Robert Lalah, Assistant Editor - Features

It might seem a bit early, but now might very well be the best time to stock up on Christmas sorrel.

"By next week, the price gone up. It going to keep going up until Christmas," said Tazmin Herron, a vendor who sells at Coronation Market in Kingston.

She was doing brisk business in the crowded market yesterday, as those in the know decided to get the sorrel while the price was still low.

"Right now, we selling it for around $80 per pound. By next week again, it raise to about $100," she said, while packaging a two-pound order from an elderly woman.

Herron said she has been selling sorrel for the past month, since her supplier, who is from Clarendon, started providing it.

"Is the Christmas time drink, but people will still buy it anytime dem can get it. Dem just love it," said Herron.

"We nuh have hand fi sell it, and it only going to get worse the closer it come to Christmas."

That increase in demand for the festive-time staple will send the price of sorrel much higher than it is now.

"By the next two weeks, sorrel price reach about $200 or $250. We will have to pay more for it, so we have to sell it for more too," Herron said.

Shoppers in the market yesterday seemed to have been aware of the impending price increase as they rushed to get their orders in before Herron's supply was completely gone.

"This is the second bag mi pull from day. It look like mi going to have to pull a next one before di day done," she said.

"You can know when Christmas soon come, you know. Sorrel start sell better than everything else."

robert.lalah@glanerjm.com