Where To Buy The Most Delicious Tikoy For Chinese New Year
Bring luck to your year with these sticky sweet cakes. This curated list has everything from the traditional tikoy of our childhood to luxurious, upscale versions.
There’s a story that tikoy (also called nian gao) is sticky and sweet for a reason. When offered to the Kitchen God on Chinese New Year, it’s meant to be so sticky that it renders him unable to deliver a bad report about the family. Its sweetness, on the other hand, symbolizes a hope for sweeter relations with family and friends in the coming year.
With Chinese New Year approaching, it’s time to find the perfect nian gao to give family and friends, the traditional gift to mark an auspicious and lucky start to the year. We curated this short list of the best nian gao in town, ranging from the luxurious and artisanal, to the more traditional tikoy that we grew up with and have withstood the test of time. Here's to an auspicous and lucky new year for us all!
Gong Xi Fa Cai!
Gong Xi Fa Cai!
China Blue by Jeremy Leung, Conrad Manila
China Blue is known for its exquisitely-crafted nian gao collections, and they don't disappoint this year. Their Signature Nian Gao is beautifully presented in a collector’s edition Christy Ng designer bag, or a luxe Conrad Manila jewelry case. The sticky cakes come in three flavors: Traditional Brown Sugar, Coconut, and Orange and Red Date with Ginger. For inquiries, please call call (02) 8833-9999 or (0917) 650-4043 or click on the link below. Available until February 13. For more information, follow @conradmanila on Instagram, or @ConradManilaPH on Facebook. (Photo: @conradmanila)
Photo Credit: SHOP HERE
Lung Hin, Marco Polo Ortigas
Lung Hin’s signature tikoy come two flavors: Fortune Orange, and Red Dates Sugar. Choose between the traditional round cake or double gold bars. For inquiries, please call (02) 7720-7777 or click on the link below. Follow @marcopolomanila on Instagram, or @marcopoloortigasmanila on Facebook. (Photo: @marcopolomanila)
Photo Credit: SHOP HERE
Canton Road, Shangri-La at the Fort
Canton Road’s nian gao is stellar, and comes in exclusive hampers curated with gourmet goodies and delicacies. For inquiries, call (0917) 536-3287 or follow @shangrilafort on Instagram or Facebook. (Photo: @shangrilafort)
Photo Credit: SHOP HERE
Red Jade, The Manila Hotel
Delight in The Manila Hotel’s traditional handmade tikoy, available in two flavors: Red Bean or Almond. For inquiries, call (02) 8527-0011 or (0998) 950-1912, or order via the link below. Get 30% off for a minimum of five boxes, until January 31. Follow @themanilahotel on Instagram or Facebook. (Photo: @themanilahotel).
Photo Credit: SHOP HERE
The Hungry Chef
Chef Nathaniel Uy makes superb artisanal nian gao in two unique flavors: Coconut with Peaches, and Ube Cheese. Available only in limited quantities, so we recommend that you put in your orders early. The cut off for orders is February 11. For inquiries, send a DM to @thehungrychef on Instagram or Facebook.
Photo Credit: SHOP HERE
Jasmine, New World Makati
Handcrafted in the shape of koi fish, Jasmine’s nian gao make elegant gifts that convey perfectly your good wishes for an auspicious and prosperous new year. Also available as round cakes. For inquiries, please call (02) 8811-6888 ext 3679 or send a DM to @newworldmakati on Instagram or @newworldmakatihotel on Facebook.
Photo Credit: SHOP HERE
China Gold
For affordable quality tikoy, go for China Gold which comes in three sizes and various flavors including Coco Sugar, Vanilla, White Sugar and Brown Sugar. For inquiries, call (0917) 523-8472 or send a DM to @chinagoldtikoy on Instagram. Also available at select Robinsons and Walter Mart Supermarkets. (Photo: @chinagoldtikoy)
Photo Credit: SHOP HERE
Sweet Taste Tikoy
We love the restrained sweetness of this tikoy, and how it stays soft even after a few days. Available in white sugar, ube or brown sugar flavors, and comes in various sizes. To order, please call (02) 731-7147 or send a DM to @sweettastetikoy on Instagram. (Photo: @sweettastetikoy)
Photo Credit: SHOP HERE
Echague Bakery
This is the tikoy of our childhood memories. Echague Bakery is one of the oldest makers of tikoy in Manila, and it’s signature sticky cakes have the perfect texture that is firm to the bite. Available in four flavors: white sugar, brown sugar, ube or pandan. You can opt for the Four Seasons Tikoy, which is all four flavors in one box. To order, call (02) 364-7154 or send a DM to @echaguebakery on Instagram or Facebook. (Photo: @echaguebakery)
Photo Credit: SHOP HERE
Eng Bee Tin
For sheer variety, you can’t beat Eng Bee Tin, which offers tikoy in various sizes and flavors, including ube, white, brown, cheese, sweet corn, and more. They even have lite vresions of tikoy. Affordable and hassle-free, you’ll find their tikoy in supermarkets, Lazada, or for convenient pick-up from Binondo, simply preorder at preorder.engbeetin.com. Or shop online via the link below. (Photo: Eng Bee Tin on Facebook)
Photo Credit: SHOP HERE
Frozen Mnl
Frozen MNL has the best collection of nian gao in town, including Eng Bee Tin’s premium boxed tikoys, Ho-land fish-shaped tikoys, and their own Gold Bar Tikoy and Emperor’s Gold Tikoy. Preorder your tikoy and have them delivered, it’s so convenient. Just make sure to note the cut-off dates.
Photo Credit: SHOP HERE
We also have this short list of our favorite tikoys, most of which have stood the test of time. Read it here.
Lead photo: Jasmine, New World Makati
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