If you're coming from the U.S. mainland, you'll probably notice there are a lot of items you're not used to seeing on the shelves at our local supermarkets. You'll get accustomed to seeing labels in different languages, more kinds of instant noodle bowls than you thought could possibly exist, and you may be surprised to learn how many types of rice there really are.

One of the first items you'll probably experience is ultra-pasteurized milk.

What exactly does "ultra-pasteurized" mean?

It means that during processing , the milk was subjected to very high heat to kill off microbes and bacteria that make "normal" milk spoil. This gives ultra-pasteurized milk a very long shelf life, and it doesn't need to be refrigerated until you're ready to use it. That's pretty important to us here on the island, since most things come arrive here after a long boat ride.

The difference to you is, besides that fact that you can find it in 1 quart boxes on unrefrigerated shelves, is that it has a slightly different taste and is a different shade of white than "normal" milk. If you prefer "regular" milk, it can still be found, but you'll notice the expiration date is sometimes only a few days away.