How did snacks like pineapple tarts, love letters, peanut cookies and prawn rolls become Chinese New Year staples? Jane Lee, restaurant manager of Chynna, Hilton KL educates us.
Aside from being the best season to spend quality time with family and friends, Chinese New Year is also a time when we get to eat to our hearts content. This is because the hours will be filled with nothing but delicious main meals and an abundance of treats and snacks–after all, food is one of the biggest parts of the celebrations.
When bottles and tins of pineapple tarts, love letters, peanut cookies and prawn rolls become visible around every corner, stacked from floor to ceiling, you know that the Chinese New Year is here. But did you know that certain snacks are picked for their auspicious symbols?
“All the items became staples because they symbolise something in their own unique way,” says Jane Lee, restaurant manager of Chynna, in Hilton Kuala Lumpur.
“Although some of them have been commercialised, others are only seen during celebrations or the festive season.”
Jane, who makes and bakes many of these traditional snacks herself, was more than happy to fill me in on why my gorging these delicious morsels of delight have a deeper meaning than my insatiable appetite.
“Also known as kuih kapit, they are said to be a way lovers communicated in olden times. The edible quality of the message ensured the absence of proof and consumption of the heartfelt message was also seen as sign that the lover’s words were taken to heart.”
“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.”
The preserved jerky-like meat “is special in Chinese tradition; it symbolises good luck and is believed to ward off negative energy.”
“Originally made in the shape of the currency of ancient China, it was used as ancestral offerings or for a newly departed to spend in the afterlife.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.”
“In Chinese culture, the peanut represents longevity. The cookies also symbolise the wish for many children, and are very popular cookies with chatty aunties.”
“Imported from Malay culture, kuih bahulu is often given as gift by people who travel by water. The kuih is usually shaped like fish during Chinese New Year as the Chinese word for fish sounds similar to the word for abundance.”
“The arrowhead vegetable symbolises good life. The process to make the chips is long and hard, so it is usually only given to close relatives.”
“Shrimp and prawns are said to represent good fortune and happiness while spring rolls represent wealth. The shape of the roll is meant to evoke ry of gold bars.”
These nutty delights symbolise longevity and good health, making them a must-have item on the festive table. The symbolic meaning behind these cookies is deeply rooted in traditional Chinese beliefs. The shape and texture of the cookies resemble that of peanuts, which are regarded as a symbol of longevity and vitality.
“All the items became staples because they symbolise something in their own unique way,” says Jane Lee, restaurant manager of Chynna, in Hilton Kuala Lumpur.
The preserved jerky-like meat “is special in Chinese tradition; it symbolises good luck and is believed to ward off negative energy.”
“Imported from Malay culture, kuih bahulu is often given as gift by people who travel by water. The kuih is usually shaped like fish during Chinese New Year as the Chinese word for fish sounds similar to the word for abundance.”
“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.”
When bottles and tins of pineapple tarts, love letters, peanut cookies and prawn rolls become visible around every corner, stacked from floor to ceiling, you know that the Chinese New Year is here. But did you know that certain snacks are picked for their auspicious symbols?
This recipe come from the same vintage collection as my Moose Milk recipe, and caught my eye because I had never seen a Chinese New Year-themed confection in an otherwise anglo recipe collection. What makes these cookied Chinese-ish is the inclusion of Chinese noodles: crispy fried rice noodles, like the kind you get with a take-out order of wonton soup. I can’t even begin to answer the question of whether or not these noodles are authentic in any way, fully Americanized, or some combination thereof. It seems that they’re such a niche aspect of Chinese take-out that no one has ever bothered to wonder before. Anyone out there have a clue?
This entire recipe was a hot mess from start to finish. Something was off about the texture–when the chocolate and caramel melted together, it was so thick. My friend Pat and I got into a long debate about whether or not it was the qaulity of the caramels, or if I had used too many in proportion to the chocolate, but the point is moot because nothing will stop these cookies from looking like tiny piles of poo.
12 Best Chinese New Year Cookies 2023
FAQ
What is the significance of cookies in Chinese New Year?
Why do we have sweets for Chinese New Year?
What is the name of the cookie for Chinese New Year?
Why is it called Love Letters biscuit?
What do Chinese New Year cookies mean?
if you like them chewy but don’t have hours to grate, you can mix blended pineapples with some grated pieces for more bite. (Some people chop them instead.) These traditional Chinese New Year cookies are given out as symbols of Good Fortune. In Hokkien, pineapple is “Ong Lai” which is a homonym for the arrival of Prosperity.
Do Chinese Cookies celebrate Lunar New Year?
Chinese Almond Cookies for the Lunar New Year! In Japan, we celebrate the New Year on January 1st ( read more ). As I married a Taiwanese American husband, I started to celebrate Lunar New Year as well.
What do almond cookies symbolize in Chinese New Year?
Almond cookies are traditional cookies for Chinese New Year. The cookie’s round shape resembles the shape of a coin and symbolizes the hope for good fortune and a prosperous new year. This crunchy, light cookie has wonderful almond flavor and is both quick and easy to make, with just a handful of ingredients.
Are Chinese almond cookies good for Lunar New Year?
Chinese Almond Cookies are simple, crisp, buttery, and full of almond flavor. This recipe is a perfect treat to make for Lunar New Year! Soft crinkle cookies are infused with the flavor and sweetness of sweet red bean paste is amazingly good. The recipe can be made with egg or without egg.