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Being close to an Asian supermarket means quite a few things to me.

Emotionally, it means preservation of heritage and acceptance within the areas community.

But on a practical level, it also means I can save alotof money on groceries.

a photo from the perspective of a shopper pushing a shopping trolley down a grocery aisle

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Here are nine grocery items I neverbuy at conventional supermarkets andonlybuy at Asian markets for big savings.

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Dont limit yourself to Asian-specific produce, either.

Think whole papayas, coconuts, limes or fresh cactus fornopales.

Ive also found berries to be reliably cheaper at Asian markets.

And dont forget the freezer aisle, either!

Frozen coconut chunks and edamame are always on hand there.

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If the idea ofmaking your own dumplingsor wontons seems daunting, not to worry.

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In the freezer aisle, findfrozen cubes of tofuthat will cook up puffy in a jiffy.

And keeping a sharp eye out might help you score tempeh for less.

Black shiitake mushrooms are sold graded and vacuum-packed for much less than youd pay at a gourmet grocer.

Unique Japanese KitKat flavors coveted by snack enthusiasts include Matcha Green Tea, Strawberry Chocolate Cake and Milk Tea.

Lays potato chips also have a fan following for flavors like Roasted Garlic Oyster and Roasted Cumin Lamb Skewer.

Then there are also Asian versions of gourmet snacks and cookies.

If youre a fan ofLoacker Quadratini, tryGarden Cream wafer cookies.

Your wallet and taste buds will thank you.