MANILA, Philippines – Over the centuries, Chinese emperors worshipped the moon and prayed for bountiful harvests during the Mid-Autumn Festival. Now, the festival centers around family reunions and lavish feasts — the admiration of the full moon, lantern lighting, and the sharing of mooncakes.
Mooncakes often feature intricate designs and are shared among loved ones as a symbol of unity and harmony.
The Mooncake Festival, or the Mid-Autumn Festival, is among the most important cultural celebrations in Chinese communities worldwide. It occurs on the 15th day of the eighth lunar month, which falls on September 17 in the Philippines.
As the Mooncake Festival approaches, local and international shops and bakeries are preparing to offer a variety of mooncakes. Whether you’re looking for traditional offerings or adventurous flavors, check out these shops and partake in the celebration!
Famous for its White Lotus Seed Paste Mooncakes with two Egg Yolks, Hong Kong MX Mooncake combines traditional craftsmanship with modern flair. The premium lotus seeds are combined with salted egg yolks for a sweet-savory filling.
They also offer Low (reduced) Sugar White Lotus Seed Paste Mooncake with Egg Yolk, which makes it a healthy option for people with diabetes and health-conscious consumers. It contains less than 5% sugar and no preservatives.
The other MX Mooncake flavors include Red Bean Paste Mooncakes with Dried Citrus Peel, Red Bean Paste Mooncakes with two Egg Yolks, Classic Mixed Nuts Mooncake, and assorted mooncakes.
This year’s collection features the much-anticipated Snowy Musang King Durian Gift Box, with the Musang King Durian Molten Mooncake. Made with 100% Musang King Durian pulp, each mooncake doesn’t shy away from the strong-smelling fruit.
Hong Kong MX Mooncake has physical shops at SM Mall of Asia, V-Mall Greenhills, Uptown Mall, and Ayala Malls Cloverleaf. They’re also available online via Tiktok, Lazada, Shopee, Grabfood, Pickaroo, and Metromart.
Solaire Resort Entertainment City in Paranaque City and Solaire Resort North in Quezon City offer their mooncake delicacies paired with unique beverages, spirits, and alcohol pairings until September 17.
Solaire’s Chinese restaurant Red Lantern’s mooncakes come in sweet white lotus with egg yolk, mixed nuts, red bean paste, and ube paste mooncakes. Solaire presents its mooncakes in a box of six, which can be an elegant jewelry box or a lantern box.
From being a small grocery store in 1938, Kee Wah Bakery’s best-selling mooncakes are now available in the Philippines. You may enjoy its traditional and contemporary flavors such as White Lotus Seed Paste with Two Yolks and Golden Lotus Seed Paste, mini variants, and other flavors for a limited time only.
Kee Wah’s Supreme Mooncakes come in a signature tin can featuring a classic emperor’s portrait, symbolizing sovereignty. These mooncakes are made with high-quality lotus seed paste, premium peanut oil, and top-grade salted egg yolks.
Kee Wah’s biscuits, cookies, egg rolls, and Chinese tea are available throughout the year.
Everything is available on Lazada, Shopee, Pickaroo, Metromart, GrabMart, and TikTok Shop. Physical stores are located at Robinsons Magnolia, S Maison, and The Podium.
Eng Bee Tin introduces a fresh take on traditional mooncakes with its new Coconut Cream Custard Mooncakes, a fusion of tropical flavors using a velvety coconut-based custard inside the soft, chewy cake. This is the brand’s newest addition to its mooncake menu.
It’s available at any of Eng Bee Tin’s physical stores or online at ubedelivery.com. – Rev dela Cruz/Rappler.com
Rev dela Cruz is a Rappler intern studying AB Journalism at the University of Santo Tomas.
