Travelers may want to immerse themselves in a new city by living like a local, and some seem to achieve this by visiting international grocery stores.
The trend has also caught on on TikTok, with people calling the excursions “cultural experiences.”
Vacationers also roam the aisles of grocery stores, hoping for an opportunity to pick up some tasty souvenirs during their trips abroad.
Solo passengers “can’t stand it” after mother hacks plane seat
Shannon Mill (@shesthetea), a social media creator from Philadelphia, said she’s not only fallen in love with the food and travel trend, but also enjoys watching other people experience it first-hand.
Shannon Mill of Philadelphia told Fox News Digital that she likes the recent trend of visiting supermarkets overseas and posting about the experience on social media. (Shannon Mill)
“It’s a trend I’m noticing more and more as people become attracted to the idea of ​​experiencing a country’s culture through its food,” Mir told Fox News Digital in an email.
As part of the new digitised system, travellers will need a ‘permit’ and a fee to visit the UK.
“Grocery stores give you a glimpse into local life that is often overlooked – seeing what locals eat, discovering unique products and getting a feel for their daily habits – and it’s something I’m very passionate about,” she said.
Mill believes one of the reasons the trend has taken off is because it’s accessible to tourists and visually interesting.
According to Mir, checking out different food brands that you can only try abroad can lead to a unique shopping experience.
“It’s special to see unfamiliar products and compare them to those back home. Plus, it’s an affordable and authentic way for tourists to immerse themselves in local culture,” she said.
For more lifestyle stories, visit www.foxnews.com/lifestyle
The viral video on TikTok has garnered attention from people wanting to try out supermarket “trips” and those incorporating them into their holidays.
Although Mir likes to visit different food stores while traveling abroad, he also loves local stores like butchers and markets. (Shannon Mill)
“It tells you more about a country and culture than most other things (IMHO),” one TikTok user commented. “Plus, I love imagining what my life would be like in any country.”
“Wow I thought it was just me… I love wandering around supermarkets in foreign countries,” commented another.
“That’s half the fun of traveling internationally,” a Booking.com employee said in a video following the trend.
Visit 5 Places That Inspired America’s Favorite Songs, Books, and Movies
Mir recommends visiting local places and grocery stores, as you’ll get to see a different side of the culture. (Shannon Mill)
Visits to specialty food stores in the US also seem to be a hot topic.
Wegmans food market stores in New York City are crowded with tourists and locals eager to catch a glimpse of the much talked about live bluefin tuna butchering demonstration.
Mir shares many of his favorite items from the market, from different meats to Tuscan olive oil.
Click here to sign up for our lifestyle newsletter
Mir’s fondest memory of the grocery store came from a trip to Rome, she said.
“I love shopping at grocery stores, but I enjoy shopping even more at local markets, butchers, greengrocers, etc. and Rome has no shortage of these great places,” Mill added.
The latest travel and food trend taking social media by storm is immersing tourists in the culture around them by visiting grocery stores while traveling abroad. (Shannon Mill)
“When I first visited Rome about two and a half years ago, I was trying to cook some authentic Roman food for some friends who were studying abroad. I went to a local butcher and bought some traditional ingredients like guanciale (an Italian cured pork) and Pecorino Romano.”
Not only did Mir love the grocery store and its culture, she also got to meet her boyfriend, the butcher behind the counter.
Click here to get the FOX News app
“Ed the butcher eventually became my boyfriend and now almost three years later we split our time between the US and Italy. We’ve even started our own business sharing food experiences from around the world in both Italy and the US. It’s been an incredible journey,” she said.
