Traditional Nian Gao 年糕

Why Singapore Loves Our Traditional Nian Gao 年糕

Nian Gao is not chosen for taste alone. It is chosen for what it represents — growth, progress, and rising fortunes year after year. In Singaporean Chinese households, Nian Gao is a ritual item, placed deliberately on the table and offered with meaning during the New Year.

Its sticky texture symbolises togetherness, while its gentle sweetness reflects hopes for a smooth year ahead. This is why Nian Gao appears even in homes that prefer lighter desserts — because some foods carry significance beyond flavour.

Handmade Fresh Daily for Peak Taste & Texture

A good Nian Gao must feel firm yet yielding, dense yet smooth.

Each cake is carefully prepared to achieve the right consistency, ensuring it softens evenly when warmed without becoming watery or grainy. Fresh production preserves clarity of texture and prevents sourness, allowing the cake to remain clean-tasting and cohesive.

It is a process rooted in patience, not speed.

Premium Imported Ingredients, Zero Compromise

Only essential ingredients are used, allowing purity to define the experience.

Glutinous rice flour forms the structure, creating the characteristic chewy body. Sugar provides gentle sweetness without excess, while water binds everything into a smooth, glossy cake.

Produced in a Halal-certified facility, with no pork or pork-related products used.

Full ingredient list:
Glutinous Rice Flour, Sugar, Water.

Perfect for Gifting — Corporate & Festive

This is a symbolic gift. Traditional Nian Gao is often presented to elders, relatives, and respected contacts as a gesture of goodwill and blessing. Its meaning is universally understood, making it appropriate for both family visits and professional gifting during Chinese New Year.

It says: may the year ahead rise higher than the last.

Storage & Serving Tips

Store in a cool, dry place before opening. Once opened, refrigerate and consume within a reasonable period. Nian Gao can be enjoyed sliced and warmed, or prepared according to traditional methods such as steaming or pan-frying.

Serve warm to appreciate its soft texture and mild sweetness.

What Makes Ding Bakery Different

Ding Bakery treats ceremonial foods with respect. Rather than modernising for novelty, traditional items like Nian Gao are preserved in their authentic form, prepared fresh and handled carefully to honour their cultural role. Ingredient restraint, consistency, and reliability are prioritised — because tradition depends on trust.

That is why families return each year.

Frequently Asked Questions