A 70-year-old woman in Penang has been making nian gao, also known as thnee kuih in Hokkien for Chinese New Year for over a quarter of a century, and she "more or less" observes the taboo while cooking the traditional delicacy.
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00:00 It is customary to observe certain taboos when preparing traditional foods.
00:07 This is true for Nian Gao, also known as Ni Kui in Hokkien for Chinese New Year,
00:13 where certain prohibitions must be strictly observed during the cooking process.
00:18 It is imperative to refrain from bickering or uttering phrases such as
00:23 "It won't turn out well" or "Is it ready yet?"
00:26 during the meticulous cooking process as negative expressions or predicting unfavorable outcomes
00:33 such as a failure to achieve the golden hue can disrupt the harmonious transformation of the rice cake.
00:40 It is believed that women experiencing their menstrual period should abstain from participating in the preparation
00:47 as it is thought to influence the color and texture,
00:50 preventing the Nian Gao from attaining its desired perfection.
00:55 For over a quarter of a century,
00:57 Wui Kui Si has been making Nian Gao and said she more or less abides by the taboo.
01:03 The 70-year-old said adherence to these taboos is a deeply ingrained tradition
01:09 followed faithfully by her mother and grandmother.
01:13 Wui creates this deliverable treat for her customers to sweeten the mouth of Zhao Jin, the kitchen god,
01:20 and avert any unfavorable reports about the household to the Jade Emperor
01:25 on the 24th of the 12th lunar month, which falls on February 3rd this year.
01:31 With each carefully prepared batch, she weaves a tapestry of tradition,
01:36 infusing her creation, which was taught to by her mother,
01:40 with the sweet essence of goodwill to ensure prosperity and harmony for her customers.
01:46 Wui said she was nine years old when she first learned the skill from her mother.
01:52 Wui's Nian Gao are made from scratch.
01:55 With help from her family, Wui makes between 150 to 200 Nian Gao in five sizes daily.
02:03 She added that for the first time this year,
02:06 her son-in-law will make weekly deliveries of the delicacy to Kuala Lumpur after taking orders online.
02:13 The 70-year-old said as age catches up with her,
02:17 she's glad to have passed all her Nian Gao making skills to her daughter.
02:22 [ Silence ]