Introduction
Known as the Lunar New Year, Chinese New Year or Spring Festival – the CNY is a season of festivities for the Chinese families. In China, it is the largest of the traditional feasts celebrating the start of the new year based on the traditional lunar-solar calendar. Now you can learn what delicious and festive treats are enjoyed during the Lunar New Year, which is coming soon.
A variety of Chinese foods, flavors and methods of preparation and methods of preparation and preparation are recognized all over the globe. For every meal there is more than enough to choose from – dim sum, wontons etc. Of them, there are several snacks and sweets which have been traditionally associated with the preparations to the LNY. These treats are taken round by the family and other well-wishers as a sign of unity, prosperity and success. In this article, we present you 6 CNY goodies that you should not miss and should start stocking up for this coming lunar new year.
1. Nian Gao (Sticky Rice Cake)
Nian Gao, or what is also called sticky rice cake, is regarded to be one of the most frequently consumed items during Lunar New Year. This is a type of confectionery that is created with glutinous rice flour, sugar, and may be added to such things as peanut or sweet potato. Nian Gao literally means ‘year high’ literally that a person wants a better year or a higher post. Consuming Nian Gao in the course of the Lunar New Year is thought of to provide success and wealth in the New Year.
2. Pineapple Tarts
Another popular sweet snack you find during the Lunar New Year season is the pineapple tart which originated from Malaysia and Singapore. These tarts include an outer crust pastry and a fruity-sweet pineapple jam as the filling. Originally it was a pineapple which is a symbol of prosperity and growth, that’s why these products are popular during celebrations. Since pineapple tarts come in many flavors and textures, the delightful treat is favoured by young and old.
3. Kuih Bangkit
Kuih Bangkit is a popular cookie which is offere in Indonesia and Malaysia mainly during Lunar New Year. This is a delicious coconut flour biscuits that is prepared from refined flour, sugar and coconut milk. It should have a crumbly texture and it’s sweet with hints of coconut flavor. Kuih Bangkit means ‘Mimicry of Bangkit’ cookies, symbolizes persistence, if cookies are exposed to heat they remain whole. These cookies are said to enhance these qualities in oneself when taken during CNY season.
4. Love Letters
Another traditional sweet item for the Lunar New Year celebration is the love letters or what people in Malaysia referred to as ‘organ biscuit’. Love letters biscuits are very fine and crunchy biscuits packed with sugar and butter in between very much similar to the biscuits. These cookies are usually packed in pairs and taken door to door to offer to friends and relatives as tokens of love, togetherness as well as goodwill.
5. Tang Yuan
Tang Yuan is also familiar to most Chinese people as rice dumplings; they are a traditional dessert to accompany the celebration of the Lunar New Year. These dumplings are made from glutinous rice flour and the stuffing varies for sweet include red bean paste or sesame paste. Tang Yuan is sweet dumpling balls that are usually eaten during reunion feasts because the round shape signifies wholeness. Tang Yuan are popular during the Lunar New Year for the thought that consuming them will result to luck, happiness and prosperity.
6. Red Bean Cake
Lunar New Year is another contributory festival for which red bean cake is prevalent and it hails from China. This cake is made from sweetened red bean paste and glutinous rice flour making it has a chewy texture. Red bean is favoured as auspicious food as reputed to bring luck as well as red color associated with luck, joy, fortune, and happiness. Hence, red bean cake is the food that is suitable to be consumed during the celebration of Lunar New Year as it brings luck, happiness and prosperity.
7. Ngaku
Ngaku which can be translated as coconut biscuits is customary served during the celebration of the Lunar New Year in Malaysia. Made from flour, sugar, eggs and coconut milk but has a coconut taste and has a chewy texture a little bit. It is generally understood that the name “Ngaku” possible owes its origin to the Hokkien dialect and translated to mean ‘return’. These biscuits are presented during the Lunar New Year celebrations to remind people of their desire to come back home, and remain loyal to their family.
8. Mooncakes
Mooncakes are not only associated with the Mid-Autumn Festival but also have an important place at the Lunar New Year Festival. These sweet and succulent pastries are derived from flour, sugar and, the fillings might be lotus seed paste, red bean paste or even the salted duck egg yolk. The most popular traditional use of mooncakes is to present them to relatives and friends for sharing and for promoting togetherness. The round shape of the mooncake also symbolize unity and inclusiveness.
Conclusion
Lunar New Year is about festivity and reunion and it is also important to preparation for every family to have good food for reunion. All the mentioned snacks and sweets are lovely, but they represent great importance to many cultures as well. When you taste these popular CNY goodies, apart from pleasing your taste buds, you will also be getting a glimpse of how Chinese New Year is celebrated.
During the Lunar New Year, new food tastes and new tastes of things you have never eaten before can be offered. So, if you are going out to a CNY celebration or organizing a celebration, make sure you are serving some of these snacks. Kung Hi Fat Choy and may you be blessed with wealth, good fortune and health in the year of the [insert chosen zodiac animal of the year here].