As Year of the Monkey is approaching, we have picked some of our favourite festive puddings to date
The Chinese New Year is a festive occasion with many traditions to uphold, including a fine array of auspicious dishes and food items to savour – among them steamed puddings. Often round in shape to signify unity of the family, these festive delights, savoury or sweet, are popular and often. As the Year of the Monkey is approaching, we are picking our favorites this year, and share them with you below
Duddell’s
A traditional steamed sweet rice cake is made with brown sugar and glutinous rice flour, yielding to a chewy texture similar to mochi. Duddell’s is once again launching a rice cake and a savoury turnip cake this year. The brilliant twist lies in the packaging, designed by renowned fashion designer Barney Cheng. The limited edition pudding boxes will feature the monkey, a protector of evil surrounding by bamboo and Chinese white wine, emblems of prosperity, longevity and immortality. The impressive design marries style and sophistication with a taste of traditions within.
Rice cakes are priced at HK$288 each and savoury turnip cakes are priced at HK$338 each.
Duddell’s, 3/F and 4/F, Shanghai Tang Mansion, 1 Duddell’s Street, Central; +852 2525-9191
Hoi King Heen
While classic puddings reach widespread popularity during the festive season, a touch of innovation creates unusually good selections as well. Chef Fai-Hung Leung of Hoi King Heen has created a two-tone sweet potato and sugar cane pudding, which is also available this year, alongside this year’s latest creation, the hawthorn pudding. Prepared with dried hawthorn berries and cane syrup, the infusion is used to mix the glutinous rice dough before steaming into a gorgeously plump pudding with equal part of sweet and tartness.
The sweet potato and sugarcane pudding is priced at HK$248 each, whereas the hawthorn puddings are priced at HK$188 each.
Hoi King Heen, B2/F InterContinental Grand Stanford Hong Kong, 70 Mody Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, +852 2731-2883
Shang Palace
Kowloon Shangri-la, Hong Kong is launching a new set of Chinese New year Puddings this year. Turnip pudding from Shang Palace gets an upgrade with the addition of whole abalone and black truffle, while new sweet puddings such as Korean brown sugar and melon seed pudding, Hawaiian purple sweet potato pudding and Kyoto Uji matcha and red bean pudding share the festive spotlight.
Shang Palace, Lower Level 1, Kowloon Shangri-La, 64 Mody Road, Tsim Sha Tsui; +852 2733 8754
The Royal Garden
The Royal Garden is preparing a fine selection of Chinese New Year treats, with five individual pudding varieties that cover everything from savoury to sweet. Aside from traditional ones such as taro, turnip, and coconut puddings, the hotel’s Chinese executive chef Wai-Sing Ho is also bringing subtle sweetness into the celebration with red date puree pudding and golden water chestnut and snow fungus pudding. All five pudding varieties are priced at HK$248 each.
The Royal Garden, 69 Mody Road, Tsim Sha Tsui; +852 2733-2045
Yan Toh Heen
Yan Toh Heen at the InterContinental Hong Kong is bringing back two of the hotel’s best-selling Chinese New Year puddings. Prepared in-house by the Chinese restaurant’s team of chefs led by executive chef Yiu-Fai Lau, the puddings bring a delightful Japanese twist, replacing traditional turnips with daikon radish in the savoury Kagoshima thick cut daikon pudding and the addition of Okinawa black sugar in New Year’s pudding with red beans served with Okinawa kokuto syrup. Both puddings are priced at HK$338 each and are available at Yan Toh Heen.
Yan Toh Heen, Lower Level, InterContinental Hong Kong, 18 Salisbury Road, Tsim Sha Tsui; +852 2313 2323