For those who have grocery shopped in various countries, what are some differences you see in what groceries are available? (1 Viewer)

[Ahsoka]

One thing I find very noticeable between the US and Russia is that the US has a smaller range of dairy products. The US generally has milk, cream, butter, sour cream, yogurt, cheese, cottage cheese, ricotta, and buttermilk. Of course there can be more but those are the basics. Russia has that plus tvorog, ryezhinka, kefir (can be found in the us but not as common), and prostokvasha. I do think the US selections of cheese are superior to the Russian selections though.

Also desserts at Russian grocery stores are miles better than at American stores. Most of the American ones are sweet to the point of being disgusting. I like sweet things but the ones at an average US grocery store are too much. Russian grocery desserts can be sweet ofc (pastila and zephyr are basically sugar, fruit puree, and egg white) but they aren’t to the point American desserts are. I could leave a Russian grocery store with 5-6 appealing desserts easily, whereas that only happens at specific specialty stores here. But to me it’s not a huge problem in the US because I have the time and ability to make my own desserts here, and the sections of US stores with ingredients for baking and whatnot have the ingredients for lots of dessert options. I haven’t actually checked those sections in Russian stores, but I would expect that from that perspective US grocery stores probably beat Russian ones.

 

[Belgizen]

Bread never tastes the same.
Here, bread is a full meal and quite filling, but in other countries it's not. Like I can eat a whole bread in France and still be hungry.
Also the texture is different.

Also, in France, there's no system to the products at all (or at least the south). You'll have laundry detergent and coke in the same isle, sprite 3 aisles further...
It's probably because people there are more relaxed and see it as an activity.
Like people there go the busiest register on purpose because they need to do something with their day i guess?

 

[Ahsoka]

Bread never tastes the same.
Here, bread is a full meal and quite filling, but in other countries it's not. Like I can eat a whole bread in France and still be hungry.
Also the texture is different.

Also, in France, there's no system to the products at all (or at least the south). You'll have laundry detergent and coke in the same isle, sprite 3 aisles further...
It's probably because people there are more relaxed and see it as an activity.
Like people there go the busiest register on purpose because they need to do something with their day i guess?

As someone who already struggles to find the groceries with an organized system I think I’d consistently leave with only half of what I want to get if I lived in France

As for bread I’ve heard non Americans be confused because they weren’t expecting it to be so sweet. And they’re not wrong that white bread here seems to be sweeter. But we do have bread that’s not sweet, it’s just not the bread that’s usually white and sliced and sold here in large numbers, you have to go with bakery bread, sourdough, or non white bread for that. That was one of their food thing I liked about Russia, the white bread wasn’t so sweet. And that reminds me of desserts, Russian desserts are so much better at grocery stores. I’ll actually edit that into my original, it’s a major difference

 

[RandAlThor]

As someone who already struggles to find the groceries with an organized system I think I’d consistently leave with only half of what I want to get if I lived in France

As for bread I’ve heard non Americans be confused because they weren’t expecting it to be so sweet. And they’re not wrong that white bread here seems to be sweeter. But we do have bread that’s not sweet, it’s just not the bread that’s usually white and sliced and sold here in large numbers, you have to go with bakery bread, sourdough, or non white bread for that. That was one of their food thing I liked about Russia, the white bread wasn’t so sweet. And that reminds me of desserts, Russian desserts are so much better at grocery stores. I’ll actually edit that into my original, it’s a major difference

When we make bread its never been sweet.

We almost never bought bread most of the older kids learned to make it and much more baking . ( Mom is a multi blue ribbon winner for baking and preservers. Store bough wonder bread type stuff is just air.

i love sweet dererts one of my fave is pecan pie which is sugared nuts on sugar pudding so its sweet :) but all i have ever really bough is like cakes/pie from stores and costco. and ofc donuts/ danish. store bout pie usually has minimal fruit so ill give ya those are crazy sweet.

Korea is crazy shopping is like food isles admis restaurant's/ a street market.
they do have some rammen flavors, aisle's of rammen only.

also self bagging aka bring a box to pack the stuff in .


Australia was kinda like the us if you went to a store but there were much more of a local bakery/ butcher ect in ever sub town in the city.

Where as you have to know where to find a dedicated butcher or bakery in you city in the us.

 

[Ahsoka]

When we make bread its never been sweet.

We almost never bought bread most of the older kids learned to make it and much more baking . ( Mom is a multi blue ribbon winner for baking and preservers. Store bough wonder bread type stuff is just air.

i love sweet dererts one of my fave is pecan pie which is sugared nuts on sugar pudding so its sweet :) but all i have ever really bough is like cakes/pie from stores and costco. and ofc donuts/ danish. store bout pie usually has minimal fruit so ill give ya those are crazy sweet.

Korea is crazy shopping is like food isles admis restaurant's/ a street market.
they do have some rammen flavors, aisle's of rammen only.

also self bagging aka bring a box to pack the stuff in .


Australia was kinda like the us if you went to a store but there were much more of a local bakery/ butcher ect in ever sub town in the city.

Where as you have to know where to find a dedicated butcher or bakery in you city in the us.

We only use homemade bread generally too, but I was referring to the bread you find at grocery stores. Otherwise one could never claim that food in any country is too sweet/not sweet enough/ not spicy enough/ect because at that point you can make your own to your specifications. Like me with sweet things, I’m in the us and make my own stuff that isn’t too sweet, but it doesn’t change that the store bought versions are usually too sweet

 

[RandAlThor]

We only use homemade bread generally too, but I was referring to the bread you find at grocery stores. Otherwise one could never claim that food in any country is too sweet/not sweet enough/ not spicy enough/ect because at that point you can make your own to your specifications. Like me with sweet things, I’m in the us and make my own stuff that isn’t too sweet, but it doesn’t change that the store bought versions are usually too sweet

ok i have never noticed.
but i only buy plain white breads very rarely and that is just for toast . I tend to buy the store made Italian or French bread they make daily for sandwiches[but i have been on and off Keto for the better part of 2 decades] . ( well in the case of wall mart/ most stores maybe bake very few actually make the bread or ill bet the deserts)

 

[Ahsoka]

ok i have never noticed.
but i only buy plain white breads very rarely and that is just for toast . I tend to buy the store made Italian or French bread they make daily for sandwiches[but i have been on and off Keto for the better part of 2 decades] . ( well in the case of wall mart/ most stores maybe bake very few actually make the bread or ill bet the deserts)

We only get bread specifically marketed as dinner rolls if we do need bread for whatever reason. Those aren’t as sweet usually because the intent is for savory foods.

 

[badcrookshanks]

more of a general difference (or cultural one?), but when i was in athens and i was paying for the groceries, the lady at the checkout took the card from my hand and inserted it herself into the card reader so i wasnt even sure if she put a right amount to pay - back at the time when i was using an actual card, now i use my phone, im wondering what she would do in that situation cause im clutching my phone to death

 

[Selfmate]

fresh produce in Singapore is very expensive lol

 

[Belgizen]

As someone who already struggles to find the groceries with an organized system I think I’d consistently leave with only half of what I want to get if I lived in France

As for bread I’ve heard non Americans be confused because they weren’t expecting it to be so sweet. And they’re not wrong that white bread here seems to be sweeter. But we do have bread that’s not sweet, it’s just not the bread that’s usually white and sliced and sold here in large numbers, you have to go with bakery bread, sourdough, or non white bread for that. That was one of their food thing I liked about Russia, the white bread wasn’t so sweet. And that reminds me of desserts, Russian desserts are so much better at grocery stores. I’ll actually edit that into my original, it’s a major difference

For real, I work next to a Carrefour and they start changing stuff every week like they do in France and I do end up leaving when i can't find something. I don't like spending time doing groceries as it is, i don't wanna look the whole store for a small item.

Here, bread isn't sweet at all, unless you take raisin bread or sugar bread

 

[Ahsoka]

more of a general difference (or cultural one?), but when i was in athens and i was paying for the groceries, the lady at the checkout took the card from my hand and inserted it herself into the card reader so i wasnt even sure if she put a right amount to pay - back at the time when i was using an actual card, now i use my phone, im wondering what she would do in that situation cause im clutching my phone to death

I suggest that if you visit the US you never visit a restaurant

 

[athenaaa]

WHY DOES THE US HAVE SOOOOO MANY VARIETIES OF SUGARY TREATS (ie oreos, cereal)

 

[Ahsoka]

WHY DOES THE US HAVE SOOOOO MANY VARIETIES OF SUGARY TREATS (ie oreos, cereal)

Because sugar is yummy

 

[athenaaa]

Because sugar is yummy

You guys have like 7000 kinda of Oreos, we are lucky if we get 3

 

[badcrookshanks]

I suggest that if you visit the US you never visit a restaurant

US is not on my travel list but i will remember