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White Rabbit ice cream, handbags, cocktail – everyone’s favourite Chinese candy, a Lunar New Year staple, is keeping up with the times

  • White Rabbit Creamy Candy is a favourite of people around the world. With an 80-year history, it is taking new forms to stay relevant – and milk nostalgia
  • The rabbit hasn’t always been on the wrapper – until 1959, when China ruled him evil, Mickey Mouse was the symbol of what were then ABC Mickey Mouse Sweets

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White Rabbit Creamy Candy is a mainstay of the Lunar New Year treat box. As it marks 80 years, new flavours are being launched. That follows the debut of White Rabbit Ice Cream and of White Rabbit-themed Coach accessories. Photo: EPA

For many people, White Rabbit Creamy Candy hits the sentimental sweet spot, transporting them back to childhood. Agung Prabowo has fond memories of the milky delights.

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“The sweet, creamy milkiness that melts in your mouth is memorable,” says Prabowo, co-founder of award-winning bar Penicillin, in Hong Kong’s Central district.

“The thin piece of edible rice paper that the candy is wrapped around makes it very special,” he says, referring to the translucent rice paper that prevents the candy from sticking to the wrapper.

“It was my favourite childhood candy and I think that is the same for a lot of Hongkongers.”

Hong Kong bar Penicillin has a White Rabbit-inspired cocktail. Photo: courtesy of Penicillin
Hong Kong bar Penicillin has a White Rabbit-inspired cocktail. Photo: courtesy of Penicillin

To honour the sweet, Penicillin now has a White Rabbit-inspired cocktail called How Bad Are Bananas?, comprising redistilled White Rabbit candy tequila, fresh lime juice, banana whey liquids and celery syrup.

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