It's that time of the year again for the sweet or savoury treats that are given as presents during the Mid-Autumn Festival... the mooncake. This Chinese treat is a tender pastry with imprints of words or symbols such as the type of flavor, encompassing a sweet or savory filling. The circular shape symbolises unity, family reunions and a way of thanking the god for a good harvest.
Maybe you have never even heard of or tried a mooncake before, then now is the perfect time to eat one! Here is some information about some of the uniquely strange mooncakes around for you to try or maybe even to avoid.
Traditional Cantonese Mooncakes:
The traditional Cantonese mooncakes are baked to a glossy golden texture, with fillings ranging from red bean paste to green tea to lotus seed paste. The original filling is white or red lotus seed paste, while this may sound strange, it gets more interesting when you find one or even two salted duck egg yolks in the middle for texture variety. Although there are many classic filling mooncakes around to try, hotels in Shanghai offer many contemporary fillings too. The Pennisula Hotel on the bund is selling Michelin starred mooncakes such as the "Luna" with Japanese Sake and mandarin.
Shanghainese Mooncakes:
Shanghai mooncakes are a combination of modern shortbread pastry or layers of flaky dough like mooncakes with both sweet and savory fillings. As such, the savory flavors tend to include pork or chicken, while the sweet offers flavors in the classic lotus paste option, as well as red bean paste.
Snowskin Mooncakes:
According to CNN, the snowskin mooncake originated in Hong Kong. This type of mooncake is made out of mochi that appears to be white, hence the name. Snowskin mooncakes are not baked in an oven due to the demand for less oily mooncakes. Since the birth of the snow skin mooncake in 1989, the variety of fillings are incredibly innovative. Here are some creative fillings to expect in a snowskin mooncake:
Durian
Surprisingly a top seller despite the awful smell, the filling is made out of durian pulp ensuring that your house will smell amazing after cutting one open.
Bamboo Charcoal with Assorted Nuts
The skin is created using bamboo charcoal powder, which is believed to be quite healthy according to chef Angie Liew. Similar to squid ink pasta, the skin of this mooncake is actually black, rather than white.
Roselle Snowskin with Cheese and Spirulina Paste
According to TimeOut, the InterContinental Kuala Lumpur hotel, the bamboo charcoal mooncake and roselle are just a few of their new flavors this year that cost around 40 RMB.
Violette and Gin
Wrapped in purple colored skin due to the violette, this mooncake has layers of floral notes and gin. mooncake is just one of the many flavors in the Grand Hayatt’s new collection.
Apple Cider
Infused with apple cider flavor, and sliced apples, this mooncake is a refreshing slightly alcoholic treat according to the Goodwood Park Hotel in Singapore.
Mango Sago
Similarly to the well liked “mango sago smoothie” from the juice shop in the mall, this mooncake includes a dessert inside a dessert.
Ice Cream Mooncakes:
Especially popular among young people are ice cream mooncakes, either made out of pastry on the outside or a waffle with chocolate coating the filling is cold, creamy, and refreshing. These mooncakes can be popularly found at Häagan-Dazs or at Starbucks.
Seafood Mooncakes:
Too many mooncakes are strictly for someone with a sweet tooth. To some, the way to go is the savory mooncake made out of seafood such as abalone or even lobster.
KFC Mooncakes:
Following the Shanghai-styled mooncake, the fast food brand has jumped on board with it's own take on the tradition. Sadly, you will not find any chicken inside. Instead, you will find it filled with pork.
Oreo Mooncakes:
Another classic brand that has decided to jump on the mooncake hype this year, is Oreo. Each mooncake box roughly costs 92 RMB (That's Shanghai), concealing four different flavors. These four flavors include cacao cream, creamy pineapple, strawberry, and original Oreo flavor. Unfortunately, there are no cookies in these Oreos, which might be a deal breaker for those who just prefer the original cookies and cream.
Dare to try these strange and unique mooncakes, who knows, maybe anything edible can be stuffed into this treat.
Renee Pearce
Maybe you have never even heard of or tried a mooncake before, then now is the perfect time to eat one! Here is some information about some of the uniquely strange mooncakes around for you to try or maybe even to avoid.
Traditional Cantonese Mooncakes:
The traditional Cantonese mooncakes are baked to a glossy golden texture, with fillings ranging from red bean paste to green tea to lotus seed paste. The original filling is white or red lotus seed paste, while this may sound strange, it gets more interesting when you find one or even two salted duck egg yolks in the middle for texture variety. Although there are many classic filling mooncakes around to try, hotels in Shanghai offer many contemporary fillings too. The Pennisula Hotel on the bund is selling Michelin starred mooncakes such as the "Luna" with Japanese Sake and mandarin.
 |
| Traditional Cantonese Mooncakes, taken from TimeOut |
Shanghainese Mooncakes:
Shanghai mooncakes are a combination of modern shortbread pastry or layers of flaky dough like mooncakes with both sweet and savory fillings. As such, the savory flavors tend to include pork or chicken, while the sweet offers flavors in the classic lotus paste option, as well as red bean paste.
 |
| Shanghainese Meat Mooncake, taken by Renee Pearce |
Snowskin Mooncakes:
According to CNN, the snowskin mooncake originated in Hong Kong. This type of mooncake is made out of mochi that appears to be white, hence the name. Snowskin mooncakes are not baked in an oven due to the demand for less oily mooncakes. Since the birth of the snow skin mooncake in 1989, the variety of fillings are incredibly innovative. Here are some creative fillings to expect in a snowskin mooncake:
Durian
Surprisingly a top seller despite the awful smell, the filling is made out of durian pulp ensuring that your house will smell amazing after cutting one open.
Bamboo Charcoal with Assorted Nuts
The skin is created using bamboo charcoal powder, which is believed to be quite healthy according to chef Angie Liew. Similar to squid ink pasta, the skin of this mooncake is actually black, rather than white.
Roselle Snowskin with Cheese and Spirulina Paste
According to TimeOut, the InterContinental Kuala Lumpur hotel, the bamboo charcoal mooncake and roselle are just a few of their new flavors this year that cost around 40 RMB.
Violette and Gin
Wrapped in purple colored skin due to the violette, this mooncake has layers of floral notes and gin. mooncake is just one of the many flavors in the Grand Hayatt’s new collection.
Apple Cider
Infused with apple cider flavor, and sliced apples, this mooncake is a refreshing slightly alcoholic treat according to the Goodwood Park Hotel in Singapore.
Mango Sago
Similarly to the well liked “mango sago smoothie” from the juice shop in the mall, this mooncake includes a dessert inside a dessert.
Ice Cream Mooncakes:
Especially popular among young people are ice cream mooncakes, either made out of pastry on the outside or a waffle with chocolate coating the filling is cold, creamy, and refreshing. These mooncakes can be popularly found at Häagan-Dazs or at Starbucks.
 |
| Häagen-Dazs Ice Cream Mooncakes, taken by Renee Pearce |
Seafood Mooncakes:
Too many mooncakes are strictly for someone with a sweet tooth. To some, the way to go is the savory mooncake made out of seafood such as abalone or even lobster.
KFC Mooncakes:
Following the Shanghai-styled mooncake, the fast food brand has jumped on board with it's own take on the tradition. Sadly, you will not find any chicken inside. Instead, you will find it filled with pork.
 |
| KFC Mooncake, taken from TimeOut |
Another classic brand that has decided to jump on the mooncake hype this year, is Oreo. Each mooncake box roughly costs 92 RMB (That's Shanghai), concealing four different flavors. These four flavors include cacao cream, creamy pineapple, strawberry, and original Oreo flavor. Unfortunately, there are no cookies in these Oreos, which might be a deal breaker for those who just prefer the original cookies and cream.
Dare to try these strange and unique mooncakes, who knows, maybe anything edible can be stuffed into this treat.
 |
| Oreo Mooncake, taken from That's Shanghai |
Renee Pearce
