Where to buy ginseng at a brick and motar store
May 16, 2008 12:45 PM Subscribe
Why can't I find ginseng anymore? I used to buy ginseng at Target but they stopped selling it a few years ago so I would buy it at Costco. Now I can't find it at Costco.
Is there some law or something that I'm not aware of that prevents selling ginseng in Illinois?
You should check the phone book for an Asian market / oriental grocery store. Big boxes are noteworthy for giving you 20 different kinds of apples yet "forgetting" to carry fresh chives.
posted by crapmatic at 1:05 PM on May 16, 2008
posted by crapmatic at 1:05 PM on May 16, 2008
I grew up in the county most famous for ginseng production outside of China- and in the 90's it was super popular and plentiful. Nowadays its not as "trendy", and we don't hear much about it anymore.
Maybe its being phased out?
posted by nataliedanger at 1:36 PM on May 16, 2008
Maybe its being phased out?
posted by nataliedanger at 1:36 PM on May 16, 2008
Fresh or extract?
In addition to Chinese or Asian markets everywhere, food coops and supplement/nutrition stores in my area carry it very reliably. If you want something a little more bricks/mortar, try Whole Foods.
You have a Yaohan out in Arlington Heights still, don't you? That's a worthwhile destination on its own.
Here's the State of Illinois page with ginseng regulations. It's mostly about controlling the trade in the native wild product, I'd assume to prevent overharvesting and such. These don't appear to have changed since 1983.
If there were a serious problem with ginseng, a lot of the "energy drinks" in stores would have to be pulled, not to mention bottles of ginseng iced tea. (Although I figure the actual amount ginseng in many of them is pretty tiny.)
posted by gimonca at 2:42 PM on May 16, 2008
In addition to Chinese or Asian markets everywhere, food coops and supplement/nutrition stores in my area carry it very reliably. If you want something a little more bricks/mortar, try Whole Foods.
You have a Yaohan out in Arlington Heights still, don't you? That's a worthwhile destination on its own.
Here's the State of Illinois page with ginseng regulations. It's mostly about controlling the trade in the native wild product, I'd assume to prevent overharvesting and such. These don't appear to have changed since 1983.
If there were a serious problem with ginseng, a lot of the "energy drinks" in stores would have to be pulled, not to mention bottles of ginseng iced tea. (Although I figure the actual amount ginseng in many of them is pretty tiny.)
posted by gimonca at 2:42 PM on May 16, 2008
As an aside, there are online plant dealers in the U.S. and Canada willing to ship ginseng right to your home for cultivation. I considered putting some in the back yard myself this year.
posted by gimonca at 2:43 PM on May 16, 2008
posted by gimonca at 2:43 PM on May 16, 2008
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by SuperSquirrel at 1:04 PM on May 16, 2008