As Chinese New Year edges closer, it is perhaps mandatory to take a look at the eclectic delicacies every Singaporean should have stocked at home. Food plays a central role this holiday, so don’t forget to stock up on these 5 Chinese New Year goodies!
1) Old Seng Choong’s Nian Gao (Year Cake)
A gooey-brown and sweet confection, Nian Gao is a food prepared from glutinous rice. It is considered good luck to eat Nian Gao during this time as it is a homonym for “higher year”. As such, eating Nian Gao is a symbolism of raising oneself higher in each coming year.
We recommend Old Seng Choong’s rendition of this indispensable treat. It is made less sweet, which is perfect for the health-conscious.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BALfDkMGhB4/?tagged=oldsengchoong
Old Seng Choong
www.oldsengchoong.com
+65 6287 0709
2) Sunny Hills’ Pineapple Tart
A favorite among many, these bite-size pastries topped with pineapple jam is a rich and buttery confection. Pineapple is translated as ‘Ong Lai’ in Hokkien, which means “prosperity come”. Additionally, the yellowish-gold color of this delicacy signifies wealth.
We recommend SunnyHills’ inventive pineapple cake, made from freshly harvested pineapples imported from Taiwan. Flaky, chewy, and tasty with every bite.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BAybz7VkF9K/?tagged=sunnyhills
SunnyHills
#03-05 Raffles Hotel Arcade
+65 8522 9605
3) Lim Chee Guan’s Bak Kwa
Bak Kwa is a thin and salty-sweet sheet of pork grilled to lovely caramelisation. This chewy snack has a rich history, Bak Kwa in Cantonese translates to “Long Yoke”, which means robust fortune. For the overly-superstitious, its bright red color is also auspicious and a good omen.
We recommend the Bak Kwa from household-name Lim Chee Guan. Amidst its competitors, Lim Chee Guan’s Bak Kwa remains the most tender and juicy.
Lim Chee Guan
203 New Bridge Rd
#01-25, People’s Park Complex
#B4-37, ION Orchard
+65 6933 7230
4) Antoinette’s Love Letters
Don’t take this literally, of course. Love letters are flavorful cylindrical biscuits made from baking sugar, eggs, and coconut milk. Aside from their resemblance to long gold bars, these wafer-thin rolls got their name because they look like notes that lovers in the past wrote to each.
We recommend the Chocolate Love Letters from Antoinette. Lavish and exquisitely handcrafted, these sinful chocolate-infused wafers are nothing short of amazing.
Antoinette
30 Penhas Road
#02-33 Mandarin Gallery
+65 6293 3121
5) King of Melon Seeds
A symbol of abundance and fertility, Melon seeds are widely eaten as a staple snack. Although there are many variations, the most notable ones during Chinese New Year are the black-colored and red-colored ones. “Gua Zi”, as it’s also known by, can imply “many sons” and “multiple coins”.
We recommend King of Melon Seeds, a popular online shop. With temporary festive retail booths located around Singapore, they offer a diverse selection of melon seeds with their most popular being the Famous Dragon Eye, which are known for their large size and thicker flesh.
(Photo Credit: King of Melon Seeds)
King of Melon Seeds
http://www.kingofmelonseeds.com.sg
Temporary booth locations are available on their website
email: [email protected]
What are your favorite Chinese New Year goodies?
