Not many people know that I like Mustafa (the only 24-hour shopping mall in Singapore) in Little India, Serangoon Road. Even family and friends who know, they do not like the place and would not accompany me there, especially during weekends (it is crowded with throngs of foreign workers (Indians, Bangla, Africans etc..). Most locals do not like to be there. I would usually go during the weekdays when I have the time.Mustafa's selection of items are so varied and diverse that it is totally a mind-boggling experience just browsing and exploring, even at the supermarket alone. There are thousands and thousands of brands and products there, compared to those premium supermarkets around. They have all the usual items and MORE, often brands and stuff that we do not normally see.
Here are some unusual or interesting stuff I saw at the supermarket.
I am always excited at the drinks section. Rows of bottles of wine lookalikes, yet they are NON-alcoholic (I was looking and hoping for some cheap nice wine). There is this brand Marjan Boudon which has so many flavours of syrup; rose, melon, strawberry, mixed fruits, but I don't take syrup drinks. And they have A&W, DrPepper and 7-Up all in DIET versions!
At the cold storage section, there is a rack full of vegetarian stuff, mock vegetarian to be exact. Veg burger, veg luncheon meat, veg otah, veg fish, veg chicken, veg charsiew, veg EVERYTHING. I will come next time if I am having a veg party. Also, besides the usual frozen chicken nuggets, fish fillet and meatballs etc.., there are so many unusual finds; Tandoori nuggets, vada, parotha, samosa, dosa, iddly, kebabs, etc... I even saw potatoes shaped like smiley-faces, they called them "Smiles, Crispy Happy Potatoes". So cute. I am also spoilt for choice with its ready-made sauces and brands. This brand Dancing Chef alone has Yellow Curry, Green Curry, Thai Seafood Sauce, SzeChuan Paste, Indonesian Curry....
The chocolate selection alone was dazzling. This Little Hearts said "Melt in your mouth", but it is actually heart-shaped cookies which are quite hard. And these chocolate has flavours like "Rice Cereal with Hazelnut chips /Almond chips". And look at the cute chocolates shaped liked honey bees, goldfish, the kids will be so happy. There is also chocolate shaped like cars with a toy car as well. There is chocolate in readymade gift boxes which are just too pretty to be opened. And what a name for these cookies and waffles - Black Magic. 
The only Indian snack I like is Muruku. Saw these colourful indian candy which are eye-candy but very coconuty sweet. There is even Turkish Delight a very sweet snack (reminds me of my Turkey holidays). There is this snack which is called "Butter-Licious" which caught my eyes, you are supposed to microwave them just like popcorn. I supposed the difference is the buttery taste? You don't just have potato chips, you have coconut chips, papaya chips, and pineapple chips! And my friends will like this, dried mangoes and this brand is called "Dehydrated Mangoes"!
The rice section, oh my god. I know there are many different types of rice besides our usual Thai fragrant rice, there is also Basmati rice (which probably has 7 different types PLUS other hybrid grains). BUT these other rice types had me floored; Rice Flakes, Puffed Rice, Boiled Rice (which is just white powdery stuff), Parboiled Rice and there is even rice specially for the Diabetics. Another competitor called it "CleverRice". So clever. I think just to study the types of rice here and how they are cooked for what dishes will require a study major itself. Hehe!
I am an instant noodle fan. And here in Mustafa, I discovered so many types not available outside, like Assam Laksa Noodles, Szechuan Noodles, Hakka Veg Noodles, and even Masala Noodles!
There are just so many types of Bitter Gourd in this place. I saw a Giant Bittergourd (I put an apple there for comparison), there is Indian Bittergourd which is rougher and darker than the usual and there is this thing called Snake Gourd, which is dull brownish colour. I bumped into a nun who was asking me the difference in tastes with the gourds and beans, I said I also had no idea!
I saw these huge yam the size of a ball, which is understandably called Elephant Yam. I learnt the turnips in India are smaller and varied in colour, compared to our bigger brown ones. These ginger is called Lesser Ginger, redder and straight compared to our ginger. And eggplants (brinjal), there are so many types as well. These Baby Eggplant are so tiny they are like grapes, and the Blue Brinjal is round, compared to our longish ones. There is this veg/plant here which I had no clue what it is at all. It is very thinly long and green, and it's called Drumstick. 
There is even a section dedicated just for incense sticks! The varieties are so confusing and the different aroma made me even more confused. There are incense sticks for FengShui, or just for Good Luck. There are incense sticks with a Coffee aroma (whatever for?!) and there are incense for different religions as well (for the Buddhists, Hindus and Christians)! Last but not least, there is even one to improve what you do in the bedroom. I was so tickled.
The rice section, oh my god. I know there are many different types of rice besides our usual Thai fragrant rice, there is also Basmati rice (which probably has 7 different types PLUS other hybrid grains). BUT these other rice types had me floored; Rice Flakes, Puffed Rice, Boiled Rice (which is just white powdery stuff), Parboiled Rice and there is even rice specially for the Diabetics. Another competitor called it "CleverRice". So clever. I think just to study the types of rice here and how they are cooked for what dishes will require a study major itself. Hehe!
I am an instant noodle fan. And here in Mustafa, I discovered so many types not available outside, like Assam Laksa Noodles, Szechuan Noodles, Hakka Veg Noodles, and even Masala Noodles!
There are just so many types of Bitter Gourd in this place. I saw a Giant Bittergourd (I put an apple there for comparison), there is Indian Bittergourd which is rougher and darker than the usual and there is this thing called Snake Gourd, which is dull brownish colour. I bumped into a nun who was asking me the difference in tastes with the gourds and beans, I said I also had no idea!
I saw these huge yam the size of a ball, which is understandably called Elephant Yam. I learnt the turnips in India are smaller and varied in colour, compared to our bigger brown ones. These ginger is called Lesser Ginger, redder and straight compared to our ginger. And eggplants (brinjal), there are so many types as well. These Baby Eggplant are so tiny they are like grapes, and the Blue Brinjal is round, compared to our longish ones. There is this veg/plant here which I had no clue what it is at all. It is very thinly long and green, and it's called Drumstick. 
There is even a section dedicated just for incense sticks! The varieties are so confusing and the different aroma made me even more confused. There are incense sticks for FengShui, or just for Good Luck. There are incense sticks with a Coffee aroma (whatever for?!) and there are incense for different religions as well (for the Buddhists, Hindus and Christians)! Last but not least, there is even one to improve what you do in the bedroom. I was so tickled.
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