I was really disppointed when I wanted to bake applecrisp and could not find it except for the granulated sugar stuff. Then I was quite happy to find it in the least expected place .... a book store! of all places. I know, I have seen people posting saying that it is out there, just have to look. Except when I am in the city I forget to look for it (I am a forgetful person). So it was nice to find brown sugar along with other things such as cream of tartar and bigger packs of baking powder. I was just like a little kid in a candy store wanting to buy everything. Also just other small things such as ''Miracle Whip'' (although it's across the border) I try to buy a jar if I remember. But it's nice to find things when least expected. Being here for over a year and a half, I am slowly adjusting to the food here (except fondue, which I can't stand the smell of and the potato/ cheese stuff, not sure what it's called). Although I am looking forward to my trip back to Canada to enjoy certain food (mainly unhealthy food but that's ok) Oh, of course, also to visit with my family

Would be great if you could share the book store you found this in! Were you in Basel?

Presumably that would be Bider and Tanner?

I bake a lot and have had 6 years in Zurich trying to find north American goods, so here are my finds. If I think of more ill update the thread.

I am happy that the English bookstore is getting all these fun foods, but if you need to purchase on a regular basis it adds up.

- baking powder: you can get HUGE containers of it at the Asian shop by Kalkbreite (tram 2/3). I have a little tub I transfer it to and keep the big one in a large ziplock bag to keep it fresh. I think the tub is around 10 CHF.

- brown sugar can now be found at Globus and I'm pretty sure Jelmoli, but I still have my family bring it from home when they visit

- baking soda: I buy arm & hammer boxes in Germany, I haven't seen it here but don't properly look as I stock up when I'm across the border

- cream of tartar: I get mine from the pharmacy, when I tell them I'm baking with it they give me tons, and it's uber cheap. I transfer to a glass jar with a lid.

- corn meal: I used to get it at Jelmoli, but now they only have corn flour, which isn't gritty enough for proper corn bread. El Mais didn't know what I was talking about. I found it at a small italian deli across from hooters for CHF 2. It's in an orange bag.

Sorry, forgot to mention the store. I found this in Basel at Bider & Tanner just near the bankverein(sp?) tram stop. I found it in the english section.

yes Carlos R it is bider & tanner. thanks JanerMacP for adding.

Possible substitute for STICKY BROWN SUGAR from North America.

I came across a brand called Sabash that is quite similar to the sticky brown sugar North Americans use for baking (maybe not quite as sticky but close).

It is available in Indian stores (comes from India). A 500 gm package cost CHF 2.60 in my local store in Lsne.

See photos below.

The importer also has a store in Zurich.

Importas Cash & Carry
(80m away From Letzi Park)
Baslerstrasse 102 8048 Zürich

In Nyon and Geneva, you can find it at the American Store. Not sure if they're outside these places. Also sell Latin American, British, Asian, Australian goods.

Thanks. Looks interesting

I am obviously not baking enough to realize that these items aren't easily available! Thanks for the heads up, I'll try to rectify this week, maybe with some sweet apple crumble

I cook with American recipes all the time... Go buy a jar of molasses at your local health food store. When you need brown sugar, take normal white sugar (approx 1 cup) and 1 spoon of molasses and mix them together... perfectly wonderful, and cheaply made brown sugar. I have been doing this because at 6 or 7 francs for atiny bag at Globus, I would rather take the 5 minutes and make my own when I need it.

And also if you're interested... here is the Maple apple crisp recipe I always make... enjoy
http://allrecipes.com/recipe/maple-a...sp/detail.aspx

thanks verbier for a substitute solution. also thanks to puhutes! i am not much of a baker so thanks for the info!!

Soft brown sugar (light and dark), PG tips, Baking soda, Baked Beans, marmite and all manner of other things can be found in Aligro.

Brown sugar in Zurich:
I tried to find molasses to make my own. But only found "Rübenzucker" in the health food shop. I gave up looking for more since that one had already cost me a fortune and I got told it's the wrong stuff anyway.

But I found some brown sugar in the Chinese store at Berninaplatz. The label says "Rote Zucker" but since it's not red at all I suspect someone got lost in translation and "rohe" (raw) became "rote" (red).
Anyway. It's very, very dark brown sugar with a sticky consistency. Darker than the dark brown sugar I got from the US. It's taste is very "molassy".
Now I have three different brown sugars at home: the one from the supermarket I use whenever the recipe calls for "light brown", the other two (the one from the US and the one from the Chinese shop) I decide whether the recipe tolerates a more "molassy" taste or not. Usually, it's not a problem and I can save my precious brown US sugar.

Hope that helps anyone who's on the hunt for brown sugar in/around Zurich.

bider&tanner, next to basel bankverein, had brown sugartoday

And Cheerios

Cool, I'll have to ask my step-son to pick me up some, as he lives upstairs in the same building!

Pity I didn't know, as he was here this past Sunday!

Tom

This is a traditional indian unrefined sugar called Jaggery or Vellam (in tamil). I would say the taste is quite a lot different to brown sugar. It is also MUCH harder and difficult to mix without heat to melt the sugar. Without heat it has a very annoying tendency to stay as lumps through out whatever you're making, leading to a partly unsweetened, partly sickly sweet cake.

Traditionally this is used in desserts such as payasam, or shakarai pongal- rice desserts which are cooked with spices and the vellam sloooowly cooked (and melted) into the rice.

Not to turn anyone off using it, just something to be aware of

Search the EF and ye shall find ...
Peace Foods in Basel

thanks to everyone that added! also sorry ecb, i did not see that post.