The bitter and sweet of festive veggies

‘Gourd’ riddance: Customers usually avoid buying bitter gourd for Chinese New Year as they prefer sweet-tasting vegetables to bring in positive experiences.

JOHOR BARU: The bitter gourd, usually consumed for its cooling effects and other health benefits, is particularly unpopular during Chinese New Year.

A vegetable seller known only as Beh said she does not order bitter gourd from her supplier in the days leading up to the lunar celebration as her customers tend to avoid it.