You Know Chinese New Year Is Near When These 5 Snacks Are Out On The Table!

Malaysians go crazy for kuih and snacks all-year around, so much so that we can even classify those snacks into seasons… 

And for Chinese New Year, it’s these 5 snacks that when served, you just know the season is around the corner!

1. Love letters/Kuih kapit

you know chinese new year is near when these 5 snacks are out on the table!

Photo via Whisk n Fold

These crumbly Chinese crepes can be rolled or folded into quarters. They got their name from an ancient legend where a pair of forbidden lovers poured their hearts out through these cookies. It is said that by not eating them, the love isn’t there, but consuming it meant that the message was seen as a sign that the lover’s words were taken to heart.

2. Pineapple tarts

you know chinese new year is near when these 5 snacks are out on the table!

Photo via Taste of Asian Food

Pineapples are considered very auspicious fruits for Chinese New Year. In Hokkien, a pineapple is called ‘ong lai’ which literally translates to ‘prosperity or good fortune has come’. So serving and eating pineapple tarts is said to bring prosperity and luck to the home.

3. Kuih bangkit

you know chinese new year is near when these 5 snacks are out on the table!

Originally made in the shape of the currency of ancient China, it was used as ancestral offerings or for a newly departed to spend in the afterlife. Today they are made in animal and floral shapes with unique symbolism. For example: a goldfish symbolises prosperity, while a chrysanthemum stands for fortune. Kuih bangkit will automatically melt in your mouth and it’s usually sticky, so make sure you have a drink standing by to wash it down!

4. Bak kua

you know chinese new year is near when these 5 snacks are out on the table!

Photo via Tatler

These barbequed, dried sweetmeats are definitely a must for the season! Also called ‘Rou Gan’, they can be made from mutton, pork or beef. In Chinese tradition, it symbolises good luck and is believed to ward off negative energy.

5. Kuih bahulu

you know chinese new year is near when these 5 snacks are out on the table!

Photo via Tupperware

Imported from Malay culture, kuih bahulu used to be prized snacks during Chinese New Year due to how difficult it was to bake them. Ovens weren’t common then, and these fluffy little cakes took very long to make over charcoal fires. They usually come in the shape of flowers or shell, but also fish sometimes, as the Chinese word for ‘fish’ sounds similar to the word for abundance.

Of course, these Chinese New Year snacks are just our top 5 picks… 

But what about you? What are your favourites?

 

by Kyle Roshen Jacob

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