Kaba's African & Caribbean Market in Lee-Harvard neighborhood is deeply rooted in tradition and…read moreoffers a variety of products you won't find elsewhere. How did I find myself at this market? My book club was reading a book about Botswana. I wanted to share some traditional African fruit with the group. I was really pleased with the assortment! Let me share all that excited me!
LAYOUT: The market is fairly small, one room retail space. Checkout is at the front and so is veggie/fruit section. Find frozen foods on the right and meat department on the left. Middle rows are reserved for everything else. Don't miss the beauty section on your right as you walk in. The store is very simple, no decor or complications. Just a simple ethnic market. The parking lot is small.
INVENTORY: Kaba's offers a wide range of products that will allow you to cook full African or Jamaican meal. Categories include meat, fish, fruit/vegetables, snacks, tea, canned goods, flour, condiments, beauty, and more. You'll find the expected here like plantains, fufu, ginger, Goya products, and more. The inventory is predominantly Jamaican.
I was most impressed with a rustic, wood mortar and pestle. It looked very authentic. I learned that traditionally the pair is used for milling and grinding maize, grains, cassava, and spices into powder. It is most often used to make fufu (powdered yam). What a meditative activity it must be! I love that this item was part of the store's inventory. It definitely motivated to research and learn something new.
MY PURCHASE: I purchased four plantains, plantain chips, and chayote ($6 something total with credit card sub charge). I was especially excited to share chayote with my book club. It's a type of squash that is mild and crisp. It is traditionally added to salads raw, used in soups, stews, and sautés.
The assortment of authentic fruits and veggies was impressive. I also felt like it was good value. My only criticism is that the fruit and veggies are not well labeled in terms of names and pricing. I had no idea how much anything cost. I would have purchased more if I knew.
SERVICE: Service was warm. I had a nice casual chat with the employee about their amazing selection. When I mentioned another African store in Akron, they lovingly called them their friends. It's heartwarming that these stores think of each other as community and not competition.
Overall, I was very excited to find African and Caribbean market so close to home. I often reminisce about my trip to the Caribbean. Now I have somewhere to go in order to try and recreate the cuisine. I'm most excited about trying teas during my next visit. I'm such a global tea addict!
