Moon Festival, or also known as Mid-Autumn Festival, is coming in less than one month. We all know that it is the time when people enjoy mooncakes with their family and friends. However, do any of you know the actual history behind it and what kinds of mooncakes are available out there?
Mooncakes are traditional Chinese pastries generally eaten during the Mid-Autumn Festival. The festival typically involves family getting together to share mooncakes while watching the moon.
Typical Chinese mooncakes are round in shape, and measure around 10 cm (4 inches) in diameter and 4-5 cm (2 inches) in thickness. Most mooncakes consist of a pastry skin enveloping a sweet, dense filling. Mooncakes are usually eaten in small wedges shared by family members. They are generally served with Chinese tea, and very rarely, mooncakes are served steamed or fried.
The custom of eating mooncakes has it’s origins in the uprising that ended the Yuan Dynasty (1271–1368). People in the Ming Dynasty that followed ate mooncakes every Mid-Autumn Festival to commemorate the uprising. Far from everyone looks back to the Yuan Dynasty nowadays, with mooncakes more a representation of the full Mid-Autumn moon in people’s minds, and something nice to eat with family.
Traditionally, mooncake is filled according to the region’s tradition. The most used fillings are as follows:
1. Lotus seed paste (莲蓉, lían róng): It is made from dried lotus seeds. Lotus seed paste is considered by some people the most delicious and luxurious filling for mooncakes.
2. Sweet bean paste (豆沙, dòu shā): There are several types of sweet bean paste: mung bean paste, red bean paste and black bean potato paste. Red bean paste is the most commonly used filling for mooncakes.
3. Five kernel (五仁, wǔ rén): This filling consists of 5 types of nuts and seeds. The types of nuts and seeds vary according to different regions, but commonly used nuts and seeds include: walnuts, pumpkin seeds, watermelon seeds, peanuts, sesame seeds, and almonds.
4. Egg yolk: A whole salted egg yolk is placed in the center of mooncakes to symbolize the full moon.
In Jakarta, there are four differents hotels whose bakery is creating various beautiful moon cake set that will perfect to celebrate the mooncake festival and to send as gift for family and friends. Check out this map below to see what kind of fillings of mooncake available!
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