Introduction:
Lunar New Year often called Chinese New Year or Spring festival is the biggest celebration in Chinese culture. It is the first month of the lunar calendar and normally takes for 15 days. It is the time of family reunion and consumption of special foods in order to bring good luck and prosperity for the following year. An important element of it is the exchange of special – sweet Lunar New Year treats or as we call it CNY Goodies. In this article, We will present several delightful recipes to add a little bit of sweetness to this year’s celebration of Lunar New Year.
1. Nian Gao (Sticky Rice Cake)
New Year goodies range from cookies to cakes coupled with being an essential part of Chinese New Year tradition is Nian Gao or rice cake. It symbolizes prosperity and development and a successful year in the year to come. On its own, the term Nian, literally stands for the Chinese term ‘year’ & Gao, means ‘high’, so in general, the phrase translates into wishing the other person to celebrate the new year on a higher level. Nian Gao is a product made from glutinous rice flour, sugar, and occasionally included peanuts or other components. Sample is obtainable in different types like vanilla flavor, red bean or sesame.
2. Pineapple Tarts
Pineapple tarts are one of the most popular CNY Goodie in Singapore and Malaysia. They are sumptuous pastries prepared from based pastry with the filling made from pineapple jam. The tarts themselves are yellow, a colour associated with prosperity, luck and happiness; their shape is complex and unique. The tart has a crispy and buttery crust together with the pleasantly sweet pineapple jam are one of the most popular delicacies to take during the Lunar New Year.
3. Love Letters
Love letters, also called Mandarin Pancakes in certain parts of China, is another traditional snack from China that could be tasted during the Lunar New Year celebration. Love letters are a type of thin, crispy pancake or waffle, that is filled with a sweet paste made from red beans or lotus seeds. Dougnx has a thin texture with a crisp crust, texture similar to the thin paper commonly used in China thus is also the go to snack for friends and family during Lunar New Year.
4. Ang Ku Kueh
Ang Ku Kueh, also called as red tortoise cake, is one of the well-known traditional Chinese sweets embracing the meaning of longevity or longevity. These sweet and soft and puffy rice cakes are extremely popular with red bean or coconut or Pandan flavor. V-shaped, they symbolise health; they are also symbolised by a tortoise shell as its known to be tenacious. Ang Ku Kueh is a delicious snack which accompany Lunar New Year festival and it also made as gifts to friends and beloved ones.
5. Bak Kwa
Bak Kwa is the Chinese meat jerky snack for Lunar New Year celebrated across Chinese people in many parts of the world. A Bak Kwa is made from thinly sliced lean pork that is marinated in sugar, soy sauce, and spices and then Barbecued until crispy. It is both savoury and sweet and is associated with prosperity, gifted throughout the Lunar New Year season. Traditionally, Bak Kwa is served thinly sliced so it goes well with tea or even with a glass of red wine.
6. Huat Kueh
Huat Kueh, also known as prosperity cake, is a Chinese snack that is savory as well as sweet and is prepared from such ingredients as rice flour and coconut milk. These small and spherical cakes are covered with toppings such as sesame seeds, peanuts, coconut flakes etc. Huat Kueh represents prosperity, good luck and they are often consumed during the period of Chinese Lunar New Year. The Tory’s range of the Huat Kueh has been done in bright colors perfect for adding Lunar New Year feel to your table.
7. Wu Kuo (Five Kinds of Sweets)
The most popular Wu Kuo is the five sweet treats and represents the five elements of earth, wood, fire, metal and water coming into the Lunar New Year season. Wu kuo can include: flavoured gelatines such as ice jelly, fruits coated with sugar and different candies nicely packed in fancy and attractive papers. As small snacks, they are perfect for different tastes of sweets during the Lunar New Year and can be shared among loved ones as a gift.
8. Tang Yuan (Sweet Rice Balls)
Tang Yuan, steamed rice balls, is one type of traditional items that people like to consume during the celebration of the Lunar New Year. These soft and chewy rice balls are left with sweet fillings such as red bean paste, sesame fillings or peanut fillings. They are then boiled and used in a sweet soup or syrup. Tang Yuan represents family togetherness and reunion during Lunar New Year Since the ball is Stone like and mouthful sized so that is eaten with the bare hand, its consumption brings about togetherness.
Conclusion:
The Lunar New Year is a joyous festival, filled with good omens and warm wishes exchanged among family and friends. This season is the perfect time to fully embrace Chinese culture and traditions by indulging in a selection of traditional CNY goodies. From the delightful sweetness of Nian Gao and Pineapple Tarts to the savory taste of Bak Kwa and the symbolic Huat Kueh, each treat adds something special to your celebration. Gather your loved ones, cozy up, and savor these delectable goodies as you welcome prosperity, happiness, and good fortune for the coming year.