The Yank's Guide to Grocery Shopping Down Under

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The Yank's Guide to Grocery Shopping Down Under; (reposted from old YDU site)
Topic Started: Feb 27 2007, 07:57:46 AM (2,620 Views)
TerritorianTori	Feb 27 2007, 07:57:46 AM Post #1
Dance to disco Posts: 4,769 Group: Admin Member #1 Joined: Feb 14, 2007 I come from... Rio Grande Valley, Texas I now live in... Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia	I know there are a few people on here who have never been to Oz, so thought I'd post a little guide to how grocery shopping works, so y'all won't be too shell-shocked when you first arrive. Don't worry, it's not a whole lot different...but there are some big changes. 1. The main grocery chains in Australia are Coles [link] and Woolworths [link]. Aldi [link] is also an up-and-coming player. Locally, you might see places like IGA, Action, and 5-Star. 2. If you're in a metro area, one of the first things you may notice is the location. Imagine going to the mall and doing your grocery shopping...yup, that's what you do here. Convenient one-stop shopping! 3. Again in metro areas, outside of most grocery stores you'll see specialty shops: butcher, baker, candlestick maker (just kiddin'!), fresh fruit & veg market. Sometimes these places have cheaper & better quality than what's in the main grocery store, so they're worth a look. 4. Shopping carts are called trolleys. Some stores make you pay $1.00 to use one...but you get it back when you return it. Now here's the fun part: shopping trolleys have 4 independent wheels which allow them to roll in any direction imaginable. Don't worry, everyone else in the store will be having the same problem as you with keeping it rolling in a straight line. You'll even see people walking with it sideways! 5. Don't be too alarmed when you see the prices of meat, fruit, & vegetables. They're listed in kilograms, which is equal to about 2.2lbs. 6. Conversions: green pepper = capsicum, rockmelon = cantelope, pawpaw = papaya, coriander = cilantro, beef mince = ground beef, balogna = devon, polony, or fritz (depending on your location), washing powder = laundry detergent, tomato sauce = similar to ketchup, tomato puree = tomato sauce, jelly = Jello...these are just the ones I can think of off the top of my head, any others? 7. Some things are in different sections. Cream cheese and cottage cheese are located with the cheese instead of the yoghurt & milk. Sour cream is next to the whipping cream. Cooking oil is in the aisle with the pasta instead of with the baking goods. Eggs may or may not be refrigerated. Don't worry, they're still OK to eat. smile 8. The cereal aisle: much smaller (than I remember anyway) and much less "sugar" choices. 9. Where Australia lacks on Mexican food, they more than make up for with Asian. Many supermarkets have big Asian sections. 10. Instead of Kool-Aid and frozen juice concentrate, we have cordial. It's liquid concentrate that comes in a jug. Many different flavours. 11. For those who drink a lot of coffee: instant is the norm here. Now it's probably the best instant I've ever had...but it's still instant...LOL. There are a few ground varieties...though for drip machines you may have to grind it yourself to get the right texture. You might also try plunger-style. smile On the other hand, the tea is great! 12. Milk jugs are shaped differently. You can get it up to 3L, I think. UHT (long-life) milk is also very popular...and cheap. 13. Most grocery stores don't have beer/wine, you get that at the bottle shop next door (usually run by the grocery store, hehe). 14. No coupons! Anywhere! You just gotta watch the weekly specials. Oh, and that's another thing. When the weekly specials come out, it's usually for the following week...gosh I've made that mistake more than once, going in thinking something is on special when it's not until next week. Blech. 15. When checking out, there are regular lanes and a special "handbasket" queue which kind of works like at the bank: checkers call you up from a single feeder lane. 16. No place to write a check (cheque). Paper cheques are used rarely, due to the fees they generate for paper transactions. Instead, you just swipe your bankcard or credit card. Easy peasy! 17. More conversions: cookies = biscuits; biscuits = scones; jelly = jam; preserves = conserve (I think); potato chips = potato crisps; french fries = chips; soda, pop, & Coke = soft drink; lemon-lime soda (like Sprite) = lemonade; lemonade = lemon squash; candy = lollies; diapers = nappies 18. Canned tuna comes the same way it does in the States, but you can also get it in different flavours like tomato & onion, lemon & pepper, chili. Never saw that before. 19. Baked beans come in a few different varieties, like in tomato sauce or ham-flavoured, but not quite the same as in the States. However, there are ways to "doctor them up" if you want to. 20. The regular mayonnaise here tastes more like what I would consider to be salad cream or Miracle Whip. For mayo similar to what you're used to in the States, get S&W brand, Best Foods, Thomy, or Norganic Soya (in the organic section). 21. If you use Metamucil (or something similar), you'll pay about $15 for it in grocery stores here...OR, go to the organic section and look for phsyllium husk, which is basically the same thing. Much cheaper. I learned this when my parents were here. 22. You may notice there isn't as big a range of OTC medications available in the supermarkets (though I understand things have changed in the US since I left so it may not be that big of a change). You have to go to a chemist (pharmacy) for a lot of things. 23. You'll see "chicken" flavoured crisps and crackers. It doesn't exactly taste like a chicken, but...well you just gotta try it. And if you like the "chicken" flavour, pick up some chicken salt from the spice section. smile 24. You'll also have loads of fun trying all the different soft drink flavours: Lift, Solo (both lemon), lime, ginger beer, Passiona (kinda like passionfruit), sarsaparilla, portello, and more. Of course there's still the usual Coke & Sprite. "Diet" soft drinks are called "Light" -- except Diet Coke, but I reckon that'll change one day. Mountain Dew here has no caffeine. 25. Same thing with the lollies (candy). The different types of Cadbury bars alone should keep y'all busy for awhile. smile 26. Marshmallows are typically pink & white and taste like vanilla. People here tend to eat them "straight" instead of baking with them. Sometimes you can find a package with all white marshmallows. Nowadays there is also marshmallow creme, found in the spreads section. 27. Cheese: you'll notice most of it is white instead of orange. Tasty Cheese is cheddar...Extra Tasty is extra sharp. Woolworths has an awesome gourmet cheese section. 28. More about cereal: Rice Bubbles are like Rice Krispies, except just slightly bigger (IMHO). Cocoa Pops are like Cocoa Krispies. Frosties are like Frosted Flakes. Froot Loops is the same (I think). If you're up for something new, try Dick Smith's Bush Foods cereal. 29. You'll notice a majority of the deodorant choices here are spray-on. There are a few stick varieties too, you just have to look for them. 30. Things you won't typically find in a grocery store here (not that they're not available anywhere, just not readily available): a) Root Beer b) Crisco or shortening -- there's Copha, Frymasta, and cooking margarine (all found near the butter) which are close subsitutes, but not exact c) Reese's PB Cups or anything Hershey's d) Code Red Mountain Dew e) Cherry Coke -- we used to have it, but it mysteriously disappeared f) Dr. Pepper g) maraschino cherries h) Gerber-brand baby food and Pampers-brand diapers 31. When ordering at the deli, I've found that it's best to ask for slightly less than you want. Oftentimes the deli person will take out more and then ask, "Is this OK?" So if you want 600g, ask for 500 and you'll probably get something close to 600. Of course, you can always just ask them to put some of it back. smile 32. As mentioned in another thread, if an item scans the wrong price at the checkout, the supermarket is required to give it to you for free. This is at the major supermarkets, anyway. BUT, you have to actually finish the sale, then take the item & receipt to the customer service desk at the front of the store. Otherwise, if you tell them about it at the checkout, they'll just change the price for you and no free item.
	South Texas to the Northern Territory - since 2004 I'm a huge fan of... Angry Video Game Nerd \| The Big Bang Theory \| Doctor Who \| Pet Shop Boys \| Yanks Down Under ~ Americans living in Australia Avatar by Sketch Shop Boys


TerritorianTori	Feb 27 2007, 08:01:10 AM Post #2
Dance to disco Posts: 4,769 Group: Admin Member #1 Joined: Feb 14, 2007 I come from... Rio Grande Valley, Texas I now live in... Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia	"Tinkerbell192" The frozen pastries such as Danish and frozen Donuts are in the Dessert section of the freezer, we do not have frozen breakfast sections as a rule. The section with the milk etc is called the fridge section. Things such as proper dill pickles are often found in the section with International or Continental foods, and not with our pickled onions or pickles. They are usually from Europe. I have to look in about 3 spots for things I buy. Then they have the Asian section just to bloody confuse us even more (I think the managers have never left their suburbs, so if they see something foreign they stick it anywhere. :shock: Tomato paste is used a lot here and the puree (you call Tomato sauce) is often pure and not flavoured with herbs etc. The napkins (called serviettes) are in the party picnic section. Melbourne people tend to drink more ground coffees and have always like the Italian ones, where you can get very fine grinds. Vittoria, Lavazza etc. Breakfast sausage as you know it not generally available, but buying sausages from a gourmet butcher may surprise you, ask for one with herbs etc, try the italian ones (often called Continental). Hot dogs have skins on. In Melburne we also eat Strasbourg which is a cross between Bologna and Polish sausage - sort of. Huge selection of Salamis available. In Melburne the Canteloupe is called that (up north is called Rockmelon). Small bakeries are popular but if you can find an old fashioned bakery it will be a wonderful treat. Sour dough bread here is not as sour, may need to make your own, unless you can find a shop near Camberwell. Gravy in Australia is usually brown, made with water. White gravy is usually called sauce, made with milk. Creams: Whipping cream is usually called thickened cream and very cheap. Pure cream comes in a tub usually shaped like a cup. Double cream is sometimes available depending on the local area. Australians use cream a lot. Milk is much the same as the USA though not as many Vitamin D ones, but millions of lower fat (well it seems that way lol). Popcicles are called Icy Poles in Melbourne and Ice Blocks in some other states. Toffee apples are made with sweet toffee and no cinnammon. Bloody nice though! The lettuce is usually unwapped with many outer leaves and often a bin nearby for the ones you throw away. Powdered sugar is called icing sugar. Castor sugar is finer and granulated sugar is the norm. You can of course get raw sugar.
	South Texas to the Northern Territory - since 2004 I'm a huge fan of... Angry Video Game Nerd \| The Big Bang Theory \| Doctor Who \| Pet Shop Boys \| Yanks Down Under ~ Americans living in Australia Avatar by Sketch Shop Boys


(kolohe)	Apr 24 2008, 12:29:16 PM Post #3
True Blue Mate Posts: 518 Group: Guests Member #1,320 Joined: Jan 31, 2008	Coles sells a nice black peppercorn sausage. It is real good...They have a French sausage that also is nice.



beckagator	Aug 18 2010, 02:23:54 PM Post #4
True Blue Mate Posts: 313 Group: Members** Member #3,897 Joined: Aug 17, 2010 I come from... The Land of Dixie I now live in... much farther south!-yay Melbourne I'm planning to move to... closer into the city	TerritorianTori Feb 27 2007, 07:57:46 AM 28. More about cereal: Rice Bubbles are like Rice Krispies, except just slightly bigger (IMHO). Cocoa Pops are like Cocoa Krispies. Frosties are like Frosted Flakes. Froot Loops is the same (I think). If you're up for something new, try Dick Smith's Bush Foods cereal. I also noticed Raisin Bran, is called Sultana Bran, the box has the same colouring as in the states, just Sultana, which is a type of raisin.



TerritorianTori	Aug 20 2010, 11:08:16 AM Post #5
Dance to disco Posts: 4,769 Group: Admin Member #1 Joined: Feb 14, 2007 I come from... Rio Grande Valley, Texas I now live in... Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia	Hey, I forgot about this post! It probably needs a few revisions.
	South Texas to the Northern Territory - since 2004 I'm a huge fan of... Angry Video Game Nerd \| The Big Bang Theory \| Doctor Who \| Pet Shop Boys \| Yanks Down Under ~ Americans living in Australia Avatar by Sketch Shop Boys


JackBNimble404	Aug 20 2010, 04:08:04 PM Post #6
Chinwagger Posts: 86 Group: Members* Member #3,833 Joined: Jul 22, 2010 I come from... Atlanta, GA / Columbus, GA I now live in... Sydney, NSW I'm planning to move to... Atlanta, GA	TerritorianTori Aug 20 2010, 11:08:16 AM Hey, I forgot about this post! It probably needs a few revisions. Yikes! Not looking forward to mayonnaise that tastes like miracle whip! But if they have Best Foods Mayonnaise that'll work fine. (for those from east of the Rockies, Best Foods = Hellman's). It's probably to much to ask for that they'd have the Olive Oil variety. It tastes the same and half the fat and the fat that is left is the good fat :). I guess I could make my own mayonnaise. I LOVE Passion Fruit, so I'll be checking out the soda section! Got to find a substitute for my Diet Dr. Pepper



shylady	Aug 21 2010, 08:58:07 AM Post #7
oldYank Posts: 4,802 Group: Members** Member #18 Joined: Feb 18, 2007 I come from... By the Shores of GitcheGumee (Longfellow) I now live in... Perth area, Western Australia	JackBNimble404 Aug 20 2010, 04:08:04 PM Yikes! Not looking forward to mayonnaise that tastes like miracle whip! They lie. Even Miracle Whip doesn't taste like Miracle Whip, here.
	"I could�ve turned a different corner, I could�ve gone another place... " ku,'09


Reader3333	Aug 21 2010, 04:49:20 PM Post #8
True Blue Mate Posts: 161 Group: Members** Member #3,511 Joined: Feb 1, 2010 I come from... San Antonio, TX I now live in... Mackay Qld I'm planning to move to... staying put for awhile!	JackBNimble404 Aug 20 2010, 04:08:04 PM ! But if they have Best Foods Mayonnaise that'll work fine. (for those from east of the Rockies, Best Foods = Hellman's I LOVE Passion Fruit, so I'll be checking out the soda section! Got to find a substitute for my Diet Dr. Pepper Paul Newman's mayo isn't too bad--a bit cheaper then Best foods too. If you find a good substitute for Diet Dr. pepper- lemme know. it's my favorite. All soda is really expensive here. I try to make iced tea a bit more.



Mimishuze	Aug 22 2010, 01:47:01 AM Post #9
True Blue Mate Posts: 311 Group: Members** Member #3,626 Joined: Apr 10, 2010 I come from... Union, KY I now live in... Sydney, NSW, Australia	JackBNimble404 Aug 20 2010, 04:08:04 PM TerritorianTori Aug 20 2010, 11:08:16 AM Hey, I forgot about this post! It probably needs a few revisions. Yikes! Not looking forward to mayonnaise that tastes like miracle whip! But if they have Best Foods Mayonnaise that'll work fine. (for those from east of the Rockies, Best Foods = Hellman's). It's probably to much to ask for that they'd have the Olive Oil variety. It tastes the same and half the fat and the fat that is left is the good fat :). I guess I could make my own mayonnaise. I LOVE Passion Fruit, so I'll be checking out the soda section! Got to find a substitute for my Diet Dr. Pepper I loved the olive oil mayo too. I have found that I haven't even bought mayo since we have been here. Haven't bought ketchup either. I haven't bought a bunch of "staples" that I would have bought instictively in the States. I did get some Newmans Ranch Dressing which I have used on sandwiches to replace mayo. I have just found it generally much easier to buy healthier food here. I think it's because I am outside of my comfort zone so I am not doing my regular shopping. It's like learning how to shop all over again.... Hard to explain really. You'll see when you get here
	Gone On a Lucky Country - My Blog About Moving to Australia


beckagator	Aug 22 2010, 05:26:40 AM Post #10
True Blue Mate Posts: 313 Group: Members** Member #3,897 Joined: Aug 17, 2010 I come from... The Land of Dixie I now live in... much farther south!-yay Melbourne I'm planning to move to... closer into the city	Mimishuze Aug 22 2010, 01:47:01 AM I have just found it generally much easier to buy healthier food here. I think it's because I am outside of my comfort zone so I am not doing my regular shopping. It's like learning how to shop all over again.... Hard to explain really. You'll see when you get here I totally get ya, I moved back home with family to save up some money for coming to OZ, and I had forgotten how we used to shop. When I lived on my own, meat was so expensive I never bought any, so I was economically a vegetarian. I went back home to realize my family doesn't even know how to cook without beef, cheese, or some kind of pasta. It's so true about comfort zones!



IHeartWallabies	Nov 11 2010, 11:53:25 PM Post #11
Piker Posts: 8 Group: New Members Member #3,937 Joined: Sep 3, 2010 I come from... Portland, OR most recently; Houston, TX originally I now live in... Sydney, NSW	One thing I'm still getting used to is having to go to 3 different places to find the things I'm looking for. When I get home from the grocery store, I need to remember to go over my old store list to see if there's anything I didn't find that I need to transfer onto a new store list! I hear you on the Diet Dr. Pepper! The other day, without thinking, I wrote "Diet DP" on the store list, as if I were still living somewhere where I can find it! ;) Products that don't taste the same - I was excited when I found Multigrain Cheerios in a box that looks exactly like American Cheerios (except it says Uncle Toby's), but then I had the cereal and it's quite different. Nothing light and puffy about those O's, Uncle. Regarding good mayo - my husband saw Neil Perry Fresh Signature Mayonnaise at Woolies. We tried it, and it's yummy. Of course, I haven't been able to find it at Coles or Franklins. Guess it's only sold at Woolies? Items stocked in weird places - we were looking ALL OVER the Coles for toothpicks. On the aisle that had kitchen "tools," they even had bamboo skewers (so close!) but no toothpicks. Finally we found them way over on another aisle with party items, next to tiny drink umbrellas. Of course. BTW, have not seen Half & Half, so I guess it doesn't really exist here? I got a tiny carton of Pure Cream ("ideal for pouring"), and it was really thick, so I mixed it with milk. Unfortunately, it was okay for less than a week before the cream curdled in my coffee. :(



beckagator	Dec 24 2010, 08:53:56 AM Post #12
True Blue Mate Posts: 313 Group: Members** Member #3,897 Joined: Aug 17, 2010 I come from... The Land of Dixie I now live in... much farther south!-yay Melbourne I'm planning to move to... closer into the city	UGH STICKER SHOCK! it really is hard to get over the cost of things, and even though fruit is by the kilo, its still a bit of a shock to see the price. slowly learning whats a good price for things.



idiologic	Feb 17 2011, 11:39:47 AM Post #13
Yacker Posts: 37 Group: Members* Member #2,804 Joined: May 25, 2008 I come from... Houston, TX I now live in... Melbourne, VIC	I just read this today and it's really interesting. You nailed it exactly. When I went back to the USA, everybody in my family was on a coupon kick. I miss that. I always get pretty excited when I find buy 1 get 1 free coupons here for restaurants though... I wouldn't go to TGI Friday's here without one. Luckily, I live really close to USA Foods so if I want to pick up a $10 jar of grape jelly, I can. Oh, and American Coca-Cola. And tons of other junk I shouldn't be eating.



yaussievi	Feb 17 2011, 12:34:01 PM Post #14
True Blue Mate Posts: 323 Group: Members** Member #4,343 Joined: Feb 3, 2011 I come from... NY-Florida I now live in... Sunshine Coast I'm planning to move to... Here for now!	Very interesting. When I first moved here I was afraid to buy anything. Talk about sticker shock...plus everything was metric. Didn't have a clue how much to ask for or how much it was going to cost! I had fun looking through all my cook books from the states and converting. A big learning curve for me. I used to ask my husband 'what's that in American'? Thank goodness he knew the conversion. Looking back I guess I've come a long way..amazing what you can learn when you don't have a choice eh...
	Yaussie-Vi


SanDiablo	Feb 17 2011, 06:34:22 PM Post #15
True Blue Mate Posts: 996 Group: Members** Member #280 Joined: May 1, 2007	IHeartWallabies Nov 11 2010, 11:53:25 PM Items stocked in weird places - we were looking ALL OVER the Coles for toothpicks. On the aisle that had kitchen "tools," they even had bamboo skewers (so close!) but no toothpicks. Finally we found them way over on another aisle with party items, next to tiny drink umbrellas. Of course. I swear to God Coles stacks their shelves alphabetically sometimes!
	"I'll try anything twice."


OptoChick	Feb 17 2011, 09:24:56 PM Post #16
Chinwagger Posts: 84 Group: Members* Member #4,050 Joined: Oct 18, 2010 I come from... Orange Couny, California I now live in... Melbourne I'm planning to move to... back to the OC in a few years	I went to USA Foods last week, to see if there were any "must haves" for my daughter's bday. Just sooo expensive. $25 for a jumbo box of Goldfish? Love my kids, but had to pass.



TerritorianTori	Feb 19 2011, 09:19:39 AM Post #17
Dance to disco Posts: 4,769 Group: Admin Member #1 Joined: Feb 14, 2007 I come from... Rio Grande Valley, Texas I now live in... Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia	I split off the corn chips tangent: http://yanksdownunder.net/topic/8717324/1/
	South Texas to the Northern Territory - since 2004 I'm a huge fan of... Angry Video Game Nerd \| The Big Bang Theory \| Doctor Who \| Pet Shop Boys \| Yanks Down Under ~ Americans living in Australia Avatar by Sketch Shop Boys


Nanook	Feb 19 2011, 05:19:27 PM Post #18
True Blue Mate Posts: 223 Group: Members** Member #616 Joined: Nov 3, 2007 I come from... Minneapolis I now live in... Sydney I'm planning to move to... Nowhere	SanDiablo Feb 17 2011, 06:34:22 PM IHeartWallabies Nov 11 2010, 11:53:25 PM Items stocked in weird places - we were looking ALL OVER the Coles for toothpicks. On the aisle that had kitchen "tools," they even had bamboo skewers (so close!) but no toothpicks. Finally we found them way over on another aisle with party items, next to tiny drink umbrellas. Of course. I swear to God Coles stacks their shelves alphabetically sometimes! That's giving them too much credit...I swear they have no system- them or Woolies. How can you put Easy Mac in one aisle, nowhere near the pasta mind you, and then put the regular mac-n-cheese in another aisle; again, nowhere near the pasta? Gaaaaaaahh! Must be us, but we can buy Diet DP at the local green grocer just outside Woolies - about $1 a can. BTW, the Coke here has real sugar in it, I thought that was supposed to taste better than the HFCS stuff in the States. Last year, while back in the US, they were making a big deal in stores about selling "Mexican" Coke which was made with real sugar - they were charging a lot for that stuff.



Boston	Feb 19 2011, 05:38:34 PM Post #19
Yacker Posts: 39 Group: Members* Member #4,376 Joined: Feb 16, 2011 I come from... Boston I now live in... Brisbane I'm planning to move to... New England	I asked Woolies the other day why they put condoms next to kids band-aides...don-no they said. My 10 year old was wondering what kind of band aides there were next to Dora the Exlpora and Elmo band aides....


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