Guide to Mid-Autumn Festival Mooncakes 2024

Many countries, including China, Japan, Vietnam and the Philippines, celebrate variations of this seasonal festival. It is a time for families and friends to come together, admire the full moon, and enjoy various festive activities. Each year, it takes place on the 15th day of the eighth lunar month. This year, the event falls on Tuesday 17th September 2024.

Otherwise known as the Harvest Moon Festival or Mooncake Festival, food plays a key role in the celebrations, with mooncakes being the star of the show. We take a look at why mooncakes are so significant during this event and how you can enjoy mooncakes in the UK.

What Are Mooncakes?

A traditional mooncake is a round pastry that’s densely filled with sweet red bean paste or lotus seed paste. The round shape is said to represent unity and completeness and is also reminiscent of the full moon.

Mooncakes are an incredibly popular item for the Mid-Autumn Festival and can now be found with a wide variety of fillings, with chocolate mooncakes and custard mooncakes being tasty favourites. One of the most renowned brands for mooncakes is Wing Wah.

The pastry on the top of a mooncake is decorated with an intricate pattern and message that wishes the person eating it longevity or harmony. Common patterns include depictions of the moon or flowers and rabbits, which also symbolise the moon.

Traditionally, mooncakes were used as offerings to the moon and symbolised family unity and togetherness. They are often given as gifts between family members and friends as a way of expressing good wishes and blessings for the future.

Over the years, mooncakes have evolved, and now there are many creative and modern variations available, including square-shaped mooncakes, snow skin mooncakes, ice cream mooncakes, and even savoury mooncakes with meat or seafood fillings.

What is in a Mooncake Made From?

The outer crust of a mooncake is typically made from a thin layer of pastry dough, which can be chewy or flaky, depending on the type of mooncake. They have a rich and dense filling that is often made from lotus seed paste, sweet bean paste, or various types of nuts and seeds.

Mooncakes may contain a salted egg yolk in the centre, symbolising the full moon and providing a contrasting savoury element to the sweet filling. The significance of mooncakes goes beyond their taste, as they also hold cultural and symbolic value during the Mid-Autumn Festival.

The filling of a mooncake can vary depending on regional preferences and individual recipes, but here are some common ingredients:

• Lotus Seed Paste: This is one of the most popular and traditional fillings. It is made from lotus seeds that are cooked and mashed into a sweet paste.
• Red Bean Paste: Another common filling is sweet red bean paste, which is made from cooked and sweetened red beans.
• Black Sesame Paste: A rich and nutty filling made from ground black sesame seeds and sweetener.
• Five Kernel: This is a mixture of various nuts and seeds, such as walnuts, almonds, pumpkin seeds, sesame seeds, and melon seeds.
• Jujube Paste: A filling made from sweetened jujube fruits (also known as red dates).
• Fruit: Some mooncakes have fruit fillings, such as dried apricots or melon.
• Meat: In some regions, you might find mooncakes with savoury fillings, such as pork or duck.

Why Are Mooncakes Eaten During the Mid-Autumn Festival?

Mooncakes and the Mid-Autumn Festival are linked to the legend of Chang’e - the Moon Goddess of Immortality.

What is the Story Behind Mooncakes?

As the legend goes, Chang’e’s husband, Hou Yi, who was a skilled archer, was tasked with shooting down ten suns that suddenly appeared in the sky. When he succeeded, he was granted an elixir of immortality. However, he did not wish to become immortal without his wife.

On the 15th day of the 8th lunar month, someone broke into Hou Yi and Chang’e’s home, attempting to steal the elixir. Refusing to relinquish the elixir, Chang’e drank it herself and flew to the sky to live on the moon - where she could remain closer to her husband.

Hou Yi began to leave cakes and fruit in the garden as a sacrifice to his wife, with other members of the community joining in. The 15th day of the 8th month of the Lunar calendar is now known as ‘Mid-Autumn’, and the night is known as ‘Night of the Moon’. On this day, sacrifices are still left to the moon and the Moon Goddess.

The History of Mooncakes

As well as the Moon Goddess Legend, mooncakes have also been linked to helping bring about the end of Mongol rule during the Yuan dynasty.

Messages were concealed inside mooncakes to coordinate a revolt on the Mid-Autumn Day. Some messages would be baked within the mooncake, whereas others were printed on the surface of a mooncake in packs of four.

When these mooncakes were sliced, they could be rearranged like a puzzle to form the full message. The secret message was then destroyed when the mooncake was eaten!

How to Eat Mooncakes?

Mooncakes are quite dense and can be quite sweet, so it's common to enjoy them in moderation and shared with family or friends. They are typically enjoyed during the Mid-Autumn Festival, but you can still buy and enjoy them at other times of the year. Typically, mooncakes are sliced into quarters and enjoyed with tea.

To serve mooncakes:

• Unwrap the mooncake: Remove the packaging around the mooncake carefully. Some mooncakes may be individually wrapped in thin plastic or paper.
• Cut the mooncake: Mooncakes are usually dense and rich, so they are often cut into smaller slices before eating. Use a sharp knife to cut the mooncake into small wedges or pieces. The number of slices may vary depending on the size of the mooncake and how many people are sharing it, but they are often cut into quarters.
• Utensils: Mooncakes are traditionally eaten by hand, but if you prefer, you can use a fork or knife to cut and pick up the pieces.
• Share with family and friends: Mooncakes are meant to be shared and enjoyed together with family and friends. Offer slices to others and enjoy the delicacy in the company of loved ones.
• Pair with tea: Mooncakes are often accompanied by Chinese tea, especially green tea or oolong tea. The tea helps to balance the sweetness of the mooncake and cleanse the palate between bites.
• Savour the flavours: Mooncakes come in various flavours, including traditional lotus seed paste with salted egg yolk, red bean paste, black sesame, and more. Take your time to savour the unique taste and texture of each variety.

What Do Mooncakes Taste Like?

Mooncakes have a unique and distinctive taste and traditionally have a sweet and rich flavour. The outer crust of the mooncake is usually soft and tender, made from a pastry-like dough, which is lightly sweetened and might have a subtle buttery taste.

The taste of a mooncake can vary depending on the type of filling used. For example:

• Lotus Seed Paste has a smooth and slightly nutty flavour with a delicate sweetness.
• Red Bean Paste offers a sweet and earthy taste with a hint of graininess.
• Black Sesame Paste has a rich, toasty flavour with a natural sweetness.
• Mung Bean Paste is less sweet and has a more delicate taste compared to other fillings.

Snow Skin Mooncakes

An increasingly popular choice is the snow skin mooncake, which is a non-baked form of mooncake made using glutinous rice flour. It is similar to mochi, as it has a delicate, soft and chewy exterior. They come in various flavours, like mango, durian, or green tea, and are best served cold.

If you’re looking for this type of mooncake, Taipan snowy mooncakes are some of the most popular to try!

Are Mooncakes Vegan?

Traditional mooncakes are not vegan because they usually contain animal-based ingredients and are often made with lard or other animal fats. Additionally, mooncakes often incorporate salted duck egg yolks as part of their traditional recipe.

Are Mooncakes Vegetarian?

Traditional mooncakes are typically not considered vegetarian because they often contain ingredients of animal origin. The primary non-vegetarian ingredient in mooncakes is lard, which is rendered pig fat. Some mooncakes may also contain fillings made with ingredients like meat, seafood, or their by-products.

Should You Buy or Make Mooncakes?

Mooncakes can either be bought from stores or made at home. Traditionally, mooncakes would have been made at home, often on the night of the Mid-Autumn Festival. The senior member of the house would slice this homemade mooncake and give a piece to each member of the family as a sign of unity.

Nowadays, it has become more common for mooncakes to be bought and given to family members. It is now customary to give mooncakes as a gift to friends and family at gatherings or from businessmen to clients.

This has led to a diverse market for mooncakes, with many varieties made, allowing people to give their loved ones something really special. You can also buy luxurious, high-end mooncakes with intricately designed packages and gift boxes.

Making Your Own Mooncakes

If you want to prepare your own mooncakes for the festival, we have a great selection of mooncake ingredients to make things easier. From different fillings to the right flour you need for making the pastry (whether you're going for a traditional or snowy mooncake), we've got all the essentials you might need in one place.

Modern Mooncake Flavours and Variations

Along with the various fillings of contemporary mooncakes, the crust has also seen some modern adaptations, including:

• Ice cream
• Jelly
• Yoghurt
• Chocolate
• Cream Cheese
• Sweet Potato
• Coconut

If you are preparing for the Mid-Autumn Festival, make sure you’re stocked up on mooncakes ready to give as gifts or to enjoy yourself. Explore our range of mooncakes, available online now!