploring a niche that is largely unrepresented in the PGH area!