Shing Fat Coconut and Spices, Wan Chai, for dried herbs

Buying herbs and spices in Hong Kong presents a conundrum: you either go for the mass-produced flavourless stuff in supermarkets or shell out a small fortune at gourmet outlets. Intrepid spice hunters will be pleased to learn of Shing Fat Coconut and Spices, which sells top-quality products at reasonable prices. You'll find 30-gram jars of sage, dill, tarragon and the like for HK$20, while 75-gram packets of whole or ground black and white pepper are HK$17. The same-size packets of whole or ground cumin and fennel are HK$10. Shing Fat also sells coconut milk for HK$45 a catty, and coconut water for HK$6 a catty.

Shing Fat Coconut and Spices Ltd, 18 Spring Garden Lane, Wan Chai, tel: 2572 7725