There is another Madina Supermarket a few yards down the High Street opposite Orientex. It sells pretty much the same sort of fresh Afro-Caribbean and Asian vegetables, rice, pulses, nuts and flours, sauces, oils, tinned meats and fish as this shop next door to Peacocks on Palace Parade.

This shop is a smaller place, without the butchery, but is still worth a visit, if only for the very nice staff who are willing to ask you how they can help you. Help is certainly something many people may need when faced with the huge range on offer here. This is a good place to come for West Indian and West African cuisine. The flours, for instance, include a number of different grades of fufu, gari and powdered yams. There is a huge range of dried or tinned beans and pulses, and the spice and flavourings selection is varied, and reasonably priced. It compares well with Ummers and Ambrosia. They stock lots of the Dunn's River, Tex's and Tropical Sun ranges.

There is no excuse for not being adventurous. (Though don't waste your money: the tins of coconut milk are at silly prices which can be beaten elsewhere locally.) They also have a lot of South Asian style pickles (Patak's and Ahmed's), cooking aids (including real palm sugar jaggery) and curry mixes, but I would recommend having a particular look at the African and West Indian oriented ingredients and sauces.

Should one wish to make Ogbono soup, Ogbono can be purchased crushed or dried whole (for £1.99 a packet of 100g) and dried bitterleaf at £1.49 for 25g, though fresh spinach is also on sale at the front of the shop, as are okra.

There are several kinds of dried prawns, Eniola's dried smoked prawns (£2.89 for 100g), dried smoked catfish (£2.29) and various palm oils on sale. Ukazi leaves are £1.49 for 25g. Africa Sun brand Pepper Soup mix can be had for £1.99 per 100g. Pepper soup is a Nigerian speciality which should be taken more seriously.

Another interesting ingredient available at Madina Supermarket is the Irish Moss, or Carrageen (at £1.49 for 100g). This vegetarian alternative to gelatine is a seaweed traditionally hand gathered around the shores of Ireland. It is used as an emulsifier and contains vitamin A, amino acids, minerals / vitamins, protein. It is popular for making drinks in the Caribbean, made by boiling for about an hour in water, with a flavouring. Milk or sweetened condensed milk is added. Sometimes it is made flavourless and once the milk has been added rum and spices go in. It is usually served chilled, is very thick and is allegedly an aphrodisiac. It has also been used as a traditional cough remedy.

Next door to Eye Fashions, on the right.