Southeast Asian snack or dessert foods
Kuih Alternative names Kue (Indonesia), Kueh (Singapore, Hokkien and Teochew)Course Snack Region or state Southeast Asia , China (Hong Kong ) and Taiwan Associated cuisine Brunei , China (Hong Kong ), Malaysia , Singapore , Taiwan , Indonesia (Kue )Main ingredients Various traditional snacks Similar dishes Mont , Khanom , Bánh , Kakanin
Kuih (Jawi : کوءيه ; Indonesian : kue ; derived from the Hokkien and Teochew kueh – 粿 ) are bite-sized snack or dessert foods commonly found in Southeast Asia , Taiwan ,[ 2] and China . It is a fairly broad term which may include items that would be called cakes , cookies , dumplings , pudding , biscuits , or pastries in English and are usually made from rice or glutinous rice .[ 5] In China, where the term originates from, kueh or koé (粿 ) in the Min Nan languages (known as guǒ in Mandarin ) refers to snacks which are typically made from rice but can occasionally be made from other grains such as wheat.[ 7] The term kuih is widely used in Malaysia ,[ 8] Brunei ,[ 9] and Singapore ,[ 10] kueh is used in Singapore and Indonesia , kue is used in Indonesia only,[ 5] all three refer to sweet or savoury desserts.
Similar snacks are found throughout Southeast Asia, including the Burmese mont , Filipino kakanin , Thai khanom and Vietnamese bánh .[ 8] [ 15] For example, the colourful steamed kue lapis and the rich kuih bingka ubi are also available in Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam albeit with each country localised name and ingredients.[ 8]
Kuihs are not confined to a certain meal but can be eaten throughout the day. They are an integral part of Malaysian ,[ 16] [ 17] Indonesian,[ 18] [ 19] Bruneian ,[ 20] [ 21] and Singaporean festivities such as Hari Raya and Chinese New Year .[ 22] [ 23] [ 24] Many kuih are sweet, but some are savoury.[ 25] [ 26]
^ Su, Lynn; Newell, Phil; Min-hsuan, Lin (2024). "Sweetness from Beyond the Sea" . Taiwan Panorama . Archived from the original on 14 April 2025. Retrieved 14 April 2025 .
^ a b Claire (27 March 2020). "All About Kueh Guide" . Nyonya Cooking . Archived from the original on 14 April 2025. Retrieved 8 May 2022 .
^ Toh, Terence (18 July 2021). "Kuih: What Is It And Where To Try It In Hong Kong" . Tatler Asia . Retrieved 15 April 2025 .
^ a b c Toh, Terence (5 April 2022). "The Colourful History Of Malaysian Kuih-Muih" . Tatler Asia . Retrieved 14 April 2025 .
^ "Brunei's Traditional Sweet Treats You Must Try" . Brunei Tourism . 6 May 2020. Archived from the original on 15 April 2025. Retrieved 15 April 2025 .
^ "Food Fables: Kuih Yang Mana Satu?" [Cerita Pendek Makanan: Which One Kuih?]. Government of Singapore (in Malay). Retrieved 15 April 2025 – via Singapore Heritage Fest.
^ Oxford University Press 2015 , pp. 166, 529 and 636.
^ Xavier, Lorna (2 July 2019). "17 Essential Kuih Hari Raya & Cookies Enjoyed By Malaysians" . Cosmic Cookware . Archived from the original on 15 April 2025. Retrieved 15 April 2025 .
^ Xavier, Lorna (24 January 2025). "15 Must-Have Chinese New Year Snacks in Malaysia" . Cosmic Cookware . Archived from the original on 15 April 2025. Retrieved 15 April 2025 .
^ Arif, Amira; Mahfud, Nurul (17 March 2025). "Deretan Kue Lebaran Favorit Masyarakat Indonesia" [A List of Favourite Indonesian Eid Kue]. rri.co.id (in Indonesian). Archived from the original on 15 April 2025. Retrieved 15 April 2025 .
^ "22 Kue Lebaran yang Paling Dicari! Favorit Semua Keluarga" [22 Most Wanted Eid Kue! Every Family's Favourite]. mitra10.com (in Indonesian). 28 February 2025. Archived from the original on 15 April 2025. Retrieved 15 April 2025 .
^ "Traditional Raya treats slowly disappearing with changing times in Brunei" . Borneo Bulletin . 8 April 2025. Archived from the original on 15 April 2025. Retrieved 15 April 2025 – via The Star.
^ Wasil, Wardi (27 March 2025). "Sweet legacy" . Borneo Bulletin . Archived from the original on 15 April 2025. Retrieved 15 April 2025 .
^ Goh, Amanda (18 March 2025). "Hari Raya 2025: 15 places in Singapore to get delectable kuih raya to enjoy with friends and family" . Tatler Asia . Retrieved 15 April 2025 .
^ "🌟 10 Essential Hari Raya Kuih You Can't Miss for Your Festive Feast! 🎉" . Good Times DIY . 2 April 2023. Retrieved 15 April 2025 .
^ Maan, Daween (13 January 2023). "8 Chinese New Year snacks and why we eat them" . Tatler Asia . Retrieved 15 April 2025 .
^ Mok, Opalyn (27 March 2016). "Malaysian kuih: A marriage of flavours and cultures" . The Malay Mail . Retrieved 4 September 2017 .
^ Knelly, Clarice (8 December 2022). "Malaysia's Kuih Desserts Are A World Of Colors And Flavors" . TastingTable . Archived from the original on 15 April 2025. Retrieved 15 April 2025 .