Chances are you go grocery shopping at least once a week at home. Perusing the local grocery store or food market while you’re traveling is an underappreciated, inexpensive and potentially delicious way to gain some insight into the local culture and cuisine. Here are several categories of food and beverages to explore at the grocery store.
Fresh Foods
Look for different fresh foods than the ones you see at home. You’ll often be able to spot different fruits, vegetables, meats, cheeses, and seafood in grocery stores away from home.
Bakery Items
Look for local breads or flatbreads in the grocery store, like German brotchen (crusty rolls) or Greek Koulouri bread (sesame seed ring bread).
Snack Foods
Search for popular regional snack foods and brands. Some snack foods might be made freish (e.g. tamales in Mexico) while other local delicacies will be processed foods (e.g. choco pies in many Asian countries).
Alcohol
Find out about popular local alcohol. Most countries, aside from ones that ban drinking, will have popular local beer like: Imperial (Costa Rica), Sapporo (Japan), or Krombacher (Germany). Countries often have national liquors as well, like: soju (Korea), pisco (Peru),or akevitt (Norway).
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Even if you don’t expect to purchase anything, going to the grocery store is a low-pressure and everyday way to learn about a local culture through its food and drink. Besides, you might change your mind and end up buying some local flatbread or choco pies, anyway. You’re exploring like a local after all.