By now, you might already be having a headache over the plethora of mooncake flavours and brands available this year. And if you are getting a little tired of shopping for and tasting mooncakes, how about trying other types of pastries then?
The usual traditional baked mooncakes and snowskin mooncakes are not the only options, we really love this award-winning orh nee (Teochew yam paste) mooncake and these other famous traditional pastries. Your family will love them equally!
At Chinese restaurant Peony Jade, which has outlets in Clarke Quay and Keppel Club, the range of Teochew orh nee mooncakes, based on the well-known traditional Teochew yam dessert, is painstakingly shaped and moulded by hand. Watch how the pastry is hand-rolled to achieve the mooncakes’ multi-layered crust in the video below:
Smooth Teochew orh nee, which is slow-cooked for four to five hours, is encased in layers of crispy, flaky pastry. These mooncakes come in four versions, including orh nee with salted egg lava custard centres; and orh nee with pumpkin centres.
Here are other delicious traditional pastries we highly recommend for this Mid-Autumn Festival:
https://www.womensweekly.com.sg/food/cooking-tips/celebrate-mid-autumn-festival-with-the-best-teochew-orh-nee-mooncake-and-old-school-pastries/
Mid-Autumn Festival Old School Traditional Pastries
1. Ex-Crown Prince Flaky Teochew ‘Orh Ni’ Mooncake from Peony Jade Restaurant
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Peony-Jade Restaurant is a Michelin Bib Gourmand winner in 2016 and 2017, and their handmade flaky orh nee pastries have won many accolades, including voted The BEST Flaky Pastry Teochew-style Yam Mooncakes in The Straits Time in 2011. This is the Michelin Bib Gourmand award-winning original Ex-Crown Prince Flaky Teochew “Orh Ni” Mooncakes, and we say it is definitely a must-try! At $38 (for two pieces) or $65 (for four pieces).
Peony Jade Restaurant is at Clark Quay, 3 River Valley Road. Visit www.peonyjade.com
2. Flaky Teochew ‘Orh Ni’ Mooncake with Molten Lava Salted Egg Yolk from Peony Jade Restaurant
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What’s better than the award-winning Flaky Teochew Orh Nee Mooncake? It’s this one which comes with a melty salted egg yolk in the middle – so good! This new variant is also baked in a pretty pastel pink pastry, and makes a fantastic gifts for your in-laws. At $45 (for two pieces) or $75 (for four pieces).
Peony Jade Restaurant is at Clark Quay, 3 River Valley Road. Visit www.peonyjade.com
3. Tau Sar Piah from 603 Tau Sar Piah
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This salted bean pastry is a traditional which was very popular in the 70s to 90s, and they are commonly given as gifts to family and relatives. Now, there are many famous stalls here specialising in making these traditional pastries, but the ones by 603 Tau Sar Piah have been getting lots of rave reviews. Try it out if you haven’t! At $0.60 (for one piece).
603 Tau Sar Piah is at 631 Balestier Road. Visit www.facebook.com/603TauSarPiah/
4. Traditional Teochew Pastries from Thye Moh Chan
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Since 1943, Thye Moh Chan has served a loyal following with its handcrafted traditional Teochew baked goods. With their pastries, you can get the most authentic taste for these heritage treats. Some of our favourites include (from left): Their signature Chef’s Private XO Recipe (salty bean enhanced with a special XO sauce), Sweet Tau Sar (sweet mung bean) and Yam with Salted Egg Yolk.
Thye Moh Chan is at #01-45/46 Chinatown Point, 133 New Bridge Road and #B1-11/12 Paragon, 290 Orchard Road. Visit www.thyemohchan.com for prices and more information.
5. Deep fried Yam Puff with Minced Meat from Crystal Jade Kitchen
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This delicious fried pastry is a mainstay on many dim sum menus, and also enjoyed as a traditional Cantonese treat. We’ve tried a few fried yam puffs here and there, but the ones from Crystal Jade Kitchen really stand out with their extra flaky and crispy exterior with a generous filling of fresh, fragrant yam paste and minced meat. At $4.80 (for three pieces).
Visit www.crystaljade.com for Crystal Jade Kitchen outlets.
6. Traditional Piglet Biscuit from Goodwood Park Hotel
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This nostalgic favourite is given a luxe makeover by Goodwood Park Hotel, with the cute biscuit filled with smooth lotus seed paste. Makes a nice gift for family and friends, and the kids will especially love it. Also check out the hotel’s other offerings of traditional baked mooncakes and creative snowskin mooncakes. At $8 per piece.
Goodwood Park Hotel is at 22 Scotts Road. Visit www.goodwoodparkhotel.com
7. Joyous Collection from Old Seng Choong
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This really adorable set of three animal-shaped pastries comes with a different filling each: Fish – red bean orange and lemon peel with pine nuts; Rooster – egg custard; and Piggy – white lotus paste with melon seeds. The limited-edition set is packaged in a pretty box and nostalgic paper bag. At $32.80 (for one box).
Old Seng Choong is at #05-04 KA Foodlink, 171 Kampong Ampat, visit www.oldsengchoong.com
Text: The Straits Times / Additional Reporting: Sean Tan
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The Must-try Traditional Baked Mooncakes With A Surprising Twist This Mid-Autumn Festival
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