Import Items That Are Actually Worth The Money
There are some Malaysian-made products
that can never
be substituted – but we have to admit, a number of imported
goodies have us hooked. Here’s a list of the best foreign-made
products to consider buying.
Imported goods are often more expensive than their local equivalents, still some
wouldn’t mind spending extra to buy them. Possible reasons as to why this is so
might relate to the larger variety of products available from foreign brands or simply
as a matter of individual tastes.
So what are the best import items to spend money on? Check out these four categories
of goods that had to travel quite a bit before making it into your shopping cart:
Chocolates
Malaysia’s very own chocolate brands such as Beryl’s, Vochelle and Tudor Gold are
yummy confections in their own right. Still, certain US, UK, Belgian, Swiss and
Australian-made chocolates have distinctly different tastes that tempt us to spend a little
more in pursuit of them.
While it might just be a matter of preference, quality chocolates are a worthy
splurge come payday, especially for chocoholics. Some expensive foreign
favourites include Toblerone Swiss Milk Chocolate Nougat (RM10.99),
Ritter Sport Dark Chocolate 100g (RM10.89), Kinder Bueno Milk &
Hazelnut (RM10.89).
Cheeses
Popular local cheese products like cheddar cheese slices and spreadable
cream cheese are a cost-effective addition to sandwiches and breakfast foods,
but when it’s time for a treat, fans of specialty cheeses might look to overseas brands.
Foreign cheeses come in a wide variety and furthermore, some of the world’s
best cheeses originate from outside Malaysia (e.g. Italy, England, France and
Switzerland). At your local supermarket, you should be able to find these slightly
more expensive imported cheeses such as French-produced Bonbel Mini
and US-made Monterey Jack Chunk (RM15.47).
Fruits
Malaysian fruits like durian, rambutan, mangosteen, jackfruit and guava are
favourites we’ll probably never tire of but that does not mean we don’t love
our imported fruits as well. Apricots, cherries, kiwi, peaches, cranberries and
blueberries can be rather expensive but when fresh, completely worth it.
Now, we also tend to import certain fruits that we can grow locally like strawberries
(from the US or Australia) and mangoes (from India). This is probably due to its
difference in quality and taste.
Teas
While we can get our hands on quality home-grown tea leaves from Cameron
Highlands, imported teas from China, India, Sri Lanka and Japan are known to
be some of the world’s finest. If you’re serious about tea then it might be worth
the extra cost.
Imported Japanese green tea costs over RM20 per box while a comparable
local alternative retails for only RM11.90. Expensive buys like these probably
aren’t a staple for most but will likely be placed on our shopping lists when
it’s time for a treat.
Region-Exclusive Merchandise
If you're a fan of, say, Harry Potter, and are keen on owning officially-licensed
merchandise, it might be better to travel overseas or get them imported to ensure
the authenticity of said item. This is true if you're a fan of other creative properties
famous for collectibles like Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, or any other form of geekery.
Some models of electronics or devices also might be regionally-exclusive and can
only be bought or imported from certain regions. When buying devices like these,
you should always do your research thoroughly to avoid any incompatibility
problems once you bring them into the country.
Still, don’t be hesitant to try out Malaysian-made alternatives in lieu of your foreign
favourites; you’ll be supporting our local industry and who knows? You might find
something even better!
If you are buying imported goods every now and again, you might want to think
about getting a rewarding credit card that brings you valuable cash back rebates
for bigger savings. Check out our comparison page to find a card with the right stuff.
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