As the autumn festival approaches, a special treat starts appearing in bakeries and markets across China and other parts of Asia. Round, golden-brown pastries with intricate designs on top – these are Mooncakes (廣式月餅), a beloved traditional delicacy with a rich history and cultural significance. But why do people eat mooncakes?
Let's dive into the world of this fascinating autumn treat and explore everything from its history to how you can make your own.
When is the Mooncake Festival?
The Mooncake Festival, also known as the Mid-Autumn Festival, typically falls on the 15th day of the eighth month in the Chinese lunar calendar. In 2024, mark your calendars for September 17th! This is when you can expect to see mooncakes popping up everywhere.
This festival, very much like the Dragon Boat Festival, is all about family reunions, appreciating the full moon, and of course, enjoying delicious mooncakes. This is why it's called autumn festival mooncakes.
History of Mooncake
Mooncakes have been around for centuries. The original version was known as the Taishi cake, and people were munching on these as far back as the Shang Dynasty. That's around 1600 BC to 1046 BC, almost 3,000 years ago.
The mooncakes eaten today first appeared during the Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD), and they had some interesting backstories. One of the most famous stories involves the overthrow of Mongol rule in China during the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368 AD). Legend has it that rebels hid secret messages inside mooncakes to coordinate their uprising. Talk about a sweet revolution!
Over time, these treats became associated with the Mid-Autumn Festival, symbolizing family unity and prosperity.
What is in Mooncake?
Chinese mooncakes consist of a thick pastry skin with a sweet, dense filling. The filling can vary, but some common ingredients include:
Lotus seed paste
Red bean paste
Mixed nuts and seeds
Egg yolk (often salted duck egg yolk - I'm not too fond of it)
The pastry itself is made from flour, golden syrup, alkaline water, and oil. The top of the mooncake is often imprinted with Chinese characters for "longevity", "harmony," or - the bakery's name.
What does Mooncake taste like?
Well, the taste varies on the filling. The pastry tastes like a sweet, soft tart shell with a rich texture. The dense middle filling is the star of this treat.
The lotus seed paste filling, one of the most popular, has a subtle sweetness that's not overpowering. If there's a salted egg yolk in the centre, it adds a savoury contrast that some people love. Red bean tastes like a grainy paste.
What's the Difference between Mochi and Mooncake?
While both mochi and mooncakes are Asian treats, they're quite different. Mochi is a Japanese rice cake made from pounded sticky rice. It has a soft, chewy texture and is often filled with sweet bean paste or ice cream.
Mooncakes, on the other hand, are Chinese pastries with a thin, tender crust and various fillings. They're denser and richer than mochi, and traditionally associated with the Mid-Autumn Festival.
Is Mooncake Halal?
Traditional mooncakes often contain lard (pork fat) in the pastry, which is not halal. However, many bakeries now offer halal versions made with vegetable oil instead. Especially if you're in the Southeast Asian region, you can find many halal mooncakes.
If you're a Muslim looking for halal mooncakes, always check the ingredients or look for those specifically labelled as halal.
Is Mooncake Vegan?
No, mooncakes are not vegan. The pastry often contains eggs, and many fillings include egg yolks or other animal products.
However, as with halal options, vegan mooncakes are becoming more popular. These versions use plant-based ingredients for both the pastry and the filling. Common vegan fillings include lotus seed paste, red bean paste, and mixed nuts.
Is Songpyeon the same as Mooncake?
While Korean Songpyeon and mooncakes are both associated with autumn festivals, they're actually quite different.
Songpyeon is a Korean rice cake traditionally eaten during Chuseok, the Korean harvest festival. It's made from rice flour dough, filled with sweet ingredients like sesame seeds or red beans, and steamed. Mooncakes are Chinese pastries with a wider variety of fillings, baked rather than steamed.
How to Bake Mooncake?
The technique of making mooncakes is quite a challenge for many, as it requires near-perfect scaling and portioning. You also need a mooncake cutter.
Here's a very simple beginner mooncake recipe.
Ingredients:
250g all-purpose flour
150g golden syrup
60g vegetable oil
1/2 tsp alkaline water
Filling of your choice (e.g., lotus seed paste, red bean paste)
Instructions:
Prepare the Dough: In a large bowl, mix the golden syrup, vegetable oil, and alkaline water. Gradually add the flour and knead until a smooth dough forms. Cover the dough and let it rest for 30 minutes.
Assemble the Mooncakes: Divide the dough into portions (around 20g each). Flatten each portion and wrap it around the filling, ensuring the filling is fully covered. Roll the mooncake into a smooth ball.
Mould the Mooncakes: Press each ball into a mooncake mould and gently tap it out onto a baking tray lined with parchment paper.
Bake: Preheat your oven to 180°C (350°F). Bake the mooncakes for 10 minutes, then remove them from the oven and let them cool for 10 minutes. Brush the tops with a light egg wash and bake for an additional 10-15 minutes until golden brown
How to Serve Mooncakes?
First, let the mooncakes sit for a day. If you've made a successful batch of mooncakes and wish to serve them to friends and family, call them over for tea. Mooncake goes well with black tea or coffee. If you want to make it more culturally apt, you can make Osmanthus Wine to give the perfect Mid-Autumn festival feel to it.
How Long can I store Mooncake?
Packaged mooncake usually comes with preservatives which keep them in good condition for 12 months or more. Homemade mooncakes can survive only about a week.
You don't need to refrigerate regular baked mooncakes, but Snow skin mooncakes do need to be chilled.
Regular Mooncake Vs. Snowskin Mooncake
Regular mooncakes are what we've been talking about so far – baked pastries with a dense tart-like crust and various fillings. They have a longer shelf life and are the type traditionally associated with the Mid-Autumn Festival.
Snowskin mooncakes (Bing Pei), on the other hand, are a more modern invention. They're made with pre-cooked glutinous rice flour, giving it a mochi-like skin and are typically filled with lighter, often fruity fillings. They look so pleasant to the eye too. However, making this is not easy, and can get really messy.
These mooncakes aren't baked; instead, they're refrigerated and have a shorter shelf life. I prefer snowskin mooncakes over regular mooncakes as it has a mochi-like texture and is much lighter.
Trending Mooncake Flavours in 2024
While the traditional ones (red bean and lotus seed) are making their way to the markets as usual, I came across some unique new flavours hitting the shelves of supermarkets. Here are some trending mooncake flavours.
Mixed nuts (often including walnuts, almonds, and seeds)
Green tea
Custard
Chocolate (a modern twist)
Durian (for the adventurous - mostly found in the SEA region)
Taro
Pandan
Matcha red bean
Lava mooncake with an oozing middle (Trending in China)
Remember, the taste is subjective, so don't be afraid to try different flavours to find your favourite!
Where to Buy Mooncake?
You can order packaged mooncakes online or at a nearby Asian Market, but if you want to try authentic handmade mooncakes, we advise you to visit your nearest Chinatown during the Mid-Autumn Festival. You'll be able to find all types of mooncakes in flavours and crusts.
Wrapping Up
So, why do people eat mooncakes in 2024? It's a combination of tradition, cultural significance, and pure deliciousness. Mooncakes are more than just a tasty treat – they're a symbol of unity, family, and the changing of seasons.
Have you tried autumn festival mooncakes before? Let us know what you think about it in the comments below!
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