1.
Chopsticks (In all shapes and sizes)
Of course, in China, finding chopsticks
is obvious because it is their main food utensil. But there aren’t just wood chopsticks. There are metal and plastic ones. Some are decorated with designs, and some are
very fancy. The same way people in the
western world have silver utensils; people in the east also have ritzy
chopsticks. In most supermarkets, there
are standard wood, plastic, and metal chopsticks. The plastic ones will most likely have
designs on them, and the all generally come in large or small quantities. However, there are specific shops that carry
endless options of high-end chopsticks; chopsticks with gold, different kids of
wood, or a matching family set etc.
These chopsticks can run for anywhere between 7 and 100 U.S. dollars per
pair. It just depends on what you
prefer, but if you are partial to gold plated chopsticks, plan on bringing more
than just a few yuans.
2.
Odd Flavored Chips
For some reason, the Chinese very much
enjoy flavoring different foods. The
food in China is very distinct, and different from the rest of the world. That also means that their snacks are
too. Different chips flavors include but
are not limited to shrimp, Mexican Beef, Mexican tomato, Cola and chicken,
cucumber, etc. And people in the States
thought the guacamole and salsa chips were revolutionary. The States has nothing on China. These odd flavors are not limited to potato chips. It also
extends to crackers with lemon or Neapolitan filling, Oreos with mango and papaya
or peach and lime flavoring that taste like floride, and ramen with hot
dogs. Indeed, the flavors in China are
very unique compared to the rest of the world.
3.
Shower Shoes
The Chinese people
have some very different habits compared to Western cultures. This habit applies not just to Chinese people,
but also to Korean and Japanese people.
There is a mindset that wearing shoes is a necessity. No matter what you are doing, no matter where
you are. This includes being inside, and
yes, being in the shower. My husband
told me a story about his friend in China who was teaching in China. One time, something in her apartment broke,
and so the school sent someone over to fix it.
Upon their arrival they discovered that she was only in socks refused to
fix whatever what broke until she finally put on shoes. So the fact that there are shoes in a basic
grocery store in China is no surprise, but traditionally one does not find
shoes distinctly meant for a shower.
4.
Raw handmade noodles
These were
noodles that had been hand made at the store and are packaged and priced
accordingly. In the United States, most
noodles are dry or uncooked, or they are cooked and freeze dried. These noodles are different; the dough has
been cooked, kneaded and the noodles pulled.
But the final step is for the customer to perform. I think the only place I’ve seen fresh
uncooked noodles is at a farmer’s market once a week in the summer time.
5. Condiment Containers
The Chinese like to season their food well, at a meal the only food that could be slightly bland is the rice. At almost every restaurant one might visit in China, there are small metal containers. In the containers is what looks like red pepper flakes, but these are much spicier than your average pepper flakes in the States. They are also swimming in some kind of oil that amplifies the spice. The food in Beijing is very strongly flavored; the soup can be quite bland because many are very week broth flavored soup. So the spice all goes to the main dishes and let me just tell you, they don't go easy on it. It's because the spice only goes in one dish that it must be extra flavorful because all the other dishes missed out...
6.
Tablecloth
Plastic Covers
When
I was little, my family had a plastic tablecloth that we use to eat dinner
on. My mom would commonly put it on
before putting a cloth one over it. The
plastic one was a bit wrinkly, but it had a pattern and a bit of a softer feel
to it. The tablecloths that I found
today were clear and rolled up like huge pieces of butcher paper. It was clear that the tablecloths of my
childhood were made to feel unnoticeable.
But in China, they don’t feel thread thin like plastic wrap. They are very thick more like the thickness
of a folded up paperbag. It is common to
find them in restaurants over cloth tablecloths; it allows for a fast clean up.
7.
Traveling
Silverware
One thing that is very distinct about
Chinese is that they dislike eating with their hands. If a Chinese person bought French fries, they
would use a toothpick to eat them, or if eating a piece of pizza they would use
a fork and knife. If they have to eat
something with their hands, there is sure to be a plastic or paper barrier
between the food and their hands. This
is a huge part of their lifestyle, so it makes sense that they would have
travel-sized silverware. Conveniently
there is a fork spoon, and expandable chopsticks that all fit into a reading
glasses size case. It’s a very easy way
to carry silverware around and avoid eating with ones hands. Also in some food establishments, it will
cost you money to obtain utensils. Thus,
travel sized utensils were born.
8.
Wooden
ladals, spatulas, and rice scoopers
One thing that I have noticed about the
United States, is that people now in days usually have plastic or metal cooking
and eating utensils. I’ve sometimes seen
wooden spoons for stews or soups.
However in modern times, it seems like most people have abandoned wood
and it doesn’t seem that you can even buy wholly wood utensils in stores. However, not only was the store fully stocked
with wood rice scoopers, but also wooden ladles for soup, and wooden spatulas
for cooking stir-fry.
9.
High
Grade Tupperware
I really want to own all the Tupperware
in China because it’s really organized.
Many containers have two sections in them because the Chinese like to
keep their rice and other foods separate before they eat. I also like eating that way. Also, when I’m in the States packing a lunch,
I’d rather take one big container than two small ones if I want say, apples and
crackers one day. The stacked Tupperware
is usually metal lined or pure metal; really useful for soup and keeping things
insulated. The Chinese believe in eating
things that are fresh, so naturally keeping things warm would be a priority.
10. Pregnant Women Salt
I was fairly perplexed when I saw
this. For some reason, the Chinese think
that women who are pregnant are like glass; one drop and they could
shatter. After Chinese women have children,
the woman is supposed to rest for a number of months before she resumes her
household duties. She is not to go
outside or get out of bed. This is to
prevent her from getting sick. I assume
that this salt is the same way. They
believe that the salt pregnant women need to eat is different than salt for
everyone else. Although I don’t believe
that’s true, that kind of segregation shouldn’t be going on; let’s be real for
a moment, pregnant women or recently postpartum women can have whatever kind of salt they want.
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