Gifting and eating tikoy is a tradition that hails from China, brought to the Philippines by immigrants from the Fujian region. Tikoy is considered to be a lucky food to eat when celebrating Chinese or Lunar New Year as it symbolizes prosperity and good fortune. 5 Tikoy Recipes To Try For Chinese New Year 1 Pan-fried Tikoy Recipe What is Tikoy? Tikoy, or Nian Gao, is a traditional Chinese sweet rice cake dessert made from glutinous rice flour. It is available all-year-round, however, it is popularly made or given as gifts during the Chinese New Year. It symbolizes good luck and prosperity to those who will eat it. The term Nian Gao is a homonym for higher/taller year. What is Tikoy. Tikoy or Nián gāo is a popular Chinese New Year’s cake made of glutinous rice flour, water, and sugar. The mixture is steamed until set and allowed to dry and harden for longer storage. It is then cut thinly, coated in egg, and fried until golden brown and slightly crispy on the outside and soft and chewy on the inside. Tikoy or Nián gāo is a type of rice cake made from glutinous rice flour and considered as a centerpiece during Chinese New Year. This is also popularly known as Chinese New Year pudding. The Philippines is once considered as the melting pot of Asia. People of different origins call it home – including the Chinese. Chinese customs Tikoy is a sticky rice cake usually enjoyed during Chinese New Year. This Filipino version of the traditional Chinese sweet rice cake, nian gao, is simpler but symbolizes similar things — luck, abundance and prosperity for the coming year. (Do you love rice cakes? Try ube biko and bibingkang malagkit. Both are easy to make and crowd favorites.) Lunar New Year is right around the corner! It’s the time of year when families and friends get together to celebrate the new year. One of the most popular celebrations is tikoy! Tikoy is a Chinese-Filipino sweet sticky rice cake (nian gao) that is made of glutinous rice flour and sugar. It is eaten during festivities including Lunar New Year. Tikoy to Filipinos or Nian Gao in Mandarin or else Nin Kou in Cantonese is a steamed Chinese rice cake with brown sugar and sweet rice flour. You can cook this in the Instant Pot or on the stove-top and I share both ways here. In the Philippines, an entire steamed cake is given as a gift for the Lunar New Year to symbolize prosperity and good luck. When we received it, we pan-fried slices to The typical tikoy is usually simply sweetened with sugar but it can be flavored or stuffed with other ingredients to make it more special than your usual. How to Serve Tikoy. Tikoy can be enjoyed any time of the year but it is especially popular during the Chinese New Year celebrations. This is served while still warm so the tikoy is soft and One week before Chinese New Year, on the 23rd day of the 12th lunar month, Zao Sheng goes back to heaven and meets with the Jade Emperor describing the behavior of each family over the past year. Based on Zao Sheng’s report, the Jade Emperor then rewards or punishes the household – a negative report would mean a year of bad luck for the family. Tikoy or nian gao is a steamed sweet rice cake made of glutinous rice flour. While it can be easily bought in Binondo and eaten year-round, it's most popular during Chinese New Year because people believe that serving it brings good luck to the family. This 2020, enjoy your tikoy in different ways using these four easy recipes to level up your Tikoy word origin: Filipino adaptation of the Hokkien Chinese words: ‘ti’ and ‘ke’ which mean sweet and cake.. Shin Shin Tikoy Box. Tikoy is the most popular treat during Lunar New Year festivities in the Philippines, as iconic as the Chinese New Year’s cake nian gao is in other countries. Line each ramekin with 4 to 6 banana leaf strips. Make sure the strips overlap each other. Turn the strips over the edge of the ramekins. Place a rubberband over the strips around each ramekin to hold them down. It's the eve of Chinese New Year! One of the most popular delicacies during the Chinese New Year is tikoy, a sweet sticky rice cake often given as gifts to loved ones. In some places in Nagcarlan, Laguna, the beloved treat is given a unique twist by being cooked in bamboo. In Kuya Kim's report on (Illustration by Kendrick Tan) WATER, glutinous rice flour, and dark brown sugar. Three simple ingredients that when heated, mixed, poured into oiled or banana leaf-lined ramekins, steamed for an hour or so, and refrigerated for much longer, turns into a chewy and sweet cake that many look forward to during the Lunar New Year. What is the significance of this food in welcoming the Chinese New Year? The Origins of the Tikoy. According to the online resource, wikipedia, here is an excerpt about the tikoy. The history is quite interesting but is connected to a lot of superstition. “Niangao (nin gou in Cantonese), sometimes translated as year cake or Chinese New Year If Ang Pao is the norm in Chinese New Year gifts, tikoy is its counterpart when it comes to food! Tikoy or nian gao is a steamed sweet rice cake made of glutinous rice flour. While it can be easily bought in Binondo and eaten year-round, it's most popular during Chinese New Year because people believe that serving it brings good luck to the family. True good luck. Chinese New Year isn’t just about customs; it’s ultimately about values—unity, gratitude, and faith. Beyond tikoy and fireworks, true prosperity lies in nurturing family bonds, honoring elders, and trusting God’s guidance. Lunar New Year is right around the corner! It’s the time of year when families and friends get together to celebrate the new year. One of the most popular celebrations is tikoy! Tikoy is a Chinese-Filipino sweet sticky rice cake (nian gao) that is made of glutinous rice flour and sugar. It is eaten during festivities including Lunar New Year. When is the 2025 Chinese New Year? The Chinese New Year always falls on the second full moon of the winter solstice. For 2025, it happens on January 29, Wednesday, marking the start of the Wood Snake year. According to the Zodiac, people born in the year of the Wood Snake are believed to be exceptional strategic and analytical thinkers. Photo of Special Tikoy by Angie Pastor. Sweet Taste “Savor the Unique Flavor.” Glutinous Rice Cake. For orders in Manila, 09369815475. During Lunar New Year festivities in the Philippines, tikoy is the most popular treat — as iconic as the Chinese New Year’s cake nian gao is in other countries.
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