In the canon of traditional Chinese desserts, the mooncake is the most decadent and storied of them all. Golden-baked, round in shape, and filled with sweet lotus seed paste encasing salted duck egg yolks representing the moon. For centuries, these rich delicacies have been served during Mid-Autumn Festival — on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month when a full moon emerges at night — as a ritual offering to the mythical moon goddess of immortality, Chang E. They were a favourite of Empress Dowager Cixi and, as folklore goes, an essential tool of the Ming revolutionaries, who used them to smuggle secret messages while overthrowing the Mongolian rulers of China at the end of the Yuan dynasty.
Today, mooncakes remain an essential part of Chinese culture, lavishly packaged and shared with family and friends as a symbol of completeness and reunion. While time-honoured recipes hold strong to tradition, these days you’ll find mooncakes of every variety.
Ahead, we round up the best mooncakes for the Mid-Autumn Festival in Hong Kong.
The House Collective
The House Collective’s ‘Moonlit Discoveries’ series takes you on a journey to four cities – Hong Kong, Shanghai, Beijing and Chengdu. Open up the travel journal-inspired boxes to find eight mini mooncakes packed inside, bursting with a range of flavours: these span the classics, such as lotus seed paste with egg yolks or vegan red bean paste garnished with mandarin peel, to coffee with sea-salted caramel and even parma ham.
HK$528 for the Moonlit Discoveries box set at thehousecollective.com
The Landmark Mandarin Oriental
Celebrate Mid-Autumn in style with The Landmark Mandarin Oriental’s new Mooncake Bento Box. The sleek double-tiered container is adorned with a traditionally inspired wrapper band, its designs resembling flowers and the beauty of the full moon. The bento box carries six milky custard mooncakes but can be sustainably reused as your very own lunchbox, or returned to the hotel in return for a glass of champagne or a mocktail.
HK$458 for the Mooncake Bento Box at landmark.mandarinorientalshop.com
Bombshell x Cuisine Cuisine at The Mira
Bombshell takes the best of mid-autumn festivities and delivers it all in one dreamy pastel gift box! The limited edition package is truly a festive spectacle; spinning amongst glowing lotus flowers is a magnificent white chocolate moon filled with all sorts of playful confectionaries. Upon cracking open the lunar shell, you are treated to a terrific medley of colourful jelly beans, flower shaped gummies, bunny marshmallows and more. Once you’ve had your fill of sweets, remove the top layer for a final surprise. Concealed underneath is a tray with four full-sized traditional lotus seed double yolk mooncakes by The Mira’s resident Chinese restaurant, Cuisine Cuisine.
HK$1,288 for the Lotus Luna Bomb gift box at mira-eshop.com
Hong Kong Cuisine 1983
Executive Chef Silas Li of Hong Kong Cuisine 1983 presents an all-new mooncake gift box, enclosing six crispy cakes and a chocolate orange financier. This set features the flavours of Suzhou, such as Yunnan ham with mixed nuts and purple sweet potato paste with egg yolk. Timeless classics such as red bean paste and white lotus seed mooncakes are also waiting to be discovered within the colourful packages.
HK$488 for the Supreme Mooncake Gift Box at 1983hkc.com
The Ritz-Carlton Hong Kong
The Ritz-Carlton is swinging open the Mid-Autumn Festival this year with a host of luxurious mooncakes. Discover the ‘Delights of Hong Kong’ set of eight delectable egg custard treats, with charming box art inspired by ink printing detailing some of the city’s iconic landmarks. No mooncake is complete without a hot drink to accompany it: Tin Lung Heen, the Ritz’s double-Michelin-starred Cantonese restaurant, has also launched its mooncake gift set, which comes with five packs of exquisite black tea. Spread the cheer by gifting your loved ones one of the Ritz’s mooncake hampers, packed with goodies ranging from seasonal fruits to Australian abalone.
HK$458-6,888 at ritzcarltonhkshop.com
Duddell’s
Michelin-starred Cantonese restaurant Duddell’s returns with a luxurious selection of mooncake gift sets, this time joining hands with Sancho Sparkling Tea in a limited collaboration. Those with an eye for design will love the intricate light-up lantern mooncake box, whilst tea aficionados will adore the bottle of Jasmine Sparkling Tea offered as part of the collaborative gift set. Don’t miss out on their premium gift hampers, which come with goodies such as Duddell’s signature XO sauce and braised South African abalone.
HK$468-2,188 at duddellsmooncakes.com
COCO, The Mira
The Mira’s café-patisserie COCO brings a selection of handmade jammy mooncakes this Mid-Autumn. The four flavours include the likes of French Strawberry and Goji Berry with pink Belgian Ruby chocolate, and Black and White Sesame, inspired by local cha chaan teng cuisine. You’ll love the mesmerising designs on the surface of the mooncakes and the sustainable tin can — but be quick, because the box set is limited edition, with only one hundred available.
HK$238 for a box of four mooncakes at mira-eshop.com
Island Shangri-La
Island Shangri-La returns with brand-new additions to its sumptuous mooncake collection. Its newest venture – velvety Musang King durian lava mooncakes- promises a luscious experience for the tastebuds, whilst the Summer Palace Luna Mochi Mooncakes are packed with different textures of pistachio and taro. Sustainability is at the heart of the Shangri-La’s gift sets, with the possibility of the Tangerine Peel set being repurposed into an elegant jewellery box – whichever you choose, it’ll be a feast for the eyes.
HK$408-9,999 at boutique.shangri-la.com
Ming Pavilion
Island Shangri-La’s Ming Pavilion takes us on a trip through time with their Fujianese mooncake set, which harks back to the earliest versions of the Hokkien delicacy. The four-piece gift box’s cakes are home to rich flavours including winter melon, Jinhua ham, pork belly and mixed nuts. Alternatively, opt for classic Cantonese flavours as part of the six-piece mooncake box.
HK$408 for the Mooncake Selection and the Fujian Mooncake Gift Box at shangri-la.com
Lung King Heen, Four Seasons Hotel Hong Kong
With Executive Chinese Chef Chan Yan Tak at its head, two Michelin-starred Lung King Heen brings an assortment of handmade mooncakes this season. Their brand-new flavour, Winter Melon Paste with Rose, is sure to delight, alongside the Preserved Egg and Pickled Ginger mooncake. The six-piece box set features these two exciting flavours, alongside the White Lotus Seed with Black Truffle and Salted Egg, which may be coupled with a Pu’er Tea Cake. The boxes come with a rechargeable paper lantern, making them the perfect gifts.
HK$628-888 at shop.fourseasonshk.com
Regent Hong Kong
Let Regent Hong Kong transport you to the moonlit Victoria Harbour with their limited-edition mooncake gift set. The box unfolds to reveal a charming design of lanterns and a full moon, with eight mini mooncakes hiding behind the blue and gold. The assortment of flavours include Winter Citrus Tea Custard, accompanied by a range of classics. Pair the desserts with the Regent’s exclusive black tea blend – with fruity notes and lychee essence, they’ll compliment the mooncakes’ rich textures well.
HK$428 for the Regent Mini Assorted Flavour Mooncakes giftbox at regenthkshop.com
Veggie Kingdom
Veggie Kingdom’s mooncake offerings this year recall Chinese culinary traditions with a healthy twist. The Vegetarian Snowy Mooncake series comes in a selection of three flavours: the texture-filled Tokachi Red Bean, the decadent Musang King Durian, and the luscious Matcha – pick your favourite or indulge in the gift box of six assorted mooncakes.
HK$338-388, @veggiekingdomhk (order via link in bio)
Mandarin Oriental Hong Kong
Mandarin Oriental is bringing in the Mid-Autumn with a lavish selection of mooncakes and gift hampers. The renowned cake shop presents the delicacies in classic forms, with hearty double yolks encased in golden or white lotus, and with spins on traditional tastes, such as its chocolate lava flavour. If you’re looking for something even more decadent, the deluxe three-tier hamper brings together Eastern and Western delights, from homemade XO sauce to chocolate pralines.
HK$438-4,288 at hongkong.mandarinorientalshop.com
Ying Jee Club
This year, the two Michelin-starred Ying Jee Club presents its signature mini egg custard mooncakes in a vibrant gold tasseled box. Handcrafted without preservatives on a daily basis by Director of Culinary Chef Siu Hin-chi, Executive Chef Cheung Kin-Ming, and their culinary team, the mooncakes boast a delightful outer shell and a rich egg custard filling. Delicately sized at three or four perfect bites, these Ying Jee Club mooncakes are masterful yet effortless in their creation.
HK$428 for a box of six, e-mail [email protected]
Rosewood Hong Kong
Rosewood Hong Kong’s mooncake selection this Mid-Autumn brings back old favourites alongside new delights. Unpack their beautifully packaged limited edition ‘The Rosewood Treasure’ gift box, pairing six mooncakes with luxurious selections of Yunnan black and pu-erh teas. The mooncakes are available in a variety of traditional flavours, in both mini and deluxe double egg yolk sizes – perfect to share with family and friends.
HK$498-3,588 at rosewoodhkshop.com
The Peninsula Boutique
The Peninsula Boutique offers a sublime selection of mooncakes that promise to enchant and delight. At the heart of this year’s collection are the iconic Mini Egg Custard Mooncakes, cherished by every Hong Konger since 1986. This year, the offerings have expanded to include exquisite new varieties, including inventive flavours like Mini Mooncakes with Nuts and Mini Red Bean Paste Mooncakes with Mandarin Peel. Elevating the gourmet experience, the Star Chef Mooncake collection, curated by MICHELIN-starred Chef Tang Chi Keung, features tantalizing creations like Mini Longan Wolfberry Mooncake with Rose. For those seeking something truly special, the brand new Mini Manuka Honey Yuzu Egg Custard Mooncakes with Walnuts are available exclusively at The Peninsula Boutique & Café flagship. For the ultimate indulgence, the Mooncake Degustation Gift Box, which also serves as a decorative lantern, showcases the finest flavours of 2024.
HK$259-2,588; at www.peninsulaboutique.com
Pop-up boutiques can be found at New Town Plaza in New Territories (15 Jul – 18 Sept), Hysan Place on Hong Kong Island (2 Aug – 20 Sept), Harbour City in Kowloon (1 Aug – 19 Sept)
Spring Moon, The Peninsula Hong Kong
Spring Moon, The Peninsula’s Michelin-starred Cantonese restaurant, embraces tradition once again with their Classic Mini Egg Custard Mooncakes, a celebration of their unrivalled Western-inspired recipe formulated in 1986. Paired with these are the exclusive Sesame Paste Mochi Mooncakes, which promise a chewy treat. To celebrate in style, opt for their Premium Gourmet Hamper, packed with delicacies such as Yunnan Aged Pu-Er and Spring Moon’s signature XO Chilli Sauce.
HK$668-3,888 at eshopphk.peninsula.com
Yat Tung Heen, Eaton Hotel
Visual spectacles meet gourmet delights with Yat Tung Heen’s all-new hand-woven bamboo mooncake gift sets. The sophisticated bamboo box is knotted with deep teal fabric, and the six delicate mini mooncakes ensconced within are equally photo-worthy. These come in a series of much-loved traditional flavours, including egg custard, white lotus seed paste, and red bean paste with mandarin peel.
HK$438 at yattungheengifts.com
Ralph’s Coffee
Embrace the spirit of travel with the brand-new Ralph’s Coffee mooncake set. This year’s installation in the café’s innovative gift box series is a quaint steam locomotive, carrying six mini mooncakes with velvety fillings of custard lava and white lotus paste lava. The charming green and white model train features an adorable figure of a bear, making the mooncake set a fun collectible.
HK$528 for the Ralph’s Express Mooncake Box at ralphlauren.com.hk
The Cakery
The Cakery is bringing an innovative twist to classic Mid-Autumn mooncakes. Their brand-new supersized Mooncake Cake comes in a range of all-natural flavours, from lemon tea to wild strawberry; meanwhile, the Vegan Mini Mooncake Box Set promises delightfully chewy surprises with the Red Date Mochi and Pistachio Mochi treats. The Cakery’s Delight, Gourmet and Deluxe Hampers ensure the ultimate epicurean experience with their range of add-ons, from bottles of red wine to an Assorted Palmier Gift Box.
HK$428-1,988 at thecakery.com
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Editor
Vogue Hong KongCredit
Lead image: Courtesy of Yat Tung Heen and Eaton HK.