Kung Hei Fat Choi! (....pahingi ng TIKOY!)

The tikoy is a famous give-away during the Chinese New Year in the Philippines . It is usually eaten steamed, fried, fried with eggs or even as it is, cold and sticky. It is made from glutinous rice flour and sugar, the type of sugar usually determines the color, hence the white and brown varieties.

Unlike in the Philippines, the tikoy is not as much celebrated here in Singapore (compared to yusheng, gold ingots and Mandarin oranges). Known elsewhere as Nian Gao, which translates to "New Year Cake." In Chinese, Gao is a homonym for high. Nian Gao is also called Nian Nian Gao, which is a homonym for "higher each year", symbolizing progress and promotion at work and in daily life and improvement in life year by year.