From saving an entire kingdom to welcoming new-borns, these Lunar New Year treats are not only ridiculously delicious but jam-packed with stories.

So, before you indulge with wild abandon this year – take a moment to discover the interesting tales behind some of your favourite eats.

Yee Sang

How did the messy act of chopstick-diving and yelling “lou sang” come to be every time family members noisily gathered around the table lusting after a platter of yee sang?

Well as the saying goes, when the goddess Nu Wa was forming animals out of mud, she created humanity on the seventh day, hence why the dish comprises seven different elements of thinly sliced raw and pickled vegetables and fruit.

From pomelos meaning good luck to white radish signifying rising fortunes, everyone digs their chopsticks in and tosses the yee sang high in the air in hopes to gain all the prosperity possible for the coming year.

But let’s be honest – most have more fun tossing it than actually eating it.

Pineapple tarts

Before Malaya became Malaysia, it was first introduced to pineapples.

During the Portuguese settlement in the 15th century, besides bringing pineapples to Malaya, they also brought their baking techniques.

Whilst its buttery pastry is of Portuguese origins, the golden pineapple jam filling is a harmonious combination of local cultures from both the Peranakans and Malays.

As you’re enjoying the tart’s buttery crust and it’s glistening gooey golden centre, it’s also interesting to note that the choice to use pineapples wasn’t a random one.

Known as ‘ong lai’ in Hokkien, the breakdown of the word pineapple means ‘fortune come’ and can even sound like the Hokkien word for auspicious.

So, with its word reveal and ingredients explained, it’s no surprise why these golden tarts are so popular with the Chinese.

Bak Kwa (non-halal)

Before bak kwa’s mainstream selling and production, this Fujian speciality was a treat that only the wealthy could afford.

Back when China was steeped in poverty, eating meat was considered a luxury and for the wealthy, specially dried slices of meat was so precious that it was reserved for and specially indulged in only during the Chinese New Year.

In Malaysia, the bak kwa recipe adapted to local tastes and cooking methods – instead of China’s traditional way of air-drying the meat, it’s now grilled over a charcoal fire to achieve a smokey taste.

Due to its luxurious past, family members now routinely gift each other delicious packs of bak kwa so it can be enjoyed for the New Year.

Nian Gao

Although containing basic ingredients like glutinous rice flour and sugar, legend has it that nian gaos saved countless lives during an enemy attack.

Around 772-481 BC when ancient China was still divided into small kingdoms, the Wu Kingdom built tall walls around its lands as protection against external threats.

As banquets and celebrations filled the kingdom, everyone trusted that they would be safe and forever protected within its walls – everyone that is except one person.

Prime Minister Wu Zixu believed that if enemies ever besieged the Wu Kingdom, the wall would also be a hard barrier on themselves. He strangely told his people to dig underneath the wall if things got really bad.

True enough, many years after Wu Zixu’s death – enemies sieged the Wu Kingdom and as a result, many starved to death due to shrinking food supplies.

Remembering Wu Zixu’s words, soldiers desperately dug up the grounds and found that the walls beneath the earth were built with special bricks made from glutinous rice flour.

Said to be the first versions of nian gao, these special bricks saved an entire kingdom from collapsing and hundreds from starvation.

Peanut cookies

In Chinese culture, peanuts are an auspicious symbol that represents longevity.

Chinese households stock up on peanuts during the festive season as it is believed to generate luck in the areas of health and longevity.

Known as ‘hua sheng’ in Mandarin, the word ‘sheng’ means to give birth and people have since associated peanut cookies with the birth of – you guessed it, prosperity and wealth.

Some even believe that these cookies enhance fertility, resulting in the birth of a new child into one’s life.

But even if you aren’t wishing for money or a baby, these creamy, melt-in-your-mouth sweet-and-salty cookies are pretty hard to resist.

Kuih Bangkit

Before people were popping kuih bangkits in their mouths like there was no tomorrow, these cookies were baked as ancestral offerings at altar tables.

Intricately patterned and almost too pretty to eat – these traditional Nonya cookies take on the shapes of different animals and flowers and are like little transformers.

With chrysanthemums meaning good fortune and gold fish-shaped cookies connoting prosperity, even kuih bangkit’s name has its own meaning.

Due to its ability to rise and double in size when baking, the Malay word of bangkit has been attached to these cookies as bangkit means to rise.

So, there you have it – Chinese New Year treats and their interesting stories that will make a great conversation piece during this year’s celebrations.