love letter cookies for Chinese New Year
By katemeow
@katemeow (847)
Singapore
January 5, 2009 9:00am CST
It is almost Chinese New Year and I am starting to see so many traditional food. One item that really intrigues me is the Kueh kapit or "Love Letter" cookies. These are thin crispy cookies made from coconut milk and flour. They are made in molds that have auspicious words and symbols on it so that the end effect is a pretty patterned cookie. The cookies are then rolled or folded into 4. Anyway, I have been looking online for the meaning of these cookies and why they are called "love letters" but have found nothing relevant. Does anybody know why they are called this? 
2 people like this
5 responses
@regal_aeros (2605)
• Singapore
5 Jan 09
If parent's parents parents parents rumour history didn't fail them. It was because in the ancient times, there was some forbidden lovers or so.
the girl's family bakes such "cookies" and in order to hide her love letter, she'd stuff her letters into the rolled up "cookies"...
something to that effect. i honestly don't really take note about these stories.. i just EAT.. haha
1 person likes this
@djonghs (560)
• Indonesia
6 Jan 09
I'm not sure about that tradition, since my tradition here is different. As far as I know, each region or even each city have their own custom traditions. If you wanna to know more about that "love letters" cookies, you better ask the local. Mine here are using a sweet cake made from sticky rice powder and sugar, or people called it "Nien Gao"
BR.b
@djonghs (560)
• Indonesia
6 Jan 09
It's look yummy, but the real thing is only taste sweet. But, if has been process as fried Nien Gao covered with egg + flour + Salt + sugar, it is become really tasty...
Advance Happy Chinese New Year to you too "Gong Xie Fa Cai" Congratulation and prosperity to you.
BR.b
@danishcanadian (28955)
• Canada
5 Jan 09
I don't know what these cookies are, but they sound like they would be really interesting. My cousin, a Canadian, is married to a Chinese man, so i am sure that their family will be doing interesting things to celebrate Chinese New Year. It's interesting to learn about other people's traditions.
@katemeow (847)
• Singapore
6 Jan 09
Actually, I am not Chinese but since I am now residing in Singapore I am really trying to learn more about their culture 
Preparations for the Chinese New Year are in full swing now and I am really amazed at the new things that I am seeing! I agree with you that it is really great learning about other people's traditions
Preparations for the Chinese New Year are in full swing now and I am really amazed at the new things that I am seeing! I agree with you that it is really great learning about other people's traditions 
@camomom (7535)
• United States
6 Jan 09
I don't know why they are called "love letters". I've never heard of them before but I'd like to try them.
@oyenkai (4394)
• Philippines
6 Jan 09
I've never heard of love letter cookies! I mostly only eat tikoy during Chinese New Year because my friends have overflowing resources for them because all their family friends are sending some - so we're like helping them "clean up" :D I sure hope they bring some this year!
Thanks for the response on my discussion!
@katemeow (847)
• Singapore
6 Jan 09
I LOVE tikoy too 
It's funny but back home in the Philippines, they are the only thing given out on Chinese New Year. Here it is a different story since there are so many New Year's treats in the market It's really very interesting to see all these local traditional food.
It's funny but back home in the Philippines, they are the only thing given out on Chinese New Year. Here it is a different story since there are so many New Year's treats in the market It's really very interesting to see all these local traditional food.