If you are hunting for an Aromat substitute Australia shops can actually supply, start with a bit of good news. The real thing is sold here, so you may not need a substitute at all. Aromat is the yellow-lidded seasoning that South Africans shake over everything from boerewors rolls to roasted corn, and it is no longer a smuggled-in-your-suitcase item. If the shelf is empty on the day you need it, though, there are decent ways to get close, and this guide covers both.
Aromat is a savoury, salty, slightly oniony powder. Think of it as a flavour boost in a tin, not a spice. That matters, because it tells you what a good swap has to do: salt, savoury depth and a gentle onion and garlic note. Not heat, and not smoke.
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Can you still buy Aromat in Australia?
Yes. Woolworths lists Knorr Aromat Original Seasoning in a 200g pack, and Coles has listed the Aromat canister too. Stock changes from store to store, so check the website for your nearest one before you drive over. It tends to live in the international foods aisle, not next to the spices.
The South African and international grocers sell it as well. When we checked, a couple of Australian online shops showed Aromat as sold out, which tells you how fast it moves. Our directory of South African shops in Australia lists the ones that post nationwide, and it is worth ordering two tins, not one.
Do not be thrown by the label. Aromat is a South African staple, but it started life in Switzerland. Knorr developed it in 1952, and the brand now sells it as a range of savoury seasonings in Original, Chilli and Garlic flavours.
What is actually in Aromat?
To copy a flavour, you need to know what you are copying. The South African pack lists salt, maize flour, flavour enhancers including monosodium glutamate, yeast extract, vegetable fat, onion and mushroom extracts, and garlic. Recipes differ by country, and the Swiss version, for example, carries turmeric, celery seed and lactose. So treat the list on your own tin as the truth, not any website, including this one.
Three things do the work. Salt gives the bite. Glutamate, which is the compound behind savoury “umami” flavour, gives that moreish depth. Onion, garlic and a little yellow colour give the familiar look and smell. Any Aromat substitute in Australia has to cover those three jobs.
Aromat substitute Australia: the best swaps, easiest first
Chicken salt
Chicken salt is the closest thing on an Australian supermarket shelf. It is a chip-shop favourite, and despite the name it contains no chicken. It usually has salt, garlic, onion, paprika and MSG. That is a very similar job to Aromat, only with more paprika and a stronger salty hit.
Use it one for one, but taste first, because it is usually saltier and more orange than yellow. If a recipe says “a teaspoon of Aromat”, try three quarters of a teaspoon of chicken salt and add more if needed. Whether the two are really the same thing is a bigger question, and it gets its own post soon.
Stock powder plus onion and garlic
Chicken stock powder from the supermarket brings salt and savoury depth. Mix one part stock powder with a pinch of onion powder and garlic powder, and you are most of the way there. This works well in stews, mince dishes and potjies, where the seasoning gets cooked in and nobody will compare it to the tin.
All-purpose seasoning
Supermarket all-purpose seasonings are salt-forward and handy in a pinch. They run herby or peppery, so they change the flavour more than the first two options. Good for meat on the braai, less good for corn on the cob or a braaibroodjie.
Plain salt
If all you have is salt, use salt. A bit of onion powder and a pinch of garlic powder will rescue it. It will not taste like Aromat, but it will not ruin your meal either.
A homemade Aromat substitute you can make in two minutes
This is our own working mix, not Knorr’s formula, and we do not claim it is the same. It lands close enough that most people at a braai would not notice the difference. Quantities are in teaspoons, which are the same everywhere.
- 3 teaspoons fine table salt
- 1 teaspoon chicken stock powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon ground turmeric, for the colour
- 1/2 teaspoon sugar, to round off the salt
Stir everything together in a small bowl until it is one even yellow powder, then tip it into a clean jar. Shake it over things as you would the real tin. It keeps for a few months in a dry cupboard, but the flavour fades, so make small batches. If you want the extra savoury hit, add a pinch of MSG. You can buy it in most Australian supermarkets, where it is sold as a seasoning in the spice or Asian aisle.
If you are making this Aromat substitute Australia style for a braai crowd, make double and keep it next to the tongs. It also works on chips, roast potatoes and scrambled eggs.
Which swap for which job
| Job | Best swap | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Over corn on the cob or chips | Chicken salt | Salty, savoury and already made for chips |
| Boerewors rolls and braai meat | Homemade mix | Gives the onion and garlic note without extra spice |
| Stews and potjies | Stock powder with onion and garlic | The flavour cooks in, so close is close enough |
| Braaibroodjies and sandwiches | Homemade mix | A light, even dusting without herbs getting in the way |
| Emergency only | Salt plus onion powder | Better than nothing |
A quick word about MSG
Many people worry about MSG, so here is what the regulator says. Food Standards Australia New Zealand considers MSG safe and says it is not a health concern for the general population, though a small number of people report mild reactions. Added MSG has to be declared on the label by name or as 621. If you avoid it, choose a swap without MSG and read the label.
Glutamate also turns up naturally in cheese, mushrooms and meat, and your body treats the two the same way. That is why a mushroom or a parmesan rind makes a stew taste so savoury.
Frequently asked questions
What is the closest Aromat substitute Australia has on the shelf?
Chicken salt is the closest supermarket swap, since it is salty, savoury and usually contains garlic, onion and MSG. Use a little less than the Aromat the recipe asks for, and taste as you go.
Is Aromat sold in Australian supermarkets?
Yes. Woolworths lists the 200g pack and Coles has listed the canister, though stock varies by store. South African grocers also sell it, often in larger sizes.
Can I use stock powder instead of Aromat?
Yes, for cooked dishes. Add a pinch of onion powder and garlic powder to give it the right flavour. It is less suited to sprinkling over finished food, where the texture is coarser.
Is Aromat the same as chicken salt?
They do a similar job but they are not identical. Chicken salt leans salty and paprika, while Aromat is more savoury and oniony. We will compare them properly in a separate post.
Does homemade Aromat taste the same as the real thing?
Close, but not identical. The mix above gets you the salt, onion, garlic and colour. The real tin has a fuller savoury flavour that is hard to copy at home, which is why we say buy it when you can.
What to do next
Check Woolworths and Coles online for a tin first, then order a spare from a South African grocer. If you are out today, mix the homemade version and get on with the braai. For more swaps like this one, try our guide to South African ingredient substitutes in Australia, or our Mrs Balls chutney substitute for the other half of a braaibroodjie. Looking for something to serve with it all? Have a look at our braai side dishes.
