Lunar New Year is all about welcoming good luck and fortune into your life. So, stock up on these auspicious Chinese New Year food before the holidays!
From the wonderful Lunar New Year decorations to the CNY menus, this time of year is full of celebration and colour. Also, almost every household in Hong Kong stocks their shelves with an array of traditional Chinese New Year food and snacks to serve their families and guests. These traditions are an important part of the festivities that we enjoy, and we think you should give them a try during the holidays, too!
Try these auspicious Chinese New Year food and snacks
1. Chinese New Year cakes and puddings
The most traditional Chinese New Year cakes are the New Year cake and turnip cake. Sweet and indulgent, the New Year cake – also known as neen gou (年糕) – is a common treat made with glutinous rice flour and sugar. There are many ways to enjoy this festive pudding, but the best way is to coat slices in egg wash before pan-frying it to crispy perfection.
To balance out the richness of this sweet pudding is its savoury counterpart, the turnip cake, or lo baak gou (蘿蔔糕). Despite its name, the main ingredient in turnip cake is actually finely shredded white radish, which is mixed with rice flour and seasoned with a variety of ingredients that often include dried shrimp, mushrooms, Chinese sausage, or pork belly. The umami taste, satisfying texture, and association with prosperity of turnip cake makes it an indispensable part of any Lunar New Year feast.
Check out what Chinese New Year cakes we’ll be stuffing our faces with!
2. Pistachios
Here’s a fun fact about pistachios – they’re called hoi saam gwo (開心果) in Cantonese, which translates to “happy fruit.” This adorable name comes from their half opened shells, which resemble smiley faces. That’s why pistachios are also a staple in the Chinese candy box come Lunar New Year. In fact, their symbolism for happiness and prosperity is so strong that some will even discard unopened pistachios without a “smile.”
3. Melon seeds
Another staple of the Chinese candy box, melon seeds (瓜子) come in four different colours: black, red, green, and white, but the first two are more popular for Lunar New Year. Traditionally, melon seeds are added to the candy box as a wish for more offspring in the family, as the character “子” means “son” or “child” in Chinese. While this symbolic meaning has lost emphasis today, melon seeds remain a popular snack. Enjoy them while marathoning a TV series this CNY and you’ll know why we love them.
4. Chocolate gold coins
Who remembers being more excited about chocolate coins than lai see money? While not a traditional Chinese New Year food per se, anyone who grew up in Hong Kong will fondly remember their relatives filling up a tsuen haap (全盒) – Chinese candy box packed with auspicious treats – with chocolate coins. Needless to say, this treat is a symbol of wealth and is exceptionally popular with the kids.
5. Crispy pastry dumplings
Locally known as yau gok (油角) or gok jai (角仔) in Cantonese, these irresistible fried dumplings are essential Lunar New Year treats. Besides a satisfying crunch, gok jai symbolises prosperity, good fortune, and wealth. This pastry is made from glutinous rice dough and shaped to resemble ancient Chinese gold ingots. The fillings are usually sweet or savoury. If you opt for the savoury kind, you’ll enjoy umami bites of minced pork and mushrooms. On the other hand, sweet gok jai sees peanut and sesame paste encased in crispy fried dough.
6. Mandarins
There are few Chinese New Year foods more iconic than the mandarin. Not only are mandarins the number one fruit to consume during Chinese New Year, they’re also used as home decorations. Why are mandarins auspicious, you ask? Well, in Cantonese, mandarin (柑桔) is homophonous with the words “gold” (金) and “luck” (吉). (Plus, they serve a good fix of vitamin C!) So, be sure to stock up on them this Chinese New Year.
7. Candies
Like chocolate coins, candies are a relatively modern addition to the Chinese candy box, but have generally been accepted as one of its eight staples. A diverse range of sweets are featured during Lunar New Year, whether it be the iconic White Rabbit milk candy or the colourful Sugus. While their symbolic meaning is unclear, we can agree that a sugar boost always puts a smile on our faces.
8. Fried sesame balls
The fried sesame ball (煎堆) is chewy and flavourful. Sprinkled with aromatic toasted sesame seeds, this is one of the most indulgent Chinese New Year foods. The auspicious meanings behind the snack arise from a Cantonese saying related to their shape: “煎堆轆轆，金銀滿屋.” “轆轆” refers to the roundness of fried sesame balls while “金銀滿屋” is a wish for good fortune and wealth for the household. Two parts of this saying is linked by “轆” (luk) rhyming with “屋” (uk) – pretty neat, huh?
9. Glutinous rice balls
This traditional Cantonese dessert is a staple in family festive feasts. Glutinous rice balls, or tong yuen (湯圓), are chewy, mochi-like dumplings usually prepared in a sweet broth. Common fillings include black sesame, peanut, and red bean paste. Their spherical form is a symbol of family unity, while the name “tong yuen” sounds similar to the term for reunion – tuen yuen (團圓) – in Cantonese, making this the perfect treat to share between your loved ones during Chinese New Year.
10. Poon choi
Poon choi (盆菜) is an iconic festive potted dish designed for sharing. This Chinese New Year food symbolises togetherness and, when presented on the dinner table, brings the family together for an intimate meal. The overflowing pot boasts mouthwatering layers of meat, seafood, and vegetables cooked in a rich fermented bean curd sauce. While the traditional poon choi mainly consisted of pork belly, shrimps, tofu, and other inexpensive vegetables, you’ll often find premium ingredients like fish maw, abalone, and even lobster in its contemporary interpretations.
