liuzhou

Because, as in most countries, tap water is not potable. People only drink bottled water. If the tap water is boiled it's OK, so can be used for cooking, but purists don't do that either. I don't even brush what teeth I have left with tap water! Every time I run out, I call the water guy and he brings me an 18 litre bottle and installs said water in the machine. It isn't mineral water, but purified water.

I am delighted to report that China has stepped into whisky distillation. It's early days but they have got off to a roaring start. Sadly, this is not a joke.

Bullfrogs. I did buy more than three.

Sichuan spicy frog snack food.

Almost every home and office in China has one of those. I'm sitting right beside mine (at home) now.

Jamón de cebo Ibérico

I'm going to assume you know what lettuce and tomatoes are. 😁 The DEFINITELY NOT C@RN is a beautiful, if small, example of what round here we call 苦瓜 (kǔ guā) otherwise known as bitter melon.

Snacked me up some salt and pepper red prawns, except the pepper was Sichuan peppercorns.

Small shopping bag today. Cost me ¥5.40 which is 80 cents USD

Indeed

Certainly not. Known as 'okoke', it is relatively common. Not usually made in a rice cooker, though.

My rice cooker is a no gō area!

China does not have Jasmine rice.

I'm told the Kunming "Panda Express" is no longer there.

Here's one that may stump many people. Each 'leg' is about 4¼ inches / 11cm long. The one with the pointed foot is marginally longer than the other. It is made for a very particular purpose.

Already happened. https://www.yicaiglobal.com/news/largest-us-chinese-restaurant-chain-panda-express-enters-china or maybe not https://www.thatsmags.com/china/post/31822/did-american-chain-panda-express-open-its-first-china-location Certainly there have been attempts to open American-Chinese restaurants in China in the past. I remember the first, an independent, opening in Shanghai several years ago. It lasted about twenty minutes.

Me too. In similar fashion.

I've mentioned 沅陵 (yuán líng) before. It is a little known town in West Hunan, near where I lived 25 years ago., and is populated largely by members of the Miao and Tujia ethnic minority. I have a few friends living there. This morning I unexpecedly received this: On the left are the local sausages and on the right is 晒兰 (shài lán), the wonderful ham only made and sold locally.

Pakistan's beloved mangoes are at risk as climate change shrinks harvest

Scotch eggs are not Scottish. They are English. The word 'scotch' in the name is not a reference to Scotland but another word, meaning to chop or cut and refers to the coating of the egg which is finely minced (chopped).

https://www.foodnavigator.com/Article/2022/08/02/waitrose-joins-ranks-of-uk-retailers-ditching-best-before-dates

Over the last few weeks, several UK supermarket chains have announced that they are abandoning such "best before dates" on a wide range of their food stocks in a bid to reduce food waste and hence greenhouse gas emissions.

No comment.

Lyons Magnus recalls 53 products including alternative milks and protein shakes So much for "healthy" alternatives!