2024 marks the Year of the Dragon – the Chinese zodiac sign known for its cunning, charisma and confidence. From confectioneries in Hong Kong to a gin distillery in Ireland to a Toronto-based popcorn maker, brands around the world have released a range of limited edition products paying tribute. Whether you’re a dragon sign yourself, shopping for a delicious gift or just looking for a memento to mark 2024, here are our food and drink picks for ushering in the Lunar New Year.
Bridgeland Canadian Baijiu Year of the Dragon Edition,
Bridgeland Distillery
What’s Lunar New Year without the national drink of China: baijiu? The Calgary-based distillers at Bridgeland have used local grains to make a Canadian version of the traditional high-alcohol clear spirit.
$39
Pops of Fire Savoury Caramel Popcorn,
Eatable
Eatable‘s limited-edition Year of the Dragon popcorn comes in a beautiful bag inspired by the the traditional red envelopes of Lunar New Year. The flavour is a unique blend of sweet and savoury, with caramel and a blend of Asian spices – made and packaged in small batches in Canada.
$12
VSOP Lunar New Year 2024,
Hennessy
Hennessy’s Year of the Dragon release was created in collaboration with Chinese contemporary artist Yang Yongliang, and features a digital artwork showing dragons dancing in and out of waves. (If you’re in Toronto, stop by their Holt Renfrew personalization pop-up before February 11 to have a calligrapher adorn your bottle with English or traditional Chinese characters).
$135
Assorted Chinese New Year Pudding,
The Peninsula Boutique
Lunar New Year puddings are a holiday staple in Hong Kong, symbolizing prosperity and attaining new heights in the new year. At the Peninsula Boutique, the online store for the eponymous 5-star hotels, a Hong Kong-made pudding duo includes a classic and a red date-and ginger-infused pudding, packaged in a beautiful red dragon box.
$118
Drumshanbo Gunpowder Irish Gin Dragon Edition Bottle,
The Shed Distillery
The gorgeous limited-edition Year of the Dragon bottle of Drumshanbo Gunpowder Irish Gin (which is infused with ‘gunpowder’ green tea and Asian botanicals) has embossed gold and red engravings, with a design featuring dragons and Chinese characters.
€49.95
2024 Lunar New Year Gift Set,
Lady M
This elaborate gift box has a pop-up display of plum blossoms (symbolizing prosperity and growth) and includes an array of treats such as crepe biscuits, melon pearl candies, coconut chocolates and roasted almonds – as well as five red envelopes.
$168
Johnnie Walker Blue Label Year of the Dragon,
Johnnie Walker
Johnnie Walker’s annual Lunar New Year release for the Year of the Dragon features a beautiful and colourful dragon illustration by Asian-American artist James Jean. Inside is Johnnie Walker’s indulgent and smooth Blue Label Scotch, which has flavours of vanilla, honey and rose petal.
$400
Lunar New Year 2024 – Year of the Dragon Tea,
Harney & Sons
The Year of the Dragon tea from New-York-based Harney & Sons is inspired by nian gao, sweet rice cakes made of caramel, sesame and coconut – a traditional delicacy served during the Lunar New Year. The limited-edition tea is a blend of black tea, toasted rice, coconut pieces, sesame seeds, coconut and caramel flavours.
$17 U.S.
Year of the Dragon Gift Box,
Honolulu Cookie Company
A box of Hawaiian cookies makes a totally unique Lunar New Year gift. Honolulu Cookie Company’s Year of the Dragon gift box has a collection of biscuits in their signature flavours (think guava and pineapple macadamia) in a limited-edition dragon box.
$21 U.S.
Year of the Dragon Lantern Candy Bento Box,
Sugarfina
Sugarfina‘s lantern-shaped candy bento box comes with two limited-edition gold-foiled candy cubes featuring red gummy “lotus flowers” and chocolate “good fortune” truffles.
$30
Lunar New Year Legacy Collection Trio,
Mission Hill Family Estate
Okanagan’s Mission Hill has released their annual Lunar New Year collection trio, which includes three red wines – their 2019 Oculus, 2019 Quatrain and 2019 Compendium – packaged in a festive dragon gift box.
$366
Power of the Dragon Vertuo Gift Set,
Nespresso
Nespresso’s limited-edition Year of the Dragon set comes with an exploration selection of six different coffee flavours to try, including Golden Caramel, El Salvador, Fortado, Melozio, Inizio and Bianco Forte, plus two red porcelain Grand Lungo cups.
