By Kaili McDonnough, Staff ReporterCHINESE NEW Year celebrates leaving behind the old and bringing in the new. One of the most important beliefs for the Chinese is luck, as it is through luck that the celebrations are based. Chinese customs have played a big role in shaping Jamaica as a nation since the days following slavery when indentured labourers were transported from China to work here. Several generations later some of the customs have managed to survive, as is evident in many parts of everyday life.
Food plays a huge role in the yearly festivities for Chinese New Year. The Chinese believe that what you consume on the first day of the new year will bring you luck and good fortune throughout the year. If you like to experiment in the kitchen (and to ensure a prosperous year) put together your own feast and ring in The Year of the Monkey. Food went sniffing around the Corporate Area and found four supermarkets that sell an array of Chinese products.
WHERE IT'S AT
Are you thinking about cooking an authentic Chinese meal, however your local supermarket does not have a wide range of Chinese ingredients? Why not check out one of the following grocery stores for a selection of genuine Chinese products?
1. Golden Grocery,
55 Constant Spring Road, Kingston 10.
The owner, Chai, boasts that "the grocery has been owned by my family for over 75 years."
His father, Chai Onn, migrated from southern China to Jamaica and set up a grocery to support himself and his family. With that kind of history, it is no surprise that Mr. Chai stocks his shelves with a wide variety of products imported from China. Of the supermarkets and groceries that we visited, Golden Grocery carried the most extensive range of Chinese ingredients. It was here that Food noted the wide selection of Lee Kum Kee products.
2. Sovereign Supermarket, 106 Hope Road, Kingston 6
As one of the island's leading supermarkets, Sovereign prides itself on providing the most obscure ingredients to its Chinese clientele and those just wishing to cook Chinese. The supermarket offers items like dried bean curd, pickled leeks and salted turnips. Just browsing through the selection alone is simply joyous.
3. Brooklyn Supermarket, 49 Constant Spring Road, Kingston 10
This is another establishment that has been around for several decades. What's impressive at Brooklyn is the variety of noodles. It carries everything from Instant to Vermicelli to Rice and Glass noodles. Shopping here will make your mouth water in anticipation of an upcoming meal.
4. John R. Wong, 1 Tobago Avenue, Kingston 5
This New Kingston landmark holds true to one of the most important aspects of the Chinese New Year - the food. It has practical as well as gourmet Chinese foodstuff. You could get lucky just by shopping here.
