The possibilities are endless when it comes to online shopping. There are the usual culprits like items for home improvement, workout essentials, or the latest tech products. But did you know that beneath all that, there are imported food finds you can actually shop too? Traveling is far from our priority list right now but who says our tastebuds can’t? Travel to Taiwan, Japan, China, and more places with these food finds you can add to your cart now:
Lao Gan Ma Crispy Chili Oil
Putting this up here just because I’m personally obsessed with this. This chili oil isn’t like the usual chili oil you can find in the market. While Lao Gan Ma has more than 10 kinds of chili oil in its lineup, their Crispy Chili Oil is their best-seller. It’s mildly hot, gives a slight numbing feeling from the Szechuan peppers, and has umami you just can’t ignore.
Get it here.
Century Egg
Also known as a hundred-year-old egg, the century egg is a bit shocking because of its color. These are preserved duck eggs in a clay mixture and left for several weeks or months (not years). Through the process, the yolk turns into a dark gray color with a creamy consistency and a strong flavor, with an almost pungent smell. This is perfect with a splash of black vinegar or high-quality soy sauce. Pro tip: Make sure to choose a Taiwanese brand for this!
Get it here.
Instant Jellyfish
A Chinese platter won’t be complete without some jellyfish. And yes, this is also available online! All you have to do is tear open the packet, rinse the jellyfish, and toss it in the sauce it comes with. This is available in spicy or sweet and sour.
Get it here.
Hot and Sour Soup
Knorr has been known for its easy-to-make homestyle soup. I thought I’ve tried all of them so when I saw this particular variant, I got so excited. A famous Chinese soup, the Hot and Sour soup is probably a unique find especially if you’re from the Philippines. Just like the other variants, you only have to cook it in boiling water and add beaten egg. Now you really don’t have to order from a Chinese restaurant!
Get it here.
Nissin Ramen
Enjoy the taste of authentic ramen at the comforts of your home! At only P295 for a pack of five, this Nissin Ramen is probably one of the most affordable instant ramens you can find that’s of quality. Choose from Tokyo shoyu, black garlic, or Hokkaido miso!
Get it here.
Five Spice Powder
Missing Taiwan? This mixture of cinnamon, cloves, fennel seed, star anise, and Szechuan peppercorns will instantly give you a taste of Taiwan at home. Use this as a marinade for your chosen meat or you can even just sprinkle this on some fried tofu!
Get it here.
Self-heating Hotpot
Hotpot weather is going to be here for a couple more weeks but it doesn’t mean we should be spending more on it. Get this easy-to-prepare self-heating hotpot from Haidilao which is a popular shabu-shabu chain in China, by the way!
Get it here.
Self-heating Claypot Rice
There’s the self-heating hotpot and then there’s this self-heating claypot rice that will save you time when things get busy at work. There are eight variants available: double-cooked pork, curry beef, mushroom beef, chicken & mushroom, and more. And they taste homecooked too!
Get it here.
