Modern Heritage Indulgence: Tradition, Reimagined

Lunar New Year is a season where food carries meaning. Festive treats are often chosen not only for taste, but for the blessings they represent—shared with family, offered to guests, and passed from one generation to the next.

This year, we celebrate Modern Heritage Indulgence: heritage flavours reimagined for today’s festive table—where every bite can evoke nostalgia while still feeling relevant in modern formats and lifestyles.

Three iconic treats that define the season

Across Southeast Asia, a few favourites consistently return during Lunar New Year. Pineapple tarts, black sesame treats, and nian gao each have their own symbolism and emotional resonance—anchored in tradition, yet endlessly adaptable.

Pineapple Tarts – ‘Ong Lai’ (Prosperity Comes)

Pineapple holds special significance during Lunar New Year. In Hokkien, it is known as ‘Ong Lai’, commonly understood as ‘prosperity comes’. Serving pineapple tarts symbolises welcoming wealth, good luck, and abundance into the home. Their golden colour also reflects success and happiness, making them an auspicious treat for the season.

Beyond symbolism, pineapple tarts are loved for what they represent at the table: togetherness, hospitality, and the sweetness of a new beginning—often homemade, shared with guests, and tied to cherished family memories.
Pineapple Tarts features a bright, jammy pineapple centre with a sweet–tangy lift, wrapped in buttery pastry. The finish is warm and baked—shortbread-like, soft, and comforting.

Black Sesame – Longevity, Vitality, and Quiet Comfort

Deep, nutty, and comforting, black sesame is traditionally associated with nourishment and vitality. In festive context, it is commonly linked to wishes for good health, inner strength, and longevity in the year ahead.

Its rich taste makes it a natural bridge between tradition and modern preferences: familiar, premium, and comforting—particularly suited to contemporary formats where consumers look for indulgence that feels balanced.

Black Sesame features a roasted sesame aroma up front, followed by a smooth, nutty paste-like depth. The finish is creamy with a gentle, cocoa-like bitterness that reads as premium rather than sweet.

Traditionally enjoyed in black sesame glutinous rice ball that represent unity and prosperity.

Nian Gao – Growth and Rising Fortunes

Sweet and chewy, nian gao—often called the sticky ‘year cake’—has been enjoyed for over 2,000 years as a symbol of growth, success, and rising fortunes. Its name sounds like ‘higher year’ in Chinese, expressing hopes that personal and professional achievements will rise in the year ahead.

Its sticky texture is also commonly associated with family togetherness. Sharing nian gao becomes a ritual of connection—marking new beginnings and wishing everyone a year full of progress and sweet success.

Nian Gao features a gentle caramel sweetness, warm rice/cereal notes, and a soft, comforting finish. In modern interpretations, brown sugar and toasted rice often become the bridge that makes the profile instantly recognisable in beverages and desserts.

Inspiration For Modern Product Formats

While these treats are rooted in tradition, their flavours translate naturally into a wide range of modern applications—opening creative possibilities for seasonal menus and limited editions.

Bakery: cookies, tarts, biscuits, filled buns and festive assortments
Dairy & alternative dairy: drinking yogurts, dessert cups and frozen desserts
Beverages: milk tea, lattes, ready-to-drink concepts
Confectionery: filled chocolates, wafers and gift boxes

From Inspiration to Development

To support manufacturers planning seasonal innovation, Metarom Asia has developed flavour profiles inspired by these iconic treats—helping translate Lunar New Year heritage into practical development plans across different product categories.

Pineapple Tart Cookie (Reduced Sugar)
Black Sesame Oat Drinking Yogurt
Brown Sugar Rice Milk Tea (Nian Gao Inspired)

Gong Xi Fa Cai — wishing you a prosperous Lunar New Year.