Next stop: the snack aisle

It’s no surprise that so many travellers are embracing grocery store tourism. After all, one of travel’s biggest joys is exploring the local food culture, from dining at celebrated restaurants to sampling traditional street food. Supermarkets offer just as immersive an experience – if not even more so. 

Join us as we venture down the supermarket aisles in Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, the UK, New Zealand and the US in search of hidden treasures to take home.

Japan – home of umami 

When exploring Japan’s culinary scene, you'll often encounter the term “umami”. The so-called fifth taste, associated with richly savoury foods, was first identified by Japanese scientist Dr Kikunae Ikeda. He named it umami, which can mean “delicious” in Japanese. 

Those wanting to bring the umami-rich taste of Japan home with them will find an abundance of options in the country’s supermarkets. Rather than focusing on specific brands, look out for regional and seasonal produce.  

For instance, Hokkaido is renowned for its kombu, dried sea kelp with a unique briny flavour. Oita makes the best yuzu kosho, citrus-chilli paste with a spicy, zesty flavour. And Aichi, famous for its tangy miso cuisine, stocks an impressive variety of miso products.  

Meanwhile, seasonal fruits make excellent food souvenirs: think sweet Kumamoto strawberries in spring, plump Shine Muscat grapes from Okayama in late summer, and juicy Wakayama mandarins in winter. 

Top brands: S&B offers an affordable range of spices, seasonings, and cooking ingredients. Calbee and Glico rank among the largest snack manufacturers, with products like Pocky and Pretz essential take-home items. 

Best supermarkets: Takashimaya , Seijo Ishii and Seiyu , and Ito-Yokado are found in most regions, with many open 24 hours. 

South Korea — traditional flavours, reinvented  

Kimchi is ubiquitous in Korea. This fermented dish, originally created to preserve vegetables through winter, remains central to Korean cuisine, being both highly nutritious and delicious. Most supermarkets stock not only various types of kimchi but also pickling ingredients for those interested in making their own at home. 

Other popular fermented products include doenjang – fermented soybean paste with an earthy flavour – and makgeolli, a creamy, slightly fizzy rice wine. Korean brewery Kooksoondang produces traditional rice wines alongside innovative fruit, sweet potato and chestnut-favoured variants. 

You’ll find many popular Korean snacks creatively play on traditional flavour and ingredients. Examples include crisps featuring Cheongyang chilli, a Korean pepper variety, and Orion 's fish-shaped snacks stuffed with a sweet hotteok (Korean pancake) inspired filling.

Top brands: Beyond supermarket-own brands, look out for goods from Bibigo , Ottogi , and Paldo – all prominent Korean food brands. 

Best supermarkets: Lotte Mart is one of Korea's largest supermarket chains, while E-mart and Home Plus are also commonly found and offer own-brand products. 

Hong Kong – collective memories 

Think of Hong Kong cuisine, and images of classic dim sum restaurants, streetside dai pai dongs serving up wok-fried dishes, and Western-inspired cha chaan teng cafés instantly come to mind. Hong Kong’s culinary traditions are a huge part of its identity – and that extends to the city’s grocery shops. 

Before supermarkets became prevalent, Hongkongers purchased goods from small neighbourhood shops called “si dor”. Beloved snacks like Jack’n Jill beef flavoured crisps and Four Seas prawn crackers can still be found on supermarket shelves today, evoking much nostalgia for residents. Alongside them, you’ll also find crisps with globally inspired flavours like cheeseburger and Korean fried chicken. After munching your way through all of them, pick up a bottle of Chinese herbal tea, a traditional beverage known for its soothing, detoxifying properties. 

Top brands: During Chinese New Year, supermarkets display elegantly packaged gift boxes, with Garden ’s family tin of assorted biscuit being a classic choice. To capture the essence of Cantonese cooking at home, be sure to pick up Lee Kum Kee 's oyster sauce. 

Best supermarkets: Wellcome and ParknShop are Hong Kong's largest supermarket chains with branches in nearly every district. City'super offers a more extensive selection of goods, including Hong Kong-made products and condiments such as Yuet Wo soy sauce. 

United Kingdom – home brewed comfort 

Among the most uttered phrases in the UK, “I’ll put the kettle on” must surely rank highly. The British passion for tea today remains as steadfast as ever.  

Morning blends like English Breakfast deliver a strong flavour that goes nicely with milk, sugar, and a handful of biscuits for dunking – popular choices include buttery shortbread biscuits and savoury-sweet digestives, as well as the humble rich tea biscuit. Meanwhile, delicate and fragrant afternoon teas like Earl Grey or Darjeeling make for a more refined affair, and are typically served with fluffy, buttery scones heaped with jam and clotted cream. 

Those who want to enjoy British tea time at home will find supermarket shelves lined with options. Many come in elegant packaging, making them a thoughtful souvenir for your loved ones. 

Top brands: Twinings is a popular tea brand, Whittard of Chelsea adds a touch of sophistication and Yorkshire Tea is loved by the nation. As for biscuits, Walker’s , Fox’s and McVitie’s are all household names. 

Best supermarkets: Britain's major supermarket chains include Sainsbury's and Tesco , while Marks & Spencer is an excellent choice for those seeking premium quality. 

New Zealand – sourced from nature 

New Zealand's pristine countryside yields exceptional produce, among the most prized of which is the country’s rare Manuka honey. Made using the nectar of the Manuka tree, it's produced exclusively in New Zealand and Australia. It was traditionally used by New Zealand's indigenous people for medicinal purposes and is still hailed for its anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties.  

When shopping for Manuka honey, consider reputable brands like Manuka Health and Comvita , and pay attention to the UMF (Unique Manuka Factor) label. This certification serves both as mark of authenticity and indicator of potency: the higher the UMF number, the stronger the therapeutic properties.

New Zealand is also one of the world's premier wine regions, particularly celebrated for its aromatic Sauvignon Blanc. You don’t need to embark on an extensive wine tour to sample it – supermarkets stock renowned wine brands such as Cloudy Bay and Kim Crawford . 

Top brands: Whittaker's is a century-old New Zealand confectionery maker offering treats such as Manuka honey-flavoured chocolate.

Best supermarkets: Woolworths and New World are two of the biggest supermarket chains in New Zealand. FreshChoice and Pak’n’Save are also typically found. 

United States – a snack cornucopia

America gets a bad rap for its food culture, but there’s no denying the country knows how to make a snack – and has the space for the staggering megamarkets you’ve only seen in movies.

Trader Joe’s, a supermarket that first launched in Pasadena and has become a point of pride for Americans, is a haven for the snack-obsessed. Tiny everything bagel cream cheese sandwiches, tempura seaweed bites, and spiced rolled tortilla bites are just a few of the items flying off shelves, delivering flavour in every bite. 

While you’ll find many of America’s crisps and sweet treats in grocery stores around the world, spots like Costco and Walmart promise quantity. Think generous bags of white chocolate Reese’s peanut butter cups, family packs of jalapeno and white cheddar Cheez-It crackers and huge tubs of liquorice Red Vines along with their rival, Twizzlers.

Top brands: Trader Joe’s has a range of own-brand snacks that are a cut above the rest and found nowhere else. Hershey’s, meanwhile, is more widely known and their products can be found in stores nationwide.

Best supermarkets: Trader Joe’s wins for its sheer diversity of snacks, while Costco , Wholefoods and Walmart offer popular favourites at staggering scale – both in terms of snack size and selection.

Helpful tips

• Take note of daily discounts at supermarkets; prices of fresh produce are typically reduced after 7-8pm. Some supermarkets also offer tax refunds for international visitors – savvy shoppers can take advantage of these savings.

• Before flying home with any food items, carefully review the import regulations of your destination country. Many regions have specific restrictions on fresh produce, meat products, and seeds. Exercise due diligence to avoid legal complications.