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The Best Mooncakes in Hong Kong for a Wonderful Mid-Autumn Festival Celebration

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Aug 26, 2024 / 2185 Views

Evan Walker

It’s mooncake season again! This delicate sweet (or savoury) treat is one of the highlights of all Mid-Autumn Festival celebrations. The joyous occasion is among the most celebrated holidays in Hong Kong, complete with family reunions and gatherings. Along with moongazing and playing with lanterns, the celebration is incomplete without eating or gifting mooncakes. So, whether you’re admiring the moon, catching up with family, or decorating your lanterns, mooncakes serve as the perfect companion. While they come in various shapes, sizes, and flavours, we listed out the best Mid-Autumn Festival mooncakes to try in 2024.

Types of mooncakes

There are many types of mooncakes. The most common ones are the traditional mooncakes, which vary by region. Each has its own unique characteristics whether it’s the texture, appearance, or flavour. However, regardless of the difference, most traditional mooncakes require baking while more modern renditions may be available through other ways.

Cantonese mooncake is the most common type of mooncake. Its lotus shape is its defining feature, and it normally has a decorative pattern at the top. Common fillings include lotus paste with salted egg yolks or egg custard. Meanwhile, the Shanghai mooncake has a shortcrust-like skin that is crispy and boasts a crumbly texture. This is quite similar to the Teochew mooncake as the skin is also crumbly. However, it has alternate layers that look like a spiral rainbow. The Suzhou mooncake is made up of a crispy, flaky crust with a meat filling. On the other hand, snow skin mooncake is an example of a mooncake that doesn’t require baking. Instead, it’s made from cooked glutinous rice flour, giving it a smoother texture.

Sure, you might want to try the flavoured mooncakes, nothing beats the traditional ones. If you’re on the hunt for the best ones, see our top picks for Mid-Autumn Festival mooncakes in 2024 below.

This story first appeared on Lifestyle Asia Hong Kong