The Mid-Autumn Festival originates from the Chinese tradition of worshipping the moon during the Tang Dynasty. This annual event celebrates the coming of winter, and revolves around the folktale of Chang é: a woman who drinks a magic potion and ascends to the moon, resulting in her becoming the moon goddess. The longtime tradition of eating mooncakes to honor Chang é continues to this day, with the Mid-Autumn Festival becoming an important Chinese holiday.
Celebrate Mid-Autumn Festival this year with the best mooncake offerings from renowned hotels and local brands. Here’s where to get the best mooncakes to wow your friends and family.
Raffles Hotel
Raffles Hotel returns with its iconic traditional mooncakes, as well as new favourites from its well-loved collections. Making its debut this year is the Da Li Rose and Strawberry Chocolate snowskin mooncake, inspired by celebrity MasterChef Jereme Leung’s signature Da Li Rose Petal Ice Cream. With its sweet flavours and aromatic fragrance, the Da Li Rose is interlaced with the fruity notes of Strawberry Chocolate, making this a refreshingly balanced sweet treat.
Also on Raffles Hotel’s new snowskin mooncake menu is the Yunnan Dark Brown Sugar and Rum Truffle snowskin mooncake.It’s a savory delight with a unique caramelisation of Yunnan dark-brown sugar, infused with a blend of rum and candied winter melon that creates an earthy aftertaste. Best enjoyed with a glass of osmanthus wine, you’ll want to save this one for an evening with friends or family.
Date: Now–17 September 2021
Price: From $78++, delivery charge of $40 applies
Hai Tien Lo (Pan Pacific)
Presented in a ruby-hued, leather-esque box imprinted with grand motifs of birds and flowers, Hai Tien Lo’s mooncakes dazzle with pastels. This year, Hai Tien Lo has specially created a healthier mooncake menu with reduced sugar options. Its regular offerings, including classics such as White Lotus Seed Paste Mooncake and an all-new Pu'er Lotus Seed Paste Mooncake perfectly complements a warm cup of tea.
On the restaurant’s regular snowskin-mooncake menu, the Virgin Singapore Sling Snowskin Mooncake makes its debut. Taste the Singapore Sling in mooncake form, inspired by the famous local drink. The Mango Passionfruit Snowskin Mooncake is another new creation by Hai Tien Lo, which tastes as good as it sounds. These mooncakes can be delivered right to your doorstep, and are also available for pick-up from the restaurant.
Date: 14 June to 21 September 2021
Price: From $76.80++, free delivery for orders over $100
Mandarin Oriental
Mandarin Oriental goes for a minimalist look this year with the theme “Cherry Garden”. The seasonal specialty features cherry blossoms amidst misty mountains adorning an exquisite leather box, which opens to reveal smaller tins of mooncakes. Choose from a Jade Green theme or a Coral Red theme, each showcasing different decorations depending on which box you choose.
This year, Mandarin Oriental presents two new mooncake flavors in its traditional collection: a Chestnut paste mooncake infused with Hokkaido milk, apricot and melon seeds, and a Tieguanyin mooncake with crunchy macadamia nuts. Both flavors are available in the Jade Green and Coral Red boxes, alongside the more classic Silver Lotus paste mooncakes.
Snowskin mooncakes are also available in Mandarin Oriental’s mid-autumn collection, which comes as a mini box of eight. Making its first appearance in the snowskin collection are Pandan coconut mooncakes and Tieguanyin mooncakes with dried apricot. These snowskin mooncakes can only be collected at the hotel.
Date: 24 August–1 October 2021
Price: From $48++, including a $20 delivery fee or free delivery for a minimum purchase of four 4pc boxes of mooncakes (or eight 2pc boxes).
Shangri-la
Shangri-la is known for its ornate mooncake boxes, and it’s no surprise that its mooncakes are presented in a stunning way this year: think floral motifs embossed on ornate gift boxes, and sealed with a gold clasp. From a Peranakan-themed gift box to a Bird’s Nest-themed gift box, receiving these goodies will be a treat for your eyes and taste buds.
A limited-edition box featuring Shangri-la’s signature 50-year Aged Mandarin Peel, Rose, and Red Bean Paste Mooncakes steals the show this year. These special creations melt-in-your mouth, and the blend of flavors adds to the mouth-watering experience.
If you’re a fan of snowskin mooncakes, we recommend Shangri-la’s Premium Mao Shan Wang Durian Snowskin Mooncake box. Using the highest-quality durians at the peak of the durian season, these fruity mooncakes don’t get any fresher. Available as an eight-piece set and individually wrapped in a tin box, they make a perfect gift for family and friends.
Date: 20 August–21 September 2021
Price: From $40.80++, $35 delivery fee applies per location, free delivery for mooncake purchases over $500
Hong Kong Mei Xin Mooncake
Hong Kong Mei Xin Mooncake (HKMX) brings the flavours of the port city to Singapore’s shores. Famed for its award-winning mooncakes which have won the Belgian Monde Selection Quality Award, there’s no doubt about the brand’s commitment to quality bakes.
Check out HKMX’s Lava Quartet Mooncake box and dig into meticulously baked mooncakes dripping with lava-salted egg yolk, creating an eruption of flavor you won’t get enough of. The Lava Quartet Box has something for every palate, featuring flavors such as Lava Custard, Lava Cheese, Lava Caramel Macchiato, and Lava Chocolate.
HKMX’s mooncakes are available for sale during Takashimaya Department Store’s Mooncake Fair and Tangs Department Store’s Mooncake Fair.
Date: 16 August–21 September 2021(Takashimaya), 30 August –21 September 2021(Tangs)
Price: From $60++, self collection
Tong Heng Traditional Cantonese Pastries
Since its founding in 1935, Tong Heng has stood the test of time as a well-loved heritage brand. Featured in the Michelin Guide in 2018 and receiving praise from locals, the ubiquitous flagship stall in Chinatown continues to impress with its mooncakes.
Tong Heng’s Shopee Exclusive Set showcases the best of the bakery’s mooncakes, with innovative flavours such as Roselle Snowskin, Dragon Well with Chrysanthemum Snowskin, and Coconut Butter Snowskin mooncakes that taste as good as they sound.
The bakery’s mooncake collection is available for online orders on Shopee, and orders can be placed at Tong Heng’s physical store.
Date: 30 July–August 2021
Price: From $67++
Wan Hao Restaurant
Marriott Tangs Plaza Hotel is home to the award-winning Wan Hao Restaurant, which is offering a wide selection of snowskin and traditional-baked mooncakes. Best known for its premium mooncake gift boxes, this year’s selections include: the Golden Black Truffle Baked mooncakes set, featuring gold-dusted baked mooncakes filled with premium black truffle, salted duck egg yolk and San Daniele ham. It comes along with a bottle of Laurent-Perrier Brut Champagne to refresh the palate.
New innovative snowskin mooncakes are also available, with unique flavours such as White Rabbit Truffle and Cognac Truffle. Do note that Wan Hao’s mooncakes have to be ordered three days prior to collection, so we suggest placing an order early to avoid disappointment.
Date: Now–21 September 2021
Price: From $74++, delivery fees apply.
