Chinese New Year or Lunar New Year or Spring Festival is an essential part of Chinese culture and celebration for the people of Chinese descent throughout the world. It is characterized by celebrations such as fairs, school dinners and birthday parties and donations that are usually made throughout Thanksgiving day and as gift giving seasons. It will also not be out of place to state that one of the best practices which many people embrace towards their loved ones during this time is to gift them the ‘CNY goodies’ which are traditional snacks and foods. From sweet cake to shower biscuits, these special things are not only delicious, but also have strong Chinese flavor. In this article, we put together some of the most fitting CNY goodies for gifting and why they are perfect for the Year of the Tiger .
1. Nian Gao (Sweet Rice Cake)
Nian Gao or what is called ‘Year Cake’ are traditional Chinese cuisine that are a staple during Chinese New Year. Reflecting the concept of progression, the cake is made from glutinous rice flour and sugar and perhaps other ingredients. In the past, it is consumed with a hope to usher in prosperity new year and a year with a higher number than before. A lot of ways exist to present Nian Gao with or without toppings and it can be plain or with flavors like Pandan, red bean, pineapple etc. Donating a Nian Gao is symbolic of wishing the recipient a good and a better state of existence in the following year.
2. Pineapple Tarts
Every festive event specifically Chinese New Year is incomplete with the New Year goodies including the most famous pineapple tarts. These pastries are tasty and eyecandy, made of buttery shortcrust pastry and sweet, pineapple-y jam. Golden is associated with luck and abundance and that is why it can be observed that the tart is of golden color and the pineapple is symbol of happy future. Pineapple tarts are beloved in many Southeast Asian countries, however, they are now also considered to be traditional gifts in china. Whether you stick with the traditional buttery pineapple tart or decide to go with almond pineapple tart or the famous coconut pineapple tart, giving them away is a fantastic way to let those you care about know you wish them the very best in the coming year.
3. Love Letters
Love letters are crisp deep fried pastry strips with sweet and salty filling stuffing that includes crushed peanuts sugar and sesasm seeds. They got their name because they’re shaped like the classic Chinese wedding cookies referred to as ‘love cookies.’ The shape of the love letters is of gold bars to symbolize that the groom’s family is wealthy. Sharing love letters as gifts gives the impression of your desire to see them fulfill their financial potential and thrive.
4. Ang Ku Kueh a.k.a. Red Tortoise Cake
Ang Ku Kueh is one of the most famous Chinese dessert and effective for prosperity and longevity for Chinese due to its reddish-brown color and tortoise-shaped flaky pastry. These pastries are created from rice flour and often contain sweet mung beans or peanuts; the pastry is a symbol of prosperity. Red color means happiness and the presence of smooth skin depicts unity and togetherness. It is also a great form of showering a beloved one with blessings through the famed Ang Ku Kueh.
5. Huat Kueh (Prosperity Cake)
A type of pastry, Huat Kueh literally translates to ‘Prosperity Cake’ and is associated with celebrations of Chinese New Year. These are small round cakes made of rice flour, filled with green bean paste, peanut or coconut, steamed and the top garnished with crushed pe.nuts. The shape of Huat Kueh is an emblem of prosperity and the colors depict success and prosperity. Huat Kueh is given during Chinese New Year to show your best esteem that the coming year will be prosperous.
6. Eight Treasure Rice Dumplings
Eight Treasure Rice Dumplings is a group of traditional Chinese Dim Sum, essentially glutinous rice, eight different types of foodstuffs and usually meat such as pork or chicken enclosed in a lotus or bamboo leaf. These are symbolic of duke gio which are considered to denote eight treasures when prepared from eight different ingredients. It is customary to present someone with Eight Treasure Rice Dumplings and therefore, to wish others happy and successful, one can give them a basket.
7. Kueh Lapis (Layered Cake)
Kueh Lapis or more popularly known as Sponge Layer Cake is a very intricate cake product that came from the combination of flour, sugar, eggs and butter products. It may be four to five layered, bright, and this symbolizes prosperity and the many fold blessings one receives in a lifetime. Presenting someone with our homemade Kueh Lapis cake that comes in an elegantly packaged box, makes a year ahead more meaningful and special.
8. Bak Kwa (Barbecue Pork Jerky)
Chinese New Year is incomplete without consuming Bak Kwa; especially in Singapore and Malaysia. Proper Bak Kwa is prepared using thinly sliced pork, honey, sugar, spices and is then broiled until crisp and tasting slightly of sweet and savoury. It is postulated that the name Bak Kwa was derived from the Hokkien words “ba-kwah” which stands for “juicy meat.” Bak Kwa is meant to be shared to express one’s love and goodwill during this festive season as well as a wish for the sweet and nourishing love ones the recipient has.
9. Sweet Potatoes
Sweet potatoes are a common root vegetable in Chinese cooking and may be prepared in several forms to mark Chinese New Year. Due to their appearance having the resemblance of gold nuggets they are considered symbolic of happiness, wealth and longevity. Say sweet potatoes with honey; you can cook them in an oven; glaze them or even make them for a dessert, for example Sweet Potato Dumplings. In relation to this kind of food gift, sweet potatoes can be given as blessings or well wishes either in boiled dish forms or freshly harvested tuber.
10. Orh Nee (Yam Paste)
Orh Nee is a Southeast Asian dessert made from boiled yam, sugar, and other options include evaporated milk, pandan extract, and coconut milk. It’s normally eaten hot and it indeed is symbolic of prosperity, luck, and happiness due to the way the yam is courte, shaped like gold nuggets. Presenting Orh Nee is also a super healthy gesture for prioritizing a yummy and well wish oriented Chinese New Year treat.
To the Chinese, New Year is all about love, joy and sharing! Hong Bao or giving CNY goodies is a good way to convey feelings, to share blessings and to immerse in traditions of generations. The above mentioned selection of treats is not an exhaustive list, however, looking at some of the best, CNY specific gifts will help moisten the spirits of our loved ones which in turn makes them feel special during this most important festivity of the year. Regardless of which of the tidbits you select, assuredly, your best wishes for a prosperous and joyful Year will be conveyed with the goodies.