Single yolk, double yolk, good ol’ lotus paste – there’s just something about mooncakes that even the most steadfast dieters of us cannot resist. Don’t get us started on snow skin and the myriad of flavours these bite-sized sweet treats come in. It’s not even August yet, but we’ve already had more than our fill (perks that come with being in the media). Here are our top picks for this year’s Mid-Autumn Festival.
Raffles Hotel
Raffles Hotel
Some say if you haven’t tried Raffles Hotel’s legendary mooncakes, you haven’t tried mooncakes at all – and we’re inclined to agree. Their alcohol-infused Snow-Skin Champagne Truffle & Ganache and Snow-Skin Raffles Cognac Truffle top our must-savour list every time Mid-Autumn Festival swings around. A newbie this year is the Snow-Skin Irish Coffee Truffle Mooncake – so good we’re hoping it’ll be back next year.
Available now till 8 September 2014 online, or onsite at the Raffles Hotel’s Mooncake Shop and the Chevron House Mooncake booth. Order online by 31 August and enjoy 20% off.
Summer Pavillion, The Ritz-Carlton, Millenia Singapore
Chef Cheung Siu Kong and his team have captured our hearts with their signature Snowskin Lycheetini and Snowskin Green Tea, so we’re glad to see that they’ve decided to stick everyone’s perennial favourites this year. Look forward to the oh-so-classic White Lotus Seed with Double Yolk, with only one new flavour (Purple Sweet Potato and Pumpkin) launched.
Available now till 8 September 2014 online, or purchase at Summer Pavillion from 4 August to 8 September. Order online before 24 August 2014 and receive 20% early bird discount.
Man Fu Yuan
Man Fu Yuan, InterContinental Singapore
For a guilt-free indulgence, Man Fu Yuan’s rendition of low-sugared classics – white lotus seed paste with macadamia nuts or salted egg yolk – deliver. But the highlights this year are the new additions: Shanghai Mooncake, with its smooth lotus paste and mixed nuts encased in a buttery pastry crust, and the super-decadent snowskin ‘Mao Shan Wang’ Durian Mooncake with Coconut.
Available now till 8 September 2014 at Tea Hut, located at the entrance of InterContinental Singapore from Bugis Junction and 20 mooncake fairs islandwide, or purchase online. Exclusive pre-sale at 30% off total retail price till 8 August for 4- piece mooncakes.
Majestic Restaurant
This establishment is one of the few places that has nailed the liquer-infused rendition with their Mini Snow Skin with Kwai Feh Lychee Liquer piece. For more delicate flavours, there’s the Mini Snow Skin with Japanese Ippodo Matcha and Azuki Red Bean, and the Low Sugar Baked Piglets with Pandan Paste and Single Yolk lets you indulge without guilt.
Available from 25 July to 8 September 2014 at the New Majestic Hotel lobby, 11am-830pm daily.
Peony Jade
Peony Jade
Their signature flaky ‘orh ni’ mooncake is an annual must-have, and it’s great for those who prefer traditional flavours. But boy, do they get creative with their snow-skin range! Think flavours like Chocolate Salted Caramel Glaze Banana and Walnuts, Silver Lotus Paste with Cassia Flowers and Jasmine Tea, Mango Cream Cheese (our favourite of the lot), and Honey Graham Pears, Organic Apricot and Raspberry.
Available now till 8 September 2014 online and onsite at Peony Jade restaurants.
Hai Tien Lo, Pan Pacific Singapore
This year, Chef Lai Tong Ping introduces four innovative snowskin mooncake flavours that combine oriental fruit, nuts and flowers, like Melon Seeds with Oolong and Chrysanthemum, Hazelnuts with Honey and Grapefruit, and Pistachio Nuts with Osmanthus and Chinese Herbs. Not to worry, their ever-popular Mao Shan Wang Durian snowskin is back on the order list too.
Available from 8 August to 8 September 2014 at Hai Tien Lo (3F) and Pacific Marketplace (1F) at Pan Pacific Hotel, or purchase online. Enjoy a 15% discount on all orders made before 31 July.
Tai Chong Kok
Tai Chong Kok
Please the elders with old-school mooncakes from this almost 80-years-old establishment in Chinatown, where all confections are still painstakingly handmade. The menu is pretty straightforward: choose between baked or snow skin, and with or without yolk. As for fillings, there are three options – lotus paste, red bean paste, and green bean paste – to pick from.
Available at Chinatown (Sago Street), Takashimaya Food Hall, Westgate, and Ubi. See website for more information.
Häagen-Dazs
Their Classic set of luscious ice cream mooncakes is something we look forward to every year. Encased in a chocolate coating and built on a crispy praline base, these handcrafted goodies house a refreshing mango sorbet center as the ‘yolk’, embedded within Häagen-Dazs ice cream flavours like Chocolate, Strawberry, Macadamia Nut, and Cookies & Cream.
Available from now till 14 September at all Häagen-Dazs cafes.
Bakerzin
Bakerzin
The folks at Bakerzin have really upped their ante this year with not just one, but three new ranges. Our vote goes to the new Bliss Collection of liquer snowskin mooncakes infused with pink Champagne, whiskey, Grand Marnier, and frangelico – definitely not for the little ones. They’ll be fighting one another for the fruity Lush collection (Lychee, Mango Pomelo, Strawberry, and Yuzu) and the origami folding of the Moon Rabbit that’s included in every box.
Available now till 3 September 2014 online, and from now till 8 September at all Bakerzin outlets and booths at mooncake fairs. Order online before 24 August 2014 for a 25% discount, while all online orders thereafter enjoy 15% off retail price.
Jiang Nan Chun, Four Seasons Hotel
Bak kwa in mooncakes? Sounds like an awkward recipe but Jiang Nan Chun’s new mooncake, the Assorted Nuts with Kaffir Lime and BBQ chicken traditional mooncake, is great if you’re game to try something different. If you, like us, gravitate towards the sweet types, try the other new additions – Honey Lotus Paste and Yolk and Hazelnut Royaltine and Milk Tea snowskin mooncakes.
Available from 7 August to 8 September 2014 at Jiang Nan Chun. Also available at Takashimaya’s mooncake fair.
Summer Palace
Summer Palace, Regent Singapore
While the durian snowskin is always their best-seller (and rightly so), we’re psyched to try the Manhattan snowskin mooncake this year. Inspired by their newish grand hotel bar, it’s a combination of Johnny Drum Bourbon, rich Amedei chocolate, and maple syrup. Savoury seekers, try the Basilico-inspired Parma Ham and Pork Floss with Assorted Nuts.
Available 5 August till 8 September 2014 at Summer Palace and the Hotel Lobby of Regent Singapore. Also available at Takashimaya’s mooncake fair. Exclusive pre-sale at 30% off total retail price till 4 August for 4- piece and 8-piece mooncakes – call 6725 3239 or email foodbeverage.rsn@fourseasons.com to order.
Singapore Airlines
Surprise, surprise – our national carrier is jumping on the lucrative mooncake bandwagon with 8 flavours. Besides the traditional the White Lotus Double Yolk, others include Passion Fruit with Rosella, Orange Lotus with Walnuts, and Pandan with Five Grains. The festive confectionery comes in a specially designed gift box featuring – what else – their signature batik print.
Available now till guests can look forward to purchasing them online, in-flight, and at SIA’s lounges at Changi Airport’s Terminal 2 and 3. Two flavours, Osmanthus Fragranced with Crisp Plum and Red Bean with Milk Paste, are availble only at their booth at Takashimaya’s mooncake fair.
The mooncakes are still coming, so watch this space as we taste test more of these round pastries!
Top Image: Hai Tien Lo