8 new groceries we're most excited about right now

Tamarind is a fruit that comes in a pod and has a distinctive sweet-and-sour flavor. It's used in cuisines all across the world to bolster stews, curries, stir-fries, and now … barbecue sauce! Tamarind Heads, founded by husband-and-wife duo Sashi Kumar and Brittney Lim, makes tamarind-based barbecue and hot sauces that celebrate global flavors. Think of it as a much-punchier tomato-based barbecue sauce with a touch more sweetness and tang. 

The brand has a few sauces, but my favorite that I tried was the Medium Barbecue Sauce. Tamarind adds layers of fruity, earthy, and slightly smoky-tasting notes that make it, truly, the best barbecue sauce I've ever tasted. -Ali Domrongchai

Learn more: Tamarind Heads 

I love Ethiopian food (it's my most frequent takeout), so I was really excited to sample Red Fox Spices' selection of shelf-stable injera and shiro wat. The injera, which is a sour fermented pancake-like flatbread, is soft, tangy, and tastes like it was just made. 

I'm certain it's going to be a pantry find that genuinely changes how often I get to enjoy a cuisine that I love. -Ali Domrongchai

Learn more: Red Fox Spices

I normally go for simple and traditional Italian flavors when I buy pasta sauce, but that all changed after trying Mom's new and refreshed sauce lineup. The Texas-based brand recently revamped its recipes, prioritizing high-quality ingredients and drew inspiration from its Texas roots. It also upgraded the packaging.

The three flavors I sampled at the Fancy Food Show definitely showcased that new flavor commitment. We tried Spicy Smoked Arrabbiata, Southwest Nopales Marinara, and Hill Country Peach Pomodoro. My favorite was the smoky and spicy arrabbiata sauce because it is so different from every other pasta sauce I have tried before.

It's got chipotle peppers for the smoke, and jalapeño peppers to really bring some heat. I also loved the "crushed" tomato consistency this sauce has, and can see myself using it in tons of dishes besides spaghetti. -Celia Funderburk

Learn more: Mom's Pasta Sauce

I am a big fan of cured meats, so I was not surprised that I loved this booth's offerings. I was surprised at how different its cured meats tasted compared to most other salami bites I have had in the past. A few of the booth's workers explained why the salchichón I sampled was so special: The pigs only eat acorns, and you can really taste that nuttiness and depth in the meat.

Mercado Famous also had some delicious spicy chorizo and chorizo serrano that I went back for at the end of the day. These cured meats are super-special and will be sure to leave your guests wanting another charcuterie board before dinner. -Celia Funderburk

Learn more: Mercado Famous

Even though I sampled these freeze-dried dates pretty early on in the day, I knew they were special - and not just because they are the first and only freeze-dried dates you can buy (or they will be once they officially launch in the coming weeks). They have the classic sweet, caramelly flavor you expect in a quality dried date, with a satisfying (and audible) crunch. If my eyes could have popped out of their sockets a la Wile E. Coyote when I tried this, they would've. -Mara Weinraub

Learn More: Drybox

We're big fans of Painterland Sisters at The Kitchn. The sister-owned brand was one of just seven winners in our first-ever New Kids on the Shelf awards, and this new flavor lives up to the hype. Named for Stephanie's son, Wilder, the sweet-tart flavor tastes shockingly close to summer berries you'd find at the farmers market. The creamy, lightly tangy yogurt with a few of those raspberries sprinkled on top will be my new favorite way to start the day - once they hit shelves in New York. (They're currently sold exclusively in Sprouts Farmers Market stores.)

Buy: Painterland Sisters Wilder Raspberry Organic Skyr Yogurt, $3.00 for 5.3 ounces at Sprouts Farmers Market

On the nights when I can't be bothered to put much effort into cooking, a jar of simmer sauce really comes in handy. I'm also a big fan of celebrity chef Marcus Samuelsson, so as soon as I saw this booth I knew I had to stop and give it a try. At the Fancy Food Show, in addition to being the keynote speaker, Samuelsson debuted his latest venture, Merkato by Marcus, a line of simmer sauces inspired by his Swedish and Ethiopian roots and named after the open-air market in Addis Ababa. (I was one of the first people to taste it, as it had just launched the day before!) 

There are three flavors - Island Vibes, Mediterranean Bounty, and Curry Delish - range in spice levels, but all provide a rich depth of flavor. My favorite was the creamy and slightly sweet Island Vibes, made with garam masala, berbere, turmeric, coconut milk, roasted garlic, and maple that truly tasted like it had been stewing on the stove for hours. I could totally see myself heating some in a pot with tofu or chickpeas and spooning it over rice for a quick and easy dinner. Merkato by Marcus is expected to be released in select retailers this fall, so keep your eyes peeled. -Alexandra Foster 

Learn More: Merkato by Marcus

McConnell's is no stranger to the ice cream game. The Santa Barbara-based company has been churning ice cream since 1949 - and has no plans of stopping. McConnell's was one of the first booths I stopped at during the day, and it was a bite I couldn't stop thinking about for the rest of the time we were there. 

I've had McConnell's ice cream before and love the flavor combinations, especially the collab See's Candies. The new Summer Corn & Blackberries flavor is a 14/10. As always, the ice cream was smooth, creamy, and perfectly sweet, and the corn flavor was so prominent! It tasted like fresh corn on the cob in the best way.

It pairs beautifully with the tart blackberry jam that was swirled throughout. (I'm petitioning to add corn to more desserts.) I'll definitely be picking up a pint once it's distributed to stores nationwide this summer. -Alexandra Foster

Learn More: McConnell's

Which new grocery are you most excited to try? Tell us about it in the comments.