Each country tends to have some unique foods that are locally produced and sold with pride in their traditional markets. Watch closely and sample judiciously for a better understanding of their culture.
Each country tends to have some unique foods that are locally produced and sold with pride in their traditional markets. Watch closely and sample judiciously for a better understanding of their culture.
The Amazon River has over 2,000 species of freshwater fish. So, it is not surprising fish is a dietary staple of the people living in the Amazon Rainforest. Many residents of Manaus catch their own. Most shop at the fish market inside Feira da Manaus Moderna. According to a recent survey, nearly 62% say their favorite species is tambaqui. In second place are jaraqui shown here (12.8%) and coming in third are pacu (10.6%).
Av. Lourenço da Silva Braga, 700 – Centro, Manaus - AM, 69057-050, Brazil
Bananas are not indigenous to Brazil. Since they were imported by the Portuguese in the 16th century, the crop has flourished. Brazil is now the second-largest producer in the world. Manaus has a dedicated marketplace for bananas. Its name Feira da Banana means banana fair. It is fun watching huge stems of the fruit being thrown off trucks into the waiting hands of workers who stack them high in the aisles. 50,000 bunches of bananas arrive every day. Approximately 85% of the region’s crop are sold here each year.
Feira da Banana, Rua Pedro Botelho - Centro, Manaus - 69005-100, Brazil
Saltwater clams can be found on both the Atlantic and Pacific coasts of South America. Many people consider the best are these Chilean machas clams displayed at an outdoor fish market in Puerto Montt. The almejas are a wonderful main ingredient for Chilean cuisine. They are harvested by “hookah” divers who use breathing lines to reach the clam beds. Southern Chile also has a freshwater species of clams found in rivers called diplodon chilensis.
Mercado Típico Caleta de Angelmó Acceso A Angelmó, Puerto Montt, X Región, Chile
Until recently, the aquaculture of Chile was the world’s second largest producer of salmon like these exquisite fillets. Most of these fish farms are in Chile’s Los Largos Region which is where this fish market is located in Puerto Montt. However, the industry was struck with an outbreak of a viral disease called infectious salmon anemia virus, resulting in a 75% drop in production.
Mercado Típico Caleta de Angelmó Acceso A Angelmó, Puerto Montt, X Región, Chile
Along the eastern wall of Diocletian’s Palace is the Green Market. This outdoor marketplace, called Pzar in Croatian, is filled with residents who inspect, squeeze and purchase fresh fruit and vegetables displayed in crates by local merchants. The ambiance is alive with bustling, hustling and bargaining.
Ul. Stari pazar, 21000, Split, Croatia
This view of the Floating Market from the Queen Wilhelmina bridge makes it seem the market is conducted from the tethered boats along the Waaigat waterfront. However, behind those tarps are produce stalls brimming with fresh fruits, vegetables and fish. They are built along the colorful buildings of Shailio Caprileskade. Many Venezuelan merchants live in those small wooden boats. They also use them to transport their fresh product from their homeland 40 miles away across the Caribbean.
Kon. Wilhelminabrug Willemstad, Curaçao
During your stay in Samaná, you can have a wonderful time strolling along the bay, sunning at the beaches and enjoying the amenities of a resort. But if you want to really experience Samaná, then visit the central market. The displays are rustic yet brimming with fresh fruits and vegetables. Prominent among the offerings are pineapples, watermelons, papaya and bananas. The atmosphere bustles with activity as customers inspect the produce and bargain with the vendors.
Calle Adriano Horton, Samaná 32000, Dominican Republic
The Nile River floods during most summers. This seasonal event brings rich nutrients that fertilize the valley around Aswan, Egypt, and make the land ideal for farming. Since 1970, these waters have been controlled by the High Dam. Nearby, reachable by a boat called a felucca, is a traditional market filled with textiles, clothing and spices like these on display. But watch out: I was almost stampeded by a runaway camel.
Bazar El-Sabr & El-Iman Sheyakhah Oula, Qism Aswan, Aswan Governorate, Egypt
Most people traveling to Luxor visit the ancient Egyptian temples and the Valley of the Kings and Queens. But to get a true flavor of the city, avoid the sougs and street markets catering to tourists. Instead, ask your tour guide to visit a traditional, outdoor market. You will discover everyday scenes like this one where men sit on cages holding pigeons and chickens while drinking their tea called Shai. In Luxor, a popular tea is Koshary. The beverage is very black, brewed in boiling water and sweetened with either cane sugar or mint leaves. Perhaps this gives Egyptians the energy to bargain with shoppers. Every simple transaction becomes a lengthy ritual of sipping tea while debating the price. As we walked through, you could tell they were surprised to see an American in their midst.
El-Souk, Luxor City, Luxor, Luxor Governorate, Egypt
Luxor, Egypt, was once a thriving city for tourists who come to see the ancient temples and tombs of kings. But a series of tragic events, such as a massacre in 1997, the civil demonstrations since 2011 called “Arab Spring,” and a hot air balloon crash in 2013, have kept many of the foreign visitors away. The severe economic impact has caused the locals to find income by growing their own food and raising pigeons, like these for sale at an open market.
El-Souk, Luxor City, Luxor Governorate, Egypt
This Egyptian woman was shopping for grains from colorful, burlap sacks at an open-air market in Luxor. Young Egyptian woman have adopted many Western fashion trends. However, older women still wear the traditional abaya. This is a large, often black and shapeless dress. It is typically accompanied by a scarf covering the hair but not the face. This attire is often worn for religious reasons. However, it is also a practical garment to shield from the intense heat and wind-driven sand.
El-Souk, Luxor City, Luxor, Luxor Governorate, Egypt
During June, take a walk through the 240,000 square foot food market called Viktualienmarkt, which is located in the center of Munich, Germany, and you’ll quickly find huge displays of sweet cherries among several of the 100 plus stalls. They are red, ripe, smell wonderful and taste even better. They are produced from over 2 ½ million sweet cherry trees in the country. Another 1 ½ million trees grow tart cherries, which are mainly reserved for cooking.
These six gabled houses – Neuer Markt 11 through 16 – were constructed from the Middle Ages through the 19th century. They were rebuilt after being heavily damaged during WWII. The most interesting building along the New Market is Rats Apotheke at Neuer Markt 13. This Town Hall Pharmacy originated in 1260. Back then, the Neuer Markt was also the location of a pillory. Its wooden frame secured a criminal’s head and hands during public humiliation.
Neuer Markt 12, 18055 Rostock, Germany
The New Market is a huge square (295 by 260 feet) in Rostock’s city center. On Saturdays, they host a farmers market with stalls full of tempting produce, flowers and crafts. It is worth bringing your appetite and then leaving with a sack full of fresh fruit and vegetables. Across the street from Neuer Markt are the tram and train station plus the Town Hall.
Neuer Markt, 18055 Rostock, Germany
On the west side of town is the farmers’ market called El Mercado. The front stalls have clothing and souvenirs for tourists. Keep walking into the bustling maze. Each step reveals more traditional and rustic displays of fruits, vegetables and flowers. You can also purchase fish, meat and pirated DVDs. Many vendors are inside a rudimentary concrete building. Others are crowded together outside. This scene of Guatemalan women haggling over the price of produce is typical. The market is open on Monday, Thursday and Saturday.
Mercado de Antigua Guatemala, Antigua Guatemala, Guatemala
Fifty percent of Guatemalans work in agriculture. They primarily grow coffee followed by bananas for export. The local farmers also grow fresh fruit and vegetables to generate income at local markets such as El Mercado, the main farmers’ market in Antigua. The wooden box holds varieties of sapote fruit. They are native to Central America and Mexico. Inside is an orange flesh surrounding a large seed. Behind them are watermelons. Guatemala is among the largest exporters of melons in the world.
Mercado de Antigua Guatemala, Antigua Guatemala, Guatemala
San José, Guatemala is a small, dirty and impoverished town of about 20,000 people where a common sight is seeing a donkey carrying a load of wood through the streets. It must also have a significant crime rate because many of the decrepit store fronts like this one are caged in by rod iron grillwork and business is conducted through a small slit or window.
If you are traveling in Northern Hungary and consult your tour book or the Internet for places to see in the small town of Eger, you will read about a fascinating castle, minaret, palace, thermal spa and their wonderful red wine. What is not written about are the produce stands near the square and tucked into the inner city alleys. They have delightful, locally grown fruits and vegetables during the summer and early fall.
The European raspberry, called rubus idaeus, grows wild in the forests. After its second year, the plant sprouts a five-petal, white flower in the late spring. During the summer and early autumn, the red, sweet yet tart and very delicious fruit ripens. Now for the best part: they are handpicked, gently placed in a box lined with wax paper and rushed to local markets in cities and towns like Eger. Makes you hungry just looking at them, doesn’t it?
Similar to most cities, Eger has a mall: The Agria Park Shopping Centre. But when traveling to a foreign country, why focus on brand merchandise or T-shirts, shot glasses and trinkets? Visit where the residents’ shop. Széchenyi is the main, pedestrian-only shopping street. Best of all are the outdoor markets. They speak volumes about the local cuisine, agriculture, economy, social interaction and pace of life. You will find some simple yet elegantly crafted items such as these wicker baskets on display at an outdoor market. They beg to be loaded up with the seasonal fruit and vegetables from the nearby produce section.
Pick a bell pepper early in its life and it is green. Be patient for a few days or weeks and it may become yellow and mellower like these on display at a market in Eger, Hungary. I love their taste. But if it contains capsaicin, like the Hungarian wax pepper, then it is a chili pepper. They burn your mouth and sensitive skin.
If you love bread, then you will thoroughly enjoy sampling an array of Israeli specialties in the Old City streets. Here is a short list. The most popular is pita. Malawach is thin-layered pastry crisped on a griddle (resembles a pancake). Laffa is a flatbread rolled over some delicious stuffing. Bourekas are a triangular pastry often filled with cheese and spinach, a perfect way to start your morning. Taboon is a Middle East baked flatbread covering shredded meat or hummus (looks like a small bubbled pizza without toppings). Krantz (which you may know as babka) is a sweet dough bread similar to a coffeecake. Finally, buy a Jerusalem bagel in a rolled-up newspaper and garnish it with za’atar.
The Three Markets are a unique shopping experience you will not want to miss and will never forget. They are the Butchers’ Market (Souk Al Lakhamin), the Spice and Perfume Market (Souk al-Attarine) and the Goldsmiths’ Market (Souk Al Khawajat). The suqs (Arab for bazaars) are along three parallel alleys tracing the ancient Cardo (main north-south Roman street). They are dark, tunnel-like and active. This rainbow of spices is common. The mound of green resembling a Mayan pyramid is za’atar. The blend of herbs such as oregano and thyme are topped with salt and sesame seeds. The mixture is typically applied to pita bread along with olive oil.
Spice Market, Al-Attarin Street, Shuk HaBsamim, Jerusalem, Israel
Jordanians love their bread so it is baked in several styles. There is a pita bread called khubz, a Bedouin style cooked on a hot griddle called shrak (see picture in “world people” gallery), plus breads made from corn, those that are flat, unleavened ones plus others covered with sesame seeds. Many of these have pockets or are wrapped for a sandwich containing hummus, olive oil, meats and vegetables plus a sprinkle of za’atar, which is a blend of oregano and other herbs. These varieties are often served meze style so you can sample all the delicious flavors of Jordanian cuisine.
In ancient Greece, an agora was a public space used as a food market. The Macellum along the Cardo (main street) in the center of Gerasa was basically a grocery store but there was nothing basic about it. Surrounding the fountain in the center court is a very ornate colonnade with capitals of the Corinthian order. It is believed the Macellum was constructed during the 1st century and then significantly expanded in the mid-2nd century. Further renovations occurred during the Byzantine era in the late 5th and early 6th centuries. It continued to house food merchants until sometime in the 6th century when its purpose took on more of a commercial or industrial use. For unknown reasons, it was destroyed during the early 7th century.
Agora, Jerash, Jordan
Rambutan has its origins in Southeast Asia. During its two peak seasons – June to August and December through January – the fruit is readily available in Malaysian markets plus sold by street vendors. The name comes from the Malay word for hair. This accurately describes the fuzz covering the red and yellow exterior. Inside is a white or pink sweet seed resembling a grape.
Wet markets used to be the primary merchandising centers for fresh meat, fish, fruit and vegetables in Singapore. But they are slowly being replaced by modern supermarkets so that only about ten major wet markets still exist. This traditional merchant has a strong emphasis on inventory variety and a total disregard for aesthetic displays.
Singaporean cuisine has been influenced by many cultures, including those of Southern Asia, the Middle East, British and Western, so you are likely to find whatever you want to eat in this large, successful, metropolitan city. You may also see some food that is not very appetizing, like these large octopi hanging in the window of a hawker center stall. Apparently they are served with fish sauce and noodles, but I can’t vouch for that from firsthand experience.
This hawker center stall, whose full name is “Ah Soon Pig’s Organ Soup, Mutton Soup and Wanton Noodle,” must be very proud of the award they received from the Singapore Food Map, which is an on-line listing of the city’s restaurants produced by FoodieFC. Pig’s organ soup originated in China and contains the animal’s heart, liver, intestines, tongue and other body parts along with some vegetables, lettuce and chopped onions swimming in a clear broth. No, I was not tempted to try it.
During the 1950s and 1960s, open-air hawker centers emerged near transportation sites in Singapore that sold fast and cheap food from cramped stalls that was then eaten at rows of picnic tables. They are slowly being replaced by food courts at shopping centers. However, a few still exist and serve some delicious meals like these roasted chickens.
The fun of visiting Jagalchi Fish Market is staring at the mysterious sea creatures on display. Some cause recipes to dance in your head while others will recoil your stomach in disgust. Unless you are a marine biologist or a celebrated Asian seafood chief, you will not be able to identify a fraction of the swimming, squirming and soaking creatures you sea (pun intended).
52 Jagalchihaean-ro, Nampo-dong, Jung-gu, Busan, South Korea
Plaza Larga means Long Square. This is the place to go if you want to experience local life in the Albaicín Quarter. Every morning, people inspect and squeeze fruits and vegetables before carrying them home. Saturday morning is the busiest when stalls of flowers are everywhere. Sip a beverage or have a meal in one of the surrounding taverns or restaurants. Outdoor seating on the brick and cobblestone plaza is available in the summer. On the side streets are groceries, fish stores and bakeries.
Plaza Larga, 18010 Granada, Spain
While Muhammed V was the ruler of the Emirate of Granada in the late 14th century, an Arab market was established to supply him and other elite with the finest merchandise crafted from silk, gold and silver. Despite the evolution of the Alcaicería over the centuries, the old souk is still crammed with merchants eager to haggle for their wares. The bazaar bustles with activity. Mercado de Artesania (Craft Market) is a cultural shopping experience you will not want to miss.
Calle Alcaiceria, 1, 18001 Granada, Spain
The government of Uruguay sponsored a major effort in the mid-1970s to increase the country’s commercial fishing industry with the hopes of creating a cannery industry for exporting tuna and sardines. The fleet of fishing vessels grew to over 700 as a result, but the predominate catch was Argentine hake (which tastes like cod), Atlantic croaker, anchovies, mullet, and the saltwater bluefish like this one on ice at the port of Punta del Este.