A Taste of Tradition: Classic CNY Goodies to Welcome the New Year

The Lunar New Year or the Chinese New Year, as it is better known, is the start of the Spring Season and symbolises prosperity and joy. It is regarded as one of the chief festival in Chinese tradition and has been enjoyed from generation to generation. An important part of this celebration is the preparations of foods free for the dead as well as the preparation of special foods to pray for prosperous new year ahead. Without fail, Chinese New Year treats or also locally termed as ‘CNY goodies’ are a staple of the festivities and they consist of mouth watering snacks for adults and children and delicious baked goods. In this article, we will embark on a trip through time to focus on those timeless New Year confections that still entice both the palate and the mind.

1. Nian Gao

Every Chinese New Year celebration has to include Nian Gao, a lei lo customary sticky sweet rice cake, which means rise or grow in Chinese. Just to note, the term ‘Nian Gao,’ which means ‘Year High’, is testimony to the families yearning for fortune to go up and higher year after year. This product is made with glutinous rice flour, water, and sugar can be steamed or boiled to come out as gelatinous as possible. While, the cake is quite satisfactory for consumption on its own, the practice is to disperse sesame seeds, almonds or even coconut flakes over the wet cake to give it a crispy finish. Nian Gao can also be served with sweet black sesame paste where it is enveloped in the paste making it look delicious to boot.

2. Ang Ku Kueh (Red Tortoise Cake)

Other one of traditional CNY sweets is the Ang Ku Kueh which symbolizes wealth and happiness. This small round pasty cake is filled with sweet mung bean paste and glutinous rice flour skin and the skin is colored into red which symbolizes happiness and prosperity. This cake is named so from the red tortoise shell, which is supposed to be auspicious or lucky in the coming year. Ang Ku Kueh can be eaten warm or cold and it is commonly served for afternoon tea, coffee or for desert.

3. Pineapple Tarts

Undoubtedly, pineapple tarts remain the top and the most demanded bile of Chinese New Year time. These are croissant shaped and made out of pastry dough and contains a sweet pineapple jam to impart their flavour. This tart has an attractive golden outside crust, and delicious inside filling that is loved by children and grown-ups alike. Actually, pineapple tarts have been originated during the 15th century, during the Ming Dynasty when pineapple was actually an expensive commodity that could be afforded only by the royal family and the aristocrats. Pineapple tarts are mandatory food during CNY celebration because it represent prosperity, prosperity and success. These pastries are best eaten with tea or coffee accompaniments; the taste combination is just too tasty to resist.

4. Love Letters

Love Letters or ‘Kueh Bangkit’ are traditional crispy cookies which are identical to folded papers, therefore their name. These buttery delights are made of flour, sugar, coconut milk and are pronounced with a rich coconut flavor. Love Letters are symbols of love, harmony and relationship-ness. These cookies are normally taken in a bite as they are squeezed or with tea.

5. Bak Kwa (Barbecue Pork Jerky)

Bak Kwa is another wonderful kind of meat snack, which is consumed mostly during CNY. Thin and tender pork bacon flavor product which is created from top-quality pork, seasoned with delicious sweet and salty sauce, and grilled. Bak Kwa is a symbol of indulgence and of plenty evidenced by its thin slabs which signify wealth. Bak Kwa is commonly prepared for gifting purposes during Chinese New Year, and is usually consumed by cutting it into extremely thin slices and can sometimes be eaten together with a cup of tea to wash down its strong flavors.

6. Kueh Lapis (Layered Cake)

Kueh Lapis is traditionally referred to as the Sarawak Layer Cake; it is a concoction of thick layers from rice flour mixed with coconut milk, sugar and the green paste from the pandan leaves. This cake is not only colourful because of the layers, but it is also very moist and fragrant when done. Kueh Lapis reminds everyone that nothing comes easy in life, one has to be patient and systematic in order to achieve success. This cake is best served during the celebration of Chinese New Year; it is preferred by so many because each layer is incredibly soft and fluffy.

7. Kuih Bingka

Kuih Bingka is a reputed Malaysian tray bake that is a convenient coconut custard that’s trending in the CNY. Dessert from eggs, sugar, coconut milk, and tapioca starch cooked atilla pudding is rich, creamy, and filled with an excellent combination of flavors and textures. Kuih Bingka represents love and reunion, so no better dessert can complete a CNY celebration than this. It’s eaten warm and hot, which makes it perfect for the whole family to enjoy it during cold winter or rainy periods.

Therefore, Chinese New Year goodies are an important part and parcel of the celebration where tradition, symbolism and meaning should not be overlooked. All crispy, salty, sweet and sticky snacks presented correspond to Chinese traditions and histories. Be it together with your loved ones or to give out to relatives and friends, or even when you are savoring every morsel that comes with these little delicacies, these traditional Chinese New Year snacks and cookies are part and parcel of the celebration and something that binds people together during this optimistic time of the year. Therefore, celebrating this Lunar New Year with the taste and interesting features of these traditional cakes is the best way to improve your lifetime experience.

Scroll to top