#instantasian

[allaboutfoodgwu]

Soy Sauce on the Streets

This week’s quest to find soy sauce brings me to Streets Market on Massachusetts Ave NW. I have never been to this area before as it’s located near the border of NE D.C.–far from the Foggy Bottom bubble that I’m constantly enveloped into at GW. I visit on a Sunday afternoon with a friend.

The market is located in a busy sector of the city. However, the windows to the market are wide and big–allowing to pedestrians to look in and “window-shop” as they pass by. Feeling somewhat stressed with the commotion outside, I step into the market and become transfixed by the neatness and cleanliness of the store.

Bath bombs and flowers are to my right and Hi Chews and Justin’s Peanut Butter Cups are facing me. Ok this place is pretty bougie. The aisles are wide and clean. All of the slick black shelves are neatly and tightly packed. If only my life was this organized. The place isn’t packed but the 7 customers that I see are all young adults. Taking in what the store has to offer, I begin my quest to find the soy sauce, but quickly realize there are no aisle signs.  @soy sauce, wya?

After a lap around the store, I find the soy sauce tucked away in a corner towards the back– behind the produce and oddly next to an entire rack of pretzel snacks. I first notice how the soy sauce is surrounded by many different types of instant noodles, pre-made lettuce wraps, and Asian stir-fry seasonings. Definitely tailored towards (me) young adults who either a) don’t know how to cook or b) don’t have the time. I resonate with both as I pick up a pack of stir fry mix. I see 4 brands of soy sauce. Each bottle is small and easy to carry. However, the price for the size of the bottle ($2.49-$3.59) is high compared to previous stores that I have visited throughout my fieldwork.

All brands emphasize their soy sauce contains no preservatives, is low sodium, GMO-free, and naturally brewed. The Lee Kum Kee promotes this mantra in all caps. Perhaps it’s the caps or the jumble of words put onto this tiny bottle, but I begin to question whether these efforts are part of a larger scheme to address negative perceptions of soy sauce–from having unhealthy amounts of sodium to toxic fermentatives.

Streets Market is a mini version of Whole Foods but with even more expensive prices. I learn this the hard way after being charged $1.25 per produce bag. I have 5 bags.  Sure, Streets Market has organic underwear and exfoliating gloves, but at the end of the day do I want to pay nearly $3.00 for a tiny bottle of soy sauce that will probably be consumed within a few weeks–especially after the bottle tries too hard to reassure you that their sauce is naturally brewed and practically is begging you to buy it?  No, I don’t think so.

Where will the last leg of my soy sauce journey take me?  Until then, stay saucy!

Caitlyn Phung