A Taste of Tradition: Chinese Mooncakes 

Get prepared for the upcoming Chinese moon festival with this sweet tradition

We have all noticed how quickly time flies, especially during the strange year of 2020. Before we know it, summer will be over and autumn will have arrived, so it’s never too early to start preparing for the upcoming Chinese Moon Festival

What is the Chinese Moon Festival?

Despite being an ancient tradition in China, the festival is now celebrated across the globe and has also become a popular tourist attraction - but what is it all about?

Legend has it that many moons ago, a strong archer named Hou Yi and his beautiful wife, Chang’e helped to save the people of earth. Nine scorching hot suns were sighted moving closer and closer to earth, Hou Yi acted quickly and shot down all nine suns. For his courage he was awarded the rare elixir of immortality. However, one night a young thief came by the house in an attempt to steal the elixir, to protect it Chang’e the wife of the archer drank the potion and transformed into the immortal moon goddess. 

The beginning of the moon festival began shortly after this as Hou Yi missed his wife so much he would create moon shaped offerings to try to connect with her. Every year Chinese people do the same by celebrating the moon festival on the 15th day of every 8th lunar month.

How is the festival celebrated?

Traditionally, to celebrate the Chinese moon festival family and friends come together to enjoy an abundance of authentic dishes. To set the atmosphere the dinner is usually placed outside in the direction of the moon and is decorated with seasonal fruits and vegetables which represent the shape of the moon such as pumpkins and pomeloes. 

Another activity to bring the family together during this sacred time is decorating paper lanterns. Colourful patterns and designs cover the lanterns and messages for loved ones are carefully placed inside, families come together to watch them drift away to the moon.

What are mooncakes?

Mooncakes are the most commonly eaten foods during this mid-autumn festival and are adored for their sweet taste. To make these cakes rice flour and icing sugar are combined with vegetable shortening and water to form a dough. The dough is then filled with a red bean paste and stamped with a decorative pattern.

To save you the time and effort, Sing Kee have stocked up on our favourite mooncakes with a variety of flavours available in our online store. The cakes also come in an ornamental tin, making them a great gift too!