The best Chinese New Year puddings to try in Hong Kong 2023

Offering a multitude of choices that are made using premium ingredients and range from classic to contemporary, there's something for everyone to enjoy. This includes The Peninsula Boutique's ever-popular turnip pudding with whole abalone (HK$688) as well as new additions such as osmanthus and wolfberry pudding (HK$498). For those who cannot decide, there are assortments and gift boxes that are ideal for sharing with friends and family.

A little variation in a sea of traditional Chinese New Year puddings can lead to new and novel flavours worth exploring. Little Bao excels at putting a spin on classic puddings and offers modern and innovative versions of this annual delicacy. Created by chef May Chow, four puddings are available to try including the beetroot turnip cake (HK$268) made with rose wine sausages and Thai dried shrimp, and the golden pumpkin cake featuring local sweet pumpkins and salted egg yolk (HK$298). Other favourites include Chow's take on the classics such as turnip cake with yuzu and purple taro cake (both HK$278).

Duddell’s annual holiday offerings never fail to deliver thanks to the G.O.D. (Goods of Desire) design, which pays homage to Hong Kong’s local heritage, with delectable puddings inside. Choose from the New Year pudding (HK$298), traditional turnip pudding (HK$348) or taro pudding (HK$348) or get all three and enjoy with friends and family.

A traditional Chinese New Year spread can be found at Island Shangri-La's Summer Palace with classics of taro or turnip rice cake and sweet pudding to choose from. Alongside these options, the restaurant also offers more opulent creations including the turnip pudding with 88-month-old Ibérico ham, Emmental cheese and morel mushrooms (HK$588). More of their luxurious delicacies are available in limited edition gift boxes such as the Chinese New Year pudding with 80-year dried tangerine
peel duo (HK$1,428) which has been infused with Tokachi red bean and ripe Pu-er. 

Jiangsu Club presents two decadent puddings to cater to both savoury and sweet preferences. Those who opt for the traditional savoury treat will appreciate the turnip pudding made with handpicked turnips, premium dried shrimp, meat and sausages (HK$168), while dessert lovers can indulge in the classic red date cake (HK$138), which features fried red dates mixed with creamy coconut milk. Together, the two puddings make up the Jiangsu Club Package combo gift set (HK$388) which includes both puddings along with homemade cashew cookies and Bi Luo Chun green tea.

Health-conscious celebrators will enjoy The Cakery's Chinese New Year selection which includes a range of “guilt-free” options and all-natural puddings. Known for its vegan-friendly options, the shop is offering a traditional Cantonese-style set (HK$238) which includes a turnip pudding with vegan abalone and a flavourful water chestnut pudding. The puddings feature high-quality ingredients and are made without preservatives for a healthier start to the new year.

Man Ho's exquisite options include a gold leaf-garnished Chinese New Year pudding flavoured with red dates and coconut milk, and a turnip pudding with preserved meats, Japanese dried scallops and locally sourced preserved sausage. The two options can be presented in a gift box (HK$348) or a thermal bag (HK$298).

Staying true to tradition, Rosewood rings in the Year of the Rabbit with a multitude of refined gifts including new collections and gift hampers. Executive chef Li Chi-wai has curated a selection of delicacies which offer the beloved turnip cake (HK$298) as well as a classic Chinese New Year pudding (HK$298). 

Ying Jee Club offers handcrafted Chinese New Year treats with a modern twist including coconut milk pudding with Ceylon tea (HK$238) and savoury turnip pudding with conpoy and air-dried Meat (HK$298). All puddings are made without preservatives, making them ideal for a little self-indulgence or as a celebratory gift.

This year, Tin Lung Heen is offering classic coconut pudding and turnip pudding with conpoy, both of which are available in gift sets, alongside a premium red date and bird’s nest coconut pudding gift set (HK$798). The Chinese New Year pudding gift set also includes the signature Tin Lung Heen X.O. sauce which matches perfectly with the pudding. 

Grand Hyatt's Chinese New Year offerings include their popular renditions of coconut pudding which is made with refined black sugar cane and turnip pudding which features premium dried shrimp, cured meats and Chinese sausage (HK$258) and goes down well with the signature X.O. chilli sauce from the hotel's Chinese restaurant One Harbour Road.

Staying true to traditions, China Tang presents two classic options for Chinese New Year. The turnip pudding uses local sun-dried meat while the organic glutinous rice pudding is made with Taiwanese brown sugar and coconut (both prices at HK$428). The packaging can also be reused as a New Year candy box, reinforcing New Year traditions in Chinese households.

The Regent hotel’s Cantonese restaurant Lai Ching Heen keeps it conventional for Chinese New Year with the classic savoury thick-cut turnip cake (HK$428) but offers something a little different in the form of a Tonkachi red bean pudding which is paired with Okinawa Kokoto syrup (HK$408).

This year, T’ang Court is offering three options for Chinese New Year including hand-shredded turnip pudding (HK$359), taro pudding filled with conpoy and dried shrimp (HK$358) and sweet New Year pudding (HK$298).