Pineapple tart
Small pastries filled or topped with spiced pineapple jam
Pineapple tart is a bite-sized pastry with a rich, buttery crust and sweet pineapple jam, found across Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei, and Taiwan. The jam is made from fresh pineapple cooked with sugar and spices, and the tarts appear in several shapes. They are especially popular during festive seasons such as Chinese New Year and Lebaran.
- Filled or topped with spiced pineapple jam
- Popular at Chinese New Year and Lebaran
- Comes in round, rolled, or lattice-topped shapes
- Taiwanese version is fully enclosed and rectangular
- Rich, buttery pastry with melt-in-the-mouth texture
What is Pineapple tart?
Pineapple tart is a small pastry with a tender, buttery crust and a sweet, spiced pineapple jam. The pastry is rich from butter and egg yolk, sometimes with corn starch for a melt-in-the-mouth texture. The jam is made by slowly cooking grated pineapple with sugar and spices such as cinnamon, star anise, and cloves. These tarts come in shapes like flat rounds with jam and a pastry lattice, rolled pastries open at the ends, or small balls with jam inside. The taste is sweet and aromatic, with the spices giving warmth to the fruit.
Where does Pineapple tart come from?
Pineapple tarts are believed to have first appeared in the 16th century among the Peranakan people in Malacca, after Portuguese traders brought pineapples from South America to Southeast Asia. In Indonesia, the tart known as nastar reflects Dutch influence on local baking traditions. The pastry spread across Maritime Southeast Asia and East Asia, taking on local forms and names. The Taiwanese version, fènglísū, developed its own style with a fully enclosed filling.
How is Pineapple tart made?
The pastry is made by blending butter, egg yolk, and corn starch to create a soft, crumbly dough. For the jam, fresh pineapple is grated and slowly cooked with sugar and spices until thick and caramelized. The dough is shaped into rounds, rolls, or balls, then filled or topped with the jam. Some versions use a lattice of pastry over the jam, while others fully enclose the filling. The tarts are then baked until golden.
How and when is Pineapple tart eaten?
Pineapple tarts are enjoyed as snacks or with tea, and are a common treat during festive occasions. In Indonesia, they are made for Lebaran (Eid), Christmas (Natal), and Chinese New Year (Imlek). In Malaysia and Singapore, they are especially popular at Chinese New Year, but are also sold year-round in bakeries and souvenir shops. The tarts are often shared with guests or given as gifts during celebrations.
Kinds of Pineapple tart
In Indonesia, nastar is usually round with jam inside. Malaysian and Singaporean tarts may be open-faced or rolled. The Taiwanese fènglísū is rectangular with a fully enclosed filling, sometimes mixed with winter melon for a smoother texture. In Australia, pineapple tart can refer to a different pastry with pineapple jam and passionfruit icing. Each region adapts the tart to local tastes and ingredients.
What Pineapple tart means
Pineapple tarts are closely tied to festive celebrations in Southeast Asia, symbolizing hospitality and good fortune, especially during Chinese New Year. Their presence at major holidays like Lebaran and Imlek reflects their role in bringing families and communities together. They are also a popular souvenir and a marker of Peranakan and local baking traditions.
When Pineapple tart is on the table
Questions people ask about Pineapple tart
What is a pineapple tart made of?
It is made of a buttery pastry, often with egg yolk and corn starch, filled or topped with pineapple jam that is cooked with sugar and spices like cinnamon, star anise, and cloves.
Where does the pineapple tart come from?
It is believed to have originated in the 16th century among the Peranakan people in Malacca, after pineapples were introduced to Southeast Asia by Portuguese traders.
When are pineapple tarts usually eaten?
They are especially popular during festive occasions such as Chinese New Year, Lebaran (Eid), and Christmas, but are also enjoyed year-round as snacks or with tea.
Are there different kinds of pineapple tarts?
Yes, they come in various shapes such as open-faced rounds, rolled pastries, and enclosed balls. The Taiwanese version is rectangular and fully encloses the filling.
What do pineapple tarts taste like?
They have a sweet, aromatic flavor from the pineapple jam and spices, with a rich, buttery, and tender pastry.
Good reading and sources
- Pineapple tart on WikipediaEncyclopedia
- More photos on Wikimedia CommonsPhotos
- Wikidata recordOpen data
The facts on this page come from the Wikipedia article "Pineapple tart", written by its contributors and used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence, and from its Wikidata record (CC0). Thali rewrote the text in its own words, with AI assistance, and compares every page with the article to make sure no passage is copied. It may be reused under the same CC BY-SA 4.0 licence with a link back.
It may contain mistakes, and it is not dietary or allergy advice: recipes differ from cook to cook. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-10-03.
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