Malaysias Sweet Chinese New Year Tradition

Aside from the Malaysian-Chinese community, it is also enjoyed by Malaysians of different backgrounds in the country’s multiracial and multicultural society during this festive period.

In Langkawi, people are close with the Chinese community and they are always willing to share and teach how to make this dish. Sweet, gooey and wrapped in banana leaves, a type of traditional cake is a hit on social media.

The process of making this cake is painstaking and even more so for some people as they cook them using steamers instead of newer equipment like slow or pressure cookers. The batter is mixed the day before and let it sit overnight.

In Malaysia and parts of Southeast Asia, the recipe usually includes palm sugar and pandan or other local flavourings. The batter is then poured into cake pans lined with banana leaves and steamed at low heat for about 12 hours.

Once the cake is removed from the steamer and cooled, the pieces are taken out of the cake pans and excess banana leaves are trimmed off. This traditional cake is enjoyed by many people in the country during the festive period.