Why do we eat pineapple tarts during Chinese new year?
Few people know this, but Singapore was once an important center of the global pineapple canning industry. Pineapples first originated from South America until Christopher Columbus brought them across the Atlantic to Europe by 1494. 100 years later, the well traveled Portuguese then introduced this sweet and sour juicy fruit to Asia, specifically in Malaya. During the rubber boom of the early 1900s, pineapples were often grown alongside the slower-maturing rubber trees, becoming a cash crop for plantation owners in Singapore.
In fact, Yishun town, in the northern part of the island used to be a huge rubber and pineapple plantation owned by Lim Nee Soon, better known as the 'Pineapple King'. The surplus pineapples were canned and exported all over the world, and this became one of Singapore’s earliest manufacturing industries, providing many jobs for the people on the island.
With Singapore having different cultural backgrounds from colonials and early immigrants, food cultures also started to combine and the pineapple tart was born. These bite-sized snacks are an combination of ethnic influences in Singapore: a distinctly European buttery biscuit base topped with a Nyonya-style pineapple jam scented with spices like star anise, cloves and cinnamon, native to this part of the world.
In Hokkien and Cantonese, pineapple is called ‘ong lai’, which literally means ‘fortune come’. The naturally golden pineapple fruit was seen as a symbol of wealth and prosperity, used in Chinese rituals like rolling it into a new house to welcome riches into the home. Pineapple tarts also became popular during the Lunar New Year as it gained popularity as an auspicious gift for family and friends.
Founded in 2015, local bakery CakeApa has been dedicated to baking these traditional pastries with traditional methods and the finest ingredients—without preservatives, additives or artificial coloring. Its Traditional Pineapple Tarts, with the combination of pineapple jam atop a crumbly biscuit base, and its Golden Pineapple balls have won hearts and palates across the island.
This year, CakeApa has unveiled its stylish new packaging with youthful modern illustrations, making it a perfect souvenir of Singapore for gifting to visiting family and friends, as well as to loved ones during the festive Chinese New Year season.
And the changes aren't just skin-deep. The Lunar New Year is a joyous occasion that celebrates prosperity and invites harmony into the household. The colour red, has long been a representation of protection for family members during this festive season.
This year, CakeApa adds another layer of symbolism into its delicious traditional pineapple tarts by introducing the auspicious color of the Spring Festival. Now, CakeApa’s pineapple tarts not only symbolize prosperity and good fortune but also protection and joy.
The naturally floral notes add a new dimension of flavor to the pineapple tarts, an aromatic aftertaste that compliments the sweet and tart pineapple paste. CakeApa's Pineapple Tarts are a treat for the senses and a beautiful, meaningful gift for any occasion.
CakeApa Pineapple Tarts
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*Latest Update 2 Feb 2021:
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