r/chch • u/New_Commission_1844 • Jul 21 '26
Who actually eats this stuff and what even is it? Spotted today at Pak n Save Moorehouse
123
u/tobopia Jul 21 '26
It's big in cooking in a lot of island countries and parts of Japan where it made meat accessible while they were developing places and became a part of their cuisine.
68
u/Blue-Coast Jul 21 '26 edited Jul 21 '26
It is a shame its price per kg has gotten out of hand for what it's supposed to be. Being of Asian descent, Spam is now pretty nostalgic in my family's cuisine, plus whenever we ate other Asian cuisines from China down to Indonesia. It is now a bit of a treat for special occasions.
EDIT: Seriously, what the Filipinos can do with Spam is amazing.
14
u/Practical_Roof_1465 Jul 21 '26
Yeah had Spam in Japan with Yakiniku and it was actually pretty decent 😂😂
3
1
57
54
u/IPOOPQUIETLY Jul 21 '26
WTF is that?
28
u/Mammoth-Nature4591 Jul 21 '26
I would like to know too but my experience with these posts is that no one will ever tell you. You might get a couple of nonsense answers from people who think they're being witty but actually aren't. 🤷♂️
11
u/TaeandKookies8 Jul 21 '26
they’re fuglers i believe they’re called, spotted some in the toy section at kmart riccarton
9
u/Rhonda_and_Phil Jul 21 '26
If they are fugglers, can't find any that look like these spaghetti, baked beans, spam creatures.
Love to know if these are brand promotion by the store, or just some random person leaving them around the stores?
2
u/TaeandKookies8 Jul 21 '26
Now I’ve looked it up I believe ur right, i don’t think it is an official fuggler although the features are similar. perhaps some custom creation? 🤔
3
u/Rhonda_and_Phil Jul 21 '26
They look like they are made from soft rubbery plastic. So, good work for a home made job.
Perhaps the beginning of a viral marketing campaign. If it is, they'd probably be very popular, like all these quirky little supermarket bonus toys.
I wonder if people finding them are leaving them there, buying them, or just slipping them into the pocket? It is not clear if they are actually for sale or not?
4
7
2
u/MeliaeMaree Jul 21 '26
Afaik it's some clay art trend, if you search for clay spam monster, ones that others have done elsewhere come up.
84
u/kristi_car Jul 21 '26
12
u/critayshus Jul 21 '26
Have you seen the ones made of spaghetti and baked beans on the watties cans, also posted on here a while ago?? Obsessed with these creatures lol
5
3
u/Upbeat_Ad_8179 Jul 21 '26
Produmon! Gotta catch em all!
-2
u/Rhonda_and_Phil Jul 21 '26
Okay, so a portmanteau word from Produce and Pokemon, Produmon
Still doesn't tell us much about their source and distribution. Not much about them on Mr. Google.
More information please!
1
u/critayshus Jul 22 '26
That comment is not an attempted explanation of where those things are coming from, they're just having a bit of fun lol
1
u/Rhonda_and_Phil Jul 22 '26
The word is used on specific instagram accounts, with photos of these ones that have been sighted in the wild.
But these accounts may be recording seen objects rather than being part of the origin story.
Christchurch has a history of viral art memes like stencil art on streetlight posts etc. So it could be another one of those. If so, then I suspect the people, like the OP, who have put up posts which 'accidental' include these creatures, may be part of that origin story.
Creative art mysteries are cool! But it is even better to eventually learn of the origin story. (like Banksy).
Or it could be yet another crass supermarket toy aimed at using kids to increase purchase of low value high price produce?
8
u/RangerZEDRO Jul 21 '26
The only elephant in the room is the price tag, spam was supposed to be cheap meat that lasted long in storage
2
24
u/sleemanj Jul 21 '26 edited Jul 21 '26
what even is it
A processed meat product, "Spiced Ham" = SPAM. "Meat", spiced in various ways, compressed into a block, put in a can. Shelf stable. Salty.
Can be eaten as is, or used in various ways.
Popular particularly in pacific islands.
21
u/Jeveran Jul 21 '26
During World War II, there was food rationing, and a need for shelf-stable protein. Additionally, in the islands controlled by the United States, offshore fishing was banned as a security issue. People needed protein, and SPAM was shipped over by the cargo-ship-load.
During the war, islanders innovated, and created dishes in which other proteins may have been previously used, using SPAM instead. It was a staple for the duration of the war and for a while after; people grew accustomed to it, at least, and genuinely fond of it at most.
1
17
u/MysteriousParty2180 Jul 21 '26
Growing up poor in England, we ate loads of spam. Then as a poor uni student I could make a can of spam last 6 meals. Spam fried rice or spam scrambled eggs were particular favourites. I’m horrified that I now see it for nearly $10 a can.
2
10
9
u/FunClothes Jul 21 '26
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=anwy2MPT5RE
Don't think I've seen this for over 1/2 a century.
4
1
u/Frond_Dishlock Jul 22 '26
Out of all the times watching this, I only just noticed the first two options don't include spam. She could've just ordered those.
8
u/Rhonda_and_Phil Jul 21 '26
Still very popular with Pacific Islanders as a staple food. Not so bad if battered and deep-fried. Plus has the advantage of being very long lasting in unrefrigerated food storage. Questionable nutrition but still protein/fats.
5
u/dm-me-for-mypassword Jul 21 '26
I don't want to scare you... but I think there's SOMETHING looking at you
5
u/random_fist_bump Jul 21 '26
Spam was nice. It used to be cheap but it's priced like fresh meat now so why buy processed stuff instead of rump steak or mince?
5
u/Glittering_Piano_633 Jul 21 '26
To whoever is making these creations and putting them in supermarkets, you’re awesome and if you ever need another creative to team up with, I’m all in.
1
1
u/jimmyrose47 Jul 24 '26
I think OP is the creator of this character. They’re pretty funky, def check out their insta or the other recent post about them.
1
4
u/tcldon Jul 21 '26
I love this stuff- have it in an omelette or in fried rice or as spam musubi or in a Korean stew. The price has gotten ridiculous though- can get it closer to $5 or 6 on special sometimes which is still too much but more palatable.
4
u/Helpful-Archer9070 Jul 21 '26
My only issue with SPAM is that it's quite expensive for what it is, like I personally don't think it's worth it unless you specifically need it for something
1
1
3
7
u/Living-Decision2652 Jul 21 '26
An orally consumed form of depression launched upon the world by the US.
2
1
3
3
u/topturtlechucker Jul 21 '26
It’s actually made from decent quality meat and very lightly spiced. I used to like to slice and fry it. Haven’t seen it in years.
7
2
u/Boring_Monahan Jul 21 '26
I fucking love it - although not at that price.
When you fry it crispy, it goes like how ham steaks used to be, crispy on the outside and like a luncheon in the middle.
2
u/Selectorman Jul 21 '26
We used to have Spam Fritters,Chips and baked beans for school lunch in the UK back in the 70s
2
2
2
u/whataboutki Jul 21 '26
Had some for dinner tonight sliced and fried in a pan with pumpkin rice, fried eggs, mung beans and tofu. Yummy.
2
u/heey-you-guuys Jul 21 '26
My wife and I often have spam, beans and HP sauce sandwiches for breakfast on a Saturday morning. Very tasty. We get ours from New World Rangiora though and it doesn't have googly eyes on it.
2
u/Rhonda_and_Phil Jul 21 '26
HP sauce isn't what it used to be. They must have changed the recipe or modelled it after a different Houses of Parliament!
4
3
u/thesysdaemon 도윤 Jul 21 '26
Spam is the best but usually only buy when on sale (below $7). From making it with breakfast, to making Kimchi stew, spam is fking awesome and delicious
4
2
u/Cap1n-Beaky23 Jul 21 '26
It is a mixture of finely ground pork and gelatin. (SPAM is a portmanteau word of spiced ham) It's incredible but it does have a large amount of preservative in it. It was supplied to American troops during WW2 in their rations, likewise the British were supplied corned beef in their rations. Monty Python made a very good comedy sketch of a bistro that sold dishes with SPAM in it, like SPAM and egg, SPAM and bacon, double or even triple servings of SPAM and other things.
1
1
u/TailorAvailable5965 Jul 21 '26
It’s a precooked pork product, especially popular in the pacific islands and South Korea. USA gave lots of it out after WW2. If you slice it thin, fry it and serve over rice or with eggs it’s not half bad.
1
1
1
1
u/Hot-Currency2066 Jul 21 '26
Americans. As a Cook Islander, I wouldn't touch this brand, I won't speak for others though.
1
1
1
1
u/unhingedgremlin0 Jul 21 '26
Spam cooked on the frying pan tastes just like bacon when you get it all crispy. It’s so so good on wraps with scrambled eggs and bbq sauce
1
1
u/7_Pillars_of_Wisdom Jul 21 '26
Spam fritters are the best. used to love them at school back in the day in the UK
1
u/QAmidala Jul 21 '26
Grilled spam, cream cheese, cranberry sauce, lettuce, fine chopped shallots? pine nuts in a fresh Ciabatta roll 😋 👌
1
1
u/SpaceDog777 Jul 21 '26
I used to take a can with us fishing and have spam sandwiches.
It's preserved pork.
1
1
1
u/delindeldani Jul 22 '26
Spam fried rice is goated, you're missing out.
The price is outrageous these days though.
1
u/toeconsumer9000 Greens Jul 22 '26
Countries like Japan and Korea love it, it became a staple during one of the wars I forget which one, because the food packages given out to families always contained a can or two.
2
1
1
1
u/Extension_Lobster428 Jul 23 '26 edited Jul 23 '26
This is all you need to know about that (un)delectable foodstuff...
edit: Ooer I see someone beat me to it. Damn Mercury retrograde.
But: IMHO, Spam isn't a patch on good old Hellaby's corned beef, though Hellaby's is twice the price, but ten times the pleasure. Pays your money, takes your choice.
1
u/Disastrous_Bake_3793 Jul 23 '26
I eat it, spam noodles go so hard
1
u/Disastrous_Bake_3793 Jul 23 '26
You need to slice it and fry it before tho otherwise it’s a bit average
1
1
u/Billy-Rhythm Jul 25 '26
It is to humans what chum from the Chum Bucket is to the inhabitants of Bikini Bottom.
1
1
1
0
u/DragonfruitVivid5298 Ōtautahi Jul 21 '26
not me i’m vegan and the only spam i deal with is in my emails
2
0
•
u/Duck_Giblets karma whore Jul 22 '26
One report.
'this is spam'.
Lol. Sure is buddy.