Before I moved to Korea I was a little nervous about what I would miss. Asia is not America and I knew that there would be certain products that I just wouldn't be able to get. I have been pleasantly surprised at how few things I have missed. But there are still some products that I long for. And this post is dedicated to them.
1. Cheese. Koreans have cheese. They have processed sliced cheese. And I'm not judging that. I have eaten many pieces of processed sliced cheese in my life and I will likely eat many more. But I want more kinds of cheese. Feta, blue cheese, mozzarella, cheddar, cottage cheese, and so many other kinds that I don't even know the names of. I miss them. I miss the variety.
2. Buffalo sauce. Okay, so this is a uniquely American sauce. The Englishman in town didn't even know what it was when I brought it up. And I understand why it's not in Asia, it hasn't even made it outside of North America yet from what I can gather. But I still want buffalo sauce. That flavor just cannot be beat.
3. Ranch dressing. This was an issue that also plagued my time in Ireland. I don't understand why more countries don't have ranch dressing. They have ketchup! It's nearly the same thing. Well, no, actually it's not the same thing. But American high school students frequently use ranch in places that most people would think they would only use ketchup. So yea, a lot of people are using ranch. It should be global by now.
4. Peanut butter and peanut butter byproducts. Koreans also have peanut butter but it's expensive so I don't buy it. And actually I don't miss peanut butter that much. But sometimes I want candy with peanut butter in it. Reese's peanut butter cups, Reese's pieces, a Take 5 bar (whatever happened to those!?). Just a little bit of peanut butter. That's all I want.
5. Real pepperoni pizza. This is another thing that Koreans technically have. They have pizza. They have pepperoni pizza. But they don't have real pepperoni pizza. I'm not sure what the pepperonis are really made of but it's not what I know of as a pepperoni. The pepperoni pizza here isn't really bad, it's just not as good as what we have back home. And I so wish it was.
6. Greek food. Italian food. Mexican food. Basically just food of any ethnicity other than Korean, American, or Chinese. I like all three, but I miss being able to try other kinds. Especially the Greek food. Gyros! I long for you!
If anyone can figure out how to cheaply and efficiently get these products to Korea, they will make a fortune. Off of my purchases alone. I guarantee it.
Interesting that peanut butter is so expensive in Korea! Maybe peanuts cannot grow there so it all has to be imported!
ReplyDeleteI remember being very disheartened by the pizza in Belgium. I was in Belgium for a month with the air guard. I learned quickly they use warm milk on their cereal, salt is in big bowls and what we consider pizza was nowhere to be found!
That's funny about Ranch Dressing! One of my boys would most likely refuse to enter a country without Ranch Dressing!
When do you return?
Yes, the ranch dressing problem is definitely a big one for many foreigners!
DeleteI come back for a visit for about two weeks in August but I'm not sure the exact dates yet. But I'm looking forward to coming home and eating all of these foods I've been missing!
I would love to share your blog with all of WIT through the Twitter or Facebook Account. Would you be ok with that or would you rather not? Let me know! Thanks! Rhonda
ReplyDeleterhonda.briggs@witcc.edu
Taleen I've found you.
ReplyDelete