10 Irresistible CNY Goodies to Make Your New Year Special

Lunar New Year or Spring Festival is one of the primary and biggest human festivals celebrated in China as well as in other parts of the globe. It is one of the two primary traditional Chinese celebrations of the year and includes changes in attire for the lunar calendar, festivals, dumpling feasting, and giving of red envelopes stuffed with money. The following are ten tempting Chinese New Year goodies that could add colours to your New Year:

 

 

Nian gao also called year cake is one of the traditional Chinese snack made from glutinous rice flour and brown sugar. This cake is usually shaped into bar/baking and round shapes and they are normally baked red in colour for luck. It is not only delicious but also comes with a special meaning in it, this is the Nian gao. The Chinese word for the dish is “nian gao”, “nian” is traditionally understood as ‘year’, and “gao” as ‘high’, and that the tradition is to eat nian gao during Chinese New Year as this would help the individual get a higher position in the following year.

 

 

Pineapple tarts are one of the most demanded sweets as offerings for Chinese New Year, especially in Southeast Asia. These shinning tarts are made from buttery pastry dough and contain a lovely sweet pineapple jam. The shape and color of the tart even resembles the outer skin of the pineapple and in Chinese culture pineapple symbolized prosperity.

 

 

Another Chinese New Year snack, this is also called Love Letters or Kuih Kapit as this flaky, crispy, sweet pastry is severely missed out of the New Year feast. Love Letters are a very soft pastry in which thin layers of dough are folded and then rolled to form a sort of crumb structure. The treat’s name is derived from the elongated shape of the treat and it is said to resemble a love letter.

 

 

Sesame Seed Balls, additionally known as ma dan lian, are fried Chinese New Year’s snacks accessible on the street. These balls contain sweet or meat fillings of a red bean paste type or simply meat encased in a soft dough prepared from flour, water and sesame seeds. They are then fried to a crisp making them crispy on the outside. The Sesame Seed Balls are shaped like balls and therefore associated with happiness and being together, so they are best enjoyed during the Chinese New Year.

 

 

Tang yuan is a measure of Chinese new year, which is prepared by boiling of glutinous rice flour and usually fill with black sesame paste or red bean paste. It is a type of round dumplings which are boiled in hot water or syrup and again it served in sweet soup. The dumplings also depict togetherness or unity at family level during the celebration of the Chinese New Year.

 

 

Kueh Koh Seng or Red Tortoise Cake is an old fashion pastry of the Hock Chew society in Singapore. This is a pleasantly sticky and soft cake prepared from tapioca flour, brown sugar and red bean paste cooked over a steamer. The cake is made in the shape of a dessert or pastry and is called koh seng, which loosely translated from Chinese means tortoise helps and is designed to bring some luck and protect the recipients for the year ahead.

 

 

Yuu sheng literally means ‘oil slick’ which refers to the coriander commonly used in the dish, is a chilled raw fish salad system of the Chinese especially in the regions of Malaysia and Singapore and is eaten during the Chinese New Year feast. Its main ingredients are the shredded carrots, green papaya julienne, shredded radish, fried flour sticks, crushed peanut and dressing –tart and sweet. To signify good omen, the salad is then thrown into the air for all to grab with their spoon whilesome say a word of luck. Yu Sheng is thought to symbolize prosperity, happiness as well as prosperity for the New Year.

8. Pu Erh Osmanthus Tea
Tea is an integral part of China ’s culture or traditions, and it is also served during the Chinese New Year festivities. Pu Erh Osmanthus is preferred during this period because of its fragment and flavor. It is the brewing of the Pu erh tea where the tea leaves have been perfumed with the osmanthus flowers. This tea, it is believed has purifying abilities and is taken to help eliminate toxins within the body as people begin the New Year.

 

 

Bak kwa is one of the most favourite Chinese New Year snacks in Singapore and Malaysia. Bak kwa is a sweet and savoury snack made out of thinly sliced and marinated pork that is grilled over a large barbeque grid iron until crisp and slightly caramelised. Bak kwa is finger licking delicious snack which is associated with the culture of wealth and prosperity. As for its uses, it is commonly used especially in Christmas season as a present.

 

 

The use of nuts and seeds tray is also a traditional Chinese New year delicacy that should not miss. The tray typically consists of four different types of nuts and seeds: peanuts, melon seeds, pumpkin seeds and walnut. Peanuts and melon seeds are actions or symbols of prosperity, pumpkin seeds are symbolizing wealth, and walnuts are a symbol of longevity during the New Year. This tray bears some good wishes like the character ‘fu’ which means goodness or happiness or the character ‘shou’ which means longevity, and is kept on the dining table during ceremonial meal.

 

In conclusion, Chinese New Year is a time were families and friends reunite to enjoy good food and also welcome a prosperous happy and fortunate new year. These meals, snacks, and other foods enumerated in the article are just ten of the most irresistible and popular Chinese New Year goodies. Thus, in terms of this Chinese New Year feast, do not forget to enjoy these delicious snacks and pass on the happiness and good fortunes to your family members and friends. Happy New Year!