As Thanh Nien reported, according to statistics from Vietnam Customs, by the end of September, the total import turnover of vegetables and fruits reached 509 million USD, an increase of 4% over the same period last year. Notably, the item that Vietnam imported the most was garlic, worth up to 123 million USD. On average, each month Vietnamese people spend 13.6 million USD, equivalent to 353 billion VND to eat imported garlic, mainly Chinese garlic.
Many housewives buy and use
At a supermarket in Binh Dong ward (HCMC), the garlic counter has a variety of products from domestic Ly Son garlic to lotus garlic originating from China. Here, garlic is sold in small bags, in which Ly Son garlic costs 45,000 VND/200g bag, Chinese lotus garlic is cheaper, 24,900 VND/300g bag.
Do you usually buy imported garlic or domestic garlic?
PHOTO: CAO AN BIEN
As a regular customer of this supermarket, Ms. Ha (56 years old) said she often chooses Chinese lotus garlic because it is cheap and easy to peel, saving time and making cooking for her family faster.
"The important thing is that the price helps me save on grocery shopping and daily expenses. In traditional markets near my house, street vegetable carts, lotus garlic is also sold more commonly. My family has also preferred this type of garlic for many years. Sometimes we buy domestic garlic, but not as often," the housewife shared.
Ms. Ha also added that domestic Vietnamese garlic has a more fragrant, pleasant smell and is delicious when cooked. She often buys domestic garlic to make dipping sauce or stir-fry. However, she still prefers to use imported garlic with large cloves that are easy to peel and save time.
As a regular visitor to traditional markets, Ms. Thanh (34 years old, living in Binh Dong ward) said that most of the garlic stalls in the market that she knows sell Chinese garlic in large quantities, while she rarely sees the appearance of domestic Vietnamese garlic.
Chinese garlic is bought by many housewives
PHOTO: CAO AN BIEN
"I use whatever is popular and convenient for me to buy. In addition, Chinese garlic is cheaper. However, there is a type of garlic that I often look for, Ly Son single garlic. This type is also easier to peel and more delicious, but the price is a bit high. Garlic is an indispensable ingredient in my family's meals because it makes delicious dishes and has many health benefits," she added.
Chinese garlic is popular in restaurants.
Sharing with Thanh Nien , the owner of a restaurant specializing in steamed chicken also said that the restaurant mainly uses Chinese lotus garlic to prepare dishes, not domestic garlic for many reasons.
Cheaper price, abundant and continuous supply, easy to peel and process are some of the main factors for restaurants to use imported garlic. "Not only my restaurant, most restaurants selling similar dishes, using a lot of garlic in the processing also prioritize choosing this type of garlic," the owner shared.
A person who has been peeling garlic and onions for many years in Ho Chi Minh City also said that most of the garlic she peels from shops is from China. According to her, this type of garlic is easy to peel and can be bought in large quantities, so it is chosen by many restaurants.
Onions and garlic are indispensable spices in the meals of many Vietnamese families.
PHOTO: CAO AN BIEN
"Even for workers living in rented houses like us, the cheaper and easier-to-find foods are prioritized. Chinese garlic is cheap and can be bought in large quantities, so I choose it to save on daily living and food expenses," she said.
Chinese garlic is popular in the Vietnamese market because of its competitive price. At wholesale markets, the price of imported Chinese garlic is commonly between 55,000 and 75,000 VND/kg, depending on the type. Another advantage is that imported garlic is easy to peel, so it is popular in restaurants.
Meanwhile, domestic products, especially Ly Son garlic, although have the advantage of flavor, the price at the wholesale market is quite high, up to 110,000 VND/kg. In addition, the limited supply means the product is mainly consumed in households. Therefore, over the years, the amount of garlic imported into Vietnam has always maintained a high level.
Source: https://thanhnien.vn/chi-353-ti-thang-an-toi-nhap-khau-vi-sao-nguoi-viet-chuong-toi-trung-quoc-18525111611140284.htm
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