Fa gao

Fa gao
TypePastry
Place of originChina
Main ingredientsflour (usually rice flour), leavening (traditionally yeast), sugar
Similar dishesHtanthi mont, Bánh bò, Kue mangkok
Fa gao
Traditional Chinese發糕Category:Articles containing Chinese-language text
Simplified Chinese发糕Category:Articles containing Chinese-language text
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu Pinyinfāgāo
Yue: Cantonese
Yale Romanizationfaatgōu
Jyutpingfaat3 gou1
Alternative Chinese name
Traditional Chinese發粿Category:Articles containing Chinese-language text
Transcriptions
Southern Min
Hokkien POJhoat-ké / hoat-koé / hoat-kér
Second alternative Chinese name
Traditional Chinese發粄Category:Articles containing Chinese-language text
Transcriptions
Hakka
Romanizationfat pan

Fa gao (traditional Chinese: Category:Articles containing traditional Chinese-language text發糕; simplified Chinese: Category:Articles containing simplified Chinese-language text发糕; pinyin: fāgāo; Cantonese Yale: faatgōu; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: hoat-koé), also called fat pan (發粄) by the Hakka,[1] prosperity cake,[2][3] fortune cake,[4] Cantonese sponge cake,[5] is a Chinese steamed, cupcake-like pastry.[6] Because it is often characterized by a split top when cooked, it is often referred as Chinese smiling steamed cake or blooming flowers.[6] It is commonly consumed on the Chinese new year.[7] It is also eaten on other festivals, wedding, and funerals by the Hakka people.[8]

Symbolism

The name of cake, fagao, is a homonym for "cake which expands" and "prosperity cake" as "fa" means both "prosperity" and "expand" and "gao" means "cake".[7]

The Hakka call the "top split" of the fa ban "xiao", which means smiling. It is said to be a sign of a coming fortune: the bigger the "top split", the better.[8]

Preparation

The cake is made of flour (usually rice flour), leavening (traditionally yeast, but can be chemical leavening),[7] sugar or another sweetener; it is then steamed (instead of baked) on high heat until the top splits into a characteristic "split top" of four segments, or sometimes 3 sections.[6] The batter is typically left to rest for fermentation prior to being steam-cooked.

These cakes, when used to encourage prosperity in the new year, are often dyed bright colours.Category:All articles with unsourced statementsCategory:Articles with unsourced statements from April 2021[citation needed] The most common colours traditionally are white and pink, but it can also be turned brown by adding palm sugar.[6]

Influences in Asia

Singapore

Chinese Singaporeans use fa gao as offerings during ancestral worship.[5][4]

Thailand

In Thailand, this type of cake is called Khanom thuai fu (Thai: ขนมถ้วยฟูCategory:Articles containing Thai-language text, pronounced [kʰā.nǒm tʰûaj fuː˧]Category:Pages with Thai IPA), which translates to "fluffy snack in a cup". It is one of nine auspicious Thai desserts, because its name has an auspicious meaning, conveying prosperity or progress.[9]

Influences outside Asia

Mauritius and Reunion island

In Mauritius, the fa gao is known as "poutou chinois" (lit. 'Chinese puttu') or "poutou rouge" (lit. 'red puttu' in French).[10][11] It is called "pot pan" (發粄/发粄; fa ban) by the Mauritians of Hakka descent, and by Reunionese people of Hakka descent.[12] Fa gao in Mauritius and Reunion is typically pink in colour,[13][14] and it is eaten on Chinese New Year.[10][11] However, it is actually sold and eaten all year long.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "發粄 - Wiktionary". en.wiktionary.org. Retrieved 2021-04-19.
  2. ↑ Knapp, Ronald G. (2012). Peranakan Chinese home : art and culture in daily life. A. Chester Ong. Rutland, Vt.: Tuttle Publishing. ISBN 978-1-4629-1185-1. OCLC 830947706.
  3. ↑ The culture of China. Kathleen Kuiper (1st ed.). New York: Britannica Educational Pub. in association with Rosen Educational Services. 2011. p. 37. ISBN 978-1-61530-183-6. OCLC 656833342.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)Category:CS1 maint: others
  4. 1 2 Lim, Tai Wei (2017). Cultural heritage and peripheral spaces in Singapore. [Singapore]. p. 257. ISBN 978-981-10-4747-3. OCLC 1004189895.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)Category:CS1 maint: location missing publisher
  5. 1 2 Singapore-china Relations: 50 Years. Liang Fook Lye, Yongnian Zheng. World Scientific Publishing Company. 2015. p. 217. ISBN 9789814713573.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)Category:CS1 maint: others
  6. 1 2 3 4 Goh, Daphne (2016-02-07). "Chinese New Year Steamed Prosperity Cakes (Fa Gao) |Gluten Free Asian Recipes |Healthy gf Asian". Gluten Free Asian Recipes | Healthy gf Asian. Retrieved 2021-04-18.
  7. 1 2 3 "Chinese Fortune Cup Cake (fa gao)". Knowingfood. Archived from the original on 2009-01-27. Retrieved 2009-01-30.
  8. 1 2 "Fa Ban". www.chinadaily.com.cn. Retrieved 2021-04-19.
  9. ↑ "9 Auspicious Thai Desserts". Michelin Guide. 2024-12-08. Retrieved 2019-02-14.
  10. 1 2 "Nouvel An Chinois : le 'gato la cire' en vedette ce vendredi". Wazaa FM - Feel Good (in French). Archived from the original on 2021-04-18. Retrieved 2021-04-18.Category:CS1 French-language sources (fr)
  11. 1 2 "Fête du Printemps : au cœur d'une célébration religieuse et familiale". Le Defi Media Group (in French). Retrieved 2021-04-18.Category:CS1 French-language sources (fr)
  12. ↑ "Sweet snacks". Hakka Mauritians 客家. Retrieved 2021-04-18.
  13. ↑ lemauricien (2020-09-05). "(Chinatown) M. Chu : Les délices chinois d'un art traditionnel millénaire". Le Mauricien (in French). Retrieved 2021-04-19.Category:CS1 French-language sources (fr)
  14. ↑ "Chinatown : tout ce qui rampe se mange ! | KOZÉ | Dan Karay". KOZÉ (in French). 2017-05-18. Archived from the original on 2021-04-19. Retrieved 2021-04-19.Category:CS1 French-language sources (fr)
Category:Chinese New Year foods Category:Chinese pastries Category:Thai desserts and snacks Category:Mauritian cuisine Category:Rice cakes
Category:All articles with unsourced statements Category:Articles containing Chinese-language text Category:Articles containing Thai-language text Category:Articles containing simplified Chinese-language text Category:Articles containing traditional Chinese-language text Category:Articles with short description Category:Articles with unsourced statements from April 2021 Category:CS1 French-language sources (fr) Category:CS1 maint: location missing publisher Category:CS1 maint: others Category:Chinese New Year foods Category:Chinese pastries Category:Mauritian cuisine Category:Pages with Thai IPA Category:Rice cakes Category:Short description matches Wikidata Category:Thai desserts and snacks