Chinese New Year also called Spring Festival or Lunar New Year is one of the most essential and popula rfestivals of Chinese origin, which is celebrated as the start of the new year according to the Chinese calendar. It takes approximately 15 days generally with a lot of activities, meetings, as well as fabulous foods. From the colorful and diverse list of dishes prepared during such a happy ceremony, there are several Guernsey snacks and sweets that have a significant cultural and historical background. In this article, we will take you through some of the popular CNY goodies to learn about the background of these products and the tales associated with them to give you an appreciation of Chinese heritage.
1. Nian Gao (Year Cake)
As for the Chinese New Year food, people cannot miss Nian Gao, which is called the Year Cake or Sticky Rice Cake. It is prepared from glutinous rice flour and water and sometimes with brown sugar which is then boiled and steamed till it is very compact and tough pudding. Different regions present their Nian Gao recipes, and the presentations range from nuts, fruits, to salted duck eggs.
It is suggested that to Nian Gao actually originated in ancient China and the cake was actually conceived that way because of the literal meaning of its Chinese name that spells out advancement and prosperity, which resulted from the cake’s increase in size while cooking. It was expected that this growth was going to make the family which consumed it prosperous and wealthy. Furthermore, the Chinese spoken word for ‘cake’ (凍) sounds the same as the phrase ‘further higher’ (升), which shareholders would appreciate with regard to the company’s stock.
The second real story connected with Nian Gao refers to a mythological creature Nian which was believed to attack villages during the first of the lunar year. In order to keep Nian away from the village, the villagers would give this creature a portion of sticky rice cakes. One day, there came a young boy named Zhong Kui to the village and one day he successfully fought against Nian and thus the beast had never appeared again. For this courageous boy, the villagers were following the practice of making sticky rice cakes on new year celebration out of China which is still maintained to this day.
2. Red Tortoise Cake
Ang Ku Kueh is a soft fond customary snack from Hainan Island, China prepared using glutinous rice flour and sweet bean paste. The cake is then steamed then shaped into an oval form that makes it to look like a tortoise shell. The red colour which is so prominent in the preparation of the Ang Ku Kueh arises from the application of beetroot juice or red bean paste, symbolising wealth.
The Ang Ku Kueh is an important cookie within Chinese culinary culture because of the implication of tortoise. As in other cultures, Chinese thought of a tortoise as a holy animal that symbolized longevity, and, therefore, wisdom. They were often employed for divination rites and they were thought to have some magical curative abilities. The Ang Ku Kueh thus, when eaten, enables the consument to consume the alteirng powers of the tortoise – of bringing goodluck, wealth and long life into the consumer’s life .
3. Peanut Cookies (Ker Pek)
There is also the Ker Pek, or Peanut Cookie, that are also consumed during the Chinese New Year season. This plain and crispy cookie is prepared from ground peanuts, flour, sugar and baked with coconut milk until brown. The shape of the cookie is hexagonal while the number of sides in hexagon is six in total and it is believed that this was deliberately designed to represent bars of gold.
The Peanut Cookie has been in existence since the Tang Dynasty where this cookie was first made by a man that sold roasted peanuts on the streets so he needed something interesting to offer the people as they passed by. The basic ingredients included peanuts, flour, sugar and coconut milk which the vendor and customer enjoyed taking peanuts and grinding them into a sweet and savory dish. Gradually the Peanut Cookie was incorporated into the Chinese New Year festivities and anyone who ate it was promised a strong, persistent character.
4. Love Letters (Kueh Bangkit)
Love Letters or Kueh Bangkit is a soft and subtle cake which can be consumed as extremely sweet snack and has been rising in popularity in conjunction with Chinese New Year. They are sweet biscuits that are made from a combination of flour and sugar and coconut milk and the popular colors in them include purple, green and yellow, nuts and chocolate. Love Letters earned their name for their texture and the way they look and are shaped, the way they are stacked.
The origin of making Love Letters is rooted in the 15th century Malacca, Malaysia where the local tr.enterprising Portuguese traders adopted the practice of making crumbly coconut biscuits. Later on, the cookies became a part of almost every Malay-home, and the sweetness of the dough, its crumbliness as well as the fragility expressed happiness and prosperity. These cookies are normally exchanged among relatives and friends during the celebration of the Chinese New Year as a sign of love and strong togetherness.
5. Pineapple Tarts
Last but not the least, Pineapple Tarts also called as Nian Gou Bao is also one of the important items that go with the Chinese New Year. These are sweet, crispy and buttery croissant like flat breads, which are stuffed with a delicious, slightly sour pineapple jam. Pineapple Tart can be traced back to the 15th century, specifically the Ming dynasty when pineapple became a delicacy in China. This fruit had to be ripe and was particularly arranged in ornate curves; it was associated with affluence. As pineapple tarts became closer to home, they became associated with happiness, warmth and sweetness of life also.
Chinese New Year is not only a joyful family gathering filled with festivities but also a wonderful opportunity to indulge in a wide variety of CNY goodies, each carrying deep historical and cultural significance. From beloved treats like Nian Gao to crispy Love Letters, these delightful CNY goodies offer a glimpse into China’s rich cultural heritage and the timeless mentality of the Chinese people. Even as traditions evolve, the meaning behind these delicacies has remained unchanged for centuries. Savoring these CNY goodies during the celebration serves as a reminder of the customs that have made these foods an indispensable part of the festivities. Therefore, as you celebrate Chinese New Year, take the time to enjoy these delicious snacks and appreciate the history and symbolism they carry, enriching your understanding of the traditions that make this holiday so special.
