While it can be eaten all year round, traditionally it is most popular during Chinese New Year. It is considered good luck to eat nian gao during this time, because "nian gao" is a homonym for "higher year." The Chinese word (nián), meaning "sticky", is identical in sound to, meaning "year", and the word, meaning "cake" is identical in sound to, meaning "high". As such, eating nian gao has the symbolism of raising oneself higher in each coming year.
Different parts of Asia have mixed the cake with different ingredients such as red bean paste or even lotus seed paste. They are not considered to be main branches or major cuisine variations.
by Franky
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