Scrumptious Tikoy Alternatives for Gifting This Chinese New Year

(SPOT.ph) During Chinese New Year, most Filipinos of Chinese descent give out tikoy to friends, neighbors, clients, and colleagues. The delicacy is known to symbolize prosperity and, because of its sticky quality, the strengthening of relationships. But if you’re looking to reimagine things and are in search for delicious alternatives and lucky dishes to enjoy this year’s celebration, here are some great options.

Chinese New Year food gift ideas that are not tikoy 

Radish cake from LoBakGoPH

@lobakgo serves the best radish cake. It's packed with generous strips of radish, shiitake mushrooms, and Chinese sausage. (FYI: Lo Bak Go is actually turnip cake in English, a.k.a. radish cake). They also offer a pumpkin version and the hard-to-find water chestnut pudding, both of which are worth trying.

Also read: 10 Spots + Sellers for Chinese New Year Set Menus, Gifts and Desserts

Steamed fish from Ley's Kitchen

Steamed fish is a traditional Chinese New Year dish symbolizing an increase in prosperity. You can order a flavorful Lapu-Lapu in Superior Sauce from @leyskitchen to add a touch of tradition to your feast.

8 Treasure Chicken by Lechon Diva

@lechondiva’s 8 Treasure Chicken is another lucky dish for the New Year. It represents prosperity, longevity, health, and happiness—four core wishes for the year ahead. Stuffed with chestnuts, salted egg yolk, Chinese sausage, ham, dates, cashews, mushrooms, and glutinous rice, it’s as flavorful as it is symbolic.

Ube Ugly Ponkan Pie from Serendipity Gourmet 

For non-traditional sweets, try the new Ube Ugly Ponkan Pie from @serendipitygourmetph. Oranges are considered lucky fruits for Chinese New Year, and the pie offers a unique way to enjoy them. The Chinese words for orange and tangerine sound like “luck” and “wealth,” making this a fitting treat.

Cheesecake from Michikko's Premium Cheesecakes 

Another sweet option is @michikkoph’s cheesecakes, perfect for celebrating with their round shape, symbolizing completeness and good fortune. Their newest variant, the Chocolate Espresso Lava Cheesecake, is a soft and delightful indulgence. For something tangy yet creamy, the Apple Cheesecake, with its crisp apple chunks and oat crumble topping, is a heavenly treat that’s not too dense but full of flavor.

These dishes and desserts will surely make your Chinese New Year celebration both lucky and delicious.

Author Leslie Cheng is @shootfirsteatlater on Instagram.

Also read: The Legends of San Juan Dining Keeping the Flame Alive