Chinese New Year or the Lunar New Year is a festival celebrated to welcome a new year based on the lunar calendar system adopted by the Chinese. This festival, celebrated in China and many other countries across Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia and other parts of Asia is usually accompanied by feasting with loved-ones, lion dances, fire crackers and exchanging of gifts, and sweets. This is a festive season, Chinese people also make and pack lots of special food or snacks which are commonly referred to us as ‘CNY goodies.’ These extremely delicate munchies are not only designed as sweet delights but they also have many significances different in some ways, nonetheless considered to assist in bringing fortune in New Year. As stated earlier let me present to you ten CNY goodies that cannot be missing from every homes during the celebration.
1. Nian Gao (年糕)
It may also be referred to as sticky rice cake or Nian Gao because it is a hot cake during Chinese New Year celebrations. The basic ingredients of tapioca are glutinous rice flour boiled in water and mixed to a pulp with brown sugar, white sugar or honey. This sweet delight represents more prosperity and development and might best be known today in such provinces as Guangdong, Fujian, and Hainan. Nian Gao is consumed during this event and it is believed to help one gain a better future and even a promotion at work.
2. Pineapple Tarts (凤梨酥)
Pineapple Tarts have always been popular during Chinese New Year celebrations especially those in Southeast Asia. These golden and crispy, flaky pastries are the pineapple tarts with pineapple jam fillings and are associated with prosperity. For the buttery and flaky tart base, it is topped with the luscious slightly tart pineapple fillings and one cannot resist having a bite of it. While, the Pineapple Tarts come in different shapes right from the traditional round pineapple tarts to the golden pineapple tarts, half-moon pineapple tarts, the pineapple balls also taste delicious.
3. Love Letters (红薯条)
Love Letters are another popular CNY goodie especially I a Singapore and Malaysia. These cookies are crispy, flaky, and buttery they use potatoes and flour for the dough and shaped in thin strips like ‘love letters’. These cookies are cooked to golden brown and are taken with tea or coffee. Love Letters are a symbol of joy and are exchanged during festive season since the thinness of its layers resembles the traditional Chinese poem titled ‘The Twenty-four Filial Exemplars.’
4. Ang Ku Kueh (红龟粿)
Another form of dumplings enjoyed during Chinese New year is the Ang Ku Kueh which can also be referred to as Red Tortoise Cakes. They are small, round, and brightly colored, contain sweet mung bean paste as a filling and tossed with sesame seeds. Basically, the cakes are colorful in order to symbolize prosperity, success, and happiness. The pattern of the cake is like the tortoise shell and it is believed that the shape is a sign of longevity and prosperity for all. Ang Ku Kueh can be found in Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia in general because they are widely enjoyed as snack.
5. Bak Kwa (肉干)
Bak Kwa is Chinese barbecued pork jerky and very popular to bring during Chinese New Year celebration. Bak Kwa, a Peranakan delicacy, is made from lean pork, sugar, soy sauce and five-spice powder; the ingredients are slow-cooked before the Bak Kwa is sliced and grille till just slightly charred. This delicious and delicious meat snack is popular, and traditional snack ere to signify determination and accomplishment. Bak Kwa is well consumed and sold in countries like Singapore, Malaysia and Hong Kong and available in various flavors including original, pepper and honey.
6. Peanut Cookies (花生酥)
This cookies is often called Peanut Cookies, Flowering Sesame Seed Cookies or more famously K L Coffee Shop Cookies and these are favorite Chinese New Year treats because of their crunch and nutty flavor. These cookies are prepared with peanut butter, sugar and flour and end up being very tasty with crispy texture. K L Coffee Shop Cookies is due to the biscuits becoming popular at coffee shops in Kuala Lumpur and Singapore The biscuits bear the title ‘flowering sesame seed cookies’ due to the sesame seeds that rest on top of the biscuits. These cookies are about organizations such as warmth, care and represent happiness and are consumed by people of all ages.
7. Honeynuts (蜜柑)
Honeynuts, also called Honey Kiwi Tarts or Honey Orange Tarts, is yet another delicious cookie which regulars the Chinese New Year celebrations. They are pear shaped and bite size and the file contains a delicious concoction of honey, orange juice and kiwi fruit. Sweet and somewhat sour, it is a delicious snack that many people prefer, especially as its inside is covered in a buttery and crisp tart dough. Honeynuts are candy coated nuts that represent sweetness, happiness, and money and are favorites in place such as Malaysia, Singapore and Hong Kong.
8. Love Almond Cookies (爱心杏仁酥)
Love Almond Cookies otherwise known as Heart-shaped Almond Cookies belong firmly to the HK CNY goodie table sweet treats category. These cookies are formed in small, heart shapes and are made from ground almonds, sugar and flour. They are then fried until they give a golden brown crunchy crust which have a rich nutty taste. Love Almond Cookies refer to love or affection and this cookies are special during Chinese New Year to be shared with love ones.
9. Walnut Cookies (核桃酥)
Walnut Cookies are known as Jalan Bersejarah Cookies, and this scrumptious cookie is from the historical region of Singapore. This cookie prepared from flour, sugar, butter and ground walnuts is full of nutty and buttery flavor. It is said that it represents wisdom, intellect, and prosperity, and are specifically associated with Chinese New Year and are served all over South East Asia.
10. Lapis Legit (.Layered Sponge Cake)
Lapis Legit, also called as Kuih Lapis or Spotted Doughnut, is a cake, which is developed into many layers like an extortionate sponge cake and is a favorite especially during Chinese New Year particularly in Malaysia and Indonesia. This colorful and attractive cake is prepared by placing a very slim coating of batter into a cake pan and then baking it independently before adding the next layer. The last effect is an attractive cake that has various bands of bright and beautiful colors with a watercolor effect. The stone known as Lapis Legit signifies, it is said, order or balance in a society and is typical during the festive period where most people consume it during celebrations and functions.
Therefore, there is no Chinese New Year celebration without the tasteful Chinese New Year goodies. These ultimate treats are not only tasty but they are also associated with a certain significance to make the naive recipient a happy subject of the new year. Given such a wide range of goodies, it is extremely possible to sample something sweet that can be consumed while still respecting the Chinese New Year norms. Therefore, invite your family members, devour the delicious CNY cookies, and embrace the New Year with everyone’s hands wide open.