Hee pan (original) (raw)

Hee pan (Chinese: 喜粄; pinyin: xǐbǎn) is a type of steamed rice cake of Chinese origin from the Hakka people. Traditional Hakka hee pan is made from rice milk (米浆) and red sugar. This gives hee pan its distinctive red coloring, chewy texture, and sweet taste. Traditional red hee pan is prepared for important festivals such as Lunar Chinese New Year and weddings. It is considered to be an auspicious food and is believed to bring prosperity, luck, and fortune to the people. Nowadays, the consumption of hee pan is more commonly consumed as a pastry and no longer restricted to cultural festivities.