African in Forest Park: Kejetia Supermarket

African in Forest Park: Kejetia Supermarket

Forest Park, which is rapidly becoming one of the more interesting chowzones in the near western suburbs, now has an African grocery, the first of its kind in these parts since - maybe forever.

Kejetia Supermarket proclaims 'Fresh African, Caribbean and Hispanic Products,' but the emphasis is on African with Caribbean coming in a close second.

Today, I stopped in and chatted with the amiable Nigerian owner.

They have many packaged goods (biscuits, tinned meat, sauces) principally from Nigeria and Ghana, plus a freezer cabinet full of stuff like snails, ox tails, cow feet, and leaves of cassava and jute. They also have some intriguing beverages, such as Maltina, Club Muscatelle, and Old Jamaican Ginger Beer (I had one of these, and it was very hot with ginger, which I like, and had the silky sheen of a cane sugar beverage).

I bought a bottle of the Ghanian Spicy Shito (which means "pepper" in Ga). This spicy African sauce contains oil, pepper, fish, shrimps and 'authentic African spices.' If it's any good, I'll post about it (I'm ready to like it, as it has been referred to as the "catsup of Ghana").

One my next visit, I will buy some of their fresh kenkey, which is a fermented corn meal wrapped in banana leaf which Kejetia's owner told me is used in Ghana as an eating implement as well as a comestible. Should be good with Shito.

Kejetia Supermarket
7608 W. Madison
Forest Park, IL 60130
708-366-8195