Why Chinese New Year Is the “Sickest” Time of The Year
Getting a sniffle when the calendar’s counting down to 2025 can feel like a cosmic blunder.
It’s no myth that a cold at the start of the year is bad luck, but the real kicker is the unfair loss of seasonal treats—custard‑filled pastries, sweet rice cakes, and that tiny, lovey‑dovey stitched card people call a love letter.
Tick‑Tock, The Festive Frenzy Begins … and Your Wallet Gets a Stanza
Imagine lining up for Kele Pineapple Tarts or Bengawan Solo CNY Cookies only to discover your bank account crying for help. Lucky for you, most other bakeries are serving the exact same goodies. Prices? We’ve dug up the numbers for 2024 to keep you in the loop.
2024 Treat Prices – 2022 is a Whisked‑Away Memory
- Pineapple Tart: SGD 8–10 (Kele might charge $12)
- Kueh Lapis: SGD 5–6 (market stalls are cheaper)
- Love Letter (Chance Cake): SGD 7–9 (same price everywhere)
- Kueh Bangkit: SGD 3–4 (local shops are happy to make it happen)
Enough of the creepy‑crawly costs, let’s talk about the taste. Take a bite of a Pineapple Tart – it’s like a sun‑kissed explosion that will make you forget your sneeze. And that Love Letter? Each twist of sweet, sticky dough is a hug in sugar‑styled form.
Happy Eating, Not Sick!
If the season’s swooshing your pride, just remember: a cold won’t ruin your feast if you’re shopping smart. Spend a couple of extra bucks for brand prestige? Skip it. Grab a fresh batch from a local bakery, keep your blisters in the closet and your taste buds on a joy ride.
So, next time you feel a cold barf creeping in and the fireworks start , instead of touting a “disastrous” you’ll pull a joke at “I feel like the New Year is doomed – but not my appetite!” Keep the treats, leave the vendors, and let the laughter echo far beyond the steri‑do medicine cabinet.
Pineapple tarts price list 2022
Grab a Slice: The Singapore Pineapple Tart Price Breakdown
In Singapore, pineapple tarts are the unofficial high‑five of any festive spread. We’ve trimmed the HTML clutter and laid out the cost sheet for the top ten “branded” varieties so you can pick the one that suits your wallet and your taste buds.
Premium Tarts – Wallet‑Friendly Gold
- Le Café (“golf ball”) – $29.90
The name says it all: a sleek little sphere of flaky pastry that rings in the holiday season.
- Bengawan Solo – $21.80 (small) / $38.60 (large)
Small package keeps the nibble balanced, while the larger one is perfect for the group that just can’t get enough.
- Baker’s Well – $33
Classic, buttery and in a box that feels like a treasure chest.
- D’Pastry – $29.00
Smooth texture and the kind of sweetness that squads always talk about.
- Sunny Hills – $27.30 (10pc) / $42.40 (16pc)
Where the ratio of treats to price stays golden.
- Amethyst Pastry & Cakes – $28 (round) / $30 (cheese)
Fluff‑filled quality that can switch sides if you’re feeling adventurous.
- Kele – $32.80
Known for their consistent bite, Kele makes sure you never get a dry surprise.
Budget‑Friendly Finds – Keep Your Savings Sweet
If you’re on a shoestring, the supermarkets are a lifesaver. NTUC FairPrice stocks pineapple tarts for about $8 per box, letting you savor the flavor without a hefty price tag. These are close to neighbourhood bakery prices (~$12–$15), but they’ve stacked up reviews from The Straits Times and Miss Tam Chiak, proving that affordability doesn’t mean you’re missing out on the good stuff.
Gift‑Ready, Luxe‑Rated – Pop Those Premiums
Looking to impress or gift? Brace yourself – the big bucks start at $30 and can wrap up to double that when you go for the full box or the gift‑worthy bottle. But hey, they’re made for the eyes as well as the stomach, and the extra dent in your wallet is well worth the bragging rights at your next family gathering.
So, whether you’re a penny‑pincher or a pleasure‑seeker, Singapore’s pineapple tart scene has a slice for everyone. Happy munching!
Kueh lapis price list 2022
Kueh Lapis Price Showdown: It’s the Layer Cake that Can Make Your Wallet Cry
When you picture Chinese New Year, you probably dream of pineapple tarts and sticky rice cakes. But in my home, the real star is kueh lapis—a tower of silky custard layers that feels like a sweet rainbow and costs almost a small fortune.
Why Are They So Expensive?
Picture a cake that’s thinner than a credit card but with a hundred layers of flavour. That’s kueh lapis. The thicker, the more money. Every shop is playing a game of “who can stack the most” – and our wallets feel the heat.
The Size You’ll Need to Budget For
Most bakeries give you two options:
- Big square: about 1 kg (~1000 g)
- Half‑size: roughly 500 g
Because they’re not all the same, we can’t do a perfect “pound‑for‑pound” comparison. Still, here’s the rough cost of the biggest indulgence you can order from nine popular shops this year.
Price Table (2022)
| Shop | Price per Cake |
|---|---|
| Ollella | $24.80 for 350g |
| Deli Indo | $26 for 600g |
| Layers Batam | $28 for 550g |
| IndoChili | $39 for medium |
| Rainbow Lapis | $35 for 500g |
| Rasa Sayang | $41 for half |
| Bengawan Solo | $52 for medium |
| Fullerton Hotel | $69 |
Big Bang‑Budget Options
If your bank account is feeling a little light, heads up: Bengawan Solo and Smiling Orchid are top‑tier brands that can cost you up to $60+ for a single large cake. That’s a lot of layers—and a lot of pressure on your grocery budget.
My Favourite Flavor? Indonesian over Singaporean
Privately, I’m all about the Indonesian swing—yep, Indonesian kueh lapis beats the Singaporean Nonya version hands down. And the best part? It’s not just tastier; it’s also cheaper.
The Cheaper Champions
Among the top prices, the easiest way to keep your wallet from screaming is to go Indonesian. Layers Batam (the former LaMoist, which felt like a #SorryNotSorry) and Deli Indo offer the most affordable large cakes. If you’re on a budget, these two are your go‑to champions.
Ultimately, whether you savor that towering masterpiece or just a slice, the real winner is you—because good food, even a little pricier, brings the family together for that classic New Year vibe. Happy layering!
Other CNY goodies: Salted egg fish skin, love letters, kueh bangkit & more
Beat the Brand Bloat: How Cheap CNY Snacks Can Be
When you think of a Chinese New Year spread, it’s hard to ignore the giant, glimmering “big-ticket” goodies—pineapple tarts, layered kueh lapis, and that outrageously priced bak kwa that practically has its own editorial slot. But those shiny treats drain more than just your wallet—they drain the joy too!
The Side Dish Secret
The real magic of Chinese New Year (CNY) food lies in the humble side dishes: love‑letters that look like edible heart‑shapes, cookies that practically melt, prawn (hae bee hiam) rolls that feel like a crunchy hug, and salted‑egg fish skin that’s the street‑food version of the “great wall” of flavor.
Good news? If you skip the branded fancy‑it‑up labels, these staples can be a fraction of the cost.
Price Play‑Pump: Branded vs. Non‑Branded
- Salted egg fish skin: $16 for 230 g at Irvins; pick up $12 for 600 g from Golden Boy
- Love letters: $18.80 at Bengawan Solo; $6.80 at a local stall
- Sugee cookies: $19.80 (Bengawan Solo); $7.35 from an unbranded vendor
- Kueh bangkit: $22.80 (Butter Studio); $10.80 at another market
- Crispy prawn rolls: $22.90 (HarriAnns); $5.95 from a street corner
All non‑branded prices are snatched right from the NTUC FairPrice basket.
Do You Taste a Difference?
Most of these treats revolve around the same ingredients—flour, sugar, oil. So, if your bakery adds a splash of gold flakes on the kueh bangkit, the premium probably hits your wallet more than the quality. In short, the extra cost is mostly a labeling charge.
And that is the real scoop on Chinese New Year snack pricing in 2025: you’ll only need to brighten your plate, not your wallet, if you dodge the brand hype.
—Originally published on Moneysmart, adapted for everyday flavor talk.
