Oh Cha Matcha has included gold bird’s nest from Lo Hong Ka in its matcha, which is also jam-packed with antioxidants to boost your immunity (Photo: Oh Cha Matcha)
With a dud year like 2020, who wouldn’t leap at the chance of tipping the scales in the balance of the good in 2021? Chinese traditions are rooted in the simple notion that by putting a concept symbolically in one’s mouth, one could possibly embody it. So if you’re seeking the most auspicious gift ideas — be it edible treats or luck-ushering paraphernalia — to restore a sense of joy and spread some cheer, these Chinese New Year offerings are here to kick-start a year of prosperous fortune.
Langit
Inspired by a Chinese saying from Song Dynasty 开门七件事: 柴米油盐酱醋茶, Langit’s gift goes back to basics by offering the seven necessities needed in every household. For its “Spring Renascene” option, the two-tier package contains a melange of nourishing products including herbs, Beras Sia (heirloom red rice), organic leek and ginger oil by LVSH urbanomad, Tucu salt, Layo ginger, Lada Bihis black peppercorn, Bears Rumie (heirloom black rice), First Draw Soy Sauce by Mu Artisan, and more. The themed box not only nudges customers to pay respect to the bounty of the land but to also honour the hard work of dedicated farmers who grow them.
RM299 per set. Order here.
Batik Boutique
If you have already hit a slump right off the year thanks to the reinstated MCO, spread some joy among your loved ones with red ornaments to fête the moment. Offering silhouette-flattering cheongsam blouses and a host of festive apparel aside, the homegrown brand has made gifting — while giving back to the artisans — easier with their CNY sets. The Prosperity version is made up of two batik chopstick cover sets (made by their skilled artisans, no less), three Chinese character ornaments, one jar of homemade pineapple tarts and a pack of angpows. To further impress your recipients, get the Reunion set that comes with a batik table runner with a set of four batik coasters.
Prosperity: Red Mosaic gift set, RM268; Reunion: Tan Bunga, RM388. Order here.
Oh Cha Matcha x Lo Hong Ka
Treats in the shade of green aren't exactly de rigueur when it comes to Chinese New Year but the good folks behind Oh Cha Matcha (OCMC) have crafted sugar-free and dairy-free concoctions that are at least healthy for you. To up the ante, OCMC has included gold bird’s nest from Lo Hong Ka in its matcha, which is also jam-packed with antioxidants to boost your immunity. Send this guilt-free beverage as a set, which comes in several flavours such as pineapple, mandarin orange, chrysanthemum, as well as red dates and goji berries. Each delivery also comes with homemade matcha pineapple tart and OCMC & Lo Hong Ka CNY red packets.
RM168 per gift set. Matcha drinks can also be ordered à la carte. Order here.
Mutiara Figs
What started out as a hobby has turned into a family business, which has now amassed 300 varieties of figs in its backyard. If you’d like a tasting box of what the homegrown brand has to offer, the Alice option — consisting of fresh figs, cookies and two bottled fig products — comes in a lush oriental wooden case with premium red lining on the side. At a time when most of the world seems to be making their own meals at home, Mutiara Figs’ offerings, be it chill garlic dip or jams, will delight the gourmand in your life.
Alice gift set, RM158. Get 5% off when you order before Feb 25. Whatsapp 017 653 6977 to order.
KEJU by Carmen
First impressions are lasting, so if you’re seeking a gift that will make a great one, look no further than KEJU’s The Great Wall premium grazing box. Needless to say, the decorative encasement is stunning on its own — snaking a hilly range is a miniature remake of the Great Wall of China that lights up. Its contents, which are just as impressive, is replete with the finest fare, including pure bird’s nests, designer chocolates, wagashi sweets and a bounty of fruit and berries.
RM590. Whatsapp 012 605 5481 to order.
Kitchen Confidante
There’s always someone who enjoys Chinese New Year cookies considerably more than others. The Spring set from Kitchen Confidante features a variety of too-pretty-to-eat treats that will please that particular cookie monster. We think Set G (pictured), packed with cocoa Jin Niu cookies, flower Almond Nougatines, Lucky Tangerine nut cookies and white chocolate sakura Langues de Chat, is an excellent choice. Alternatively, check out the Blossom set, which includes smaller cookie packages and gourmet layer cakes, whose thin layers are grilled instead of baked.
Set G, RM330. Email [email protected] or Whatsapp 012 898 2772 to order.
Elevete Patisserie
Go big or go home. This firecracker cake by Elevete Patisserie should be the only other centrepiece option after the yee sang. Suitable for six to 10 people, the three-layer fondant cake is good for entertaining and even more so for the ‘Gram. Select your preferred cake base, from salted caramel chocolate and pandan gula melaka to red velvet and butterscotch cookie, and include a personal message to your recipient. However, traditionalists might prefer the Treasure Pleasure tiffin, which is filled with traditional cookies that will evoke feelings of warmth and nostalgia.
Firecracker Cake, RM188; Treasure Pleasure, RM158. Order here.
Toki Bear
Coffee addicts will jump with joy when they receive this in the mail. Toki Bear’s premium giftbox comes with eight bottles of their signature cold brews and a stainless-steel cup to sample them all. Apart from the classic black and white, there are also chocolate, mocha, earl grey and the more unique rose, osmanthus and coconut latte. Keep the beverages refrigerated and consume within two weeks, though we doubt they will last that long.
RM228. Whatsapp 018 872 3856 to order.
