Shahji's Raw Health Food Store is a warm, family-run health and specialty grocery store located in Taihape, behind the Gull petrol station. Founded and operated by Jignesh and Vandana, the shop brings over 25 years of experience dedicated to Ayurveda, raw and natural foods, and authentic Indian culinary traditions. Known as New Zealand's first ethnic gourmet health store, Shahji's is committed to nourishing the local community with hard-to-find ingredients and mindful staples.
Visitors can stop by for freshly brewed masala chai blended with hand-ground spices designed to support natural wellness, alongside daily made warm samosas. The shelves feature an extensive range of organic grains, nutrient-dense nuts and seeds, aromatic herbs, spices, Ayurvedic supplements, teas, and herbal personal care products. Beyond specialty groceries, Shahji's also hosts traditional Indian cooking classes to share the health and healing principles of Ayurvedic food preparation.
Tucked away behind the Gull petrol station on Kuku Street in Taihape, Shahji’s Raw Health Food Store stands out as a unique destination along State Highway 1. Billed as New Zealand's first ethnic gourmet health store, the establishment is the passion project of Jignesh and Vandana, a welcoming couple bringing more than 25 years of experience in Ayurveda, authentic Indian culinary traditions, and natural living to the Rangitikei district.
From the moment you step through the door, the atmosphere feels distinct from a standard grocery stop. The store is filled with rich aromas of whole spices, herbal wellness remedies, and loose leaf teas. For travellers passing through or locals popping in for routine pantry staples, Shahji's provides both everyday nourishment and rare culinary ingredients that are often hard to find outside of major metropolitan centres.
While Shahji’s is a treasure trove of dry goods, one of its greatest pleasures is found right at the counter. Each day, Jignesh and Vandana prepare fresh batches of warm samosas alongside freshly brewed cups of authentic masala chai. Unlike commercially powdered teas, their chai is simmered with hand-ground whole spices, crafted specifically around Ayurvedic concepts to balance the body's doshas and support natural vitality.
Visitors stopping by for a break from driving can grab a hot chai and warm samosa while browsing an extensive assortment of specialty pantry goods. The shelves hold everything from buffalo ghee, organic grains, and wholesome lentils to pumpkin seeds, nuts, and mineral salts like Harker Herbals Celtic and NZ sea salt blended with kelp. Natural remedies and personal care staples, such as Himalaya herbal supplements and neem and turmeric soaps, round out the shop’s holistic offerings.
Shahji's is grounded in a philosophy that food should heal as well as delight. The owners are always ready to converse with patrons, answering questions about balancing wellness routines, choosing the right herbs, or preparing classic Indian dishes at home. To further share their knowledge, they host authentic Indian cooking classes, teaching participants how to master traditional dishes—such as pindi chole, paneer tikka masala, and roti—while incorporating the therapeutic fundamentals of Ayurvedic cooking into daily life.