🧧 Why is carrot cake a Chinese New Year must-have? Let us take a closer look!

During the Lunar New Year, a variety of auspicious rice cakes are always present on the table, and one of the most popular is carrot cake ! Whether in Guangdong, Hong Kong, Macau, or even in overseas Chinese communities, carrot cake has become a must-try for the New Year. But why is carrot cake so closely associated with the Lunar New Year? This time, we'll break down the origins of carrot cake, its symbolic meaning, and its culinary significance, all in one place!

📜 The history of carrot cake

Radish cakes originated in Guangdong. To preserve and utilize radish (also known as white radish), a winter vegetable, ancient people shredded the radish, mixed it with glutinous rice flour, dried shrimp, Chinese sausage, and bacon, and steamed it into a cake. Gradually, this pastry evolved from an everyday delicacy into a traditional Chinese New Year treat.

💡 The homophonic meaning of "gao" and "gao"

The most important reason, of course, is that “gao” and “gao” have the same pronunciation!

• Eating carrot cake means getting promoted step by step , which means your career, studies and wealth will all improve in the new year.
• At the same time, radish is also called "cai tou" in Cantonese, which is homophonic to "hao cai tou" (good luck head), implying good luck and fortune.

Therefore, carrot cake is not only a delicacy, but also a blessing.

🥢 The symbolic meaning of carrot cake

Radish cake has the following cultural symbols on the New Year's table:

• Good luck : means good luck in the new year.
• Step by step to success : no matter you are a worker, a student or a business owner, you all hope that everything will go smoothly and get better.
• Reunion and sharing : The whole family cuts and fries carrot cake together, which represents reunion and sharing of happiness.

🍳 Radish Cake Production and Characteristics

The main ingredients of radish cake include shredded radish, glutinous rice flour, dried shrimp, Chinese sausage, scallop, mushrooms, etc. After steaming, it is cut into pieces and then pan-fried until golden brown, crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, and full of fragrance. Different regions have different versions:

• Cantonese-style radish cake : rich in ingredients and flavor, with a prominent aroma of cured meat.
• Hong Kong-style radish cake : It has a high proportion of radish and a sweet and refreshing taste.
• Taiwanese carrot cake : It is light and often served with garlic soy sauce or chili sauce.

We also have innovative flavors, such as XO sauce carrot cake and vegetarian carrot cake, to satisfy different tastes.

🎊 Characters on the Chinese New Year dinner table

Besides radish cake, there are also the yearly must-haves like rice cake (symbolizing prosperity) and taro cake (symbolizing abundance). However, radish cake is particularly popular due to its savory and fragrant flavor, making it perfect for breakfast, dinner, or even a late-night snack. During Chinese New Year, serving a plate of perfectly pan-fried radish cake to friends and family is the ultimate way to truly celebrate the festive season!

😋 Editor's thoughts

I personally love radish cake during Chinese New Year, especially when pan-fried until golden brown on both sides and topped with a little chili sauce. It's truly divine! Every year, my mom steams a few, and the house is filled with the aroma of cake all day long. For me, radish cake isn't just a delicacy; it's a taste of home, a feeling of happiness that comes with Chinese New Year.

🎉 Summary

Radish cake has become a Chinese New Year must-have, not only for its delicious taste but also because it carries the symbols of "good luck" and "prosperity." It symbolizes blessing, reunion, and hope, and is an indispensable part of the New Year atmosphere.

👉 The editor would like to ask everyone: Do you make your own steamed radish cakes during Chinese New Year, or do you prefer to buy ready-made ones?