FYI - CASH ONLY! Fresh herbs & ingredients by bulk.
Came upon this Chinese herb shop when I was exploring the area further down Main St. (it's actually not too far down, on the same block as the Library). They're small but packed with lots of herbs, dried fruits, tubers - ingredients for Traditional Chinese Medicine. The shop also has bulk lentils, millet, mung beans, yellow peas, shitake mushrooms, teas, supplements. Everything looks very fresh & the times that I've been back, there's been a steady stream of aunties & grandmas popping in to pick up their dried ingredients for their bone broth herbal soups. Think "Traditional Chinese Soup Lady" website & "Woks of Life," instead of Korean skincare soup Tik Tok videos. Also, make sure to brew the ingredients in a ceramic or clay pot.
The ladies at the shop are quick to help & they handle all the scooping & weighing for you. English proficiency is limited (Cantonese or Mandarin is helpful). But just used Google Translate & it'll be fine. I usually screen shot a picture of the herb + screenshot Translate; or a Woks of Life recipe with both English & Chinese (Traditional) on it and point. The ladies are fast & efficient!
Pricing:
Ingredients for Tawainese Braised Pork Belly Dish:
- $3: Star Anise (minimum amount by weight. Got the smallest about which was still about 1/4-1/2 cup)
- $3 Sichuan Peppercorns
- A few pieces Tangerine Peel
Shitake Mushrooms: $2 for about 8 pieces
(Small) Goji Berries: $2 for about 1/4 cup
Glad to support this small business. Everything looked fresh, with good color, nothing's dried or crumbly. One of these days I'll work up the courage to try brewing that potent ginseng... The shop's very neighborly - staff or locals coming in to sit, chat, share snacks. read more