Sesame peanut candy is back on Mauna Kea Street! Ever since the closure of the longtime bakery and confectionery Shung Chong Yuein, owned by the Ng family, people have been begging for this recipe.

The new shop at 1027 Mauna Kea is called Sung Cheong Yuen and has no relation to the former one. It's been buzzing as early lunar new year shoppers spot the bright trays of candied fruits in the windows. These are a necessary gift when visiting family during the launch of the lunar new year, which in this Year of the Ox begins Jan. 26.

Besides the coveted sesame peanut candies, there are puffy filled buns, moon cakes, gin doi, almond cookies, even dinner rolls and, of course, gao, the sticky-sweet rice flour cakes ringed in crimson paper.

Mei Chong, wife of owner Wesley Jing Chong, said the recipes are those of her father-in-law, Guo Quan Fang, a longtime baker. The Chong family also owns Mui Kwai, New Mui Kwai and Golden Duck. The word Chong in Chinese invites good luck, plenty, a prosperous business, she said.

The shop opened Dec. 28 and is literally surrounded by congratulatory flowers. The phone number is 531-6688.

— Wanda A. Adams