One thing we've had trouble finding in large quantities here in Japan is lard. Being essentially rendered animal fat, lard is an excellent additive for lean meats, and also great for searing. I've found it can be spread on top of various things to add a delicious creamy mouthfeel to even the driest of foods (meats, cookies, brownies, etc...). For some reason, I had never bothered checking Amazon.co.jp for lard, so I did a while back and found this:
Only 1200 yen (about $11), this 900g tub'o'lard has been amazing. It's practically flavorless and lasts us about a month. We've ordered another since and are about to order our third tub soon. I now use this instead of butter for searing as I started having more negative reactions to dairy over time (farewell cheese and milk!). You can use it in coffee as well, though I find it best to use some cream to help with the emulsification when blended. But I generally don't drink the butter coffee anymore, so not a big deal for me.
Of course, if you live in the US you are spoiled for choice when it comes to lards, tallows, duck fats, etc... I look forward to trying out new options when I go back some day.
