Asian Greens
How a Lean Sun Low Request Popularised Asian Greens
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It all started at Haymarket, when Chinese market gardener Harry CHOY Chong ran into Alen LAI Hung. Alen mentioned that diners returning from trips to Asia, such as Singapore, kept asking the same thing: “Why can’t we get those kinds of veggies here?”
Back in the late 1960s and early 1970s, that simple question brought choy sum and bok choy to Lean Sun Low and The Eastern. Spotting the opportunity, Harry switched his West Botany Street garden in Arncliffe to growing Asian greens.
Today, they’re everywhere: at markets, in grocers, and all over restaurant menus.
Dr Christopher Cheng identified this while listening to an SBS Cantonese Radio segment in which John Choy, the son of Harry CHOY Chong, speaks at the 10-minute mark for 2 mins.
