Top 7 Mooncake Types You Can't Miss This Mid-Autumn Festival

As the Mid-Autumn Festival approaches, the air fills with the vibrant colors of lanterns and the cheerful sound of drumbeats. In this warm and festive atmosphere, mooncakes are an indispensable treat, carrying traditional flavors and deep cultural significance. Nowadays, mooncakes are not limited to classic baked or snow skin types but have become more diverse and abundant. Let’s dive into the details with Chus in this article!

Most Popular Mooncake Varieties

1. Traditional Savory Mooncake with Mixed Nuts

Traditional savory mooncakes are probably the most familiar name whenever the Mid-Autumn Festival comes around. The basic ingredients of a mixed nut filling usually include lạp xưởng, dried citrus peel, nuts, candied winter melon, pork fat, lotus seeds, sesame seeds, dried shrimp, sugar syrup, sesame oil, Chinese cooking wine, and glutinous rice flour, all blended together to create an unforgettable unique flavor.

Nowadays, to meet the growing demands for high-quality mooncakes, many new ingredients have been creatively substituted. Cashew nuts can be replaced with pecans, the meat might be dried shredded chicken, adding a new twist for the taste buds.

High-end versions even contain abalone and shark fin, making them a popular choice for gifting business partners or elders.

2. Mung Bean Mooncake

Mung bean mooncakes have always been a favorite for many thanks to their sweet and rich taste. The ingredients for mung bean filling are simple but exquisite, consisting of mung beans, sugar, flour, and salted egg yolk, creating a familiar sweet and rich flavor.

After being boiled, the mung beans are finely ground and simmered with sugar for about 45 to 60 minutes. This stage is crucial to achieving the perfect sweetness and moisture, ensuring a soft, smooth texture and a rich taste. Mung bean mooncakes are best enjoyed with a hot cup of tea to balance the sweetness, making the experience complete and satisfying.

Besides the usual mung bean mooncakes, there are also vegan versions with just mung bean filling, perfect for those who prefer vegetarian options during the full moon festival.

3. Snow Skin Mooncake

Snow skin mooncakes have a crust made from fine white glutinous rice flour, mixed with pomelo blossom water and sugar syrup, creating a soft, smooth, and fragrant texture. The filling is very diverse, ranging from sweet mung beans, rich red beans, to aromatic durian, each offering a different taste experience.

According to the culinary tastes of Hanoi people, they often prefer brands with sweeter snow skin mooncakes compared to those in the South. Besides the pure white snow skin cakes resembling snow, there are also pastel pink, light green, and other visually appealing variations.

This isn’t just a traditional delicacy but also a cultural symbol of family bonding and happiness.

4. Green Tea Mooncake

Green tea mooncakes are increasingly popular among young people, especially those who love matcha flavors. The delicate aroma and eye-catching green color of green tea not only attract but also bring a refreshing and relaxing feeling. There are many different types of green tea mooncakes to suit individual preferences.

Some mooncakes have a green tea-flavored crust, offering a smooth and subtly fragrant outer layer that pairs harmoniously with sweet fillings like mung bean, taro, or durian. The sweetness of the filling combined with the green tea flavor creates a unique, unforgettable taste.

Additionally, there are mooncakes where both the crust and filling have green tea flavor. The soft crust combined with the rich green tea filling inside creates a perfect combination, allowing one to experience the essence and uniqueness of green tea.

Green tea mooncakes do not have a fixed type of crust and come in various forms, depending on the creativity of the baker. These include baked, snow skin, or layered crusts.

5. Jelly Mooncake

Jelly mooncakes bring a refreshing breeze to the traditional culinary world with a completely different taste and preparation method compared to traditional baked mooncakes. Instead of using flour and familiar mung bean filling, jelly mooncakes are made from cool, transparent jelly layers with diverse fillings from fresh fruits or creamy flan.

These mooncakes not only attract visually with their vibrant, eye-catching colors but also appeal to all ages with their easy-to-eat nature. Each piece is a perfect combination of crispy, smooth jelly and moderate sweetness.

The advantage of jelly mooncakes is that they are very easy to eat and have fewer calories than traditional baked mooncakes. However, their downside is that they must be kept cold and cannot be stored for long, typically lasting less than a week in the refrigerator.

6. Thousand-Layer Mooncake

Though the name "thousand-layer" is a playful exaggeration, these mooncakes are indeed created from multiple thin, smooth layers stacked together, resulting in a delicate and visually appealing pastry. Layered mooncakes have been adapted and popularized in many places, with variations in both crust and filling.

The crust can be monochrome or colorful like a rainbow, making them visually striking. The fillings are diverse, including sweet options for vegetarians or savory fillings with salted eggs or dried shredded chicken. This type of mooncake is currently favored by young people for its attractive appearance and delicious taste.

7. Chocolate Mooncake

When mentioning chocolate mooncakes, there are usually two types: chocolate-filled mooncakes and mooncakes with a chocolate crust. The special feature of chocolate mooncakes compared to traditional mooncakes is the breakthrough in flavor, with a chocolate taste that appeals to all ages.

While traditional mooncakes often have fillings like mung beans, lotus seeds, or salted eggs, chocolate mooncakes offer an exciting change with a rich, aromatic chocolate flavor. This taste not only stimulates the taste buds but also provides a novel experience, especially suitable for chocolate lovers.

Conclusion

Whether you love traditional flavors or seek new experiences, today’s diverse mooncakes can satisfy all preferences. The variety in taste and design not only brings joy to the taster but also makes the Mid-Autumn Festival more vibrant and meaningful.

Besides giving mooncakes during the reunion season, you can also purchase lanterns and tea sets to bring a complete Moon Festival to the recipient. On Chus, there are many premium tea products you can explore and choose from.