As the annual Mid-Autumn Festival approaches this September 29, the anticipation for this beloved lunar celebration is mounting, and with it comes the delightful prospect of savouring an array of mooncakes. While traditional mooncakes continue to hold a special place in our hearts, we yearn for new exciting and innovative twists to the tradition of sipping tea and enjoying mooncakes under the full moon. For connoisseurs and adventurous food enthusiasts alike, read on as we embark on a culinary journey to uncover the top 5 most unique mooncakes that are sure to captivate your taste buds and add a dash of novelty to your Mid-Autumn festivities. From innovative flavour combinations to artistic designs that push the boundaries of tradition, these mooncakes are redefining the essence of this cherished festival, one delectable bite at a time.
Awfully Chocolate – Satiate Your Sweet Tooth
Do you or someone you know have an insatiable sweet tooth? Awfully Chocolate is probably already a household name, andthis local bakery is renowned for its delectable desserts. But what might surprise you is its remarkable talent for transforming traditional savoury mooncakes into sweet indulgences. As we usher in the Mid-Autumn Festival, Awfully Chocolate has unveiled not one, but two distinct mooncake sets, each promising to satiate your cravings for all things sweet.
For a more traditional take, opt for the Classic Baked Mooncakes that feature a traditional flavour, the Double Yolk Lotus Paste Mooncake alongside three other chocolatey alternatives. The Praline Mooncake contains light chocolate lotus paste with a praline bourbon centre while the Five Treasures Mooncake is a chocolate lotus paste mooncake sprinkled with roasted nuts and finally the most decadent of all, the Original Chocolate Mooncake, which features a dark chocolate lotus paste with a soft brownie centre.
Otherwise, indulge in the true Awfully Chocolate experience with their Chocolate Truffle Mooncakes. This set features 8 mooncakes in a box featuring 4 unique sophisticated flavours. Perhaps a classic choice for the company, this box contains a bittersweet 83% chocolate ganache encased in a 70% chocolate shell in the shape of a mooncake. They have also taken the tradition of drinking tea and eating mooncakes and fused them into one with their Oolong Peach Mooncake which is an Oolong tea-infused 45% dark milk ganache with a chocolate peach yolk. The other two flavours include popular favourites like Salted Caramel and Almond Crisp.
Janice Wong – Artistic Creations
In the realm of mooncakes, there’s no one quite like Janice Wong who knows how to make a grand entrance. This confectionery brand, bearing the name of the renowned Singaporean artist herself, has made a reputation for its annual tradition of collaborating with diverse companies to craft mooncakes that strike the perfect balance between authenticity and innovation.
In a celebration of true artistic inspiration, the Floral Snowskin Mooncake harmoniously melds delicate floral motifs with the ethereal softness of snow skin, culminating in a flawless ensemble of mooncakes that beautifully encapsulate the very essence of the Mid-Autumn Festival and its mythical moon goddess, Chang E. Presented in a pastel palette, the box features 4 unique flavours such as Rose, with actual petals folded in, oriental-forward Osmanthus Figs, Jasmine tea-infused filling as well as Lavender Apricot.
If light, floral flavours aren’t to your taste, fret not. Janice Wong also offers a box of eight Chocolate Mooncakes enrobed chocolate with a layer of chocolate ganache and sponge. Customers will delight in the familiar flavours of vanilla biscoff, salted pecan dark chocolate, peanut butter snickers and coffee chocolate each marked by intricate hand-dripped paint.
The brand also offers more traditional Baked Mooncakes, not without a unique twist of course. This box of 8 features 4 delicious flavours, Pistachio, Raspberry Almond, Kuromitsu Sea Salt and Kinako Macadamia. There will be something that suits every taste bud in this box.
Wishful – A Thoughtful Cultural Twist
Undoubtedly, the Mid-Autumn Festival holds a significant place in Chinese culture, but its resonance extends far beyond China’s borders. Similar celebrations grace the calendars of other East Asian and Southeast Asian nations, such as Japan, Korea, and Vietnam. In Japan, the equivalent festivity is known as the Harvest Moon Festival or Tsukimi, a term directly translating to “moon-viewing.”
Enter Wishful, a Malaysian company that has ingeniously drawn inspiration from Tsukimi, crafting a stunning and unique collection of mooncakes. The Tsukimi collection, featuring three distinct gift sets – Fortune (Seigaiha), Vitality (Asanoha), and Longevity (Kiku), stands out with its traditional Japanese design.
Each of these gift sets is thoughtfully crafted to represent and impart the meanings and traditions behind Tsukimi. Fortune (Seigaiha) is inspired by Japanese illustrations of seas and oceans which symbolises peace, good luck and fortune in Japanese culture. Vitality, inspired by Asanoha, which are hemp leaf patterns often found in Japanese art represents strength and vitality as hemp leaves are known to grow without the need for too much care. Lastly, the Longevity gift set, the most expensive of the three, is heavily inspired by Kiku, Japanese Chrysanthemum, seen as a symbol of endurance, longevity and integrity.
Yet, the uniqueness of this collection transcends its packaging. Within, you’ll discover an array of delightful treats, from fragrant Puer Tea to exquisite floral coasters, elegant ceramic teapot sets, traditional wooden cutlery, and even Sake sets, all curated to elevate your Mid-Autumn celebrations.
If you’re eager to embrace something novel this Mid-Autumn Festival, look no further than this remarkable collection. It not only embodies the essence and traditions of Tsukimi but promises to leave an indelible mark on your meaningful Mid-Autumn festivities.
Nature Vegetarian Delights – Mooncakes By Nature
Touted as eggless but better, Nature’s Vegetarian Delights annual mooncakes are perfect for the vegans in your life. Specifically formulated with natural ingredients, the company handmakes its signature plant-based “yolk” with a unique blend of spices to bring perfect balance to the sweetness of mooncakes.
Their Traditional Baked Mooncakes are completely vegan, contain reduced sugar and come in 4 delectable flavours — White Lotus, Matcha Lotus, Jade Lotus and Signature Premium Mixed Nuts which contains a symphony of walnuts, macadamias, almonds, pine nuts, sesame seeds and melon seeds.
For a more colourful and fun alternative, try the Layered Six. Harmonising sweet and savoury in its beautiful spiral layers, this set of 6 comes in limited edition flavours, some of which include ‘Ondeh’ Coconut Lotus with Gula Melaka Lotus’ and Matcha Lotus with Adzuki Bean. These mooncakes are great for the health-conscious and suitable even for diabetics, making them the perfect choice for the whole family. Wellness never tasted so good!
Shinsen Hanten by Chen Kentaro – A Luxurious Experience
Whether you’re looking to indulge or impress, Shinsen Hanten, a Michelin-starred culinary gem, is a choice that never disappoints. Celebrating the Mid-Autumn Festival’s spirit of family reunions and cherished connections, Chef Chen Kentaro infuses this tradition with his creative genius, unwavering passion, and heartwarming hospitality.
Chef Kentaro’s culinary artistry shines through in his unique mooncake creations, offering a fresh take on tradition. Dive into a world of flavours with options like the Charcoal Black Sesame Paste with Sakura Prawn, Pistachio and Melon Seeds, and the unforgettable Signature Assorted Nuts paired with exquisite Jamón Ibérico. For those seeking a more contemporary twist, the snowskin mooncakes beckon, with flavours such as Yam and White Chocolate with White Lotus Paste or the tantalising Premium Oolong Tea Chocolate with Orange Paste.
Pick and choose your favourite flavour of mooncakes from their websites or opt for a lavish gift set to elevate your celebration. The gift set comes with a bottle of Devaux Cuvée D Rosé MV (Assorted mini snowskin selection) or a bottle of Gusbourne Blanc de Blancs 2018, Kent (Shinsen Hanten collection). Your Mid-Autumn festivities will undoubtedly be elevated to a whole new level of sophistication and delight.
Whether you choose to savour the rich, savoury sweetness of these unique traditional mooncakes or explore the delicate intricacies of snowskin creations, may your Mid-Autumn Festival this year be a time of connection, reflection, and, above all, indulgence in the extraordinary.
