Moon Cakes

The Mid-Autumn Festival is the time people celebrate the movement of the moon, and therefore, special round cakes with a sweet filling called Moon Cakes are born. The custom of enjoying and eating moon cakes at the Mid-Autumn Festival began in the Tang Dynasty. In the Northern Song Dynasty, it was popular in the palace by the upper classes and later spread to the people in society and became a common food custom that all people could enjoy.

This celebration then evolved and adapted by different reigns, until the Ming Dynasty, when Moon Cakes were exclusively consumed at the Mid-Autumn Festival, and became the main offering for moon worship. Since 2018, people in mainland China have had a 1-day break on the Mid-Autumn day and can have up to 3-day holidays on case weekends.

The cakes are often filled with lotus seed paste, red bean paste, or salted egg yolks, and are enjoyed with family and friends. Some other common flavors include five nuts, almonds, pumpkin seeds, and green tea. Its popularity and variations nowadays can be found in various countries and can incorporate local flavors and ingredients to cater to different tastes.