A Familiar Name with an Ambitious Festive Line-Up

The Pine Garden returns for Chinese New Year 2026 with an expansive festive goodies collection that spans traditional cookies, savoury snacks and experimental flavour combinations. Known for its heritage bakes and neighbourhood roots, the bakery leans into variety this year, offering something for both traditionalists and those who enjoy newer, bolder flavours at the snack table.

With such a wide range, some items shine more than others — and that’s where tasting becomes essential.

The Clear Crowd Favourites

Among everything we tried, a few items stood out immediately and consistently across different palates.

The Black Sesame Melting Cookies were the unanimous winner. Rich, nutty and genuinely melt-in-the-mouth, these were addictive in the best way. Even those who aren’t usually fans of black sesame found themselves reaching for more — and surprisingly, this was also a hit with a toddler, which says a lot.

Another standout was the Salted Egg Murukku, which delivered a surprisingly well-balanced savoury punch. The salted egg flavour paired exceptionally well with the crunchy murukku base, creating something genuinely addictive. This easily felt like a product that could (and should) become a permanent offering.

The Gula Melaka Kueh Bangkit also impressed, with the use of gula melaka adding depth and warmth to a familiar festive favourite. The flavour felt more rounded and elevated compared to standard versions, making it especially appealing to those who enjoy traditional biscuits with a twist.

Family-Friendly and Easy Crowd-Pleasers

For family gatherings, the Peanut Butter Folded Love Letters with Mixed Nuts were an easy win. Nutty, aromatic and not overly sweet, they worked well across age groups and were particularly enjoyable as a shared snack.

The Tempeh Chips were another safe, familiar option. While they didn’t stand out dramatically compared to other tempeh chips on the market, they were well executed and proved popular with younger diners.

The More Polarising Picks

Some of Pine Garden’s more experimental offerings may appeal to niche tastes.

The Oolong Matcha Fog Cookies leaned heavily into matcha bitterness, with the oolong taking a back seat. Matcha lovers may appreciate the boldness, but this is clearly geared more towards adult palates — it’s not a universally crowd-friendly cookie.

The Red Dates Goji Cookies were pleasant in flavour, though the goji berry bits were slightly firm, which affected the overall texture.

As for the Lo Hei Cookies, the concept felt more playful than successful. The flavour didn’t evoke yu sheng or lo hei elements clearly, instead resembling a variation of traditional “cat’s ears” biscuits without quite hitting the mark.

When Experimentation Divides Opinion

The Mala Chiffon with Cheese Cap was one of the more challenging items. While the savoury cheese cap paired well with the mala spice, the sweetness and airy chiffon texture created a combination that felt slightly disjointed. The flavour concept itself had potential, but it might work better in a denser biscuit or cookie format rather than a chiffon cake.

A Note on Pineapple Tarts

Pineapple tarts remain a festive staple, and Pine Garden offers both traditional open-faced versions and yuzu pineapple tart rolls. The open-faced tarts appealed more to those who favour classic balance, while the Yuzu Pineapple Tart Rolls skewed noticeably citrusy — something that will suit those who enjoy sharper notes without it being sour, though it may not appeal to traditionalists.

Overall Takeaway

Pine Garden’s Chinese New Year 2026 collection is ambitious, varied and conversation-starting. While not every item will appeal to every palate, the lineup offers enough strong standouts to justify a spot on the festive snack table — especially for households that enjoy mixing heritage favourites with modern flavours.

If you’re choosing selectively, the Black Sesame Melting Cookies, Salted Egg Murukku and Gula Melaka Kueh Bangkit are easy recommendations.

The Pine Garden

Address: Blk 529 Ang Mo Kio Avenue 10, #01-2369 & #01-2329, Singapore 560529
Phone: +65 6457 6159
Email: enquiries@pgcake.com
Website: https://www.pgcake.com

---

Images: The Pine Garden