The strangest stores in Chinatown have always been places where you buy dehydrated or preserved foods–at least to me because other than a couple of remedies for bruises and sore throats, I’m not into the herbal traditions that many Chinese people practice. During this visit though I spent some time in the store learning more about what you’d find inside.
Ginseng. It’s anti-aging properties have been declared by people who believe you will live longer, and have the energy and endurance to kick the ball like Beckham even though you are over 60. Surprisingly Kamloops is the best place to grow ginseng in British Columbia and would you believe, Wisconsin is known for growing the best quality ginseng in the US? It is found in a number of forms like candy and can be added to tea. Just a little is needed each day to benefit from its healing properties.
Chinese stores are not known for their organization. They are usually chaotic and full of wares that it is sometimes difficult to move around in them. These kinds of shops are different. Everything is neatly stacked on the shelf and clearly labeled. Here the herbalist stands in front of the shelves containing birds nests which can sell for as much as $400 per ounce. Yup, per ounce. It’s a Chinese delicacy I can’t say I’ve ever tried and of course there is a whole movement against serving this in restaurants much like shark fin soup.
Yes, these are geckos. Dried geckos. Please do not buy them as gifts for your friends. They are actually part of traditional Chinese medicine and should only be consumed after consulting a herbalist. I was told that the herbalist checks your eyes, fingernails and a few other outer extremities before creating a herbal remedy for whatever is ailing you. And if you have some deep dark secrets you don’t want anyone to know, you should proceed with caution.
Once diagnosed, the herbalist will seek out the ingredients needed to help you, place them on this rudimentary scale and crush them with a mortar and pestle. You must then take the ingredients and make them into a soup which apparently tastes horrific but must be fully consumed to reach its full medicinal potential. I can’t personally vouch for the effectiveness of traditional Chinese herbal medicine but I do know people who swear by it.
There is one more set of images from my visit to Chinatown. I am wondering if these images needed to have an explanation or if you feel it would have been just as effective to write a narrative at the front and let the images follow. Let me know in the comments below. Much appreciated!
I agree, “Chinese stores are not known for their organization. They are usually chaotic and full of wares that it is sometimes difficult to move around in them.”
This is a good series! Thanks!
Thanks Monte. It sounds like you speak from experience!
I appreciated the narrative. I think the photos could stand on their own, but the text adds richness.
Good to know Franz. Check back tomorrow for a different approach. I’d love to hear your thoughts on that post too.
Great background to the images, I am loving both the stories and the images. Keep them coming please! I love browsing in Chinese shops when I went to China for work a few years ago. Although I had no idea what I was looking at it was wonderful to look and wonder. My interpreter was really happy to explain but sometimes the explanation was a little out of my comfort zone and I was happier not knowing.
LOL…I agree sometimes it’s best just not to know but if my curiosity is overwhelming, then I have to ask. I think as along as I don’t have to eat it, I am fine.
Love these images, and the background information you provide. What an interesting personal project. Bonus: they remind me of a wonderful afternoon spent in SF’s Chinatown with some new friends.
What a great time we had, didn’t we? I find it difficult to photograph in Chinatown just as I did on that day. For these few posts, I was able to gain access and photograph without people having any issue. Check back on Friday to find out how I did it!
Narrative is fine for me. I’m enjoying your series – having fun comparing it with what I see around me everyday.
Oh boy, I would LOVE to see what it looks like in China. I am sure they have even more exotic remedies than what I saw here in Vancouver. Let me know how it compares!
Narrative added to the enjoyment/understanding of the set for me. Love it!
I’ve tried a slightly different narrative approach on the next post, Charlene. Can you let me know which one works better for you?
Yeah, I liked reading the text. Nice images too. I have really mixed feelings about the Chinese Medicine thing. I believe that herbs and plants have medicinal properties. I mean, it’s pretty obvious.
The whole shark fin thing was always a deal breaker for me though. And honestly, tiger nuts and dried lizards?
Maybe it’s the overly logical side of me that thinks, “OK, unless it’s poison in some way I could see it – possibly – being useful…” Is there some chemical in the bird spit they use to glue their nests together?
I guess my main issue is the sustainability issues and black market trade this whole thing creates.
I think there is a line between plants and animals for medicinal purposes but I try to remember that there is a cultural aspect to it that I don’t understand. Not sure I ever will actually. Coming from two (or more) worlds, I am often stuck in the middle…
What an interesting post, Sabrina. Love the style of presentation here. I’m fascinated by shops and markets — and Chinatowns everywhere. (Geckos, I’m not sure about, I must say…)