Here’s how you can travel to 4 regions in one sitting

We’re still in quarantine—disappointed but not surprised—so traveling to other countries is definitely impossible right now. But so what? There are other ways you can explore the world. Case in point: food. And for today’s trip, we’ll travel to four regions.

Southeast Asia

Vietnamese coffee. Photo by frank mckenna on Unsplash

Vietnam is the second-largest exporter of coffee in the world, only second to Brazil. So best believe Vietnamese people really know their way around coffee. For some reason though, they prefer their coffee strong, forceful enough to power you through a day—or two.

Turon of mango and kesong puti with ice cream. Photo grabbed from Manam Comfort Filipino Facebook page

If Vietnam’s known for its bitter drinks, our country is known for its sweet snacks. Who would’ve thought you could make a dessert out of various sweetened fruits—like turon? Only Filipinos. No doubt we’re always first place in creativity.

Latin America

Vegan tacos. Photo by Jarett Lopez on Unsplash

Latin American dishes are never complete without bold-flavored dips and condiments like salsa, pico de gallo, guacamole, and pebre. They are also known for tacos, tortillas, and burritos.

Middle East

Shawarma. Photo by Karen Laårk Boshoff on Pexels

Middle Eastern cuisines are heavy on spices and herbs. Locals like dishes with a strong flavor profile that will probably last in their mouth for a while.

Among their most popular dishes is shawarma, which literally means “turning” in English. The meat, usually beef or chicken, is roasted on a spinning vertical rotisserie. It’s then chopped into fine pieces before serving with tomatoes, cucumbers, and onions.

East Asia

Special salmon sushi. Photo by Vinicius Benedit on Unsplash

Japan is known for many things: busy Tokyo streets, low crime rate, manga, and anime. But above everything, it’s a haven for foodies. Ramen, sushi, sashimi, okonomiyaki, tempura, katsudon, gyoza, onigiri, teppanyaki, mochi… the list is pretty much endless.

Xiao long bao. Photo by Victor Mui on Unsplash

The travel isn’t complete without throwing some Cantonese into the mix. Dumplings are one of the best-selling Cantonese dishes around the world—xiao long bao, wonton, and jiaozi to name a few. But if you’re into seafood, hakaw (or har gow) or shrimp dumplings are definitely a must-try.

Originally published in Shopmag Online

Header photo courtesy of Fernando Santos on Unsplash