Perched on the 39th floor of Four Seasons Hotel Dalian, Saai Yue Heen has introduced its Spring Festival Gift Collection in time for the Chinese New Year, presenting a refined selection of festive delicacies designed for premium gifting and family celebrations.
The acclaimed Chinese restaurant’s seasonal offering combines luxury ingredients, curated wines and handcrafted specialties including its signature XO sauce, taro cake and Cantonese radish cake bringing together culinary craftsmanship and auspicious symbolism for the Year of the Snake.
A Curated Chinese New Year Gift Box with Premium Ingredients and Wine Pairings
At the heart of the collection is an elegant gift box featuring four premium dried ingredients and two carefully selected wines, chosen to reflect both quality and tradition.
Inside, guests will find: Four pieces of 12-head dried abalone, prized for their firm texture and abundant collagen, long regarded as a delicacy in Chinese festive cuisine. 150 grams of 120-head dried scallops, offering concentrated umami and a lingering natural sweetness. Dried tangerine peel, mellow and aromatic, traditionally used to enhance flavour and aid digestion. Black tea, tightly rolled leaves that produce a deep red infusion with subtle honeyed notes.
To complement the seafood-forward ingredients, the set includes: Huangjiu (Chinese yellow wine), appreciated for its mellow body and warming character during winter months. A curated red wine, full-bodied with soft tannins, selected to balance the briny richness of dried seafood. The combination highlights the interplay between mountain and sea, aged fragrance, marine depth and vinous warmth making the collection suitable for corporate gifting, family reunions or ceremonial exchanges during the Spring Festival.
Signature XO Sauce Showcases Cantonese Craftsmanship
A highlight of the festive range is Saai Yue Heen’s artisanal XO sauce, produced under the guidance of the restaurant’s culinary team using a proprietary Cantonese recipe.
Premium dried scallops and Jinhua ham form the foundation of the sauce, marrying the scallops’ natural sweetness with the savoury intensity of cured ham. Through a meticulous multi-stage simmering process, the flavours are carefully layered and concentrated, resulting in a vibrant red condiment with a rich, mellow profile and a lingering savoury-sweet finish.
Designed as both a home kitchen staple and an elevated banquet accompaniment, the XO sauce reflects the restaurant’s emphasis on depth, balance and authenticity in Cantonese cuisine.
Handcrafted Taro Cake Brings Nostalgic Festive Flavours
The handcrafted taro cake revives the nostalgic flavours associated with Chinese New Year gatherings. Made from taro and cured sausage, the cake delivers a velvety texture, where earthy root aromas blend with the savoury richness of preserved meat.
When pan-fried, the exterior turns crisp while the interior remains soft and fragrant making it suitable as a festive appetiser or an everyday indulgence during the holiday season.
Cantonese Radish Cake: A Symbol of Prosperity and Progress
Radish cake, a cornerstone of Lingnan cuisine, is another centrepiece of the offering. Made with sweet white radish and cured meats, the savoury pastry achieves a balanced flavour profile appreciated across generations.
In Cantonese culinary tradition, radish cake (萝卜糕) carries layered auspicious meanings. The word “cake” (糕) sounds like “high” (高), symbolising progress and advancement step by step (步步高升), while radish (萝卜), also known as “cai tou” (菜头), suggests good fortune (好彩头). This dual symbolism elevates the humble dish into a meaningful ritual food during Spring Festival celebrations.
Often served alongside shrimp dumplings and chicken feet, radish cake is regarded as one of the essential classics of Cantonese festive tables and dim sum culture.
With its thoughtfully curated Chinese New Year gift hampers and handcrafted festive delicacies, Saai Yue Heen offers a refined way to mark the Spring Festival — whether through shared reunion meals or premium ceremonial gifting that conveys prosperity, warmth and heartfelt blessings.