The popular Chinese delicacy, called the mooncake, which is traditionally eaten during the mid-autumn festival is popular nowadays as a corporate gift throughout the entire festival period. However, the history of the mooncake in China is as long as 3000 years. In the 13th century, China was invaded and subdued by the Mongols who established the Yuan dynasty. Chinese people continued to be oppressed by the Mongolians and they dared not rebel openly.

This went on until Zhu Yuanzhang, a rebel leader, and his confidant Liu Bowen circulated rumours that an epidemic was spreading and the only way to stop it was to eat specially made mooncakes. The Mongol emperor approved the distribution but little did he know that the mooncakes contained a secret message only the Chinese understood; attack the Mongols on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month (the day of the mid-autumn festival). Their plan succeeded and the Mongols were overthrown.

Interesting Facts About Mooncakes You Probably Don’t Know

• They Were Known As “Hu” Cakes

Zhang Qian, a Han Dynasty official, travelled to China’s western territories in the second century. Sesame seeds and walnuts from Hu, or ethnic minority areas, were among the items he brought back. Mooncakes started to contain these components frequently, earning them the name “Hu Cake”.

Later, Li Longji, an emperor of Tang Dynasty and his concubine Lady Yang tried the cakes at one mid-autumn festival and loved them. On seeing the moon outside, Lady Yang suggested that the cakes should be named mooncakes. So the term “mooncake” stuck because people liked it more than the former name.

• Mooncakes Are Meant To Be Shared

Traditionally, mooncakes are meant to be shared into equal pieces by family members to symbolize unity and togetherness. It should be sliced evenly with a sharp knife and then paired with a strong cup of tea. Many even believed then that the mooncake tastes better when shared.

However, there is no harm in pretending like you never read this and going on to guzzle whole mooncakes by your lonesome every mid-autumn festival.

• They Are Calorie Bombs

Each traditional mooncake is estimated to be at a thousand calories per cake. The egg yolk, lotus seed paste, nuts or meat contained within them and sweet baked or fried pastry doesn’t exactly make mooncakes the healthiest food. As a result, in the 1960s, the snow skin versions were invented. These white, soft-textured versions are by far healthier alternatives.

• Giant Mooncakes

At the Parkside Plaza at Changfeng and Shanghai Marriott Hotel Changfeng in Shanghai, China, on September 19, 2013, a culinary team set a new giant mooncake record. Three days were spent cooking it by 15 chefs. Its production involved the use of 100 grams of oil, 300 kilograms of sugar, 500 kg of flour, 4000 egg yolks, and 2,300 kg of lotus seed paste. They produced a 2.57 m-diameter, 2,496.4 kg mooncake. It is currently the biggest mooncake ever.

• If It’s Not Decorated, It’s Not A Mooncake

Almost all mooncakes are embellished with a design on the crust, frequently utilizing moulds to imprint Chinese characters and motifs onto the pastry. Mooncakes with a higher price tag feature far more elaborate decorations and premium ingredients. In Asia, where there is a vast selection of mooncakes to try, it has long been popular to give mooncakes in attractively presented gift sets.

The Different Types Of Mooncakes

Traditional Mooncakes

• CANTONESE MOONCAKES

The most common mooncake has a lotus-like form and decorative embossed design. Its contents are usually enclosed in a golden-brown skin and the filling is typically made of lotus paste with one or two salted egg yolks in the centre. Cantonese mooncakes can also be filled with a variety of sweet pastes like red beans and black sesame pastes.

• SHANGHAI MOONCAKES

The skin of a Shanghai mooncake is made of shortcrust pastry which is crisp and crumbly as opposed to the relatively soft skin of Cantonese mooncakes. The pastry has a sweet, buttery flavour. Additionally, lotus paste and salted egg yolk are frequently used as fillings in Shanghai mooncakes, which go well with the buttery skin.

• SUZHOU MOONCAKES

Suzhou mooncakes are the ideal snacks if you prefer savoury baked products. They have a delectable pork filling inside a flaky, crunchy crust. Making two different types of dough – oil dough and water dough – is necessary to achieve the layered appearance of Suzhou mooncakes. Typically, a black sesame seed garnish or an edible red stamp is used to identify Suzhou mooncakes.

Contemporary Moocakes

• SNOW SKIN MOONCAKES

Snow skin mooncakes are made without cooking, unlike traditional mooncakes, which are baked. The skin has a smoother texture and a distinctive scent because it is created from cooked glutinous rice flour. They usually come in pastel colours and have embossed designs similar to Cantonese mooncakes on their surface.

• ICE CREAM MOONCAKES

Ice cream is used to make ice cream mooncakes, which are then covered in either snow skin dough or melted chocolate. It has a similar appearance to traditional mooncakes because it was created using a mooncake mould.

This kind of mooncake is often available as a seasonal delicacy at ice cream stores.

Three Exclusive Mooncake Hampers That Will Leave Your Recipient Wanting More

• PREMIUM FRUIT HAMPER WITH PENINSULA MOONCAKE & WINE OR CHAMPAGNE

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• CLASSIC MID AUTUMN FRUIT HAMPER WITH KEE WAH MOONCAKE & WINE OR CHAMPAGNE

During this Mid-Autumn Season, express your gratitude and give good luck and longevity wishes to the special people in your life with our unique hamper filled with delicious mooncakes, seasonal fruits, and a bottle of red wine.

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