I love being able to go to almost any restaurant or bar in Asheville and find something local on the menu. Our chefs + mixologists are sourcing directly from farms, but they’re also using local products in their dishes and drinks.
And Asheville has a thriving scene when it comes to food + bev entrepreneurs. From fermented sips and sodas to meatless (and not-so-meatless) meats, bread, cheeses, dessert + more, we can find so many local products not just on the menu, but stocked right on our grocery store shelves.
Today we’re rounding up some of the local products we love that are available in area stores – so you can take them home for yourself, or give them to a friend missing the mountains. Bonus: If you’re new to any of these, we’ve included our (and our readers’) personal recs for what to try.
And, we know – this list doesn’t include the many Asheville beers + ciders for sale around town (here’s a full list of local breweries) or coffee beans from our local roasteries (find those here). The items are also all for sale at at least one location besides the company headquarters. I have to sleep sometime, right?
Your local shopping list
Asheville Pretzel Company | Available at Ingles, Eblen Short Stop, Tasty Beverage Co., and area breweries | Handcrafted hard pretzels. We love the Parmesan Cheese Sticks. Bonus: They also make pretzels for your pooch.
Asheville Tea Company | Available at The Rhu, Herbiary, Trout Lily Deli & Market, and area tailgate markets | Grab a packet of the G & Tea, Asheville Tea Company’s take on a gin + tonic with juniper berries, lime basil, rosemary, and green tea. If you want to try them all, they offer a Tea CSA.
Biltmore Wines | Available at area grocery + specialty stores and at Biltmore | The Sweet White is perfect for summer porch sippin’, or celebrate any occasion with the Blanc de Blancs sparkling wine.
Blue Ridge Cold Brew | Available at area grocery + specialty stores | With flavors like lavender + cardamom. Mmmmm.
Buchi Kombucha | Available at area grocery + specialty stores | Reader @evergreensandcocoa says “Water [coconut, blueberry, elderberry] is the BEST kombucha I’ve ever had, hands down!” Buchi recently released a line of kefir + shrub sodas.
Dolci Di Maria | Available at area specialty stores | Sweet treats that are also gluten- and dairy-free. We love the biscotti with our morning coffee.
Farm to Home Milk | Delivered weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly | Ok, so it’s not available in stores, exactly, but you can get grass-fed milk, cream, chocolate milk, kefir, and yogurt, plus orange juice, Button & Co. bagels, and more through their delivery service.
Firewalker Hot Sauce | Available at area grocery + specialty stores | You can’t go wrong with the citrusy, garlicky original flavor. If you’re more daring, try out Running with the Reaper, made with Carolina Reaper peppers.
French Broad Chocolates | Available on location + specialty stores | Stop by the factory + tasting rooms for truffles + other treats, and grab bars from other spots around town.
Goddess Ghee | Available at French Broad Food Co-Op, West Village Market, the Fresh Market, specialty stores + area tailgate markets | The Queen Bee Ghee contains local honey, shatavari root (an Ayurvedic system balancer), vanilla bean + more.
Hickory Nut Gap | Available at area grocery + specialty stores and at the farm’s store | Grass-fed beef, pork, and poultry – straight from the source. Try the ground beef for the perfect summer burger.
The Hop Ice Cream | Available at their stores, some area grocery + specialty stores, and co-ops | Handmade ice cream with a rotating selection of seasonally-inspired flavors.
Imladris Farm | Available at area grocery + specialty stores | Their blueberry jam captures summer goodness to last you all winter long.
Lusty Monk Mustard | Available at area grocery + specialty stores | The Altar Boy Honey Mustard is the perfect matchup between sweet + heat.
Mandala Naturals | Available at specialty stores | This certified B Corp. makes chocolate infused with superfoods in flavors like Vanilla Orchid + Peppermint Honey.
Münki Food | Available at Ingles, Grail Moviehouse + specialty stores | Fruit, nut, granola + candy blends that range from sweet to savory. We love the Shiva Palace Almonds, with almond, papaya + curry spice.
No Evil Foods | Available at area grocery + specialty stores | Vegan plant meat that promises to taste like the real thing. We love the El Zapatista “chorizo”.
Poppy Popcorn | Available at specialty stores | We can’t say no to The Asheville Mix, a blend of white cheddar + salted caramel popcorn.
Postre Caramels | Available at area grocery + specialty stores | Four words: Sea Salt Caramel Chews.
Roots & Branches | Available at area grocery + specialty stores | Flatbreads + crackers perfect for pairing with cheese, hummus, or anything else you need to dip. We love the Black Pepper & Olive Oil for a cracker that goes with anything.
Roots Hummus | Available at area grocery + specialty stores | “Black bean or mango sriracha are my faves but they are ALL good!” – @bethbaumrind
Shanti Elixirs | Available at specialty stores + markets | Shanti crafts “jun,” a fermented green tea beverage, in flavors like Tulsi Rose + Pineapple Turmeric.
Smiling Hara Tempeh | Available at area grocery + specialty stores | Tempeh and “hempeh” (soy-free, made with peanuts + hemp seeds). The Raspberry Habanero BBQ Hempeh is the best thing that’s happened to breakfast in a while.
Smoking J’s Fiery Foods | Available at area grocery + specialty stores | Grab the Roasted Ghost Salsa to dip your chips, or the Jamaican Ginger Hot Sauce to blast your meal to the next level.
Spicewalla | Available at Chai Pani | Spicewalla has a warehouse in Asheville, but you’ll need to order fresh spices online – or stop by Chai Pani to pick up a few of their favorite spice blends, like the multi-purpose Garam Masala.
Sunshine Sammies | Available at area grocery + specialty stores | It’s the perfect time of year to pick up their seasonal Earl Grey Ice Cream + Lavender Lemon Cookies, but any flavor will do.
Theros | Available at area grocery + specialty stores | 100% Greek olive oil comes in individual bottles up to a four-gallon pack.
Three Graces Dairy | Available at Earth Fare, Whole Foods + specialty stores | If the ramp chevre is in stock, just get it.
Ultimate Ice Cream | Available at their locations and some area grocery + specialty stores | Protip: Combine two flavors in your to-go pint at their shop.
Did we miss your favorite?
Leave us a comment + let us know.
