Saudi Supermarket Lowdown

The grocery store is the only place I have been in the last month outside the confines of my home. 😐 Luckily we have two large ones in our neighborhood.
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Danube is the largest and I would compare it to a Kroger or Publix – mostly food, some household items, occasionally a tiny clothes section. Other than the obvious lack of pork and alcohol 🚫🍷, the shopping experience is pretty similar to the US except all produce must be weighed and tagged at a kiosk in the produce section before taken to the main checkout lines. Also something is messed up with their shopping carts. They’re frustrating to maneuver.
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In addition to normal aisles of food and a deli, Danube has a nut and spice guy that will weigh out however much you want, a freshly-baked bread/pita station, and an intimidating variety of cheeses that I don’t know how to use. 🧀
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There seems to be no rhyme or reason to when items are restocked. One day I’ll find Aunt Jemima syrup and then I won’t find it again for a year. Canned pumpkin shows up in small quantities at a few specific stores around thanksgiving. Single cans of Dr Pepper pop up at times. I’ve seen a big jar of applesauce once.
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What’s cheap? Most produce, bread, local meat.
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What’s expensive? Cereal (around $7-10/box), fresh berries (usually $5-8 for a half pint) 🍓, good avocados , anything imported (I bought a box of Cheez-its for $12 and they were worth every penny).
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🧐 Interesting tidbits: real vanilla extract and nutmeg are illegal here. Vanilla has alcohol in it and nutmeg has hallucinogenic properties. Who knew?!

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Jamienne McKee

I’m an American in Saudi Arabia, here to give you a candid glimpse into expat life in the kingdom, offer travel tips for Saudi and beyond (especially with kids in tow), and share whatever else strikes my fancy.

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