I thought it might be fun to share things we've tried that didn't come from our native countries, ideally with a little description of what they were like/what we thought. We could discuss things we'd like to try, too!
This obviously covers a huge range of stuff (could come from literally any area), and since we're from all over, what's foreign for one person will be native to another. So the possible exchange because of that will be interesting, too. Just please do keep it in mind when offering opinions on other people's stuff, of course--it's perfectly fine not to like everything, but do be nice about it ;) .
Stuff I've tried (not everything, but all I can think of ATM):
Things I want to try
This obviously covers a huge range of stuff (could come from literally any area), and since we're from all over, what's foreign for one person will be native to another. So the possible exchange because of that will be interesting, too. Just please do keep it in mind when offering opinions on other people's stuff, of course--it's perfectly fine not to like everything, but do be nice about it ;) .
Stuff I've tried (not everything, but all I can think of ATM):
This is the (I think) iconic Japanese green tea. I didn't use the special powder/brush preparation method, but used tea bags instead. I really enjoyed it! I think it has a subtler flavor than something like a black tea, and it's slightly sweet. I tend to prefer things with a stronger flavor, but I do enjoy this when I'm in the right mood.
I think this tea is from India; if the movie Slumdog Millionaire is to be believed, at least some Indian businesses have people who bring chai tea to their workers. I only got to have this once, but it was quite memorable, because this tea was spicy! I've never had a spicy beverage before, but if I got the chance, I'd drink this most anytime.
This is, of course, the iconic Japanese rice wine. I tried some served both hot and cold. Hot, I believe, is the more traditional preparation (at least based on what I've seen in anime). Honestly, it wasn't for me. The trouble with hot sake, for me, is that it's strong alcohol heated up to a bit less than the temperature of a coffee/tea. Alcohol has a low evaporation point anyway, so as I was sipping, the vapor was flying up the back of my throat and into my nose/sinuses. So, hot strong alcohol on delicate mucus membranes. Maybe it would have helped if I had held my breath while sipping, or if it had come in a traditional saucer-like drinking container. I didn't really get a lot, so there wasn't much opportunity to experiment.
Cold sake, on the other hand, is wonderful! When it's cold, you can take your time and pay attention to the flavor. It's sweet, like liquid candy (Though, of course, it is alcohol, so there's some bite to it.). I'm not sure how to describe the flavor otherwise...it's natural, light, and sort of puts you in mind of reeds/cane sugar.
Cold sake, on the other hand, is wonderful! When it's cold, you can take your time and pay attention to the flavor. It's sweet, like liquid candy (Though, of course, it is alcohol, so there's some bite to it.). I'm not sure how to describe the flavor otherwise...it's natural, light, and sort of puts you in mind of reeds/cane sugar.
One of the Kit Kat flavors that I believe is unique to Japan (where they have a ton of original flavors that it seems like don't get offered anywhere else). I wouldn't have thought that a green plant with a bitter, horseradish-like flavor would pair well with milk chocolate, but it really does! I only got one bite-sized sample of this, but it was delicious! The bitterness wasn't a problem at all; it really only existed on a level that enhanced/was enhanced by the chocolate's sweetness.
Things I want to try
- Instant ramen
- Pizza with mayonnaise (ideally Japanese mayo)
- Cappuccino
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