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Save money and eat better by seeking out some of Kuala Lumpur’s wet markets to
buy your fresh produce.
WANDER
Shun the Supermarket
T
here
is no doubt that
supermarkets are conve-
nient, equipped as they
are with air conditioning,
trolleys and a plethora of
food and drinks in one
location, not to mention
space to park your car for a swift arrival
and departure.
Turn the clock back a few years and
supermarkets were rare, with people rely-
ing on their local wet market for supplies
of everything they might need for the
kitchen, from fish and meat, vegetables
and fruit to pans, spices and utensils.
While supermarkets may seem to
be the modern ‘improvement’ on the
wet market, many of these markets are
still thriving in neighbourhoods around
Kuala Lumpur thanks to the quality of
the produce and the competitiveness of
the prices.
These markets also offer a shopping
experience so different from the clinical
W o r d s :
S a r a h R e e s
supermarket, with stall holders knowing
customers by name. Bartering and banter
is accepted in good nature at the markets,
and customers have the chance to select
exactly what they want, whether it be the
ripest mango or the fresh fillet of fish for
the family meal.
There are always compromises of
course – parking can be complicated at
wet markets, while the environment can
often bemessy, noisy and hot. Arrive early,
wear old shoes and embrace the smells
of fresh produce and the cheery shouts of
the people who have been selling them
for generations.
Here are some markets in and around
KL that are worth checking out:
Chow Kit Market
It is well worth heading up to the top of
Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman to seek out
Chow Kit Market, the covered wet market
credited with being the city’s largest and
taking its name from a local tin miner,
Herbs, spices
and seasoning
are all available
alongside fruit
and vegetables.
Chow Kit market
is one of the
largest in the city.