This stunning dessert, known as Chien Chang Go in Mandarin and Kuih Lapis in Southeast Asia, is a testament to meticulous craftsmanship. It exists in two main forms: the Cantonese style (Chien Chang Go) is a dense, often egg-based cake popular in Guangzhou dim sum, whereas the Southeast Asian version (Kuih Lapis) is made from rice flour and coconut milk, giving it a bouncy, gelatin-like texture. In both cases, the cake is constructed from alternating, thin layers of batter that are carefully poured and steamed one at a time, often tinted with natural colors like pandan green. The resulting structure, rich in flavor and meticulous in design, symbolizes upward progress and good fortune.

Regional Roots

• Guangzhou