Crunchy Munchy X Sticky Chewy: Non-conventional CNY Delicacies

what do Chinese traditionally eat

during Chinese New Year??

 

just like

mooncake for Mid-Autum

dumpling for Dragon Boat Festival

glutinous rice ball for Winter Solstice

 

basically during CNY

we are indulging in all kind of snacks

categories are ways too broad

Indian snack, Malay kuih

and a big percentage of

Peranakan (Straits Chinese) delicacies

 

Kuih Dodol

traditionally Malay

thickened, sticky mix of

coconut milk and glutinous rice flour

and at times with durian flavour too

 

Kuih Batu

from a Malay friend

not a very common snack

as the name suggests

stony and crunchy

popping in and munch it hard

of flour and a certain kind of grain

 

Marble Cake

I ate this for breakfast

three days in a row

(the whole big loaf by 3 persons)

homemade from a friend

having something filling is vital

during CNY morning

or fall into the munching trap

and stuff in loads of junk food

 

Murukku

traditionally an Indian snack

somehow similar ingredients to Kuih Batu

but this is saltish or sometimes even spicy,

the latter is sweet in taste

 

Choco Corn Flakes

corn flakes showered in thick choco

one of the easiest yet most popular snack during CNY

the taste can be elaborated by adding in nuts

like almond / walnut

or even rainbow rice

 

Milky Lychee Pudding

the most sought-after dessert at home

on demand for take-home

the base flavour can be condensed milk or soy bean

filled with canned lychee / Nate Coco cubes

or preferably fresh fruits like grapes

 

Keropok

deep fried fish crackers

can come in prawn/cuttlefish/vegetables flavours too

one of the most popular snack too

regardless of age groups

and this year, a new species

Purple Sweet Potato crackers

taste sweet and with a tinge of fragrance

and of course

the eye catching purple-ness

 

fried potato sticks

in our language,

we call these French Fries

belongs to the munchy snack category

used to eat quite a lot during primary school

 

Bee-Hive Kuih

origins: unknown, possibly Strait Chinese

base ingredients are similar to Kuih Kapit

coconut milk, flour

just that this is deep-fried instead of charcoal-toasted

 

Colourful Candies

somehow colourful candies must be there

I munch the whole pack of these with Little Miss

nothing left for treating guests

maybe traditionally eating sweet stuffs during CNY

symbolizes joyful, sweet moment

eg, dates, dried logan

but today..

these gummies are meant to

to entertain small kids I guess..

and kidults like me