Try ethnic grocery stores!

[LiberalEsto]

I've started going once in a while to a small grocery run by people from India. Today they were selling cauliflowers for $1.99 while the Giant supermarket priced them at $2.99. Patel's also sells a nice brand of coffee mixed with chicory called Bru, that my husband really likes. I pick up frozen vegetarian Indian entrees for $1.49 each, along with frozen Indian breads like parathas and naans. My husband and I love Indian food, though our kids don't.

Spices are an incredible bargain - big bags of whole or powdered cardamom, coriander, cumin, chili pepper, sesame seeds, mustard seeds, cinnamon and more selling at a fraction of what McCormick spices cost.

Big bags of rice, lentils and dried peas are very inexpensive compared to grocery prices. And there are so many interesting ready-to serve foods and condiments. Indian ice cream is fantastic.

You don't have to know how to cook Indian style to take advantage of the great prices on vegetables, rice, spices, etc.

[wakemeupwhenitsover]

1. Dh & I go to a mexican market.

They have hands down the best ranchero preparada (spelling?) for carne asada tacos. their prices for limes, lemons, cilantro, chilis, etc. is way better than the markets & they are superior. A must stop on our errand runs.

best

[politicat]

2. Tea!!

CTC (Cut, tear and curl) are really only available from Indian and Chinese groceries. I strongly recommend Taj Mahal bulk tea if you like Chai, flavored teas or just plain, black tea with milk and sugar or lemon.

A 2 kilo box of Taj costs us about $13 - that's $3.25 a pound, or less than Lipton's pencil shavings for far better tea. It will last about two years if you don't drink a lot of tea.

We make our own Plantation Mint clone and Chai blends with it, and I'm experimenting with lemon balm, dried rose petals and dried fruits for new blends right now. Mr. Pcat drinks it black.

The best thing about it, though, is it does not go bitter if it steeps too long, or if it's made too strong. It can be thinned with water, heated back up, and it's back to tasty.

[kestrel91316]

3. We have several little Persian/Middle Eastern markets here......

they have GREAT produce prices, and the tea is cheap and very high quality. Basmati rice, and lots of unusual pickles in jars, and rose water, and quince jelly. Very cheap bags of spices, too.

[bluedonkey]

4. I've been

buying my teas,cheeses,spices,and jams and sweets at a lebanese place.Some of my meat,like lamb at a palestinian place.They are indeed cheaper.

[lildreamer316]

5. You don't even have to

go to the different market to get those mexican and indian spice deals! The local stores I frequent have them; most people just don't even pay attention. I filled up my spice cabinet WAY cheap that way!

[eleny]

6. Sounds like great shopping for inexpensive but exotic gifts

[LiberalEsto]

7. Our Patel's sells incense

and some health and beauty aids. Also candy.
Incense and candy definitely would make nice inexpensive gifts.

[NJCher]

8. latino markets around here

There are two within easy driving distance and yes, they are priced way less than the "supermarkets." For example, half n' half is $1.19 there but $1.29 at the supermarket. A certain cat food my two kit-cats like is $1.39 at the Latino grocery store and $1.59 at the supermarket.

In addition, the vegetables are almost always more reasonable.

Furthermore, there are so many items they stock that a supermarket wouldn't--mostly because the supermarkets get shelf space money for stuff like Pepsi and Coke. The little Latino stores might also get shelf space $$ but there you will find sodas that never would be found in a supermarket.

In addition, they are clean as a whistle and very well organized. They have a different philosophy on labor, too, and there are rarely long lines like what is found at the supermarket simply because they hire enough help to do the job.

The Latino store I like the most looks like hell on the outside but is it ever nice on the inside. The floors glisten and food items are displayed so neatly.

Another thing I like is that they are not so big that you feel like you're walking across a football field just for a carton of milk. Parking is generally close to the store and readily available, too.

There is one thing I don't like about it, though, and that is that they play the radio over the intercom. I have to remember to take my earplugs because the station crackles from not being tuned in well and it also has a lot of ads that I don't want to listen to.




Cher

[Rich Hunt]

9. yes, they're fantastic

Mexican for produce and beans. Asian for vegetarian foods, noodles, tea and spices.

I find them more affordable by a mile.

[MountainLaurel]

10. Asian and Middle Eastern stores can also be good for meat

The Asian groceries in our area (some of which are comparable to the big warehouse grocery stores) came recommended to me as a place to get good quality cuts of meat, already thinly sliced. And halal meats are held to higher standards for cleanliness in processing.

[Lost-in-FL]

11. The main Supermarket charges up to $3 for one

single avocado but if I go to the latin supermarket I can get 3 huge avocados for $5.

Also if you go to the main supermarkets get your beans, rice and spices from the latin or ethnic session cause they are way cheaper. Example; The McCormick Rosemary is normally close to $5 a bottle vs. BADIA Rosemary is maybe $1.75!! You'll be surprised. At least that is how it is in my town.