Finding a brand new shop is always handy - especially if it’s close to you. Hidden down a street in Beeston, community reporter Keimae Blake found a hidden Asian supermarket that was like a tardis filled with bargains as she reports…
Beeston has a number of supermarkets, including the recently opened Oriental Market at the former Iceland shop on the High Road. But for the past 10 years Fresh Asia in Derby Street has been proving shoppers with bargains. It might look small on the outside but inside, you’ll be walking around for a while.
With products mainly from China, the supermarket also has Japanese, Korean and Thai food. Sauces, fresh vegetables, seasonings and more are just some of the products you’ll find on the shelf.
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When I visited the store, there were people pushing trolleys around and some just browsing but Fresh Asia seems to be a popular, hidden shopping option. I was greeted by a lovely sales assistant who asked if there was anything they could help with.
As I browsed, there were brands that I had never heard of. I spotted Sushi Rice for just £2.19 for a 1KG bag. I love sushi, I’ve never made it at home but I know where to go now if I ever wanted to attempt it.
For £2.95 you get a 470G tin of red bean paste, a tub of chilli sauce was just £2.25. With a chilled section filled with drinks, veg and fermented eggs which I’ve seen people try on Tik Tok, owner, Kwang Jin Lee took me to a separate part of the shop filled with freezer foods.
The section was massive and I was completely oblivious to it when walking around. Kwang Jin Lee said: “Hot chicken noodles are very spicy but popular in all our Asian countries.
“Kimchi cabbage is also popular too and people like dimsums and dumplings.”
He continued and said: “People come in for fruit too, like Chinese pears. We have our regular customers that come a lot and we’ve worked in Beeston for 20 years but in this shop, 10 years.”
Whilst I’m not heavily creative when it comes to cooking and tend to stick to the same dishes, I definitely know where to come if I want a change.
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