Fa gao (simplified Chinese: 发糕; traditional Chinese: 發糕; pinyin: fāgāo; 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]
 | |
| Type | Pastry |
|---|---|
| Place of origin | China |
| Main ingredients | flour (usually rice flour), leavening (traditionally yeast), sugar |
| Similar dishes | Htanthi mont, Bánh bò, Kue mangkok |
| Fa gao | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Traditional Chinese | 發糕 | ||||||||||
| Simplified Chinese | 发糕 | ||||||||||
| |||||||||||
| Alternative Chinese name | |||||||||||
| Traditional Chinese | 發粿 | ||||||||||
| |||||||||||
| Second alternative Chinese name | |||||||||||
| Traditional Chinese | 發粄 | ||||||||||
| |||||||||||
Symbolism
editThe 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
editThe 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.[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
editSingapore
editChinese Singaporeans use fa gao as offerings during ancestral worship.[5][4]
Thailand
editIn Thailand, this type of cake is called Khanom thuai fu (Thai: ขนมถ้วยฟู, pronounced [kʰā.nǒm tʰûaj fuː˧]), 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
editMauritius
editIn 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.[12] Fa gao in Mauritius 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.
Gallery
edit-
Incense stick and fa gao. -
Mauritian Poutou Chinois.
See also
edit
References
edit- ^ "發粄 - Wiktionary". en.wiktionary.org. Retrieved 2021-04-19.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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) - ^ a b 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) - ^ a b 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) - ^ a b c d "Chinese New Year Steamed Prosperity Cakes (Fa Gao) |Gluten Free Asian Recipes |Healthy gf Asian". Gluten Free Asian Recipes | Healthy gf Asian. 2016-02-07. Retrieved 2021-04-18.
- ^ a b c "Chinese Fortune Cup Cake (fa gao)". Knowingfood. Archived from the original on 2009-01-27. Retrieved 2009-01-30.
- ^ a b "Fa Ban". www.chinadaily.com.cn. Retrieved 2021-04-19.
- ^ "9 Auspicious Thai Desserts". Michelin Guide. 2024-12-08. Retrieved 2019-02-14.
- ^ a b "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.
- ^ a b "Fête du Printemps : au cœur d'une célébration religieuse et familiale". Le Defi Media Group (in French). Retrieved 2021-04-18.
- ^ "Sweet snacks". Hakka Mauritians 客家. Retrieved 2021-04-18.
- ^ lemauricien (2020-09-05). "(Chinatown) M. Chu : Les délices chinois d'un art traditionnel millénaire". Le Mauricien (in French). Retrieved 2021-04-19.
- ^ "Chinatown : tout ce qui rampe se mange ! | KOZÉ | Dan Karay". KOZÉ (in French). 2017-05-18. Retrieved 2021-04-19.
