Everyone loves a good traditional lotus paste mooncake (although there are some who are on the fence about whether they love it with a salted egg yolk or not). But the best part about the annual Mid-Autumn Festival is the plethora of exotic, exciting and unconventional flavours that are churned out by the most creative of the culinary industry here. For those with a more adventurous palate, the mooncakes available during this period is a gastronomical delight with plenty of surprises, as chefs try and outdo each other with their creations.
We tried some of the more unique offerings featuring fruit flavours or fruit ingredients and here are our ratings of how good they are!
READ MORE:
8 Unique Traditional Baked Mooncakes To Enjoy This Mid-Autumn Festival
Did You Know? One Mooncake = 975 Calories! Here Are Ways To Enjoy Your Mooncakes In Moderation
11 Amazing Fruit-Flavoured Snowskin Mooncakes You Must Try
Text: Joy Fang, Kayce Teo, Ho Guo Xiong
What is it: A pretty-in-pink rose-scented snow skin mooncake that is inspired by the popular local bandung beverage.
Our view: If you love your bandung, you’d love this mooncake. Although we didn’t think it was particularly unique, we felt the mooncake embodied the beloved drink perfectly with a well-balanced infusion of rose flavours that are just right and not too overpowering. It’s also not as sweet as the coffeeshop beverage, so health watchers can still give it a go.
Rating: 3.7/5
At $62 for classic box and $73 for premium box. Available from July 30 to September 13 at The Fullerton Cake Boutique, The Fullerton Hotels Singapore, 1 Fullerton Square, Singapore 049178. Call 6877 8943, email fullertonshop@fullertonhotels.com or visit its online store at shop.fullertonhotels.com to order.
What is it: This premium pastry has a light sprinkle of gold dust over its crust and is available only as a premium gift set. A set of four comes in a luxurious two-tier, gold
satin chest box that is accompanied with a bottle of Chateau Rieussec Cru Classé Sauternes, France 2015 (375ml) and sets you back S$238. Each mooncake’s lotus paste incorporates pistachio, Jambon de Bayonne, sesame and salted egg.
Our view: It’s a full-bodied, super rich offering that would appeal to those who are looking for something out of the ordinary. The heady, sweet fragrance of red dates is juxtaposed with the savoury smokiness of the slightly-chewy cured ham, resulting in a unique, layered flavour profile with complex textures that’s enhanced by the crunchy pistachios. Some say this is reminiscent of herbal soup while others say it’s like sticky date pudding. Whatever it is, it’s sure to be a conversation starter.
Rating: 3.2/5
At $238. Available from August 8 to September 13 at Wan Hao Chinese Restaurant, Singapore Marriott Tang Plaza Hotel, 320 Orchard Road, Singapore 238865. Pre-order online at
www.singaporemarriott.com/mooncakes or call 6831 4708. Alternatively, drop by at the hotel’s Forecourt Stall (by the hotel entrance).
What is it: The highlight of this mooncake is the house-made kaya, made fresh in-house with coconut, gula melaka, and eggs. The silky smooth, not-too-sweet kaya paste is hidden within a delicate white chocolate shell that’s nestled within a reduced-sugar white lotus paste.
Our view: We give this flavour two thumbs up for its creativity, not to mention its taste. Instead of infusing the kaya flavour within the lotus paste — and running the risk of it getting lost — the chefs chose to “reveal” it by infusing it within a white chocolate case. The result: A satisfying kick as you bite into the shell and feel the rush of oozing kaya flowing into your mouth. The burst of flavour, not to mention the various textures blending in together, makes this one of the more refreshing ones we’ve tasted so far.
Rating: 4.5/5
At $80 for four pieces, part of a box of eight Mini Snowskin Mooncakes. Available from July 9 to September 13, at lobby level, Shangri-La Hotel Singapore, 22 Orange Grove Road, Singapore 258350. Call 6213 4398/6213 4473 or email dining.sls@shangri-la.com to order.
What is it: A green snowskin mooncake encases a deep green, matcha-infused lotus paste, coupled with a smattering of red beans.
Our view: Unlike the Earl Grey version, the green tea flavours of this one was strong and punchy, instantly felt from the first bite. The red beans added a sweetness to the otherwise bittersweet after-effect from the matcha. An enjoyable mooncake all round.
Rating: 3.8/5
At $85 (part of a box of four assorted flavours). Available till September 13 at the Lobby Lounge in Crowne Plaza Changi Airport, 75 Airport Blvd, #01-01, Singapore 819664. Collection of mooncakes will be from August 13 to September 13. Traditional baked mooncakes are available in a box of four from $70 to $88 while snow skin mooncakes are available in a box of four at $85. Call 6823 5367 between 9 am and 7 pm, email LobbyLounge.cpca@ihg.com or visit bit.ly/cp-mooncakes-estore to order.
What is it: In a nice shade of jade green, this new flavour features a core made of bitter sweet dark chocolate that is generously studded with chia seeds.
Our view: We were expecting something a little richer and more intense, but the end product fell just short of delivering that punch as the chocolate felt underwhelming. That said, it features a melt-in-your-mouth tender snowskin and the chia seeds gave a light crunchy texture that was surprisingly satisfying.
Rating: 3.3/5
At $68 per box of eight. Available from August 1 to September 13, at Li Bai Cantonese Restaurant, Sheraton Towers Singapore, or lobby level booth, 39 Scotts Rd, Singapore 228230. Call 6839 5636/5623, email mooncake@sheratonsingapore.com or visit http://shopatsheraton.oddle.me for orders.
What is it: This is a new flavour this year, and is a cocktail concoction of chocolate, orange zest and liqueur. It comes in a box of eight (S$78), four of which are Orangetini mooncakes and the other four Lycheetini mooncakes.
Our view: The orange flavour is light and subtle, but has a nice zesty kick to it. The thickness and texture of the snowskin is just right — not too floury, light, melts in your mouth. But people who prefer a stronger alcohol taste may find this falling short a tad because the liquor wasn’t as punchy as expected.
Rating: 3.2/5
Visit www.rcmooncake.com.sg, call 6434 5190, or email rc.sinrz.mooncakes@ritzcarlton.com to make an order.
What is it: Janice Wong’s offering this year is a unique twist to the Chinese festival snack. Her limited-edition Mooncake Box Set (S$65) showcases Japanese flavoured mooncakes, with each piece celebrating key ingredients from nine different prefectures in Japan. Housed in a pretty blue box, the nine snowskin mooncakes have distinctive and unique ingredients that were personally sourced by Janice herself, who travelled to each prefecture to get them. They include kinako (roasted soy flour) from Hokkaido, ume (Asian plum) from Wakayama, hojicha (roasted Japanese green tea) from Kyoto and chestnut from Kumamoto.
Our view: This one is a winner, thanks to its authentic sweet potato flavour that has no lingering artificial aftertaste. In fact, it feels like you’re eating mashed sweet potato. Earthy, sweet and comforting, this would be a delight to both the young and old.
Rating: 4/5
Available for pre-order online at www.janicewong.online. Orders reaching S$300 and above will receive free delivery.
What is it: Italian restaurant Basilico’s Executive Chef Angelo Ciccone reimagined one of its bestsellers, the Truffle Carbonara, to come up with this unique spin to a snowskin mooncake. Sporting unique black striations across a bright yellow snowskin mooncake, it combines the aromatic black truffle with silky smooth cream cheese.
Our view: The flavours sound extremely fascinating, but it can be quite a shock to the system for those not accustomed to such unconventional flavours. Be warned: It’s for someone with really adventurous tastebuds. The truffle flavour is strong, delivering a kick that is heightened by the savoury cream cheese. It’s nothing like what we’ve ever tried before, but we personally found it too overpowering for our liking.
Rating: 3/5
At $84.50 per box (part of the eight-piece Regent Snowskin Collection). Available from August 8 to September 13 at The Regent Singapore Lobby Booth, Level 1, or Summer Palace, Level 3, 1 Cuscaden Road, Singapore 249715. Call 6725 3288, email foodbeverage@regentsingapore.com.sg or visit shop.regentsingapore.com.sg to order.
What is it: Brown lotus paste is infused with its Chocolate Tea (that comes with real chocolate bits!) and peppered with chocolate chips and crumble. It’s wrapped in a chocolate crust that’s baked to perfection and brushed with a sugar glaze, resulting in a delicious deep brown hue.
Our view: Those looking to watch their weight will be glad to know that it’s not particularly sweet. The chocolate notes are not strong — you get just a hint of it with some chewing, but that is enhanced thanks to the addition of chocolate chips, which adds a nice crunchy texture as well. The crust feels a tad thick so it’s richer and slightly heavier than the other offerings, which means a quarter at a time is probably enough for an after-dinner snack.
Rating: 3.5/5
A set of two mooncakes paired with Moon Route Tea in the Haute Couture Tea Collection® is $70, while a set of four mooncakes is $60. Individual mooncakes are $16. Available from August 8 to September 13 at all TWG Tea Salons & Boutiques in Singapore and TWG Tea e-Boutique at (self-collection at selected TWG Tea Salons & Boutiques).
- TAGS:
- Crowne Plaza Changi Airport
- Janice Wong
- Li Bai Cantonese Restaurant
- Lobby Lounge in Crowne Plaza Changi Airport
- Mid-Autumn Festival
- mooncake
- Mooncakes
- Shangri-La Hotel Singapore
- Sheraton Towers Singapore
- snowskin mooncakes
- The Fullerton Cake Boutique
- The Fullerton Hotels Singapore
- The Regent Singapore
- The Ritz-Carlton
- TWG Tea