Grocery Shopping - Asian Supermarket Tips

What is an Asian Supermarket? An Asian Supermarket is a group of groceries stores in Western nations that stocks items from all the various countries in East, South and Southeast Asia usually sold in Chinese-style markets. The term "Asian" was developed as a collective term for the nations in this part of the world. It is now used as a collective term to describe any nation with a large number of people who speak Chinese, Japanese or Korean. Many people refer to it as a "Supermarket" or a "Food market".

The foods are prepared and displayed according to their country's cultural traditions. For example, in Japan there are foods called Torayu which is rice cooked in special recipes and eaten with rice vinegar and other pickled products. In Korea there is the variety of Sosae which is deep-fried foods that are very nutritious but not at all tasty. In China there are the Miansan which are sweet traditional fruits and vegetables filled with milk and sugar and the Hainan which are sour and salty liking bao. The Szechuan variety is sweet dumplings and the Tuo Ren which are fish balls.

One of the most popular foods sold at an Asian grocery store is the grain rice. Rice has been one of the most important staple foods of Asian cuisine since centuries. In Chinese culture, if you can find an empty bowl of rice it is a symbol of wealth. Unlike most grains in other parts of the world rice is cultivated and not raised on an arable basis. The main advantage of Asian rice is that it can tolerate many other cultures and is much cheaper than most other types of grains grown in the US and Europe.

In the US, white rice is available which is absolutely delicious. However, for some Asian consumers white rice may not be edible. This is because it contains higher levels of pesticides compared to Asian rice. Therefore, when buying a bag of rice from an Asian supermarket, always check the ingredients label on how much pesticides are present.

There are also plenty of ethnic foods that are sold at an Asian supermarket. These are typical foods of countries like Japan, Korea and China. They are great as the perfect snack foods during the afternoons and lunch. Some people are allergic to them, so make sure that you ask your local grocer about these particular items before buying. Most Asian foods are quite affordable, but you will have to pay more for ethnic foods that are imported and even trademarked.

Some of the most popular Asian foods sold at an Asian supermarket are also known to have a wide range of health benefits. Japanese seaweed is used for cooking and it is famous for its cholesterol lowering properties. Asian foods such as tofu and tempeh are rich in vitamins A, B, C and D. Korean ginseng is also used as an alternative medicine for depression, fatigue and stress relief. Japanese shiitake mushrooms are known to lower blood pressure, decrease cholesterol and increase blood flow. Fresh vegetables are also available in a large variety. These include lettuce, celery, radishes, asparagus, broccoli, cauliflower, cucumber and eggplant among many others.

Asian foods are mostly served with rice. Asian supermarkets usually have a wide selection of rice dishes such as stir fry, which is made with beef, pork, chicken or seafood and served with a sweet and sour sauce, hot and spicy seafood sauce and sweet and sour fish sauce. Asian dishes are also accompanied by side dishes like noodles, vegetables and meatballs made with vegetables. Noodle soups are also common.

Fresh fruits and vegetables can be found in an Asian supermarket. It is usually located in the Asian aisle near the produce section. Fresh fruits include mangoes, oranges, lemons and limes. Vegetables include fresh herbs, beans and tomatoes in the green aisle. Asian cooking lends itself to healthy cooking, and most people prefer to cook using these healthy sauces.