Best Chinese New Year snacks from bak kwa to pineapple tarts
Every festive period has its iconic grub. But Chinese New Year is on another level – there are tasty treats to get stuck into all over the place. So, with the Lunar New Year approaching, it’s time to brush up on the best nibbles to try in Singapore. From pineapple tarts and love letters to savoury-sweet bak kwa, here are our top eight favourite Chinese New Year snacks to munch on this year!
#1 Bak kwa
The Chinese take on good ol’ jerky, bak kwa is slices of sweet ‘n’ salty preserved meat. Liberally seasoned with spices, sugar, salt and soy sauce, it’s barbecued over charcoal for hints of smoky flavour. It’s available throughout the year, but most Chinese families buy the greasy treat in bulk during the Lunar New Year period. Pork bak kwa is the most popular – and arguably the best tasting – although beef, chicken and vegetarian varieties exist.
#2 Pineapple tarts
The main culprit for bulging waistlines over the festive period, these bitty-but-flavourful pastries are impossible to stop at eating just one. Whether they’re open-faced (as seen below) or roll-shaped, the best pineapple tarts have two things: a firm pastry that melts in your mouth, and a sticky dollop of fragrant, spice-laden pineapple jam.
#3 Kueh bangkit
Kueh bangkit (also known as tapioca cookies) are crunchy, coconut-flavoured cookies. They melt in your mouth almost instantly, making them fairly addictive. A great festive treat for friends, baking these delectable little devils takes nimble kneading skills and a great deal of patience.
#4 Love letters
These aren’t like the kind you scribble to your other half – although giving them a bunch of these brittle, flaky delights may score you some brownie points. Love letters are tubes of eggy goodness that crumble into your mouth (and all over your lap) with each bite. They have a feather-light texture, so you can easily consume them by the dozen! Alternative versions have chocolate or strawberry filling. For an authentic introduction to these delicate snacks, be sure to get them in the iconic aluminium tins.
#5 Spicy shrimp rolls
Filled with dried shrimp sambal (hae bee hiam), these crispy, savoury and spicy deep fried rolls are a classic Chinese New Year snack and are so addictive. They can get pretty spicy fast, so take it slow, especially if you’re not good with heat.
#6 Mandarin oranges
Mandarins are the unprecedented star of Chinese New Year. They’re traditionally presented in pairs during visits to relatives and friends, as a symbol of good fortune. One thing that is certainly fortunate, is that mandarins are a great healthy option amid the array of sinful nibbles.
#7 New Year cake
The New Year cake, or nian gao, is popular Chinese New Year snack, even though it can be eaten throughout the year. Its symbolism lies in it’s name, which is combination of “nian” for year and “gao” as a homonym for the Chinese word that means tall or high. It’s considered good luck to eat it at the start of the new year because it will bring a more prosperous year or more growth.
#8 Seeds
The Chinese word for seeds is a homonym for sons. They are a symbol of fertility and represent the family’s wishes for having many children. For the Chinese, having many offspring in the family is a form of abundance and joy. The most common seeds are red and black watermelon seeds. There’s even a way to eat seeds. Use your upper and lower teeth to hold the sides of the seed, with its pointed end facing the back of your mouth, and bite down gently. Upon hearing a crack, remove the seed and peel open the shell with your fingernails to reach the seed within.
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