Global Supermarket
Many products on the shelves of supermarkets in other countries are produced and traded all over the world, and are common to us all. Other products seem familiar but have been altered to appeal to a local population or translated into the local language. Some products for sale seem entirely strange to people from other places since they are part of local traditions that may not exist elsewhere, or because they offer unique ingredients. Browse the virtual supermarket in the following collection of slides for a sampling of some curious and interesting items.
Click first photo to start narrative or any photo to see caption
SuperMarkets
Honduras
Join Tony the Tiger as he takes his cereal around the world. They're not only g-r-reat...they're r-r-ricas! (Honduras).
http://lightworld.okstate.edu/images/slide/Supermarket/honduras.jpg
South Korea
Front of Frosted Flakes box (South Korea).
http://lightworld.okstate.edu/images/slide/Supermarket/southkorea.jpg
South Korea
Back of Frosted Flakes box (South Korea).
http://lightworld.okstate.edu/images/slide/Supermarket/southkorea2.jpg
Egypt
Front of Frosted Flakes box (Egypt).
http://lightworld.okstate.edu/images/slide/Supermarket/egypt.jpg
Mexico
Front of Frosted Flakes box (Mexico).
http://lightworld.okstate.edu/images/slide/Supermarket/mexico.jpg
Mexico
Back of Frosted Flakes box (Mexico).
http://lightworld.okstate.edu/images/slide/Supermarket/mexico2.jpg
Italy
Front of Frosted Flakes box (Italy).
http://lightworld.okstate.edu/images/slide/Supermarket/italy.jpg
South Africa
Front of Frosted Flakes box (South Africa).
https://lightworld.okstate.edu/images/slide/Supermarket/Front of Frosted Flakes box South Africa.JPG
South Korea
A South Korean-produced Dr. Pepper can with Hangul (Han-geul) script; unusual in the world of Dr. Pepper, which is mostly popular in the continental U.S.A., found in limited locations in Western Europe, but not commonly found elsewhere.
http://lightworld.okstate.edu/images/slide/Supermarket/IMG_0407.JPG
Egypt
7-Up from Egypt.
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Egypt
7-Up from Egypt (reverse side of the can).
http://lightworld.okstate.edu/images/slide/Supermarket/IMG_0409.JPG
Jordan
Pepsi from Jordan.
http://lightworld.okstate.edu/images/slide/Supermarket/IMG_0410.JPG
Turkey
Coca-Cola with Arabic script, produced in Istanbul, Turkey.
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Turkey
Sprite in Arabic script, produced in Istanbul, Turkey.
http://lightworld.okstate.edu/images/slide/Supermarket/IMG_0414.JPG
Russia
Mountain Dew in Russian Cyrillic script.
http://lightworld.okstate.edu/images/slide/Supermarket/IMG_0416.JPG
Russia
A box of Russian porridge, or kasha, a staple food in the Russian diet.
https://lightworld.okstate.edu/images/slide/Supermarket/Russian porridge compressed.jpg
South Africa
Biltong is an Afrikaner (Boer/Dutch) product common in South Africa and similar to American-style jerky. Biltong may use the meat of any animal, though beef and ostrich are common. It is "very lekker" (tasty).
South Africa
The meat of impala and other wild game is sometimes sold as biltong (jerky) in South Africa.
Norway
Reindeer meat product, Norway.
http://lightworld.okstate.edu/images/slide/Supermarket/IMG_0417.JPG
Spain
Stuffed squid (in vegetable oil), Canary Islands, Spain.
http://lightworld.okstate.edu/images/slide/Supermarket/IMG_0418.JPG
Finland
Canned reindeer meat, Finland.
http://lightworld.okstate.edu/images/slide/Supermarket/IMG_0419.JPG
Norway
Canned bear meat, Norway.
http://lightworld.okstate.edu/images/slide/Supermarket/IMG_0420.JPG
South Africa
Oxtail soup mix, a dish original to the United Kingdom and also found in some form in East and Southeast Asia, the American South, and South Africa.
Scotland
Haggis is a traditional Scottish dish (sometimes described as the national dish of Scotland) made from minced sheep offal (or sheep pluck--heart, liver, lungs) mixed with suet, oatmeal, onion and spices and boiled in a sheep stomach. It tastes like a spiced oatmeal sausage.
https://lightworld.okstate.edu/images/slide/Supermarket/Haggis.jpg
United States
Wyoming Wine is a bottle of crude oil (see fine print next image), Wyoming, U.S.A.
http://lightworld.okstate.edu/images/slide/Supermarket/IMG_0421.JPG
United States
Close-up of the Wyoming Wine label, Wyoming, U.S.A.
http://lightworld.okstate.edu/images/slide/Supermarket/IMG_0422.JPG
Mongolia
Chinggis Khan brand vodka, Mongolia (home of the famous empire builder and ruler Chenggis or Ghengis Khan).
http://lightworld.okstate.edu/images/slide/Supermarket/IMG_0423.JPG
Iraq
President George Bush (USA) and Saddam Hussein (Iraq) together on a heart-shaped souvenir lighter from Iraq, with an American F-16 fighter jet on top.
http://lightworld.okstate.edu/images/slide/Supermarket/IMG_0424.JPG
Mexico
Rattle Viper Sperm Incense (from Mexico) is sold as a cure-all to protect the house, business, place of work, trade, and cantina, against damage, losses, failures, envy and waste.
http://lightworld.okstate.edu/images/slide/Supermarket/IMG_0426.JPG
Iran
“Barf” brand detergent has an unpleasant sounding name in English but is a popular brand of detergent produced in Iran and sold in surrounding countries.
http://lightworld.okstate.edu/images/slide/Supermarket/IMG_0427.JPG
Jordan
Joon Mud Soap, one of the many health and beauty products derived from the mud of the Dead Sea (Jordan), which is believed to have curative properties.
http://lightworld.okstate.edu/images/slide/Supermarket/IMG_0428.JPG
Syria
“Smorkars” Toothpowder (from Syria) is an Arabic translation error that is supposed to read “Smokers” Toothpowder. This product is supposed to help remove stains from the teeth that come from smoking cigarettes. The box spells it “Smorkers” and the package inside the box (see next image) further distorts the sound of the word in English.
http://lightworld.okstate.edu/images/slide/Supermarket/IMG_0429.JPG
Syria
“Samoorkaraz” Toothpowder (from Syria) is misspelled and is supposed to read “Smokers” Toothpowder. This is spelled differently than the box that it came in (see previous image).
http://lightworld.okstate.edu/images/slide/Supermarket/IMG_0430.JPG
South Korea
Ginseng drink, derived from the root of this popular product of South Korea.
http://lightworld.okstate.edu/images/slide/Supermarket/IMG_0432.JPG
India
Nibenda brand Worm Expeller is produced in India and sold in African countries where intestinal worms may be common. These chewable tablets help to expel round worms, thread worms, pin worms, whip worms, and hookworms.
http://lightworld.okstate.edu/images/slide/Supermarket/IMG_0433.JPG
South Korea
This badly translated product, sold in South Korea, is orange juice which, technically speaking, is made from squashed oranges.
http://lightworld.okstate.edu/images/slide/Supermarket/IMG_0434.JPG
Iran
The name of this drink may not sound appealing when translated to English (who wants to drink anything that will make them Woozy?) but is a common drink sold in stores and supermarkets in Iran.
http://lightworld.okstate.edu/images/slide/Supermarket/IMG_0436.JPG
Sweden
A squeeze tube of caviar may not sound like the most glamorous form of this fish roe product but it is commonly sold like this in Scandinavian supermarkets (Sweden).
http://lightworld.okstate.edu/images/slide/Supermarket/IMG_0441.JPG
Norway
A squeeze tube of bacon (Norway).
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Norway
A squeeze tube of shrimp (Norway).
http://lightworld.okstate.edu/images/slide/Supermarket/IMG_0444.JPG
South Africa
Fish paste (a mixture of pilchards, mackerel and/or anchovies) produced and sold in South Africa.
Russia
A common brand of cigarettes sold in Russia, with the national symbol of Russia embossed on the package.
http://lightworld.okstate.edu/images/slide/Supermarket/IMG_0446.JPG
South Korea
Sprite, in Hangul script (South Korea).
http://lightworld.okstate.edu/images/slide/Supermarket/IMG_0447.JPG
United States
An old-style (1950s) bottle of Pepsi-Cola (U.S.A.).
http://lightworld.okstate.edu/images/slide/Supermarket/IMG_0450.JPG
Peru
Inca Kola, a local brand of soft drink sold in Peru and named after the historic Inca people and empire that once dominated the region. Curiously, Inca Cola is not even a cola but more like a crème soda.
http://lightworld.okstate.edu/images/slide/Supermarket/IMG_0451.JPG
Nicaragua
Milca, a local brand of soft drink from Nicaragua that looks and tastes like a red crème soda.
http://lightworld.okstate.edu/images/slide/Supermarket/IMG_0453.JPG
Egypt
Mountain Dew, in Arabic script (Egypt).
http://lightworld.okstate.edu/images/slide/Supermarket/IMG_0455.JPG
Israel
Pepsi Cola, in Hebrew script (Israel).
http://lightworld.okstate.edu/images/slide/Supermarket/IMG_0458.JPG
South Korea
Pepsi Cola, in Hangul script (South Korea).
http://lightworld.okstate.edu/images/slide/Supermarket/IMG_0461.JPG
Jordan
Pepsi Cola, in Arabic script (Jordan).
http://lightworld.okstate.edu/images/slide/Supermarket/IMG_0462.JPG
Jordan
Fanta, in Arabic (Jordan).
http://lightworld.okstate.edu/images/slide/Supermarket/IMG_0465.JPG
Colombia
Colombiana, a local soft drink brand from Colombia that is similar to crème soda.
http://lightworld.okstate.edu/images/slide/Supermarket/IMG_0467.JPG
Iran
Zam Zam Cola, a product of Iran that is sold in the Middle East region as an alternative to Western cola brands like Coke and Pepsi (it was first produced after a boycott of Coca-Cola by a few Arab countries in the region). The name “Zam Zam” is derived from the Well of Zamzam in Mecca, associated with Abraham, a source of water from God and a holy site in Islam.
http://lightworld.okstate.edu/images/slide/Supermarket/IMG_0468.JPG
Ethiopia
Coca-Cola, in Amharic script (Ethiopia).
http://lightworld.okstate.edu/images/slide/Supermarket/IMG_0469.JPG
Syria
Orange Crush, in Arabic (Syria).
http://lightworld.okstate.edu/images/slide/Supermarket/IMG_0470.JPG
Yemen
Seven-Up, in Arabic (Yemen).
http://lightworld.okstate.edu/images/slide/Supermarket/IMG_0472.JPG
Syria
RC Cola, in Arabic (Syria).
http://lightworld.okstate.edu/images/slide/Supermarket/IMG_0473.JPG
Morocco
Pepsi Cola, in Arabic (Morocco).
http://lightworld.okstate.edu/images/slide/Supermarket/IMG_0474.JPG
Turkey
Coca-Cola (Turkey).
http://lightworld.okstate.edu/images/slide/Supermarket/IMG_0476.JPG
South Korea
Coca-Cola, in Hangul script (South Korea).
http://lightworld.okstate.edu/images/slide/Supermarket/IMG_0480.JPG
Bangladesh
Coca-Cola, in Bengali script (Bangladesh).
http://lightworld.okstate.edu/images/slide/Supermarket/IMG_0482.JPG
Nepal
Coca-Cola, in Devanagari script (Nepal).
http://lightworld.okstate.edu/images/slide/Supermarket/IMG_0485.JPG
Republic of Georgia
Coca-Cola, in Georgian script (Republic of Georgia).
http://lightworld.okstate.edu/images/slide/Supermarket/IMG_0486.JPG
China
Coca-Cola, in Chinese (China).
http://lightworld.okstate.edu/images/slide/Supermarket/IMG_0487.JPG
Croatia
Coca-Cola, in Croatian (Croatia).
http://lightworld.okstate.edu/images/slide/Supermarket/IMG_0489.JPG
Russia
Coke bottle from Russia.
http://lightworld.okstate.edu/images/slide/Supermarket/IMG_0491.JPG
Thailand
Coke, in Thai script (Thailand).
http://lightworld.okstate.edu/images/slide/Supermarket/IMG_0492.JPG
Tunisia
Coca-Cola, in Arabic (Tunisia).
http://lightworld.okstate.edu/images/slide/Supermarket/IMG_0493.JPG
Belize
Coke bottle from Belize.
http://lightworld.okstate.edu/images/slide/Supermarket/IMG_0495.JPG
Armenia
Coca-Cola in Armenian script (Armenia).
http://lightworld.okstate.edu/images/slide/Supermarket/IMG_0496.JPG
South Korea
Coca-Cola, in Hangul script (South Korea).
http://lightworld.okstate.edu/images/slide/Supermarket/IMG_0498.JPG
Israel
Coca-Cola in Hebrew (Israel).
http://lightworld.okstate.edu/images/slide/Supermarket/IMG_0500.JPG
Syria
Al Kola (in English script). Al Kola—literally “The Cola”—is a local brand of cola produced in Syria in the 1990s at a time when neither Coca Cola nor Pepsi Cola were available in the country. The bottle was designed to look like a Coca-Cola bottle.
http://lightworld.okstate.edu/images/slide/Supermarket/IMG_0501.JPG
Syria
Al Kola (in Arabic script). Al Kola—literally “The Cola”—is a local brand of cola produced in Syria in the 1990s at a time when neither Coca Cola nor Pepsi Cola were available in the country. The bottle was designed to look like a Coca-Cola bottle.
http://lightworld.okstate.edu/images/slide/Supermarket/IMG_0502.JPG
Turkey
Cola Turka (Turkey). (photo by Marvin Sebourn)
http://lightworld.okstate.edu/images/slide/Supermarket/IMG_0508.JPG
Cameroon
American Cola, a unique brand found in Cameroon.
United States
Ale-8-1 (A Late One) soda, bottled in Winchester, Kentucky (U.S.A.) since 1926. In addition to national and international brands of soft drinks, there are many lesser-known carbonated beverages with limited, regional distribution. For more than 75 years, Ale-8-1 was found only in parts of Kentucky but was expanded in 2002 to several counties in Indiana and Ohio. The product is available outside this region only to those who call or order via their website.
http://lightworld.okstate.edu/images/slide/Supermarket/IMG_0509.JPG
