Mooncakes are a symbolic delicacy during the Mid-Autumn Festival in Vietnam. During this festive season, mooncakes are freshly baked and sold across the country, offering a diverse range of designs, flavors, and varieties for all to enjoy.
1 Traditional Chewy Mooncakes
Traditional Chewy Mooncakes
The chewy mooncake, a classic favorite, boasts a translucent white crust made from finely ground roasted glutinous rice flour, sometimes blended with cornstarch or wheat flour. These mooncakes have evolved to feature an array of enticing colors and flavors, enhanced by the addition of food coloring, matcha powder, fragrant pandan leaves, passion fruit, coffee, and strawberry.
2 Agar-agar Mooncakes
Agar-agar Mooncakes
Agar-agar mooncakes, also known as fresh mooncakes, resemble traditional mooncakes in shape but differ in their crust. The crust of these mooncakes is made from agar-agar, a gelatinous substance derived from seaweed. The soft filling, which can include flavors such as flan, caramel, mashed mung bean, and milk jelly, complements the chewy texture of the agar-agar.
Due to the absence of preservatives, these mooncakes have a short shelf life and are best consumed within a limited time frame.
3 Black Garlic Mooncakes
Black Garlic Mooncakes
Black garlic mooncakes are a unique and intriguing variety in the market. These mooncakes feature a soft, fragrant black crust, crafted from finely ground black garlic extract. The filling harmoniously blends select cloves of black garlic with distinct flavors such as mung bean, black bean, and a combination of roasted chicken and fish maw.
4 Hong Kong Lava Custard Mooncakes
Hong Kong Lava Custard Mooncakes
Lava mooncakes, a recent trend, originate from Hong Kong and have gained immense popularity through online sales. What sets these mooncakes apart is the unique way they are consumed—before eating, the mooncake is heated in a microwave to allow the filling to melt, enhancing the flavor and creating a delightful sensory experience.
These mooncakes offer a range of flavors, including mung bean, salted egg yolk, coffee, and chocolate. The fresh mooncake fillings are diverse, featuring combinations such as fish maw and roasted chicken, coconut and almond, matcha and almond, mung bean and lotus seed, salted egg yolk, durian, and even cherry.
5 Oreo Mooncakes
Oreo Mooncakes
A notable example of modern mooncakes is the Oreo Mooncake by Kinh Do, a leading confectionery brand. This innovative creation blends Western flavors with a traditional treat, featuring a mildly sweet and distinctive crust and a dual filling. The first layer offers Western flavors like vanilla, chocolate, and custard, while the second layer surprises with tropical fruit jams such as strawberry. This fusion of flavors and cultures makes for a delightful and meaningful treat.
6 Thai Durian Mooncakes
Thai Durian Mooncakes
In Thailand, mooncakes are commonly found in Chinatown, particularly on Yaowarat Road. The most popular variety in Thailand is the durian mooncake, which typically contains one to two salted egg yolks, symbolizing a full moon. This unique combination has gained traction among the youth and is increasingly favored.
7 Korean Songpyeon Mooncakes
Korean Songpyeon Mooncakes
South Korea boasts a unique take on mooncakes with Songpyeon, a mooncake variety that differs significantly in shape and preparation methods from its Vietnamese counterpart. Songpyeon mooncakes are shaped like a crescent moon or a half-moon, unlike the traditional square or round shapes found in other Asian countries.
These mooncakes are made from rice flour and filled with a variety of delicious fillings, including sesame seeds, honey, and red beans. An essential ingredient in Songpyeon is pine leaves, which impart a distinctive flavor and aroma to the treat.
8 Japanese Mitarashi Dango Mooncakes
Japanese Mitarashi Dango Mooncakes
In Japan, the Mid-Autumn Festival is celebrated with Mitarashi dango mooncakes. Unlike the baked mooncakes made with wheat flour, Mitarashi dango is crafted from glutinous rice flour, similar to the chewy mooncakes of Vietnam. These Japanese mooncakes are adorable and petite, perfectly capturing the essence of the moon in their round shape.
9 Filipino Hopia Mooncakes
Filipino Hopia Mooncakes
The Philippines also has a delightful take on mooncakes with their Hopia mooncakes. These baked treats resemble steamed buns at first glance and are named after the Filipino word for “moon cake.” While they may lack intricate designs and vibrant colors, Hopia mooncakes captivate with their rich and varied fillings. These can include mung bean, adzuki bean, pork, and purple yam, among others. The unique feature of these mooncakes is the crispy, layered outer dough, which reveals a tempting filling when the cake is broken in half.
10 Taiwanese Thousand-Layer Mooncakes
Taiwanese Thousand-Layer Mooncakes
In Taiwan, mooncakes come in two main varieties: the traditional baked mooncakes similar to those found in mainland China, and the unique thousand-layer mooncakes. These round mooncakes consist of multiple layers wrapped around each other, with fillings typically made from adzuki beans or taro.
11 Singaporean Snowskin Mooncakes
Singaporean Snowskin Mooncakes
Singapore’s mooncakes have evolved beyond the traditional baked variety with sweet fillings. In recent years, modern mooncakes have gained popularity, offering a range of innovative flavors. Singaporean mooncakes feature fillings such as durian, cream, bird’s nest, chocolate, matcha, and fresh cheese, as well as snowskin mooncakes, also known as chilled mooncakes or snowskin dango.
With such a diverse and mouthwatering array of mooncakes to choose from, why wait? Indulge in these delightful treats and make your Mid-Autumn Festival a memorable one!
For more information about the Mid-Autumn Festival, visit our dedicated section:
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