It’s gooey. It’s crunchy. And it’s oh-so-yummy. Muah Chee is a local snack made from a glutinous rice paste coated with crushed peanuts.

If you’ve ever wondered about the name, Dr. Leslie has the answer:

Have you ever wondered why Muah Chee is called Muah Chee? Well, in Teochew, it is actually pronounced “Muar ChNee”. The “N” denotes a nasally “ngee” sound that should immediately follow the “Ch”. “Chnee” means “Money” and “Muah” means “Full”. Muah Chee was traditionally used as an offering to the gods during festive occasions and was meant to bring prosperity to the person offering it. It is sticky so that “Money” can, figuratively, stick to it!

Dr. Leslie blogs about a muah chee maker who’s been serving up this treat fresh since 1953! Read about him here.