Sweet Ban, or Niangao, is a rice cake meant for Chinese New Year. It is made from glutinous rice flour. Traditionally, the Hakka in Taiwan would grind the flour into rice milk, put it in a cotton bag, and place a heavy chunk of rock on it. Slowly drained of water, the remaining rice mass is subsequently mixed with other ingredients, steamed with low heat, and edible when cooled. For Hakka people, it represents family unity and happiness because of its round shape and sweet taste, which is why it's perfect for Chinese New Year.

Countries around the world celebrate New Year with food and drink as the Hakka do. The Japanese mix rice cakes with meat, vegetable, and soba noodles to pray for blessings and longevity; the Russians share pies and vodka with family members on New Year's Eve as a token of happiness, while people living in North China make dumplings shaped like golden ingots in anticipation of a fruitful year.