In the run-up to Chinese New Year, Newcastle will be a hub of activity as preparations gather pace for the annual dragon and lion dances in the city.
The much-loved tradition is making a return this year, following its cancellation in 2021 and 2022 due to the pandemic, so families will be able to enjoy the occasion in style. The Year of the Rabbit begins on January 22 and, with Newcastle having such a well-established Chinese community with its cultural heart in Chinatown, restaurants around Stowell Street will be in full party spirit for days to come.
Many people like to extend the celebrations to their home too, with family or friends sharing conversation and food. There are Chinese supermarkets in Newcastle selling all the authentic ingredients you need to make a family feast and they also have an extensive range of everyday essentials to tide you over Chinese New Year.
Read more: Chinese New Year animals and how to work out yours
There was sad news in November about the long-established Wing Hong, said to be the city's first Chinese business, having initially been in Westgate Road before relocating its supermarket to the heart of Chinatown, at 45-51 Stowell Street and also having a wholesale cash and carry outlet at 55 George Street. Wing Hong Cash & Carry announced on its Facebook page that, after 47 years of business, it was going into liquidation, citing the impact of Covid, high rising costs and increasing amount of competition.
Its customers will miss it hugely. Here's an idea of where else you can shop for food and drink in the city and the opening hours to note in the run-up to New Year.
HiYoU Oriental Food Emporium
This huge Asian supermarket at 104-108 Newgate Street sells Thai, Japanese and Vietnamese as well as Chinese groceries, including fresh produce, food and drink, and it says its mission is to "introduce an improved and unique culinary experience, providing consumers with some of Asia’s favourite products and flavours".
Run by the Lau family, previously known for their restaurants, it also has an on-site bakery selling cakes and a deli where customers can pick up hot snacks alongside those daily essentials. Customers can also shop online. There are various special offers currently available including some 20% off discounts especially for Chinese New Year. See here.
Opening hours
Daily 10am-9pm
Tsang Foods
The business selling both fresh and frozen food has a grocery shop at 27-31 Fenkle Street, having also had a branch in Percy Street, as well as a catering and food supply business at 231 Scotswood Road.
Opening hours
Percy Street - 10am-6.30pm (11am-6pm Sunday)
Fenkle Street - Daily 9.30am-5.30pm
Scotswood Road - 9am-5pm midweek; 10am-4.30pm Saturday and 9.30am-5pm Sunday.
Note: the listed times for this business can vary so check Tsang Food opening hours direct with the shop.
Traditional Chinese New Year food
A celebratory meal tends to by symbolic with the chosen dishes having special meanings.
So, those who haven't shopped for a New Year celebration before and are wondering what to buy could consider the following options:
Whole fish - two of them. Having the second fish as leftovers the next day signifies surplus in the new year.
Whole chicken - this represents wholeness and prosperity.
Spring rolls - these look like gold bars and symbolise wealth.
Dumplings - these can be shaped like ingots so also represent wealth.
Sticky rice cake - in Chinese the name for this, nian gao, means to get higher every year, so is taken here to refer to a higher income or position.
Oranges - the Chinese word for these, or tangerines, is similar to that for success and a written form of the word also contains the Chinese character for luck.
For more ideas of symbolic foods see the China Highlights website.
Read Next:
- What time is Newcastle's Dragon Dance?
- Top restaurants to book for Chinese New Year
-
Burns Night events in the North East this January
-
The 100-plus restaurants taking part in Restaurant Week
- What Chinese zodiac sign am I?
For the latest What's On news, announcements and reviews direct to your inbox, go here to sign up to our free newsletter
