Surprises at Chinese grocery store
By bounce58
@bounce58 (17387)
Canada
April 4, 2010 11:28am CST
I wandered into one of those big Chinese grocery stores yesterday, and I found a few surprises!
off, I was surprised to see a lot of people in there, Chinese and non-Chinese. Aside from the aisles being a little bit smaller than regular grocery stores, I was surprised that they carried all regular items too. Like milk, and pops, and breakfast cereals, etc. It was also surprising to realize that their prices are a little bit cheaper than the regular grocery store. That explains the surprising number of people.
Another surprise I found was the assortment of things I found which you’d never think you’d find. I saw a pre-packed cooked pork’s blood! I wonder what was that for...
How about you? Have you ever wandered into a Chinese, or other ethnic store? What surprising things have you found in there?
6 responses
@LuoBing (5)
• China
12 Apr 10
I am a Chinese girl and I am not surprised that your puzzle about the pre-packed cooked pork's blood which is a kind of traditional Chinese food.That is the typical cultural difference.We always kill pigs before Spring Festival to make different kinds of food ,which is just like Americans eat turkeies on the Thanksgiving Day.We believe that we should make full use of the food materials taken from the pig including the fresh blood. en We use some particular method to make the blood looks like red tofu ,and the blood just can be kept for a short time ,for it easily goes bad.To be honest the pork blood does good to health,and if you have the courage to try it,you will find it taste something like the pudding.Just forget the thought that you are drinking the blood!
1 person likes this
@bounce58 (17387)
• Canada
12 Apr 10
Hello LuoBing!
Thank you so much for enlightening me, and the rest of the lotters about this particular food product. I understand that it is a cultural thing, and I'm just surprised that there is actually some use for the pork blood. I know I'm a bit adventurous, but I think I'll pass on this thing.
Thanks for the response.
And welcome to myLot!
Thanks for the response.
And welcome to myLot!
@arystine (1273)
• Philippines
6 Apr 10
Yes, I have also wandered into a Chinese store. I found stuffs that I couldn't define. But it was mostly dried herbs and sea creatures. :-) I love Chinese milk teas, that's why I frequent their stores. I'm also fascinated with incense and other Chinese fortune stuffs, like money trees, buddhas and lucky figurines.
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@bounce58 (17387)
• Canada
6 Apr 10
Are you part Chinese? Actually, you could be mistaken for Chinese if one looked at your avatar. That would explain also your fascination to Chinese things.
If not, then it should just be their immersion to our culture. I know there that there are a lot of Chinese food that I like. Just haven't seen their ingredients up close though.
Thanks Atty!
@Hatley (163776)
• Garden Grove, California
4 Apr 10
hi bounce58 I have not wandered into a chinese store but a f rench canadian one and found a bunch of cans of something called peeves in lard, and to this day am not really sure what they were. the picture on the outside of the can looked like a small version of the large shrimp that I love to make shrimp scampi with, but they could have also been some sort of worm, nobody there seemed interested in helping me to know what they were either,and I did not want to come off sounding like a patronizing yank either so left without knowing. still curious as to what
they were. I am not now sure if I have spelled it right. this was a number of years ago.
they were. I am not now sure if I have spelled it right. this was a number of years ago.@bounce58 (17387)
• Canada
5 Apr 10
For all you know, it could have just been wax for the floors! For some reason, when I saw lard, I thought of floor wax!
I agree, there's lots of interesting things in ethnic stores. And we may have even tasted it already when we buy our favorite food from different restaurants. They could have just been ingredients of the things we already like.
@sleepylittlerose (1648)
• United States
4 Apr 10
Ethnic markets are great. I have visited several in Atlanta, GA as we supply them with whole live fish. Did the store you go into have a live seafood department? This is very popular for Asian markets to have. They go back to the tank, pick the fish they are going to cook for dinner and have it cleaned right there in the store.
You are right about the prices. They are usually cheaper than the regular stores and they always have a great assortment of fresh fruits.
1 person likes this
@bounce58 (17387)
• Canada
5 Apr 10
Yes they did! They had tanks at the back of the store. And I could remember a line up of people wanting to get the attention of the attendant holding the net to get the fish from the tank.
And yes, I did see a lot of fruits there too. Even ones that I haven't seen before.
Thanks for the response.
@swetashah (345)
• United States
4 Apr 10
I been there many times, and I won't be surprised to find those items. Actually, I live around ethnic areas, and I shop alot at those stores. Because you never learn about their culture, that is why you found surprising. Don't be a frog, jump out of it, and learn a little bit more of this world.
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