As Hong Kong readies itself for the Mid-Autumn Festival on September 17, the city is once again alight with anticipation, not least for the mooncakes that accompany this cherished tradition. While the beloved lotus seed and egg yolk varieties continue to reign supreme, this year’s offerings have been elevated by a new generation of bakers fearlessly reimagining this classic treat.
Melding time-honoured ingredients with inventive flavours, these culinary artisans have crafted mooncakes, and some alternatives, that reflect the city’s vibrant and ever-evolving food scene. Whether you’re a purist at heart or an adventurous gourmand, Tatler Dining has handpicked the finest selections for 2024, ensuring there’s something to satisfy every palate.
See also: The best cake and dessert delivery in Hong Kong
Mooncakes
Bombshell’s Lotus Luna Bomb
1. Bombshell
Lotus Luna Bomb is a limited-edition gift set that features a white chocolate shell adorned with 3D papercraft elements and a rotating base that lights up to mimic a full moon. Inside, you’ll find marshmallows, chocolates, and mooncake-shaped fondants. Beneath the chocolate shell, there are four double-yolk white lotus seed mooncakes from Cuisine Cuisine. Priced at HK$1,288, this set is available for order via Mira e-shop with at least four days’ notice, from now until September 17.
The Cakery’s Mid-Autumn Festival offering
2. The Cakery
The vegan mini mooncake set features three flavours: black sesame lava, red date mochi and pistachio mochi, packaged in an eco-friendly gold box. They also offer larger mooncake cakes available in four- and six-inch sizes. For those seeking something more playful, The Cakery presents lantern and gold ball cake pops, as well as bunny cupcakes. Elevate your gifts with the hampers, ranging from the palmier set to the deluxe Mid-Autumn hamper. Prices start at HK$298. Pick up from now until September 15, and order through thecakery.com.
Crabtastic mooncakes
Crab roe mochi egg custard and crab roe lava egg custard
3. Crabtastic
The gift set features two mooncakes: crab roe mochi egg custard and crab roe lava egg custard, each containing 10 grams of rich crab roe. The set is priced at HK$588, with various promotions available, including buy-one-get-one-free offers and a hairy crab voucher. Only 3,000 sets are produced. Pre-orders are available at crabtastichk.com.
Duddell’s gift boxes
4. Duddell’s
The signature gift box comes with six lava custard mooncakes and an LED Lantern gift box with eight mooncakes. The Mid-Autumn premium gift hamper includes Cantonese delicacies, teas, and champagne. Prices start at HK$498, with collections available until September 16. Orders can be placed online at duddellsmooncakes.com or by contacting the restaurant directly.
Mooncake box sets by The House Collective
5. The House Collective
The Moonlit Discoveries includes four mooncake box sets inspired by Chinese cities. Flavours range from classic to innovative, with options like vegan red bean paste and jasmine tea custard. Prices start at HK$528, with a portion of sales supporting the charity Dignity Mama. Available online at thehousecollective.com for individual or bulk orders.
Mooncake bento box
6. The Landmark Mandarin Oriental
The mooncake bento box features six premium egg custard mooncakes. The reusable box is priced at HK$458, available for order online or in person until September 17. Customers who return the box by year-end receive a complimentary beverage at the hotel.
Man Ho’s freshly baked mooncakes
7. Man Ho Chinese Restaurant
Man Ho offers freshly baked mooncakes with flavours such as macadamia nuts and winter melon, taro, Yunnan ham with rose and red date, and tangerine peel with red bean. Priced at HK$188 per box of four, these mooncakes are available on select Fridays and Sundays at a pop-up counter. Pre-orders are available until September 17.
The Merchants’ Suzhou-style mooncakes
8. The Merchants
The mooncake collection includes four Suzhou-style flavours including red bean, red date, salt and pepper, and seaweed, and a savoury meat-filled Xianrou mooncake gift box. Prices start at HK$688, available for pick-up or delivery until September 16.
Milk custard and molten lava mooncakes
Fujian-style mooncakes
9. Ming Pavilion
The two mooncake gift sets include a mooncake selection with milk custard and molten lava milk custard mooncakes, and a Fujian mooncake gift box with winter melon purée, Jinhua ham and nuts. Prices start at HK$368, with bulk discounts available. Available for order through the Island Shangri-La website.
The Peninsula Boutique mooncakes
10. The Peninsula Boutique
The selection includes mini mooncakes with nuts, egg custard with sea salt and macadamia, and mini red bean paste mooncakes with mandarin peel and either salted egg yolk or pine nuts. Meanwhile, the Star Chef mooncake collection features intriguing combinations like the mini longan wolfberry mooncake with rose. Continuing its sustainability efforts, the brand will once again partner with Mil Mill to upcycle the mooncake boxes, which will be donated to local charities. Prices start at HK$688, and mooncakes can be ordered at Peninsula Boutiques and online at peninsulaboutique.com.
Ralph’s Coffee mooncakes
11. Ralph’s Coffee
This steam locomotive-inspired gift box includes six mini mooncakes: three custard lava and three white lotus paste lava. The decorative train can be pushed around, adding an interactive element to sharing the mooncakes within. Priced at HK$528, the set is available for pre-order and pick-up at Landmark Prince’s, Ocean Terminal, and online.
Mooncakes from the Regent
12. Regent Hong Kong
The hotel offers a collection of mini assorted flavour mooncakes paired with winter citrus tea, exclusively blended by TeaLeaves. This refreshing black-orange tea strikes a balance between citrus notes and subtle sweetness. Priced at HK$888, available through the hotel’s e-shop until September 16.
Rosewood Hong Kong’s mooncakes
13. Rosewood Hong Kong
The mooncake collection offers an array of options for this year’s festivities. Highlights include the white lotus seed paste mooncakes with double egg yolks and mini assorted flavour mooncakes with flavours such as jasmine tea-infused egg custard. The collection also features The Legacy House mini egg custard mooncakes and a special Rosewood Hong Kong x Hong Kong Palace Museum In Celebration of the Moon mooncake gift box. Prices start at HK$688 and mooncakes are available for order online or in-person while stocks last.
Home's Favourite red prawn durian mooncake
14. Shaz Confections x Home's Favourite
Shaz Confections has introduced a limited edition gift box of snow-skin mooncakes from the Singaporean brand, Home's Favourite. The box includes a selection of six different flavours made with 100% pure durian from Malaysia. Known and loved for its durian snow-skin mooncakes, the brand brings its award-winning flavours including charcoal-infused black gold durian snow-skin mooncakes. Other available flavours include Mao Shan Wang, mochi, XO, Golden Phoenix, D24 and Red Prawn.
Mooncakes by Ying Jee Club
15. Ying Jee Club
The mini egg custard mooncakes are handcrafted daily and presented in an elegant jewel box. Priced at HK$488, the mooncakes are available for order at the restaurant from September 3 to 16, via WhatsApp (+852 5291 0503) or email (reservation@yingjeeclub.hk). Gift vouchers are also available.
Mooncake alternatives
1. Bow Artisan Cakery
For something a little different but just as delicious, Bow Artisan Cakery's Mid-Autumn canelé collection includes some delightful flavours such as salted egg yolk, pistachio, yuzu lemon and black sesame. Prices start at HK$268, available for pre-order until September 16. The preservative-free canelés can be frozen for up to 7-10 days, and heated up for extra crispiness.
2. Conspiracy Chocolate
Conspiracy has unveiled a chocolate mooncakes inspired by the concepts of Yin and Yang. The box features two dark chocolate and two white chocolate mooncakes, filled with fresh, bright mango and yuzu jam, and a dark raspberry core. The result is not too sweet, balanced and vegan. Available for delivery and purchase at @domain.hk and @easthk.
Dalloyau mooncake soft serve
3. Dalloyau
The mooncake soft serve blends egg custard mooncake flavours with velvety ice cream. Priced at HK$68 per cup, this mooncake sweet treat is available until September 18 at five locations. Buy one, get one free on select days.
4. Le Dessert
These mooncake alternatives feature French pastry techniques with a traditional financier base, a flavoured insert and a flower-shaped chocolate topping. The French brand offers flavour combinations such as chestnut and matcha, and chocolate and gianduja. Priced at HK$488, these pastries are available for pre-order and delivery.
5. Venchi
The Mid-Autumn Festival collection blends the traditional allure of the celebration with chocolate. Designed by Italian artist Giacomo Balla, these chocolate gift sets are adorned with vibrant colours and geometric patterns. Inside, there are selections of mooncakes and assorted Italian chocolates. Purchase online at venchi.com or in-store.
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