CNY is the most significance festival and is highly celebrated in the Chinese culture. It is a holiday when we invite our brothers an sisters or friends to enjoy tasty foods that have been prepared in festivities of the day.
Being in control of what is placed on the dining table is deemed lucky as various snacks stand for different attributes of luck, prosperity and sweet messages for the ensuing year. Therefore, these treats are quite hit and form part of almost every Chinese New Year celebration.
Here are the top 10 must-have CNY snacks that should be present at every festive celebration and gathering:
1. Pineapple Tarts
Still, the number one favorite comes out as pineapple tarts or ‘feng li su’ in Mandarin in every celebration of CNY snacks. This flaky crust is sweet pineapple jam and can be served as oven-baked open-faced sandwiches or topped.
The pineapple on the tarts symbolizes prosperity while the gold colouration symbolises the wealth or good fortune in Mandarin. It also feels sticky, sweet and crumbly which brings families together because they are often made together. This cookie is such an inseparable part of CNY celebration that nothing can be as complete without having several boxes of it.
2. Bak Kwa (Barbecued Pork Jerky).
This tasty and delicious barbecued pork jerky specifically is one of the most common food that is consumed during CNY in every home. Bak kwa can well be consumed in thin slices for instant snacks or to pack as tokens when receiving visitors and relatives.
The shiny skin is a sign of a good times in business while the delicious and tasty meat is associated with prosperity and vitality. In fact, bak kwa is so associated with CNY that Chinese families begin buying the dish a month in advance when the festival is due.
3. Love Letters
These crispy and feathery rolled pastries called love letters are so named because of the shape of the device used in forming them. Made manually, it is poured down the mold then quickly baked for the formation of the intricate shape of truffles.
From the Chinese perspective, love letters mainly symbolize affection or love of families and friends. It is traditionally brought and offered to the family members and visitors during the festive season in a tray of NY gifts.
4. Almond Cookies
Almond cookies are instantly favourite due to its crispy consistency combines with the seductive smell of almond. This makes it an ideal accompaniment to tea time and can well be served with Tea especially the Chinese Teas.
In China, almonds are also considered to bring in good luck for the new year because the symbolism of the sound ‘Xing’, which has the same phonetic value of the Chinese word for luck. Originally, its circular shape points to togetherness or bonding between two close relatives.
5. Mandarin Orange
Simply because of their bright auspicious colors, mandarin oranges are an obligatory product in Chinese families during this time. Most of them serve as ornaments or are given in sets to the relatives and visitors.
Known as gum in cantonese dialect, mandarin oranges bring to mind the sound and meaning of gold which represent over abundance. Its sweet juicy segments also refers to auspiciousness, big family and blessings for the newcomers in the next year.
6. Peanut Candy
Flower basket shaped or ingot shaped, crunchy and crumbly peanut candies are common, most notably the peanut toffee or nougat. It is perfect as gifts or can be used to enhance an atmosphere with fun festivities.
As part of their culture, peanuts are associated with long life as well as immortality. It is also cracked, which in Chinese means that you are opening a fortune, rebirth, starting something new. And these make them become standard products which are commonly given as gifts to the elderly or associates.
7. Candy Coated Almonds
These are other sweet almonds also known as dragée which are usually described as candy coated almonds which are in this case are in bright festive color of red, green and gold. Considering having them around will brighten up any plain CNY moment thanks to its tasty burst of sweetness. The cracker almonds also provide a good snap sound when it is bitten.
According to-stars.org, Chinese tend to relate the nuts to term meaning the greatest blessing in life while the exterior signify a blessed life in the future. These are believed to be ‘populer’ CNY tokens presented to children or junior family members during the visiting times.
8. Fortune Cookies
It is impossible to have a chinese new year celebration without opening some fortune cookies. Accompanying each cookie is a handwritten paper slip with a fortune sentence, or an otherwise positive message such a new start or prosperity.
This has become traditional that at the New Year’s tray of CNY snacks, there must be fortune cookies. People open their cookies and read the fortune messages with their families, especially during family time.
9. Roasted Pistachio Nuts
Addition of roasted pistachio nuts to the CNY snacks constitute a crispy feel and taste on the snacks table. It is also great because of its bright green color that really contrasts with the red and gold tones associated with CNY.
The chinese translation for pistachio is very close to the word which means ‘opened early’. Eating pistachio nuts during the CNY is believed to bring in new opportunities in dear year and early success.
10. Sparrow’s Tongue Cookies
These tender cookies are molded to like sparrows’ tongue, and that is the reason behind the name ‘Zongzi.’ This cake attracts CNY celebrating individuals as sparrows symbolize happiness in Chinese culture making it elaborate a joyful CNY treat.
Soft and smooth with slippery feel in the mouth symbolizes people’s wish for a year without problems and for instead filling it with bliss. It also shapes an exquisite delicacy to win over ones relatives during festive seasons, particularly the Chinese New Year visiting.
Here are tenants for ten snacks that must be included into the list of CNY snacks which must be prepared to greet the Lunar New Year. Fill your celebration with many good luck treats as possible for a sweet time with loved ones like families and friends. These symbolic CNY goodies also lay the precedence for a prosperous, happy and ‘smooth-sailing’ year of the rabbit.
Many many happy CNY to all the people out there this coming year may you all achieve prosperity, happiness and togetherness.