Chinese Ingredients?

[CH]

If you happen to pass through Helsinki, I suggest you visit both Vii Voan and Aseanic Market in Hakaniemi in Helsinki, they are just a block from each other, to stock up on all the sauces that aren't readily available. They might also do mail-order, but I really don't know if they do. There is also a smaller Chinese grocery store a bit further away.

So are there things like light and dark soy sauce? Black bean sauce? Oyster sauce? Hoisin sauce? Plum sauce even? Coconut milk? What about vegetables like bak choy and tofu and stuff like that? Are these things usually readily available in supermarkets? Or are they more limited? Or are they completely non-existent in Finland and I should pack a bottle or two of my own sauces before I leave Canada?

Everything but Bok Choy should be found in a super market (at least Citymarket should have all). Or at least I have bought everything you listed from Citymarket (well, except the Bok Choy). But unfortunately you are stuck with only a few brands in the supermarkets.

One brand is Amoy: http://www.signalpack.com/reg/shp/fine/ ... 3?idCat=28
They don't seem to have plum sauce, I have to check at home what brand my plum sauce is. (Hmm, actually I think it's by Lee Kum Kee , but of course I don't remember if I bought it from the Aseanic Market or from a supermarket. ) I'll check Citymarket next time we go grocery shopping.

[CH]

I have happily used "kiinankaali" to all the recipies that contain "paksoi". I think I would have to be a real connoseur and a gourmet chef if I could tell the difference. I would not run to the other side of town to find paksoi if I have kiinankaali only 100 metres away.

I'm definitely no connoseur (visited China twice, and once bought Bok Choy here), but they really do taste and feel very different to me. Bok Choy tastes way more green and perhaps peppery, and is firmer, much thicker, has more texture, and overall the taste is just waaay more intense. "Kiinankaali" is very mild in comparison, and gets very soft when cooked.

[Initial_C]

thanks everyone. I appreciate all the comments!

Yeah... I figured Helsinki would have better selection but I'm going straight from my hometown, Toronto, to Jyvaskyla. I mean, there is a stopover in Helsinki but it's only for an hour or something. Not much time to explore. I want to avoid bringing my own stuff unless absolutely neccessary. It'd be just way too heavy especially with flight/baggage restrictions.

I'll check Seppala City Market if there's no sauces and stuff in the CityMarket closest to us. Thanks for the tip!

Umm. I don't write or speak Finnish at all... But I checked google images under "kiinankaali" and that looks like a Chinese napa cabbage to me. Bak choy, Napa Cabbage, Shanghai cabbage, choy sum, they're all variants of the same family of veggies. So they get confused sometimes. Heck, I forget which is which sometimes by name too. ^_^;

[luckykitty]

The stuff in the picture is what the Cantonese would call Shanghai Bak choi or siu bak choi (little bak choi). Anyway, there are so many types of leafy asian veges, it easy to get confused since there aren't many english names for these floating around, except 'cabbage'. Anywhere, there is another type of chinese cabbage like this:


which tastes alot different, and this is what I've been able to find at vegetable markets often, and at cityK etc.

And as EP mentioned, sometimes its just labeled as saladkaali or whatever they called it, but i can't imagine eating it in salad, it doesn't taste like much raw. It doesnt taste like much cooked either, normally you need to cook it with something else, like meat or soya sauce or both, for example.

On a side note, has anyone found any GOOD tofu?
I think coming from an Asian background, at least in my own experience,a 'normal' tofu to me is supposed to be soft, but I can only find literally a brick here - hard, sour-tasting tofu, even in Vii Voan. This brick thing might work well as a meat replacement or added to cold salads, but i had a hard time getting out this sour taste which is usually only what expired tofu tastes like. At least, if you have been eating tofu most of your life and are from China/Japan - the most common variety of tofu is the basic soft, neutral tasting white one, which does not seem to be available here except as a offwhite yellowish brick made in the netherlands or something.

Anyone know what I mean here? I miss soft tofu.
[/img]

[enk]

On a side note, has anyone found any GOOD tofu?
I think coming from an Asian background, at least in my own experience,a 'normal' tofu to me is supposed to be soft, but I can only find literally a brick here - hard, sour-tasting tofu, even in Vii Voan. This brick thing might work well as a meat replacement or added to cold salads, but i had a hard time getting out this sour taste which is usually only what expired tofu tastes like. At least, if you have been eating tofu most of your life and are from China/Japan - the most common variety of tofu is the basic soft, neutral tasting white one, which does not seem to be available here except as a offwhite yellowish brick made in the netherlands or something.

Only in a box. I could go for some fresh (actually fresh) tofu for
a change. It's something I miss a lot.

Bok choi and napa cabbage are two completely different things
Aseanic or whatever it's name is also has choy sum and whatever the
heck the name of the cabbage that looks like bok choy but is completely
green (dark green leaves with light green stems). Just got some to make
into kimchichige over the weekend

-enk

[luckykitty]

yeah its very different, tho everything gets labeled cabbage for some reason if they try to translate it :S. Oh yeah, even i got it wrong, shanghai bak choy isnt the same as siu bak choy, not that i've even seen it here

[enk]

Is the picture next to siu pak choi (Xiao Bai Cai) on this page the one
you're referring to? http://www.chinesefood-recipes.com/glos ... ents_c.php

If so, that's the one I have in my fridge right now

-enk

[luckykitty]

Wow nice vege page. Thanks Enk.
Where did you buy it ? I wouldn't mind having some myself, except i wonder if its expensive here, its very cheap in asia obviously and even New Zealand .

wow ur lucky cory, But where did u buy gai land bok choi etc in Helsinki?

[sy]

Anyone know what I mean here? I miss soft tofu.

Just passing an ad for tofu. They sell all kinds of tofu: hard, soft, extra soft, dry tofu rolls, probably even fried tofu. I bought twice from Otaniemi. They sell fresh made tofu. If you want to buy more pieces, you'd better bring your own containers or boxes.

FRIDAY TOFU WILL BE ON THE FRIDAY OF EACH EVEN WEEK

For example, in this year, 19.10. , 2.11; 16.11; ......
Please keep the info, we may not inform further.
If any change, we will certainly inform.
1)Espoo: OTANIEMI, Servin-Maijantie 10, before laundry room,
17:50-18:30.
2)Helsinki: KANNELMKI,* Kitrakuja 3 C, 18:50 to 19:05.
3)Espoo: kilo,* Kilonrinne 10, Parking area, 19:25-19:35
4)Lintuvaara:*Lintunkorvantie 2 Parking area. 19:45-19:50
* Please make order by 0400-951638

[luckykitty]

ooh thanks for the tofu info wow need to order. sounds like a mobile tofu shop . Friday is tofu day!

[enk]

Oh man, all I have to do is step out of my door every other Friday to get
tofu? This kimchichige really needs it and I don't have any.
Too bad it won't last until the next time they show up here

-enk

[Donpeblo]

Hi,

This mobile fresh tofu seems like a great thing to have...it's just that I'm new to Finland and I can't find where the Helsinki place is on any maps etc....do they (the sellers) mean Kitarakuja 3c?

If so it's off the Kehä 1?

Can you just turn up and buy?

The only other place I've found tofu in my few short weeks here is at the Japanese shop on Annakatu (apologies if the street name isn't quite right...). I was surprised that it was the boxed variety and then only in two varieties but it was OK.

Cheers
Donpeblo

[enk]

This mobile fresh tofu seems like a great thing to have...it's just that I'm new to Finland and I can't find where the Helsinki place is on any maps etc....do they (the sellers) mean Kitarakuja 3c?

That would seem to be the one. AFAIK you have to call them to order it
beforehand so that they know to deliver it there. The only place they
seem to show up at always is the Teekkarikylä in Otaniemi.

Let us know how the tofu is if you get some!

-enk

[Juha H.]

I'm going to Jyvaskyla in a few months for a visit. And I want to cook an authentic Chinese meal there to serve to my boyfriend and his mother. Is Chinese ingredients readily available in Finland?

I'm getting all neurotic about it. I never really noticed the last time I was abroad as I didn't have to cook a full Chinese meal there before. I stuck to more western foods... Like pizza, omlettes, etc.

So are there things like light and dark soy sauce? Black bean sauce? Oyster sauce? Hoisin sauce? Plum sauce even? Coconut milk? What about vegetables like bak choy and tofu and stuff like that? Are these things usually readily available in supermarkets? Or are they more limited? Or are they completely non-existent in Finland and I should pack a bottle or two of my own sauces before I leave Canada?

You could ask the Chinese restaurants in Jyväskylä. One of them has this link: http://www.ravintolaopas.net/genghiskhan/

[Juha H.]

Initial_C, today's post brought an advertisement from yet another Chinese restaurant in Jyväskylä. It was a place called Hong Kong on the upper end of Kauppakatu.