Top 10 Traditional CNY Snacks and Their Meanings
Each CNY is definitely associated with various snack foods, which have become rather popular traditions in the course of years. Not only do these snacks look and taste good, they symbolize something in the culture of our country. While you are having these snacks during CNY celebration, it is also good to know where they from and what they represent.
1. Nian Gao (Sticky Rice Cake)
The nian gao sticky rice cake is famous during the celebration of the Chinese New Year because its name resembles the sound of ‘nian’ – a evil spirit that the Chinese try to ‘scare’ away during this festive season. Ted is made of the characters” ni” meaning year and “gao” which translates to tall, high or prosperous’ thus implying an increasingly prosperous year. Stomaching nian gao is symbolism for the reception of better and improved things the following year. This is essentially sticky rice, sugar, and molded into a big, round kadode, and is fried, boiled and sometimes baked before consumption. It also keeps well after the festivities are over.
2. Mandarin Oranges
CNY snacks cannot be complete without freshly peeled, round and bright, juicy mandarin oranges. Indeed they are an indispensable addition to the holiday. The Chinese transliteration of their name kam also means gold. Therefore they symbolize prosperity and wealth. Their golden, bright color also means wealth and prosperity for the new year. Canned mandarin oranges are put into decorative or gift trays or boxes as a garnishing. Yes, everyone will like eating the sweeter and juicer part of the segments as well, right?
3. Roasted Melon Seeds
Eating a crispy melon seed followed by some salt as we engage in conversations during family time in the CNY is the norm. melon seeds mean bearing many children in china culture. Even the process of roasting the seeds of melon with salt can make evil spirits keep off as traditional Chinese say. During festive seasons especially CNY the golden brown roasted seeds are shaped in to sculptures of animals, flowers and fruits. These are admired for a few days and then out they come to perform the healthy snack function.
4. Pineapple Tarts
More importantly, it was symbolic to the Chinese civilization as the pineapple. To the Chinese, “ong lai”, the company name reminiscent of a phrase “prosperity returns”. Thus it is with pineapple tarts with a jam filling that is then encased in pastries which give you a nice, crumbly texture. Traditionally, they are usually in an oval form with a pin cushion shaped hole at mid-section with bringer meaning of a sweet or prosperous year ahead. To prepare these buttery, flaky little pastries requires some dexterity and considerable patience, which is why they remain frozen in airtight containers for consumption during the festive season.
5. Candy and Sesame Peanuts
Candy coated nuts seeds and fruits are always part of the tradition in candy dishes or packs inside the house during CNY. From the favorite candies are the crispy colored shell with auspicious symbols coating candy peanuts. They use peanuts for the symbolism of wealth, red marble candy for depicting luck and sesame for depicting more commercially known prosperity and wealth. The sweet, nutty crunchy are enjoyed hand fulls during home parties or when visiting temple. Despite such basic appearances of foods, they elate each other with the presumed prosperity in the course of the following year.
6. Fortune Cookies
Fortune cookies, which are perhaps one of the most popular snacks in China may come with sayings. What was originally created by a brand new American tradition is now traditional in celebrations of the Chinese New Year across the world. Their thin and slightly sugary exterior is a vanila cone; their insides contain pieces of paper bearing forecast for the year. Fortunes may extend from quotes like ‘choose your friends wisely’ to targeted ones such as ‘I pray for love or ‘I pray for flourishing business’. One of the best features of these crunchy cookies is to break them into after a meal and find out the individual’s luck and future.
7. Sweet Rice Balls – Tangyuan
Tasty, round and chewy tangyuan rice balls in sweet soup is eaten by families during the CNY dinner. These stuffed rice balls may take quite a while to make and represent unity and togetherness with dear family. The round form represents unity and balance between the members of a certain clan. Sugarcoating like black sesame, crushed peanuts, or a north Chinese savoury filling with meat stands for to create good fortune and lead a fulfilling live in the coming year.
8. Turnip Cakes – Lo Bak Go
Chinese turnip cakes also known as lo bak go get prepared and served in special shapes and imprints that symbolise prosperity. They relate to luck because in Chinese turnip pronunciation resemble the word for luck or prosperity. These tasty little cubes or disks of rice flour mixed with grated turnips are steamed then pan fried to a crispy golden crust on the outside and soft on the inside. The customary snack refer to wishes of weath in the new year and the rubbing of luck from the radish by those present!
9. Eight Treasure Rice
Otherwise commonly referred to as eight treasure congee, it is here that a mouth watering rice porridge is ladled and served with nuts, dried sweets and fruits. That depends, however, almond, walnut, red date, chestnut, and jujube are among other dried fruits and seeds that are immersed in slow-cooked glutinous rice. This showpiece represents togetherness of the families during the CNY holidays. It also denotes a look forward to new year crowded with all round prosperity and success in all eight aspects of life in Chinese astrology.
10. Chinese New Year Cake
Owing to its symbolism, this particular dessert has to be served during no CNY celebration. This butter version of sponge cake gets infilled with red bean paste and egg yolks to symbolize the sun, roundness and unity. This special cake symbolizes wishes for a full circle family and friends during CNY and another full revolving year ahead. Happiness, prosperity and spring written on red papers are paste on the cake. Baked in round tins as it symbolise endless prosperity for the new year.
Yet, as you bite into that soft, sweet nian gao, or savor the rich flavors of tangyuan dipped in a savory sauce, try to appreciate the deep cultural connotations behind these CNY goodies and snacks. Each treat represents more than just flavor—it’s a symbol of prosperity, unity, and luck, passed down through generations. These snacks are meant to nourish not only the body but the spirit, adding layers of meaning to your festive celebrations.
As you indulge in these timeless CNY goodies and cookies from CNY Delights, may they become your lucky charms for the year ahead. The red and gold packaging, representing good fortune and wealth, perfectly embodies the spirit of the season. These traditional edible treasures have the power to turn Another Year into one filled with success, prosperity, and most importantly, moments shared with your cherished loved ones. So, embrace the sweetness of tradition and let these snacks bring you all the good fortune you deserve!