Tuesday, March 10, 2009

Xi'an Now Grapefruit-Friendly

In the past when people have asked me what I miss most about America while living in China, my response has usually been: college basketball and football, good Mexican food, and grapefruit.

Although I still have trouble finding the chance to watch college sports and eat good Mexican food, my grapefruit fix has been filled.



All I have to say is, "Having Walmart in Xi'an is awesome."

Several months ago I found the 100% grapefruit juice . Then one day I randomly found the grapefruit face wash. Finding these grapefruit-based products were pleasant surprises, but I was still lacking the the ability to actually purchase an unadulterated grapefruit.

But then in January when my friend Taylor was here, we went looking for exotic Chinese fruit in Walmart's auxiliary fruit section. While going through a bunch of fruit I'd never seen before, I saw a sign for 西柚. I couldn't believe it. I never expected to see grapefruit in Xi'an. I bought one so I could see if it was any good.

To my delight, the grapefruit I bought was incredible. Walmart in China carries the "Ruby Red" variety of grapefruit (as opposed to the more light-pink variety), my favorite.

Ever since finding grapefruit a couple months ago, I've had at least a once-a-week Walmart grapefruit-run. They're pretty expensive actually, about 11RMB a piece, but I think that they are completely worth it.

Now if only some Mexican immigrants would relocate to Xi'an...

13 comments:

Anonymous said...

Amen to the Mexican food. I'm glad we at least have a Tex-Mex restaurant in Urumqi.

My "thing" is peanut butter, and we don't have it here. Grapefruits are alright, but I need a fat peanut butter and jelly sandwich to feel complete.

Anonymous said...

Yeah lets make Xian exactly like America. Then we can have our cake, and eat it too. Except our cake will taste fucking exactly like everyone else's cake, and what would the fucking point be?

Mark said...

Xi'an is nothing like America and never will be. That's one of the things I enjoy about it.

But having the occasional snack or meal that I grew up enjoying back home is great. Eating nothing but Chinese food after living in America for the first twenty-three years of my life can be tiring.

And western grapefruit is way better than the "Chinese grapefruit" or "pomelo" - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pomelo

Thomas said...

Personally, I prefer Fujian pomelo over Grapefruit any day.

Do you know if Walmart imports grapefruit from the US, or if they are domestically produced grapefruit? (just curious, considering the rather high price)

Mark said...

I figure that the grapefruits are imported at that high price. I don't think there's much demand for grapefruit in the Middle Kingdom.

From all of the grapefruit products being offered now in China, maybe grapefruit will begin to be grown here.

Pomelos are alright, but I definitely prefer grapefruit. So much more potent,sour,and juicy. Pomelos are bland to me when compared to grapefruit.

Anonymous said...

Yeah, well, I feel your pain. As a Chinese American, try getting stinky tofu in Washington DC.

andy said...

Wow, Anon up there going crazy about Xi'an becoming like America...cool out.

I'm not sure the introduction of more grapefruit products is the beginning of the end. That started with Wallymart, KFSEE and all that other crap.

I personally liked how Pomegranates were available everywhere, cheap and plentiful.

Atrexl said...

"11RMB a piece"
Indeed a little expensive, ha.

college basketball ?
you mean NCAA? right?

One colleage(also from America) told me that he prefers NCAA to NBA.
Is there any chance that there will be a website that prevides online broadcasting?

^_^

A xi'anness

Mark said...

This is the best time of the year for NCAA basketball. You'll be able to watch over the next few weeks at cbssports.com.

I had an amazing time watch Kansas win the national title last year from China.

Anonymous said...

Indeed, cbs has made the tournament available online. Stephen Curry's team has just fell out of the bubble. and Orange and Uconn went to 6OT couple nights back.
about citrus, walmart in Hunan charge 10RMB for a half kilo of navel oranges, although they are called Floridian, but they are domestically grown.

Anonymous said...

TVU has the college games.

Lauren G said...

This post made me thingk of my favorite xkcd comic, "F*ck Grapefruit".

I prefer pomelo. Dipped in chili salt, accompanied by a cold beer.

Mark said...

That is awesome, Lauren!

The funny thing is that I also love pomegranates. I must be masochistic or something!