<strong>Dear Jill:</strong> Could you talk about ethnic food markets for savings? I don’t know if coupons can be used, but you might be surprised at the savings and options you might find there. I frequent a Mexican grocery store in my area as the produce is less expensive, as are some meats, and I can buy my favorite Mexican chocolate there, too. <strong>— Eve D.</strong>

Ethnic grocery stores specialize in foods and products from a specific country or region of the world. Where I live, we have both small stores and supermarkets that cater to Hispanic, Asian, Indian and European audiences. These stores can be great fun to shop in, not only for the “treasure hunting” aspect of trying new items but also for access to products that simply aren’t available at traditional retailers.

I have enjoyed shopping at ethnic markets for close to 20 years. One of my children is of Asian descent, and it was important to us to raise her with an appreciation for her heritage, especially when it comes to cuisine. Many of our memories and family traditions revolve around food, and many of her favorite dishes require ingredients a typical supermarket doesn’t stock.

Our favorite Asian market is about an hour away from where we live, so we make a once-per-month special trip to stock up on ingredients. Through our shopping trips, I’ve learned some things are far less expensive there than they are at my local grocery store. In fact, our family continues to be surprised and delighted by some of the discoveries we’ve made.

For example, this Asian market has an enormous fish counter with dozens of varieties of fresh fish. We are fans of monkfish, a firm-fleshed fish with a taste very similar to lobster. We used to purchase it at a specialty fish market for $10.99 per pound as an occasional treat, but this Asian market sells monkfish for $3.99 per pound every day. It’s so reasonable I buy extra to freeze so we can enjoy several meals between trips.

Ethnic markets also are likely to carry produce items you might not find elsewhere. My husband loves Korean pears, which are not readily available at our local grocery stores, but local Asian markets carry them regularly. My favorite kind of Japanese tea costs the same at the Asian market as a box of common tea bags at the grocery store.

We have an Indian grocer in our area, too, and spices and seasonings are far more reasonably priced than they are at the supermarket — plus, they have a lot of wonderful seasoning blends pre-mixed that are convenient to use when cooking.

One thing to keep in mind is your local ethnic grocer might not accept manufacturer coupons.

As many smaller markets might not have their own websites either, it’s best to ask at the store itself to determine if they will accept manufacturer coupons.

Part of being an effective coupon shopper is finding the best prices for the items you buy, and even if your ethnic store of choice does not accept coupons, you still might be getting a deal.