This time of year is the best time to travel down to Asian countries, especially Singapore. Not only are you escaping the bitter cold in the UK, you are going to enjoy the different varieties of foods and festivals there. As a proud Singaporean, I would like to share some of our delicious Chinese New Year goodies. They are only produced once a year to celebrate the Chinese New Year.
Chinese are very superstitious so all the goodies are labelled in red. Why Red? It is corresponding with fire, and symbolizes good fortune and joy.
Some of these photos were taken by my friend and sister in Singapore who kindly sent it over to me.
Nian Gao (年糕)
Nian Gao are made from glutinous rice. They symbolise raising oneself to a higher level in each coming year. They are available all year but people mainly consume it during Chinese New Year. They come in a variety of colours, depending on how they are prepared. Some are moulded in a fish shape, golden coin or plain white roll etc.
This picture show the traditional Nian Gao which is wrapped up in plastic.
Yu Sheng (鱼生)
Traditionally, this is consumed on the seventh day of Chinese New Year (Renri – celebrating everyone’s birthday). But nowadays, people consume it at any time from the 1st to the 15th day of Chinese New Year.
Before you consume it, everyone tosses the Yu Sheng with New Year greetings – the higher you toss, the better luck you will get. If you are very competitive, you might want to use a stool to stand and toss above your mates!
This is us celebrating while we were in Singapore two years ago.
This is how they look like in the shop. Each ingredient is individually packed and they come in a larger container. Optionally, you should add raw fish (only if you consume) with Yu Sheng, as this is actually what it translates to.
Assorted preserved fruits
They always come in an octagonal box of eight different type of fruits or candy. They symbolism good fortune and joy.
Other Chinese New Year Goodies:
Pineapple tarts, mini spring rolls, love letters, honey hole crackers, prawn crackers, assorted preserved fruits etc.
Please note that these examples are available in Singapore, though you might find the more common goodies like egg rolls, nian gao here in the UK.
Great post with very tempting pics – thanks for sharing. JD will be interested to read this too.
Those preserved food look absolutely scrumptious. Too bad I am on a diet 🙁
Happy New Year!
Lovely photo of your celebration 2 years ago! And now I know why I should wear red for Chinese New Year!
The preserved fruits look good. Happy Chinese New Year!
I’m loving your posts about the customs surrounding new year, very, very interesting x
Honey Hole Crackers… that sounds so yummy…Pineapple tarts.. my mouth is watering now. 🙂
Really interesting to see. I love going to supermarkets in other countries to get the different things, would be so fun to go to Singapore at Chinese New Year
Oh some of those look so yummy. I love the preserved fruits! Wouldn’t mind trying those
Ooh I love Chinese food and I am super excited about this CNY as our work is taking us to the chinese restaurant at the top of the Shard (whoop whoop – can’t wait!)
I would love to go and try out these different foods. They look delicious!
Oh these look really good! I really love Chinese food and would love to try some of these treats.
Wow! I fancy some of those amazing looking preserved fruits.
What an informative post. We have a great little Chinese shop near us which features some of these products and I love taking a look there for all kinds of things.
So glad I’m eating right now – you’re making me so hungry. What delicious food, great post too 🙂
Oh man, this will be my first CNY when I won’t be somewhere to celebrate it. I need my mooncake and shark fin soup. How sad… boo hoo!
so interesting! I love hearing about different countries foods and traditions 🙂 x
Such colourful food! The more I learn the more I like joining in with Chinese New Year. Though I don’t think we do it well at all in the UK, and I’d just love to visit Singapore and see how it’s really done
I love Chinese New Year, but we always eat the same dim sum.
So many delicious new ideas here 🙂
Really interesting Eileen, love learning about different cultures and celebrations. Really enjoyed visiting Singapore, would love to go back with Monkey one day.
Such an interesting post – I never knew all this about Chinese New Year. The Yu Sheng look super tasty!
I need to be more adventurous to try most of these but I do like the sound of the pineapple tarts and preserved fruits 🙂
Love all that red, such a standout colour 🙂 and a bit of Winter sun sounds like a good idea at the moment. Enjoy your New Year Celebrations.