Turn down for huat! This CNY, we’re bingeing on yuzu pineapple tarts, yusheng fish skin, pineapple lava cookies and more.
Chinese New Year goodies like pineapple tarts, love letters and bak kwa are the cornerstone of festive snacking. They’re especially useful for stuffing your face when you’re fending off endless questions about your love life and your career from the umpteenth relative of the day. But beyond traditional treats, brands across the island are constantly thinking up unexpected flavours to keep things interesting. Intrigued? Stock up on the best unconventional CNY snacks for the Year of the Tiger…
Where to buy unique CNY snacks in Singapore
1. Baker’s Brew
A homegrown store in love with all things sweet, Baker’s Brew ushers in CNY 2022 with its Fortune Cat collection. Five tins feature a guardian fortune cat each, housing cookies in flavours such as ondeh ondeh (pandan-infused with gula melaka coconut filling), pineapple pillows, pineapple bak kwa, hae bee hiam and peanut almond. Put in your order before 14 Jan for 8% off (simply use the promo code “CNY2022”).
Baker’s Brew, available online and at multiple locations including Great World City and Plaza Singapura
2. Sourbombe
The bakery best known for its donuts (and croissants!) brings you three festive flavours for CNY. Pineapple bak kwa tarts come with a smoky spin, buckwheat black sesame cookies get a touch of white chocolate, and hae bi hiam spiced cookies are tinged with fish floss, crispy sakura ebi and curry leaves. Get ’em for your own snacking time or as gifts for your loved ones!
Sourbombe, available online and at #02-03, 9 Penang Road, Singapore 238459
3. The Kampong Bakery
We’re lovin’ the CNY Fortune Box filled with four treats you won’t find elsewhere. The pineapple kaffir lime tart features baked pineapple sponge, pineapple compote and kaffir lime namelaka, while the black sesame financier comes with black sesame ganache and tuile for a mix of textures. Next, the Sichuan peppercorn chocolate cookie is a fudgy snack with a bit of a kick. Don’t forget the orange sugee for a dash of zesty citrus!
The Kampong Bakery, available online
4. Kele
What started out as a little confectionery decades ago has since bloomed into a go-to brand for pineapple tarts. As usual, Kele doesn’t disappoint, with its rich variety of the iconic CNY tidbit in flavours like rose, tangerine, golden osmanthus, sweet potato, cheese and matcha. Whether you prefer yours flower-shaped or in golden-brown spheres, there’s something for everyone.
Kele, available online and at multiple locations including Smith Street and Takashimaya B2 Food Hall
5. Creamery Boutique Ice Creams
We can’t say no to the sweet combination of ice cream and cookies, which gets a CNY spin here. The pineapple lava cookie is made with pineapple curd and fresh pineapple, while the honey kumquat chrysanthemum tea cookie is a new creation that’ll pair well with any scoop of your choice. Get your hands on ’em from now till 15 Feb!
Creamery Boutique Ice Creams, #01-03, 139 Tyrwhitt Road, Singapore 207557
6. Mdm Ling Bakery
The bakers behind Mdm Ling are a trio of millennials, whipping up goodies such as pineapple tarts, love letters and butter cookies for Chinese New Year. Some of the more unusual treats include cranberry pineapple balls and seaweed chicken floss love letters. Cookies are also available in options like kopi siew dai, purple sweet potato and red velvet cheese.
Mdm Ling Bakery, available online
7. Paradise Group x The Golden Duck
Here’s a limited edition snack collab brought to you by two big name brands. Introducing: fish skin crisps in yusheng and sweet and sour flavours. The former is reminiscent of the classic Chinese New Year must-have with sweet and tangy notes. The latter reinvents your favourite sweet and sour pork dish with dried pineapple bits. Time to impress your visiting relatives with something out of the ordinary this year!
Paradise Group x The Golden Duck, available at selected supermarkets like Cold Storage and pandamart, as well as Paradise Group restaurants
8. Whisking Bakes
So you’re a fan of yam? Head to Whisking Bakes for your fill of orh nee tarts this CNY. Think pineapple balls, but with creamy taro filling instead of tart pineapple. Inspired by the local dessert, the snack is 100% natural and made from scratch using fresh yam.
Whisking Bakes, available online and at #02-13, 1 Irving Place, Singapore 369546
9. Teaspoon of Love
We’ve gotta say, this bakery’s Earl Grey pineapple tarts are some of the best – hands down – we’ve ever had. It’s the perfect combination of buttery crust, not-too-sweet pineapple filling and subtle tea flavour. Every bite is so good, you’ll be wishing you ordered more. You can also get your fill of osmanthus yuzu or hojicha butter cookies for extra goodness.
Teaspoon of Love, available online
10. Old Seng Choong
Known for its bakes inspired by local flavours, this homegrown brand takes its experimentation to the next level with unique CNY snacks. We’re looking at yuzu pineapple tarts, black truffle bak kwa and yuzu bak kwa to switch things up. Oh, and besides the unusual range of cookie flavours, its 2022 collection features ginger black tea and an addictive chocolate orange sea salt variation that you won’t be able to stop nibbling on.
Old Seng Choong, available online and at multiple locations including The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands and Clarke Quay Central
11. Irvins
This snack brand gives prawn rolls a twist with hae bee hiam (spicy dried shrimp) that’s coated in salted egg. That means you get savoury, spicy goodness in every mouthful. While you’re at it, you might as well stock up on more addictive treats including fish head curry fish skin, chicken curry potato chips and Korean BBQ gyoza skin. Perfect for munching while watching your favourite CNY flick.
Irvins, available online and at multiple locations including Plaza Singapura and VivoCity
12. Pineapple Tarts Singapore
With a name like that, you know this brand has only one snack in mind (although it actually does sell other treats). But pineapple tarts are the main star for good reason. These orbs of sweet and savoury goodness melt in your mouth like butter. Plus, they come with an added touch of cheese, salted egg and even truffle flavours. A stickler for spice? Try the mala version for a kick.
Pineapple Tarts Singapore, available online
13. Janice Wong
Janice Wong is a name synonymous with fancy chocolate, and the local dessert maestro doesn’t disappoint with her offerings for the Year of the Tiger. The iconic chocolate koi returns as a hand-painted beauty coated in single-origin dark chocolate and filled with praline feuilletine and popping candy. Don’t forget to load up on snacks like love letters with a creamy hazelnut dip, candied orange shortbread cookies, and chocolate espresso cookies.
Janice Wong, available online and at multiple locations including Paragon and Raffles City
14. SunnyHills
Famed for its pineapple cakes, this Taiwanese brand makes its signature treat with organically grown pineapples and all-natural ingredients. Besides that, it also offers apple cake tarts and D24 durian love letters. How’s that for something different?
SunnyHills, available online and at multiple locations including Raffles Singapore and Takashimaya
15. Ollella
A pastry shop that never fails to put out fab seasonal creations, Ollella’s 2022 selection of CNY snacks includes unique flavours alongside classic ones. Want to go beyond its signature spiced kueh lapis? Try options such as Nutella or a trio of salted egg yolk, chicken floss and chicken bak kwa. Almond cookies also come in vegan versions here. Or go for new tidbits such as jade ondeh balls (gula jawa-soaked coconut in pandan butter crust) and hebi hiam balls (rempah udang in buttery crust).
Ollella, available online and at 454 Race Course Road, Singapore 218697
So, which unique CNY snacks are you most excited to try?
