Super Oriental or Super Kise opened its doors in 1990 in the Del Carmen neighborhood, Coyoacán, offering various products of Asian origin to the inhabitants of the south of the city. Since then, the store has been open for more than 30 years, being part of these specialized stores that took the risk of selling new flavors in the capital and that today are still in force with products that are considered classics.
On a quick visit to a supermarket with Asian food, you could buy basics like green tea, Pocari Sweat, ultra-spicy Korean ramen or banana-flavored milk; but with a little time to spare and the excitement of trying new things, these establishments like Super Oriental can give you flavors that you may have thought were only for connoisseurs.
Inside Super Oriental I found five products of Asian origin that are not so common, and that sometimes go unnoticed but are actually easier to add to your daily meals than you think.
The yuzu kosho seasoning needs to be kept refrigerated.
Yuzu Koshō
This small container holds what many call the "secret weapon" of Japanese chefs: a citrus-based cured paste that enhances the flavor of ingredients by giving them a taste like no other. Intense and aromatic, yuzu koshō integrates the flavor of serrano and jalapeño-like chiles, garlic and of course, yuzu, a citrus fruit grown in Japan but originating in China, which resembles "a small green grapefruit with a puffy rind." Without making much extra effort, with this preparation you can add complexity to whatever you are preparing or eating.
Add some of this paste (half a tablespoon or a full tablespoon if you're feeling adventurous), to stews with shrimp and rice, season chicken with vegetables, or spice up your miso soup; with a little water you can create a wasabe-like side dish for sashimi, or if baking is your thing, create your own deliciously spicy and sweet yuzo koshō crackers. Find this Asian product in Super Oriental's refrigerators.
Seasoning for ochazuke, or tea rice soup.
Seasoning for pickled plum ochazuke
Ochazuke or chazuke is one of the most traditional and simple Japanese dishes to prepare at home: in a bowl with white rice and salty toppings, add hot green tea and enjoy instantly. In Japan it is common to find this dish with cooked salmon, and here in the city you can get a similar taste thanks to this seasoning that is sold as a package with 6 sachets (one for each bowl).
To obtain the flavor of this condiment you should add green tea and not consume it dry.
There are a few flavors of this product from the Nagatanien brand, but the umeboshi one containing real dried pickled plum, classic seaweed and green tea-flavored crispy rice cracker proved to be a nice change from the usual flavors. Thanks to the salted and cured Japanese plums from which the umeboshi is made, this may not be the most organic additive out there, but it's one that will get you out of a rut.
Chinkiang black vinegar is an integral part of Chinese cuisine.
Chinkiang black vinegar
Chinese black vinegar is dark (clear) and mild made from malt and glutinous rice, like a cousin of balsamic, but more acidic and inexpensive. Chinkiang is ubiquitous in Chinese cuisine and is made from sorghum, peas, barley, bran and straw, giving it a strong smoky flavor that separates it from other black vinegars.
This black vinegar is perfect for dumplings, for dishes like braised fish or tofu salad; if you want to add it to meat, I recommend using it as part of a garlic sauce like Suan Ni Bai Rou, or sliced pork belly with garlic dressing.
Babu shoots are cut before they grow more than 15 cm.
Canned bamboo shoots
These small soft cones are traditional ingredients in both Chinese and Japanese dishes, and are as easy to cook as carrots. Their flavor is not strong and it is possible to cook them in wok stews as well as in soups. You should know that these shoots are cut before they pass 15 cm and become what you perceive as the unbreakable bamboo, cooked and canned to be eaten in thin slices, not whole. If you bought them fresh, you'd spend a lot of time boiling them to make them edible, but this product makes everything so simple, you just need to add it to pork with other vegetables and sauces in a wok, and you're done.
Soluble Korean ginseng tea.
Instant Ginseng Tea
There is not much complication with this Asian product: instant Korean ginseng tea only requires hot water and the desire to enjoy its benefits. Considered an export ingredient for its invigorating effects that differentiate it from other ginseng, this Korean tea comes in its most versatile format in a mini box with 10 sachets, in case you don't know if you will like its flavor. It is recommended to take it with a little honey.
Different seasonings of the Super Oriental.
In addition to the Asian products mentioned above, at Super Oriental in Coyoacán you can find spices, condiments and curry preparations in small and large portions, depending on how you would like to start cooking these new flavors.
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