Recently, UC Berkeley posted this list of “common” emotional reactions to the coronavirus epidemic:
It’s good to know that “hyper-vigilance to your health and body” is a typical symptom and that I’m not an insane amalgamation of germaphobe, health freak, gym rat, and hypochondriac.
But on a more concerning note, apparently anger and xenophobia are considered “normal” reactions to distressing events occurring overseas. This disturbing trend has resulted as many sources linked the first cases of Coronavirus to a wet market in Wuhan, which sold live animals among other meat products.
Europe has also had its fair share of this phenomena. Take a look at this newspaper headline declaring a “Yellow Alert”:
This headline was accompanied by a wave of coronavirus hysteria that saw Asian residents literally pushed out of public subways and buses.
Personally, I encountered a rather strapping young lad in downtown Naperville who stuck his head out of his friend’s car and yelled “WHERE’S MY DOG” at me. God bless his heart.
So yeah, the stereotype that all Chinese people would love to taste their neighbor’s purebred golden retriever is very much false.
Here’s a list of snacks that Chinese people actually eat. I highly recommend that you give them a try:
Guava candy:
These hard candies are essentially exotic Jolly Ranchers. Unless you’re a hardcore Asian and eat guavas on the daily, you probably don’t know what guava actually tastes like. For starters, it’s kind of a mix between green apple and grape with a melon-y twist. The candy itself isn’t as tart as a Jolly Rancher, and has a mild, refreshing sweetness. Some say guava candy is an acquired taste, but I’ve given these out as treats for my first grade math class at Ray Chinese School and they love them.
Did I mention they’re dirt cheap? They come in a bag of 130 individually wrapped candies at H-Mart for around $5. Many Asian families will buy these as desk candies in place of Lifesavers or peppermints and certain Asian restaurants will hand them out along with their fortune cookies.
So, if you’re into exotic fruit candies and trying new flavors, I would definitely drive on over to H-Mart and pick up a bag of these. (Pro tip: keep a few in your car for dates–as conversation starters of course ;)).
Yakult Yogurt Drinks:
As a kid, this was the one item I hoped to see when my mom brought home the groceries every week. Until you’ve tried Yakult, you won’t know the joy of opening the refrigerator and seeing a row of these tiny bottles nestled between the very appetizing tofu and scrumptious leftover rice.
Recently, these drinks have risen in popularity due to their cameo in the Netflix movie adaptation of To All the Boys I Loved Before where the main character teases her boyfriend for never having tried one. Yakult stock literally jumped 2.6% in the weeks after the premier and as a result, these now iconic beverages are easy to find on the shelves of your local Asian grocery store (just go to H-Mart they have almost everything on this list).
As far as flavor goes, Yakult doesn’t taste like conventional yogurt. It feels light in your mouth, has a crisp sweetness, and features a subtle citrusy tang. The only downside is that the bottles contain only about a shot’s worth of beverage, so if you’re really craving Yakult, you may need to down the whole 5-pack to get your fix.
Aloe Vera Juice:
If you like pulpy orange juice, then this is the drink for you. Aloe Vera Juice isn’t your typical “infused water” with a trace of flavor you can only taste if you imagine the fruit in your head first. Instead, Aloe juice is saturated with small chunks of aloe to the point where it takes on a sort of liquid-jelly texture.
Like the Guava candies, Aloe is a bit of an obscure flavor–one that doesn’t immediately scream “make a beverage out of me”. But alas, no one tells Chinese people what they can and cannot eat. One word to describe the taste of aloe is “fresh”; Aloe vera juice doesn’t leave an acidic aftertaste like OJ, nor is it as concentrated as apple juice. Instead, it’s a mild flavor with a clean sweetness–really quite refreshing especially after it has been chilled.
Shrimp Chips/Crackers:
For a more savory twist, Shrimp Chips are a delectable snack that couples the umami deliciousness of seafood with a crispy cracker. Instantly addictive, Shrimp Chips are a hidden gem at all Asian grocery stores. Though they don’t look or sound too enticing, Shrimp Chips are light and crunchy, mildly seasoned to bring out a hint of seafood flavor, and don’t leave your mouth and fingers dusty, oily, or stained as many mainstream chips will.
There’s many different brands of Shrimp Chips out there, but I would recommend the red bag NongShim Shrimp Crackers. They’re the least sketchy and their crinkle cut shape makes them crunchier than the competition.
Even if shrimp isn’t your go-to chip flavor, I would still give NongShim Shrimp Crackers a shot; it’s a great way to explore new foods, and I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised by the taste.
White Rabbit Candy
These are a little harder to find in the states, but they probably sell them in Chinatown or at the Oriental Mart in Lisle. White Rabbit Candies are basically Chinese tootsie rolls–except they’re sweet-milk flavored.
At first glance, White Rabbit Candies may seem like the last thing you want in your mouth. When you unwrap one, you’ll find a thin film encasing a off-white chunk of taffy. But do not be alarmed, as the film is simply rice paper that prevents sticking, and the expired-looking material is actually a delectable candy. It’s not obscenely sweet, has a subtle, but distinct milky flavor, and exudes the desirable property of not sticking to every crevice in your mouth.
Though it might be hard to get over the fact that you’re eating milk flavored candy, just remember that the use of milk in candy making is not an otherworldly concept–the Swiss have mastered milk chocolate–and most people will eat ice cream or milkshakes without a second thought.
Sachima
This is the Chinese version of Rice-Krispie Treats. Ironically, instead of rice, it’s fried dough bonded with rock sugar and sprinkled with sesame seeds. Taste wise, it’s kind of like a denser and more cohesive version of funnel cake.
Ramen Snacks:
This is a snack I discovered more recently–after winning a bag at H-Mart’s customer appreciation day. Inside was literally just dry, crushed-up ramen noodles seasoned with what appeared to be soup base.
Seeing no convenient way to eat it, I held the bag up to my mouth and decanted its contents like you would when waterfalling from someone else’s water bottle.
If you can get over this unorthodox way of eating, you’ll love Ramen Noodle Snacks. The small pieces of ramen make for a large surface area, so you get a huge amount of crunch and flavor in every mouthful.
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Hopefully, this list has inspired you to try something new, or, at the very least, given a little glimpse into the vast variety of food consumed around the world.
They say that the quickest way to a man’s heart is through his stomach–I think the same thing applies here.
From my point of view, the majority of our society’s xenophobia stems from a lack of cultural awareness, which leads to stereotypes like “Chinese people eat dogs”, which leads to discrimination on a racial basis. Trying another culture’s food is an easy way to get to know the traditions, differences, and quirks that make up its heartbeat.
So the next time you’re at the grocery store, stop by the international section and pick out something new. I guarantee your taste buds will be delighted by what you find.