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Q: What ingredients can you simply not get here?
For me, balsamic vinegar is proving absolutely impossible as are some types of cheese.
Cheese and 90% of the herbs and spices commonly used in the west. Years ago, I wanted to cook my wife a nice meal, so I looked up all the Chinese words for what I needed and went to the Darunfa and the Auchan. Most of the Chinese had never even heard of any of the herbs.
You can get anything in china with some help and a large wallet but if you do not have these at your disposal then the internet and by region and word of mouth is best.
BISQUICK !
I can get pancake syrup everywhere, but no one carries pancake mix !.
TedDBayer:
Pancakes: 1 regular Egg 1 cup All purpose flour ,3/4 cup Milk, 1 tablespoon Sugar, 2 tablespoons Shortening, melted, or vegetable oil, 3 teaspoons Baking Powder, 1/2 teaspoon Salt If I make crepes I omit B. powder,salt, add 1 or 2 more eggs and I use water, but can use milk.
HappyExPat:
Many thanks to both, it is appreciated. But that is exactly what I am doing while not finding the real McCoy.
tauney:
Dude, who needs pancake mix? 1 egg, 1 cup milk, 1/2 cup water, 2 cups flour, a pinch of salt, a teaspoon of baking powder and you're pretty much set. You can get all of these things easily and cheaply in China.
nevermind:
Where do you live? Up in BJ we can get three or four just add water brands.
Corn tortillas .....
profenieto:
Here is so hard to find a good corn tortilla. Last time I eat some “tacos” in Hangzhou. My god, I never saw a thinnest tortilla, it was like a condom.
Cheese, butter and real milk!! I've resorted to buying everything on taobao!
buttermilk, proper beef (OK, so if I fork out enough cash I can get some imported stuff that's been frozen) pasteurized egg, several kinds of herbs
DaveP84:
I got a big piece of Sirloin the other week for a reasonable price of just 40 rmb. Ok so it was Metro, but still BEEF!!! :D
BHGAL:
mouth watering for some hamburger that I can bring home and create a real burger ......... ...... stop dreaming ...dammit
What I haven’t found yet is taco seasoning, I have found refried bean, taco sauce, and I think even some hard taco shells at Metro, but I looked and looked and looked and couldn’t find any seasoning. Anyone got a clue where I can by some?
longing for a bus trip and a hotel night to Guangzhou, 1000RMB only to go shopping at Metro and/or Carrefour and/or Jusco .......... nah, think I'll pass and survive on what I can get here.
Scandinavian:
I know how you feel. I have the holy land just an hour away. Hong Kong, but going on a 500RMB ferry trip (return) for shopping an organic cucumber is a bit much. It's very comforting that the possibility is there though.
Feta, Greek olives...
Scandinavian:
Carre Four here in Zhuhai has feta, not Greek but Danish
manasyt:
Seen some too but the price for that quantity is just ridiculous...Going home in a week, will eat feta by the kilo, for 2 months 
I haven't found any kool-aid mixes here. I need those kool-aid packets add some sugar and you've got yourself a refreshing drink for the summer time!
icnif77:
Strange! By reading your posts, I was guessing you must be 'over-drinking' with kool-aid.
Cream, large condoms, spices, baking powder, tomatoe sauce, eatable beef
protein powder........... (although recently I have found some that looks like nonsense 349 RMB.......walmart back home is $15)
vitamins (trustworthy)
Good bbq sauce (Sweet baby ray's)
Vanilla beans
Reasonably priced cereal
