Chinese New Year celebrations are often come accompanied with lots of festive snacks and treats. Here are some of the 10 most popular goodies to help you welcome the Year of the Horse:

2. As its name suggests, love letters (or egg rolls) are little
scrolls with embossed designs to imply the secret code
between lovers. So for those who desire to boost their
romance or relationship, this is the definite snack to
munch! They’re fragrant, light and crunchy, and usually
quickly diminished especially by guests with children!
Photo sourced from honeykidsasia.com

3. Another kids’ hot favourite, pineapple tarts. It literally
means ‘Phoenix Pear’ in Mandarin or ‘Ong Lai’ in
Hokkien, which signifies prosperity. There are many
variations - from the flower-shaped crust, the ball shape,
to the gold ingot. But more importantly is the sweet
pineapple paste to welcome good fortune in the new
year!
Photo sourced from mustsharenews.com

4. Photo sourced from thisnext.com
Remember the days when your primary school teacher
gives out this shimmering coins wrapped in a Hong Boa
and the whole class made a ruckus? Don’t cry if its not
real gold, the teacher meant good as she wants to
‘sweeten’ your new year.

5. It isn’t Chinese New Year without exchanging and
peeling some mandarin oranges! The Chinese associate
a basket of mandarins as having an abundance of
happiness and prosperity. They’re bursting with citrusy
sweetness, full of Vitamin C which would be a much
needed health boost amidst other ‘heaty’ CNY treats.
Photo sourced from goodhousekeeping.com

6. Photo sourced from soshiok.com
Who could resist the meaty taste of these fragrant
delicacy! Legend has it that by chewing Bak Kwa, or
‘Long Yok’ (in Catonese which literally means dragon
meat) would bring you vitality, strength and health. But
do watch out for the calories!

7. One of the more popular treats among the youths,
munching these deep fried prawn rolls signifies
happiness and good fortune. Try the sambal or wasabi
version for a more fiery hot flavour that would sure
tantalise your taste buds!
Photo sourced from scene.sg

8. Otherwise known as ‘Pa Kuo Ho’, this octagonal tray is
the traditional 8-sided container used to contain a
variety of nuts and dried food for the visitors. The shape
symbolises 8 or “ba” (Alex, you will need to insert a
chinese 8 character, which is the right way of doing it)
which in Cantonese sounds like ‘prosperity’ in the same
dialect.
Photo sourced from travelchannel.com

9. Red dates or ’Hong Zao’ means ‘prosperity comes early’.
It symbolises fertility and wealth. Roughly the size of an
olive, red dates are sour when raw, but sweet when
matured and dried. Often eaten with a pot of tea to
compliment with the sweetness of the dates.
Photo sourced from theepochtimes.com

10. If you have a strong teeth and love to nibble, then you
would definitely love Gua Zi! These black melon seeds
are told to bring an abundance of children as the word
‘Zi’ connotes the same meaning as ‘child’ in Chinese.
Photo sourced from stockfresh.com

11. Don’t worry, it doesn’t mean getting fired, or at least in
this festive context. Cuttlefish, or ‘You Yu’ in Mandarin,
means ‘counting continual abundance’. So long as your
boss doesn’t give you this you should be safe!
Photo sourced from thisnext.com