Singapore gets colourful and filled with foods in preparation for the celebration of Lunar New Year as the time comes near. There is no better time to gorge on mouth watering Chinese New Year delicacies that are ordered only during this season. Among the dozens of pineapple tarts that have been around for generations, to modern pineapple tarts that have received a new twist, Singapore has numerous delicious snacks and desserts that will surely be a hit during this coming Chinese New Year celebration.
Bak Kwa is also known as ‘Barbecued Pork Slices.’
Every CNY has to have bak kwa, the pork jerky that is so culturally ingrained into Singaporeans and Malaysians during this festive season. Different types of bak kwa include the one from the leading brands and the neighborhood bak kwa stalls where customers can satisfy their taste buds to these sweet and savory barbecued pork slices with a secret mixture of spices and sugar. For those who prefer the soft and tender fatty bak kwa that melts in the mouth, Lim Chee Guan’s premium bak kwa is a must-buy For those looking for a pack of the Fragrance’s budget-priced bak kwa , there is no reason to be disappointed either. Take a few packs with them to munch on while driving or to share with other members of your family or folks.
Love Letters
Love letters are a traditional Chinese wafer biscuit that is consumed in all the Southeast Asian countries; it is named after the biscuit’s folded form that resembles the shape of an envelope. Due to the Christmas festive period, the light, crispy biscuits flavoured with coconut milk, and the lightly sweetened type go well with tea during the break. In Chinese and Peranakan homes, several households fashion their love letters from the ground up before CNY by carving the mold out of wood but there are stores that sell love letters ready for use. It is romantic to pick up a few boxes of love letters as you sip hot Chinese tea.
Pineapple Tarts
Of all the Chinese New Year cookies, pineapple tarts or feng li su, are the undisputed reigning champions of the Re[model]. These little delicacies are soft and tender and the tasty pineapple filling generously spiced nestled into the perfectly puffy shortcrust pastry are irresistible. Here, they have the traditional and more familiar open topped pastries with visible jam layer and the ones with lids in between two pastry layers. Pineapple tarts are basically synonymous with CNY and some of the most reputable bakeries, such as Bengawan Solo, release limited-edition, pineappley offerings exclusive to the celebration, meaning that it is essential to order some boxes for relatives and ornament the bog with them for guest admiration.
With affinities for both the Chinese New Year and Valentine’s day this dish represents the color of mandarin oranges as well as the shape of valentine chocolates in the form of truffles.
For lovers of taste innovation and modern sweet creations try the Prive Bakery mandarin orange chocolate truffles. These terrific round-shaped ganache truffles include a zesty mandarin orange ganache coated with a sparkling cherry blossom shaped dome of chocolate. The spicy citrus touch combined with rich chocolate flavor in every piece gives a premium feel for this Lunar New Year. Give these artisanal truffles to friends and family or corporations as gifts.
Chinese New Year Yusheng / Lou Hei
Yusheng, also called lou hei, is a visually attractive raw fish and vegetable salad that can be eaten on the seventh day of Chinese New Year. The ingredients represent prosperity, good luck, health and fortune. It is practiced where families share a meal inviting yusheng salad where ingredients are thrown with spoons then yelling say blessings to your dish. The role of this tradition was to bring in prosperity, happiness and people together for the coming New Year. A particular look should be made to Chinese restaurants where dishes such as abalone and lobster yusheng are offered during the festive weeks.
Mochi Cake
Year of rice cakes or nian gaois one of the most popular sweet treats associated with Chinese New Year festival where they symbolise sweet and sticky New Year. Also in CNY, the modernized version mochi cakes with different fillings and tastes are also appreciating greatly. For example, Cat & the Fiddle features artisanal chai spice and matcha black sesame mochi cakes just in the weeks before the festivals. The soft and smooth features of mochi combined with tea flavoured fillings are the perfect gift and festivity snack for special occasions.
Pineapple Prosperity Cake
This honey-glazed pineapple sponge cake from Awfully Chocolate is shaped like a pineapple and symbolises prosperity and good fortune for Lunar New Year. It is fruity and packed with the flavour of pineapple for this moist, butter rich genoise sponge is made with pineapple juice, topped with chunks of ripe pineapple and a spoonful of pineapple jam to boot. Savor this pineapple prosperity cake in the company of your family over tea or have this pineapple prosperity cake delivered to relatives who live abroad so they can part of this CNY feast as well!
Golden Pearls
These sticky rice balls filled with Earl Grey tea and wrapped in a sweet peanut powder are CNY specials from The Social Space café. Reminiscent of the Chinese culture that the colour gold represents prosperity and good fortune, these crispy delicious balls of glory where one can find black sesame paste or sweet red bean paste inside are perfect for gifting, parties and even for placing on the reunion dinner table for the perfect click worthy moment! Packed some Golden Pearls over when going to visit relatives and friends this coming CNY for a meaningful lucky charm.
Mango Coconut Sago Dessert
Indulge your sweet tooth with this light mango coconut sago pudding that will give you a perfect closing to a day of festive eating at Creamier. The sago pearls or bubbles are smooth and creamy and covered by a pool of coconut milk and mango puree so They can spoon up this cool, tropically inspired dessert this Lunar New Year together. The chilled dessert is easy to prepare and I am sure you can prepare a batch at home also. The red colors represent prosperity and the diverse textures and tastes make everyone happy after a full reunion dinner.
Whether it’s exotic tropical fruits, trendy candy options, or Instagram-worthy sweet snacks that capture the festive spirit of Lunar New Year, Singapore has an abundance of delightful treats to satisfy every palate. Make sure your loved ones experience a burst of flavor and indulge in the seven must-have CNY delicacies that we eagerly anticipate each year. These goodies not only bring joy but also symbolize the celebration of new beginnings, unity, and the strengthening of family bonds. As we usher in the Year of the Snake, let these CNY goodies represent prosperity, renewal, and togetherness within our communities.
