Mandarin orange sales surge in Kuching ahead of Chinese New Year (Video)

KUCHING (Feb 10): As Chinese New Year approaches, mandarin oranges are flying off the shelves in Kuching, with shoppers hunting for the sweetest and easiest-to-peel varieties to bring luck and prosperity to their homes.

The owner of Sara Fruits Sdn Bhd at Jalan Padungan, Law A.M., said her store offers a variety of mandarins imported from China, with Papakam being its bestseller.

“Papakam is especially popular these days due to its sweetness and texture,” she told The Borneo Post on Tuesday.

Known as ‘ugly ponkam,’ Papakam is large, with a furrowed neck and semi-thick, pale to bright orange skin that is loosely attached to the flesh.

Its slightly puffy nature makes it easy to peel by hand.

Due to an abundant stock this year, Law shared that a carton of 19 large-sized Papakam mandarins is currently priced at RM60, down from the usual RM88.

She also highlighted other varieties: Wokam mandarins (RM15 per kg), noted for their sweetness, juiciness, and low acidity; and Honey Ponkam mandarins (RM8 per kg), which are large, often seedless, and easy to peel due to their slightly loose skin.

Law noted that customers at traditional fruit shops tend to buy smaller quantities this year, often only what they need, reflecting a shift in shopping habits.

Meanwhile, at Farley Kuching Supermarket, mandarins are also in high demand.

Farley executive Tan Chia Ming said the supermarket offers five types of mandarins, with Papakam among the bestsellers.

“We are currently having a promotion for Papakam, with four kg for RM48, compared to the normal price of RM65.

“We also have special packaging, including a Kungfu Panda design, perfect for gifting,” he said.

He also shared that other popular varieties sold at Farley include Red Beauty mandarins (eight pieces for RM19) and Sakura Mikan (RM30 for two kg).

Red Beauty mandarins are known as jelly oranges due to their jelly-like, tender and juicy flesh, while Sakura Mikan are premium, Japanese-bred mandarin oranges grown in China, known for being incredibly sweet, juicy, and nearly seedless.

Ponkam is also available in different fruit sizes: XXL mandarins, 16 pieces for RM42; XL mandarins, 16 pieces for RM37 or 12 pieces for RM35.

Tan said another of Farley’s bestsellers is Lokam, renowned for its exceptional sweetness, intense aroma, and succulent texture.

It is sold in boxes ranging up to eight kg (RM33 per box), making it ideal for gifting, or individually at RM5.90 per kilogram, perfect for snacking at home.

With these varieties available across shops and supermarkets, mandarins continue to play a central role in festive celebrations and remain a cherished symbol of luck, prosperity, and family tradition across Kuching.