Ang Ku Kueh 红龟糕

Ang ku kueh, 红龟糕, is a small round or oval shaped Chinese pastry with soft sticky skin and fillings in the centre. The oval shaped Ang ku kuih, 红龟糕 is designed to resemble a tortoise shell. Oval or round, the  Ang ku kuih, 红龟糕 rests on a square piece of banana leaf.

Ang ku kueh, 红龟糕 is usually red in color as suggested by its name literally translated as “red tortoise cake” (红=red, 龟=tortoise,糕=cake or pastry).

Despite the color definition in the name, other common colors include yellow, grey, and green. The colors indicate the type of fillings inside the pastry. Traditional filings include bean paste, sesame, and peanut. New flavors like durian have emerged reflecting manufacturer’s continuous innovation to incorporate popular tastes.

Tortoise symbolizes longevity and when the Ang ku kuih is shaped like a tortoise shell, it creates a high symbolic and ritual value. They are used for ritual offerings during religious events and as gifts when a child is born (one month old) or during birthdays.

Outside the ritual or gift context, it is also a very popular snack available all year round in traditional pastry shops, cake shops, cafes and even hotels.

The jelly Ang ku kueh

Ang ku kueh, 红龟糕’s popularity is evident in a new innovative product that has emerged in the market – the jelly Ang ku kuih.

Jelly Ang ku kueh, 红龟糕 has the same physical appearance as the traditional Ang ku kuih. It has the tortoise shell shape in a variety of colours and also has filings inside, usually bean creams .

Like the traditional Ang ku kueh, 红龟糕, the jelly ones sit on a “square pandan leaf” made from a strip of green plastic. The jelly Ang ku kuih needs to be refrigerated.

The jelly Ang ku kueh, 红龟糕 looks very similar to the traditional ones and it is not uncommon to mistake it as the traditional one if seen from a distance.

Like the ice cream mooncake, jelly Ang ku kueh, 红龟糕demonstrates how traditional pastries continue to evolve in response to technological opportunities and to consumer’s new dietary choices.

See the Ang Ku Kueh gallery for the range of varieties and ingredients.

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Food culture 饮食文化

Ang Ku Kueh in Yangon Chinatown

Ang Ku Kueh, Bangkok Chinatown

Jelly Ang Ku Kueh
Jelly Ang Ku Kueh with red bean fillings

Traditional Ang Ku Kueh with bean fillings