Cultural Imperialism Update

I was pleasantly surprised to discover Mountain Dew for the first time this week. I asked the name in Chinese, and it neither sounds anything like Mountain Dew, nor has a meaning anywhere near the same. Dean said it tastes slightly different than USA Mountain Dew.

Personally, I never really much liked Mountain Dew, and I'm holding off for the big victory, which will be Dr. Pepper. We found Dr. Pepper in one random place in Beijing at a pretty expensive price, but it certainly is not being marketed here at all. The sodas available everywhere are Coke, Pepsi, Sprite, Seven-Up, and Orange Fanta. One time I found Cherry Coke in a foreign supermarket, and when I offered a taste to the Chinese girl with me, she gagged and almost vomited.

A couple weeks ago, I was ecstatic to find real Kellogg's Frosted Flakes at Wal-Mart for only 13rmb a box. This low price indicates that the cereal is now being made in China. Previously, I had purchased imported cereal for prices of up to 80rmb a box. Chinese people just don't eat cereal. Wal-Mart also had the most normal tasting (read: fresh) milk to go with that. Previously, any milk tasted like that evaporated, canned shit.

The first thing I was excited to see come here (last year) was Doritos, although I'm a little sick of them at this point since they still don't have Cool Ranch flavor. All they have is Nacho Cheesier and this new (probably) "made for China" flavor called "Rock Taco." The flavors of normal (Lays) potato chips are generally quite weird (fish flavors, etc.). Previously, I had seen imported Doritos for over 50rmb a big bag, but the Chinese-made bags sell for about 5rmb.

I will also be ecstatic when I see Burger King or Taco Bell. Shanghai had Burger King and I ate there as much as possible, but Beijing does not have one yet. They tried a Taco Bell in Shanghai, but I'm not sure if it's still there. KFC introduced this item eerily similar to Taco Bell's Crunchwrap Supreme, but it's this "Sichuan-style" thing that is decidedly different from the Taco Bell item. I wish Chinese people could get into Mexican food, but it's just too dairy-heavy which is unnatural for Chinese (they like pizza, though! covered in cheese).

It's a slow process to take over a country with secret capitalistic corporate techniques, but the two MOST POPULAR things in China period are still the NBA and KFC. I joke that if Chinese people could vote, Kobe Bryant would be elected president quite quickly. Kobe and Lebron jerseys far outsell Yao Ming.