Award Banner
Award Banner

Feeling adventurous? Try tempeh bak kwa, nian gao popiah and other unusual snacks this Chinese New Year

Feeling adventurous? Try tempeh bak kwa, nian gao popiah and other unusual snacks this Chinese New Year
PHOTO: Angie's Tempeh, Joy Luck Teahouse

With Lunar New Year just around the corner, we can expect to munch on all our favourite snacks while we go on house visitations.

While many of us might seek comfort in familiar flavours, some might feel inclined to opt for something novel and unconventional.

If you're the adventurous sort, you're in luck – as we have compiled five unusual snacks for you to try this coming festive season.

Vegetarian truffle bak kwa

Although unusual bak kwa flavours aren't exactly uncommon, we still couldn't help but take notice of this vegetarian truffle bak kwa from Angie's Tempeh.

Made with tempeh - a natural, minimally-processed source of protein usually made of soybeans - this plant-based version of bak kwa will bring something different to the table.

You can even pair the bak kwa with Just Produce's yusheng, which consists of locally harvested vegetables and homemade plum sauce from Kian Seng Culinary, for a different lo hei experience.

You can pre-order a 650g box of Truffle Flavour Tempeh Bak Kwa for $78 or a bundle of 3 Truffle Flavour Tempeh Bak Kwa (650g box each) for $160 here.

Egg tarts with gold flakes

Feeling a little bougie?

For just $6, you can treat yourself to Joy Luck Teahouse's Gold Egg Tart which is sprinkled with 22-carat French gold flakes, giving a lavish twist to the staple pastry.

Joy Luck Teahouse explains that gold is a symbol of abundance, wealth and luck – so not only will you feel rich for a couple minutes, you can also look forward to a prosperous new year.

Joy Luck Teahouse's 22 Carat French Gold Flakes Egg Tart is available from $6 here.

Yuzu kumquat cake

Amid all the dry and heaty festive snacks, a refreshing palate cleanser might just be what you need.

Drizzled in zesty yuzu kumquat compote, Nesuto Singapore's Longevity Yuzu Kumquat Gateau de Voyage (GDV) – also known as a pound cake – will bring a much-needed balance to your wide array of snacks on the coffee table.

Nestuto Singapore's Longevity Yuzu Kumquat GDV & Roku Gin set is available at $78 here.

Pasta-flavoured cookie

PHOTO: La Levain

If you're digging some fusion flavours in your festive snacks, you might want to try La Levain's cacio e pepe cookies.

The pasta dish – which translates to "cheese and pepper" – serves as the flavour for these cookies with its premium parmigiano reggiano (parmesan) and added kick of black pepper, giving a slight Mediterranean touch to your array of Chinese snacks.

La Levain's Cacio e Pepe Cookies (Carbonara Cookies) are available at $26.80 here.

Nian gao popiah roll

PHOTO: You Tiao Man

Nian gao (rice cake) is typically served as a dish in itself, but have you seen it wrapped up as part of a popiah roll?

The sticky ingredient is the star of You Tiao Man's Nian Gao Roll which, along with some crispy yam and sweet potato, helps to provide a unique blend of flavours on top of its crispy popiah skin.

You Tiao Man's Nian Gao Roll comes in eight pieces per packet and is available at $6.50 here.

wongdaoen@asiaone.com

No part of this story or photos can be reproduced without permission from AsiaOne.

For more original AsiaOne articles, visit here.

homepage

trending

trending
    BTS' Jin releases teaser clip for new album which proves he shot music video in Singapore
    Stray cat in Punggol dies from 'deliberate abuse'; NParks investigating
    'I hate you': Addy Lee details fallout with Quan Yi Fong and Eleanor Lee in livestream
    Cleaner who molested 10-year-old girl twice in one day at school gets nearly a year in jail
    Lee Do-hyun and Monsta X's Hyungwon complete military service, Cha Eun-woo speculated to enlist soon
    'A new chapter begins': 8 local indie bookshops unite to launch one-stop online platform
    Man arrested for allegedly attacking parent with metal chair after Singapore Youth League match
    Ghib Ojisan opens up about birth of baby girl, taking on confinement nanny role to care for wife: 'I want to be there for her'
    2 Chinese students in Singapore charged with faking Malaysia kidnapping to extort $900k from one of their mothers
    Director of K-drama Nine Puzzles 'pulled strings' to get these famous actors to cameo in the show
    Chicken Supremo owners retiring after 34 years, hawker stall to continue under new owner
    Taiwanese comedian Nono found guilty of attempted rape, sentenced to 2 1/2 years' jail

Singapore

Singapore
    • Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen on Singapore's place in the world, SAF's evolution and 24 years in politics
    • 'Not a one-off exercise': PM Wong launches latest tranche of $500 CDC vouchers
    • Covid-19 cases going up, but variants are not more transmissible or severe: MOH, CDA
    • Woman sues mother for evicting her; judge dismisses her claim of right to stay indefinitely
    • Daily roundup: Singapore and Changi cannot be complacent, says PM Wong during groundbreaking ceremony of Terminal 5 — and other top stories today
    • 'His legacy lives on': Singapore's cricket community mourns coach Arjun Menon who was 'brutally murdered' in Malawi
    • Girl, 13, caught using drug-laced vape outside State Courts among 3 people being investigated by HSA
    • Girl ends up with stitches after injuring toe in Sentosa pool
    • 'You're not getting rid of me that easily': WP's Harpreet Singh says Punggol team will continue groundwork
    • Family of Koufu Group founders to buy Caldecott Hill GCB site for $58m

Entertainment

Entertainment
    • 'My heart feels an unbearable ache': Hong Ling reveals miscarriage earlier this year
    • Lee Chae-min recounts surprising Crushology 101 cast and crew with how much he perspired on set
    • Gossip mill: Fan who kissed BTS' Jin surrenders, Song Ji-hyo trains as a haenyeo, Chris Wang wipes social media after alleged divorce
    • 'My wife told me I'm not as agile as before': Christopher Lee recalls Fann Wong's warning prior to bike trip with brother around Taiwan
    • Cannes Film Festival officially bans 'nudity' and 'voluminous outfits' on its red carpets
    • Gerard Depardieu found guilty of sexually assaulting 2 women
    • Robert De Niro receives honorary Palme d'Or at Cannes Film Festival
    • Beyonce starts concert tour with record setting $73m gross
    • Kim Kardashian to testify in Paris robbery trial
    • Britney Spears sparks concern after baring chest in deleted video

Lifestyle

Lifestyle
    • Cinema-themed Korean restaurant opens at Changi Airport with banchan and ice-cream buffet
    • Burnt Ends in top 5 of World's 101 Best Steak Restaurants 2025 list, 3 other Singapore steakhouses make the cut
    • Tesla Model 3 Performance review: The ultimate Tesla for the performance freak
    • Isetan at Tampines Mall to shutter in November after almost 30 years
    • Swensen's wedding? Restaurant's buffet concept to open in the west with space for large-scale event hosting
    • Sizzling exhibits, games and freebies: McDonald's launching first McSpicy Museum at Bugis Junction
    • Spring in full bloom: Festive fun for all ages in Hong Kong
    • Battle of Middle East budget airlines: Which ones are worth it?
    • The ultimate work-from-home homebuyer checklist (that most people still overlook)
    • 6 inspiring local mum-preneurs in celebration of Mother's Day

Digicult

Digicult
    • A $500 wake-up call: How the Samsung Galaxy Ring made me realise my stress
    • Monster Hunter Wilds producer explains how game has remained unique and fresh over 20 years
    • Google Pixel 9a: The best AI-centric phone under $800 in 2025?
    • Western intelligence agencies warn spyware threat targeting Taiwan, Tibetan rights advocates
    • Taiwan says China using generative AI to ramp up disinformation and 'divide' the island
    • Russian court fines Telegram app for refusal to remove anti-government content, TASS reports
    • One Beijing man's quest to keep cooking — and connecting with Americans — on camera
    • Nintendo Switch 2 to launch in June with US$449.99 price tag
    • Games in April: RPGs, racing and Ronaldo in a fighting game
    • Is it time to get a MacBook at a good price? The M4 MacBook Air says yes

Money

Money
    • Wall Street equity indexes close higher after US-China tariff truce
    • Giant deal: Malaysian company to acquire Cold Storage and Giant supermarket chains in Singapore
    • This US-owned factory in China made toys for Walmart. Tariffs put it on life support
    • Are you paying more than you should with dealer financing?
    • Best credit card promotions in Singapore (May 2025): Citibank, DBS, HSBC, UOB and more
    • Why paying minimum on credit cards may cost you in the long run
    • Here's where you can find the biggest 2-bedder condos under $1.8m in 2025
    • Best fixed deposit rates in Singapore (May 2025): Minimum deposits from $500, rates up to 2.50%
    • 5-room DBSS flat in Kallang sets town's new all-time-high record at $1.49m
    • All-time high of 141 million-dollar flats sold in April 2025 as HDB resale prices, volume continue to rise

Latest

Latest
  • Vietnam PM vows to fight against counterfeits, trade frauds
  • Trump to meet Syrian president in Saudi before heading to Qatar
  • Houthi ceasefire followed US intel showing militants sought off-ramp 
  • Judge grants re-sentencing bid by Menendez brothers for 1989 shotgun murders 
  • Trump lavishes praise on Saudi crown prince, signalling renewed alliance 
  • Ukraine's Zelenskiy insists on face-to-face talks with Putin in Istanbul 
  • Trump envoys see better chance for hostage release in Gaza 
  • Venezuelans in El Salvador prison plead for freedom in video 
  • France's Macron says Russia could face new sanctions if no ceasefire 

In Case You Missed It

In Case You Missed It
  • 'Dog will return soon': GE2025 independent candidate Jeremy Tan wants to contest again
  • Ong Ye Kung leads PAP team to victory while elder brother Howard Ong loses in Australia's election on the same day
  • Tan Kiat How weighs in on viral video of Gan Kim Yong being ignored by passers-by in Punggol
  • PSP's Tan Cheng Bock turns 85; SDP's Paul Tambyah joins celebration at Teban Gardens
  • PM Wong urges voters to 'choose leaders of good character' in PAP's first party political broadcast
  • It is 'important for Singapore's democracy' that WP wins more seats, says Pritam in election broadcast
  • GE2025: PSP, RDU, SDP, PPP, PAR, NSP promise to push for policy changes if elected to Parliament in first political broadcast
  • 'Everyone has the right to express their feelings': WP candidates address four-cornered fight in Tampines GRC
  • PAP's Desmond Lee responds to opposition's calls for GST exemption, says 'we want to make it progressive'
This website is best viewed using the latest versions of web browsers.