Carrefour Supermarket, Warsaw

What to buy here: Barszcz (beetroot) | Krówki (fudge) | Polish beer | Polish mead | Ptasie mleczko (candy) | Żubrówka (vodka).

-Barszcz. Have you ever had beetroot soup? This vegetable is a rare ingredient in Western cuisine. You will be surprised how good it tastes. Get a jar or a packet of instant barszcz and surprise your friends back home.

Beetroot is a very modest vegetable. It’s not marketed too well outside Eastern Europe, so as a result it’s not that popular. Being a rich source of antioxidants and nutrients such as vitamin C, magnesium, sodium and potassium, it is proved to have beneficial effects on your health. For instance, it lowers the blood presure and prevents cardiovascular problems. Beetroot soup (Barszcz) is very common in Poland and generaly Eastern Europe. It tastes great with battered pancakes stuffed with ground mushrooms (krokiet). Barszcz is one of the 12 traditional dishes served at the Christmas Eve dinner in Poland.

Instant barszcz is available in any store, big or small with major brands being Winiary, Knorr or Amino. Preparation is easy, just add 2 teaspoons to a mug of hot water and enjoy the sweet and sour taste of Poland. Price: 1,5 PLN ($) (packet) – 6 PLN ($ 2) (jar).