In Charleston, there are few ethnic grocery stores. This little gem, whose name I am not even sure is "Venta De," has been around for years, under the radar. It is generally quiet, with one worker at the counter. There are several coolers with canned drinks Mexican cheese, sausage, eggs and milk. There is a moderate sized selection of canned peppers, salsas, soups and beans. There are also jars of adobe, mole and pippin paste, which can be hard to find at your typical grocer. The next aisle contains masa, dried beans, rice, tortillas, sopes and corn husks. The back of the store has a huge display of dried spices and many varieties of dehydrated chilies.
Near the register is a large Tupperware container full of authentic Mexican baked coffee rolls and cookies.
They also have a small selection of cowboy boots and Mexican artwork.
There is a visa/MasterCard sign on the door but to buy food, it is cash only.
I have always felt a little odd coming in here as I have not been greeted warmly and my Spanish is rough, however, when you need supplies to make homemade tamales, this is a good option. read more