By Anne-Marie Jones
Let's face it, the economy sucks, cost of living is ridic, and most of us have already given up avo toast - where do we save money next?!
I discovered that Asian supermarkets/stores can be a great alternative to the "supermarket duopoly", so here's my hot take on the do, don'ts and things to look for.
Don't be rude or patronising
First up, some 'Asian supermarkets' are specifically Chinese, Korean, etc. Most of them have a mix from all various Asian countries, sometimes the Philippines, and once in awhile they'll even have American candy or other random imports.
Staff could be from any country, a mix of countries, or Kiwi-born so don't make assumptions. Now is not the time to practice your Year 9 Japanese.
Don't make comments about products being 'weird' or 'gross' - you'll definitely find some stuff out of your comfort zone, just move on.
I personally watch my language a little more closely and not swear as I have literally never heard bad language in an Asian supermarket but that could be me making assumptions, so you do you.
It will probably be BUSY
I actually spent two years as a toddler growing up in Hong Kong, so local markets here are probably nowhere near as busy as they are in Asian countries, but they can definitely still be crowded and busy. They can have narrow aisles and be absolutely loaded with stuff so it's best not to take kids, at least the first time you visit.
Ask for help, but you may not get it
As I mentioned earlier, staff have varying levels of English and while they are there to assist, it's also a lot to ask to consistently ask them to translate for you.
Some products may not be fully labelled and receipts may not be in English
'Technically' every food product sold in NZ must have an English label with ingredients and expiry - let's face it, this doesn't always happen. Check the packaging carefully. We've managed to Google and find cooking instructions in the past, but sometimes it's a lot of guesswork!
Receipts are often not fully in English, and may not be accepted by your accountant, if for some reason you can claim back your groceries.
Pricing can surprise you
A lot of the products are amazingly cheap, but you have to be vigilant about checking prices as once in awhile they are utterly crazy like $8 for a tiny bag of chips.
You may find familiar products that taste different
Sometimes you find brand names that are familiar here like Oreos, but the flavours are different, or even the product itself may have different ingredients so isn't quite what you expect (ever tried American Coke? it uses high fructose corn syrup, where ours uses sugar, so tastes quite different).
Things to look for/product recommendations
Fruit and veges are usually cheaper than supermarkets, eggs can be too.
Frozen basa fish can be a good price and is such a versatile food that can be cooked in so many ways.
Pigs Head sounds gross but if you get the chance to try it, if you like pork, it's so delicious, it gives lots of tasty meat and is usually very cheap. It does take awhile to cook but we love it!
Have you tried Asian supermarkets? How did you find them compared to the big chains?
If you are in Christchurch, I highly recommend checking out the whole 'Church Corner' area, there are plenty of shops at the back of the street (where Daphnes, etc are, go through the 'mall' and there is much more hiding away at the back, and parking too).
