Friday, January 15, 2021

The store-bought sahlab comes in a lidded cup, much like the yogurt with add-ins that I get each afternoon. I’ve never seen it before. I’m in a small supermarket off the city square, finishing up my Friday shopping. I’d been going to the larger supermarket in the Heart of the City, but that’s gotten complicated. I had signed up for their club card. It arrived in the mail a few days ago. It said to text a word to a phone number to get my PIN code. It took me a while to figure out how to send a text from my phone to a nameless number rather than to a contact. One of the jungle of apps on my phone can do it, but the field to enter the number is mislabeled in the interface. I think I figured it out, and sent the code, but never got a response. It should have happened instantly. If I go to the usual supermarket, they’ll badger me to get the card. I can show them that I already have but don’t have the code. I don’t feel like being looked at like an idiot again, so I’m at the other store today. The sahlab is in their dairy case. I get one, on a whim. When I get home and want a snack, I look at the package. Normally, things packed like that are eaten cold. Sahlab is better hot. The lid contains the usual mix-ins: ground peanuts, coconuts, and spice. The cup has the sahlab itself. I put it in the microwave for about a minute. I stare carefully as it turns and heats. I don’t know if this kind of plastic will melt or catch fire. It doesn’t. I take it out, peel the covering from the lid, and dump the flavorings on top. It’s pretty good. It doesn’t quite have the same flavor or texture as what I get in the shops, but it could serve as a stopgap. I’ll have to remember it. I may stock up on more.