I want to share about our common experiences at the fresh fruit, vegetable and flower markets here. I realize that what we see, taste and walk in are not everyday occurrences in the States so you all might be interested in this topic. Here goes.
As you walk through the narrow aisles at the outdoor markets you'll find roses, gladiolas, mums, daisies, sunflowers, tulips, foxglove, baby roses and an array of many more beautiful flowers I can't identify. These flowers come in every color imaginable and they are dirt cheap. A dozen roses costs less than $4. Would have been perfect for you guys around Valentine's Day! I keep the apartment decorated with these gorgeous flowers.
After the flowers you'll find fruit. Typically you can get apples, cherries, pears, oranges, bananas, tomatoes (they're with the fruit here), grapes, water pears (never eaten these in the States), starfruit (never eaten in the States), watermelon, cantaloupe, kiwi, strawberries as of late because they're in season, cherry tomatoes, plums, etc. Like the flowers, the fruit is very cheap. The apples stay fresh for a remarkably long time. I can keep apples for over two weeks without the freshness being lost! I don't know how this is possible because the fresh fruit markets don't use preservatives.
Then you have the vegetables. The vegetables are comprised mainly of cucumbers, green beans, cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, eggplant, peppers of all [normal] colors, and loads of greens that I can't identify. I've bought really good lettuce here and then some weird leaves of stuff that taste pretty good. The vegetable section is full of the greens. It's quite an appealing section of the market.
Next you'll find meat from every animal including the normal beef, pork and chicken along with a few exciting options such as dog, rat, turtle and duck. I am able to identify the unordinary meats because the heads are still on the turtles and ducks, and the tails are on the dogs and rats. I'm not joking. Rats are rare mind you, but still around. Every part of the animal is sold, and I mean every: kidneys, intestines, fat, livers, tongues, feet, hearts and a few other unidentifiable parts. They hang the meat at eye-level so you're sure not to miss the skinned chickens. They break their necks most of the time because the heads are eaten, too. I've had chicken heads served to me here. In Africa we had chicken feet so the chickens aren't too much of shock. However, the rest are.
One more thing about meat in China. (This is really gross so if you have a weak stomach don't read this part.) In some parts of China they serve monkey brains as a delicacy........while the monkey is still alive. I'm NOT making this up, promise. Several reliable sources have told me they will put a monkey through a hole in the table, restrain him so he cannot move, cut off the top part of his head and eat the brains while he's still alive. One girl discovered this when she felt something kick her under the table and found monkey legs flailing at her. Again, I promise I'm not making this up. TIC, no doubt!
Now on to a less gross part of the market yet potentially gross at the same time...the seafood bit. Fish swim in shallow Styrofoam containers. I don't know much about fish sadly, but there are at least ten different types to be bought. There are live turtles available in this part of the market along with live beetles and scorpions (not seafood, but sold in that section). Perhaps the most unnerving part of the market is the live eels section. Live eels swim in the shallow Styrofoam containers like the fish. You can buy live eels at Wal-Mart, but they are usually in large glass tanks. In the market they are HUGE. I thought they were snakes for the longest time, but the others assure me they are eels. I've seen some at least two feet long. Maybe you all don't think that's very big, but people actually take these home in a bag while they're still squirming, fry them and eat them. If the size doesn't freak you out, the quantity of eels will. There are hundreds swimming, or vegetating really, in these shallow containers. I'll try to post a picture. Last time it didn't work, but I'll try again so you all can see the situation more clearly.
Before you exit the market you can find bowls, spoons and oil to cook your treasures in, peanut butter if you haven't found something to satisfy your craving (or if you've lost your appetite for anything other than American staples) and coat hangers to dry your coat on since it can be very wet and nasty in the markets. I hope you've enjoyed your tour of a Chinese market. Don't slip on the way out and be glad you aren't really here to fully appreciate the many stenches that accompany the experience! Zai jian!
As you walk through the narrow aisles at the outdoor markets you'll find roses, gladiolas, mums, daisies, sunflowers, tulips, foxglove, baby roses and an array of many more beautiful flowers I can't identify. These flowers come in every color imaginable and they are dirt cheap. A dozen roses costs less than $4. Would have been perfect for you guys around Valentine's Day! I keep the apartment decorated with these gorgeous flowers.
After the flowers you'll find fruit. Typically you can get apples, cherries, pears, oranges, bananas, tomatoes (they're with the fruit here), grapes, water pears (never eaten these in the States), starfruit (never eaten in the States), watermelon, cantaloupe, kiwi, strawberries as of late because they're in season, cherry tomatoes, plums, etc. Like the flowers, the fruit is very cheap. The apples stay fresh for a remarkably long time. I can keep apples for over two weeks without the freshness being lost! I don't know how this is possible because the fresh fruit markets don't use preservatives.
Then you have the vegetables. The vegetables are comprised mainly of cucumbers, green beans, cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, eggplant, peppers of all [normal] colors, and loads of greens that I can't identify. I've bought really good lettuce here and then some weird leaves of stuff that taste pretty good. The vegetable section is full of the greens. It's quite an appealing section of the market.
Next you'll find meat from every animal including the normal beef, pork and chicken along with a few exciting options such as dog, rat, turtle and duck. I am able to identify the unordinary meats because the heads are still on the turtles and ducks, and the tails are on the dogs and rats. I'm not joking. Rats are rare mind you, but still around. Every part of the animal is sold, and I mean every: kidneys, intestines, fat, livers, tongues, feet, hearts and a few other unidentifiable parts. They hang the meat at eye-level so you're sure not to miss the skinned chickens. They break their necks most of the time because the heads are eaten, too. I've had chicken heads served to me here. In Africa we had chicken feet so the chickens aren't too much of shock. However, the rest are.
One more thing about meat in China. (This is really gross so if you have a weak stomach don't read this part.) In some parts of China they serve monkey brains as a delicacy........while the monkey is still alive. I'm NOT making this up, promise. Several reliable sources have told me they will put a monkey through a hole in the table, restrain him so he cannot move, cut off the top part of his head and eat the brains while he's still alive. One girl discovered this when she felt something kick her under the table and found monkey legs flailing at her. Again, I promise I'm not making this up. TIC, no doubt!
Now on to a less gross part of the market yet potentially gross at the same time...the seafood bit. Fish swim in shallow Styrofoam containers. I don't know much about fish sadly, but there are at least ten different types to be bought. There are live turtles available in this part of the market along with live beetles and scorpions (not seafood, but sold in that section). Perhaps the most unnerving part of the market is the live eels section. Live eels swim in the shallow Styrofoam containers like the fish. You can buy live eels at Wal-Mart, but they are usually in large glass tanks. In the market they are HUGE. I thought they were snakes for the longest time, but the others assure me they are eels. I've seen some at least two feet long. Maybe you all don't think that's very big, but people actually take these home in a bag while they're still squirming, fry them and eat them. If the size doesn't freak you out, the quantity of eels will. There are hundreds swimming, or vegetating really, in these shallow containers. I'll try to post a picture. Last time it didn't work, but I'll try again so you all can see the situation more clearly.
Before you exit the market you can find bowls, spoons and oil to cook your treasures in, peanut butter if you haven't found something to satisfy your craving (or if you've lost your appetite for anything other than American staples) and coat hangers to dry your coat on since it can be very wet and nasty in the markets. I hope you've enjoyed your tour of a Chinese market. Don't slip on the way out and be glad you aren't really here to fully appreciate the many stenches that accompany the experience! Zai jian!
