Stimulating Your Senses in Chinatown

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There are many wonderful things about visiting Chinatown. You truly feel transported to a different place. The sights, smells and sounds of the streets are so stimulating. Many people go to Chinatown for a meal at one of the many authentic Chinese restaurants. I like to go and walk the streets; looking into windows or admiring a display of fresh produce or seafood; as if the whole neighborhood was one big museum. But there are two stores I enjoy re-visiting each time I’m in the area.

The New Kam Man Store, at 200 Canal Street, was founded in the early 1970s, and according to their website, was the  first and largest Asian supermarket in Chinatown.  On the first floor the store offers an array of Asian food products.

Soy sauce and hot sauce varieties

I love the second floor even better where there are rows and rows of bowls for rice, teapots and teacups, chopsticks and dipping bowls.

There are also loose teas and teabags for every tastebud, containers for carrying dumplings, and bamboo mats for rolling sushi.

Ceramic spoons for holding tea bags

Another store I love returning to is Aji Ichiban (at 37 Mott Street), a confectionery store which is part of a Hong Kong based company .

It’s a relatively small store with everything from packaged candies to loose dried fruits, nuts, and other exotic items

On top of each case, there are samples to try and clear cellophane bags to fill up with the things you like.

This time, I chose dried honey ginger to sample.

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