A CHANGE in Myanmar’s economic policy after the end of the socialist era in 1988 has seen local people able to access and increasingly varied list of commodities ranging from clothing and sporting goods to humble snack foods.

Almost all locals in the socialist period (1962-1988) were unable to buy their preferred food and beverages, even snacks like potato chips, French fries or chocolates imported from other countries.

But the continuous flow of imported commodities – including snacks - has created more opportunities for consumers, with competitive pricing and higher quality goods.

Ma Khin Poe Ei, a 14-year-old student, is one of the many consumers glad to have so many options. Her favourite snack is a bag of French fries, a snacking habit she said she picked up after watching a Korean actress eating them in a movie. After the movie Ma Khin Poe Ei said she wanted to try them for herself.
“Fortunately, I found French fries packets branded as Tarteebo at one of my school’s food stores,” she said.

She said she enjoyed the taste so much that she had taken to buying a packet everyday.

The availability of imported foods allowed customers like Khin Poe Ei to explore new and different foods all the time.

“I also like having instant noodle soup. I mostly eat it when I am very hungry or while I am studying,” she said, adding that the cooking speed of the meal was important to her.

Ma Khin Poe Ei said she started with imported noodle brands but had swapped to locally-made equivalents.

“I prefer eating locally-made noodles because they are tastier and have a similar price to the imported ones,” she said.

But Ma Khin Poe Ei was not keen to try foreign potato chips because they cost too much. Instead she said she loves to eat local snacks like mohinga, something she often has for breakfast.

“My favourite mohinga shops are Tin Tin Aye mohinga shop in Maynigone and Ma Tin Hla mohinga shop in Mingalar Taungnyunt Township,” she said.
Ko Thant Zin Aung, a hotel employee echoed Ma Khin Poe Ei’s opinion on mohinga.

“Normally, I eat mohinga at least three times a week, mostly I eat it with fried eggs,” said Ko Thant Zin Aung.

But Ko Thant Zin Aung was aware of the potential hygiene problems associated with eating at street side stalls and tried to eat elsewhere when he could.

“Actually, I love to eat Korean-style noodles but the price is a bit expensive, so I can’t eat them as often as I would like,” he said.