Does anyone know if I'm allowed to bring kelp noodles into Australia? Link to product description below
http://kelpnoodles.com/products_seatangle_noodles.html
Thanks!
Can I bring kelp noodles into Australia?
macr0hard on 01/09/2014 - 11:49
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it costs $AU 9.50 here and $US 3 if bought from the US, plus the US has more varieties. I will be there in Dec so thinking of bringing back some.
I've heard of shirataki but dont know where to buy them from. They seem more rare than kelp noodles. Do you know where to buy them from?
Asian grocery stores / supermarkets. I see them all the time - namely this brand. That packet is usually 99c. On shelves, not in the fridge section.
That one in the link is product of China, though. Personally I steer clear of any Chinese sourced food that I can, and haven't seen any konnyaku noodles from other countries - but try Korean or Jap supermarkets and you might be lucky. What suburb are you located in? I could give you some ideas on where to search.
I'd even try looking in Asian grocery shops for kelp noodles. If you're only looking in health food stores, you're going to be charged a crapload more for exactly the same products.
Oh i think i know this one, i always thought it was just another type of vermicelli though. I do remember seeing it in the fridge section too. But yeah agreed i never go near any made in china products these days. Im in fairfield sydney, usually go to lidcome for korean stuff, dont think theres any jap grocery stores nera me :(
@macr0hard: Bear with me if you can, I'll check out my local Asian supermarket in the next coming days and report back. I'm quite sure they also sold dry kelp noodles too. Donga100's reply below has triggered a memory of me seeing them with the Korean dry noodles. I'm just not 100% sure that they were kelp noodles (they definitely had Korean potato noodles though).
But yeah, try the Korean supermarkets in Campsie or Eastwood. Or just wing it and look in the general Asian supermarkets in Cabramatta since that's closer to you.
Otherwise if you wanna just hit up a Korean grocer (presumably fewer China-sourced products compared to Cabra)… try this Korean supermarket in Campsie: Google map satellite linky lol. It's right next to 'Se Jong Korean BBQ Buffet' on that map. It's a residential street so you can't miss the supermarket.. though it has a smallish entrance, it's pretty big on the inside and has a great variety of noodles. Otherwise have a stroll up Beamish St for others.
thanks @waterlogged turnip: the google link is for eastwood right? i'm hoping to head up to marrickville today so maybe will stop by campsie. Do you have the street name for this supermarket in campsie? i have to say i've never seen korean dry kelp noodles, have seen and eaten the sweet potato ones though. They're not the same as shirataki right?
@macr0hard: Nah, the google link is to the Korean grocer on London St, Campsie. It's right near the train station and kinda opposite a small car park. Right next to Se Jong BBQ Buffet.
I get a bit confused on all these noodles lol but I'm pretty sure shirataki noodles are different to the sweet potato ones (used in Korean japchae). Shirataki/konnyaku are made from konjac yam… it's the same stuff as those chewy jelly bits you find in some Asian confectionary.
If you don't know what's what at the supermarket because most packaging doesn't have English descriptions on them, you could always try Google image searching 'korean kelp noodles' on your phone and showing it to the staff. That method has helped me a few times when staff don't speak much English OR they know the product I'm after by different names.
Good luck!
I always go to Korean shop the only Waterlogged is talking about in campsie. I brought a pack of the kelp/seaweed noodle from there (it was in the fridge). about $1.90 a pack.
not a fan of it.. it was too crunchy for my likings
@waterlogged turnip: found both from my usual store in Lidcombe, i did go to the Campsie one too and they have it in smaller size. The Koreans call it seaweed noodles instead of kelp :). And the shirataki one is unfortunately also made in China so that'll be my next mission, try to find shirataki that's Korean/Japanese made lol
@macr0hard: Woohoo! Let me know how you find the kelp noodles. I've had a kelp noodle salad recipe bookmarked for over a year as it looks delicious but I've never been bothered to track down kelp noodles.
The one time I thought I'd bought kelp noodles, they turned out to be plain kelp strands. Not quite the same lol ugh.
The ones you bought today - are they product of Korea?
Everything is made in China these days. Drives me nuts. Went to a Jap grocery store specifically for some umeboshi, furikake and edamame and even they were made in China, ffs lol.
I usually eat them as a salad too. Mixed with some chicken breast, cucumber, tomato, capsicum, etc. Tastes great!
I buy the Korean Kelp noodles from my local Korean grocery store in Brisbane for $3-4 per packet. They come in a blue package and are in the fridge. I'm sure you could find them in Sydney as there is an even larger Korean population there.
thanks, i'll check their fridge section next time
You can show them this on your phone at the Korean supermarket and they will know what you are looking for.
아씨 다시마로 만든 천사채.
@donga100: Thanks for that. Yep found it, the blue package, comes in 2 sizes, 340gr for $1.90 and 1kg for $4.10 :)
Check with Customs but I don't think there should be a problem. After all, powdered kelp and liquefied kelp are sold as health food supplements (and the kelp is not necessarily sourced here).
I sent them an email from the DAFF website but not sure if I'll hear from them or not
Why do you need to bring them in yourself? They sell them here?
Or are you on holiday overseas at the moment and wanna bring some home with you?
edit: have you heard of konnyaku/shirataki noodles as well? They're similarly low in fat, calories, carbs and IIRC are also gluten free: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shirataki_noodles :)