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Header image courtesy of La Famille
Originally published by Jianne Soriano. Last updated by Celia Lee.
Mid-Autumn Festival is right around the corner, which means it’s time to start preparing for the annual lunar celebration. Mooncakes are perhaps the most iconic symbols of this festival, so it is only natural that you should have some to share when you get together with friends and family. With the countless options available on the market, you might ask yourself: why go for a traditional flavour when you can try something quirky and new? We have put together a list of unique and downright weird mooncake flavours for you—read on for our top picks of the best alternative mooncakes to enjoy this Mid-Autumn Festival.
Apart from the traditional lotus seed paste mooncake, Gaia Group offers five other flavours this year for Mid-Autumn Festival. If you love savoury bites, get your hands on the assorted nuts with premium Chinese ham mooncake, filled with walnuts, almonds, melon seeds, sesame seeds, and olive kernels. We’re also impressed with the salted egg yolk with meat floss mooncake, which is an exclusive flavour crafted by Hong Kong actor Lai Lok-yi. Meanwhile, coffee lovers can opt for the roasted coffee mooncake, while the lemon cheese mooncake boasts a unique combination of refreshing lemon and creamy cheese.
Take advantage of Gaia Group’s early-bird offer and get 30 percent off when you purchase online. If you spend over $500 or above at any Gaia Group restaurant, you can receive 40 percent on all mooncake orders.
Enjoy a taste of Japan with a delicious selection of vegan mooncakes ($568 for four), inspired by the most powerful antioxidant-rich ingredients from the Land of the Rising Sun. The Cakery’s vegan treats are presented in a recyclable, origami-inspired packaging, complete with gold elements that pay tribute to Japanese art. Indulge in the gluten-free flavours of black sesame lava mooncakes and mango lava mooncakes with molten centres, yuzu blueberry mooncakes made from Okinawan citrus juice, and Yame hojicha chocolate mooncakes crafted with premium Yame hojicha powder from Fukuoka Prefecture.
Purchase 20 or more boxes to enjoy a special 20 percent discount. Pick-up or delivery is available from 20 August to 10 September, so mark your calendars.
Bask in the glorious moonlight this Mid-Autumn Festival with Godiva’s exclusive mooncake collection (starting from $399), especially designed by Godiva chef chocolatier Sébastien Bauer. Fusing the complexity of French desserts with ingredients used in Chinese culture to create six novel flavours, you can sink your teeth into black truffle apricot, lychee oolong tea, matcha kumquat white chocolate, ginger mango, raspberry and rose, and passionfruit hazelnut mooncakes. Godiva’s early-bird offer is available until 14 August.
One-Michelin-starred Yong Fu is releasing its first-ever mooncakes this year with two types of durian-flavoured mooncakes: musang king durian snow skin and blackthorn durian snow skin mooncakes. All ingredients are flown in fresh from Malaysia and there are only 1,000 boxes of six mooncakes ($428) available, so be sure to grab yours before they run out!
Yong Fu, Shop 2, G/F & 1/F, Golden Star Building, 20–24 Lockhart Road, Wan Chai | (+852) 2881 7889
Whether you love your mooncakes classic or innovative, Pâtisserie Jane’s collection should be on your list. It includes seven assorted flavours divided into various gift boxes, such as the tea-infused mooncake gift box ($168) for tea lovers. It offers four divine tea blends including jasmine-, Earl Grey-, matcha-, and hojicha-flavoured mooncakes. Meanwhile, the rainbow spiral mooncake gift box ($188) features two flavours: the special taro mooncake as well as the lotus seed paste mooncake, but crafted spirally!
You can purchase the mooncake gift boxes online to enjoy an early-bird offer until 14 August, while self-pick-up is available from 15 August to 10 September. Free shipping is available if you purchase over $1,200 worth of mooncakes.
Pâtisserie Jane, Room 7, 6/F, Shing Yip Industrial Building, 19 Shing Yip Street, Kwun Tong
If you love mooncakes but hate the calories, Green Common comes to the rescue. Its vegan mooncake is the best alternative to the delicious treat. Artfully crafted using plant-based ingredients, all the mooncakes contain zero cholesterol and zero trans fat and are free of added preservatives. While the flavours are not as unique as some other mooncakes you might see on our list, you will appreciate the low-sugar green tea flavour ($248) and the classic custard flavour ($238). Don’t miss the early-bird offer until 9 September!
Who doesn’t love a mooncake created by the team helming three-Michelin-starred Chinese restaurant Lung King Heen? Other than bringing back crowd favourites such as the white lotus seed paste mooncake with salted egg and black truffle ($598 per box), the team is also introducing a new flavour. The winter melon paste mooncake ($568 per box) is ready to tickle your tastebuds. You will appreciate the glistening golden colour and sweetness of this new creation. The sought-after cream custard mooncake with toasted pine nuts ($568 per box) is also available this year. Also back by popular demand is the preserved eggs and pickled ginger mooncake ($568 per box), featuring ginger and pickled-in house.
You can order the mooncakes online now and collect them from 27 August to 9 September.
Lung King Heen, 4/F, Four Seasons, 8 Finance Street, Central | (+852) 3196 8888
Need more durian in your Mid-Autumn celebration? Hotel Icon is also offering a mooncake rendition of the dubious fruit. Using French pastry techniques, the new assorted durian mousse mochi mooncake ($598) is made with creamy durian mousse, topped with white chocolate powder and a crunchy cookie base. Beneath the durian mousse are coconut, pandan, green tea, and jackfruit durian mochi. If you love traditional flavours, you can still enjoy the bite-sized white lotus seed paste mooncake with yolk ($486). Hotel Icon’s early-bird offer lasts till 21 August—just place your orders online three days in advance!
Hotel Icon, 17 Science Museum Road, Tsim Sha Tsui | (+852) 3400 1000
The Upper House collaborates with design studio Editecture to add the finishing touch to its mooncake box ($488). The “jade” Ping An Kou amulet is made of recycled materials, created using glass bottles and used uniforms from the hotel. In addition to the stunning packaging, you will also love the unique flavours on offer, including Earl Grey tea custard, maltitol low-sugar white lotus seed paste with egg yolk, and red bean paste with mandarin peel.
As part of The Upper House’s commitment to the local community, 10 percent of the mooncake sales will be donated to Mother’s Choice. If you purchase 10 boxes or more, you can get 15 percent off with promo code TUH22MB15. Click here for more information.
The Upper House, 88 Queensway, Admiralty | (+852) 2918 1838
Mid-Autumn Festival is not complete without illuminated lanterns, and this year, Lady M presents a limited-edition glowing lights mooncake gift set ($538). It includes a spinning lantern that illuminates an intricate moonlit scene and atop sits a lucky golden rabbit, symbolising the annual celebration of the full moon. Accompanying this are three decadent mooncake flavours, the fan-favourite Earl Grey mooncake, the rich caramel coffee mooncake, and the creamy purple yam mooncake. Each mooncake set comes with a custom Lady M shopping bag, a greeting card, and an envelope.
You will be spoilt for choice with Arome Bakery’s selection of mooncakes. Made from Japan-sourced ingredients, the highlight is the new Tokachi red bean mooncake ($201) made from salted egg yolks, chestnuts, and mixed nuts with a silky-smooth red bean paste. Don’t miss the Doraemon-themed mooncake ($288), available in Tokachi red bean and egg custard flavours. Meanwhile, the snowy mooncake ($298) features Hokkaido 3.6 milk.
Who says that mooncakes have to be just sweet and savoury and not spicy? Apart from the traditional white lotus seed paste and molten lava milk custard mooncakes ($328), Palate in a Box is introducing a Sichuanese numbing spicy beef mooncake ($328) in addition to its black sesame pastry mooncake ($328). The former comes in an Instagrammable pink skin and will surely be a unique treat for your tastebuds. The latter has a textured black sesame filling wrapped in a crispy pastry skin so you can literally feel multiple textures in every bite. Place your reservations for the mooncakes two days in advance until 4 September.
Palate in a Box, Shop UG036, UG/F, MCP Central, 8 Yan King Road, Tseung Kwan O
Ralph’s Coffee is not new to introducing innovative mooncake flavours over the past years. Its mooncake box ($468) comes with a cute “bear-ista” modelled after the coffee shop’s barista, donning the signature striped shirt, knit tie, cap, and apron with the logo. While the custard flavour mooncake is not unique, perhaps you will love the coffee lava mooncake. It is locally crafted and made of high-quality coffee beans from Ralph’s Coffee.
Creo by Brentwood brings a modern touch to traditional mooncakes with three new flavours ($238). Its manuka honey egg custard mooncake is infused with New Zealand manuka honey wrapped in buttery golden pastry while the Earl Grey custard mooncake has a creamy tea filling. Finally, the coffee lava custard mooncake contains aromatic Arabica coffee with a rich lava centre that those with a sweet tooth will love. Hong Kong artist Zoie designed the mooncake box with her signature Zlism planet creatures. Enjoy the early-bird price of $188 if you buy your mooncake gift set by 15 August. You can place your orders via Instagram, email [email protected], or WhatsApp or call (+852) 9744 3224.
Meat in a mooncake sure is a thing, thanks to Phoebe’s Kitchen. While the idea of a meat-stuffed mooncake may sound unappealing, there is more than meets the eye. After all, the Tiffin x Phoebe’s Kitchen beef Wellington mooncake, available from the Grand Hyatt, is back by popular demand! Beneath the flaky golden crust is juicy beef tenderloin with Parma ham, white mushrooms, foie gras, and black truffle sauce.
The mooncakes come frozen in boxes of two, so make sure to reheat them and enjoy them while hot. You can take advantage of a 30 percent discount when you order online, or pick up the mooncakes from Wong Chuk Hang. Click here for more details.
Fancy a vegetarian mooncake? Esca is back with its preservative-free handmade mooncakes in a range of flavours, including salted egg and Parmesan, matcha and almond, hojicha and black sesame, taro and coconut, yuan tang, Tieguanyin, and chocolate mooncakes. Esca’s creations are a healthier alternative to traditional mooncakes without compromising on flavour. A single-flavour box of four costs $330; an assorted set of four costs $350; and eight costs $620. Free delivery is available for orders over $2,500 within Hong Kong Island.
Esca, Unit 19A, Yally Industrial Building, 6 Yip Fat Street, Wong Chuk Hang | (+852) 9202 1756
Golden Leaf at the Conrad teams up with award-winning local distillery Two Moons to launch its first-ever gin mooncake gift box ($688). A showcase of craftsmanship, the design of the mooncake box pays tribute to traditional Chinese culture and features timeless Beiwei Kaishu calligraphy by master Yeung Kai. Each gift box includes four mooncakes in two distinctive flavours: creamed egg yolk with gin and red bean paste with mandarin peels and egg yolk. Calamansi gin is added to the egg custard for an unmistakable citrusy fragrance.
Golden Leaf’s classic mooncake should not be missed, either. Its traditional white lotus seed paste with egg yolk mooncake ($438) features a crust, together with homemade syrup. Besides that, you can also get the mini creamed egg yolk mooncake ($458). Order before 14 August to enjoy a 15 percent early-bird discount.
Golden Leaf, Conrad, Lower Lobby, 88 Queensway Road, Admiralty | (+852) 2822 8870
Charbonnel et Walker is releasing a unique mooncake collection this year with two flavours: lava egg custard and Earl Grey tea custard. Each box comes with four mooncakes, accompanied by one best-selling truffle flavour: dark sea salt caramel or milk sea salt caramel praline chocolate truffles. You can purchase the chocolate and mooncake collection (starting from $528) at the pop-up store or online until 10 September.
Charbonnel et Walker, Shop 104, 1/F, Landmark Alexandra, 16 Charter Road, Central
For tea lovers, the Immortal Moon blend—the speciality festive flavour by Tea WG—is a must-try. It is designed to complement the tea-infused mooncakes, which come in four flavours: milk oolong-infused white lotus paste, pu’er-infused white lotus paste with almond and passionfruit purée, Singapore breakfast tea-infused brown lotus filling with roasted melon seeds and salted egg yolk, and white lotus paste with Bain de Roses tea-infused crust. Mooncakes come in two collections: a box of two tea-infused mooncakes ($499) with Immortal Moon tea and a box of four ($558) containing all four speciality flavours.
Kee Wah Bakery introduces a brand-new series of Japanese-style mochi custard mooncakes in three flavours: matcha red bean made with Hokkaido Danayan bean and Japanese matcha, black sesame, and yuzu, which come in a box of six ($228).
Kee Wah is also collaborating with Sumikko Gurashi for the first time to create a custard mooncake series with a musical train gift box. Four flavours are assigned to one of the four popular characters: strawberry yoghurt, chocolate, egg custard, and black sesame. You can purchase these mooncakes in a gift box of four ($208), or a set of one ($42).
All purchases over $325 are eligible for free delivery across Hong Kong. For those holding a Citibank credit card, you can enjoy a 20 percent discount on any purchases of mooncakes or vouchers in stores with the promo code citimc2022 plus the first six digits of your card.
La Famille’s first ever Mid-Autumn mooncake collection is all about storytelling. Approaching the traditional festival from an interstellar perspective, the beautifully designed gift sets narrate the adventure of the legendary Jade Rabbit across six planets. The celestial mooncakes come in two flavours: Earl Grey and Manuka honey custard, each printed with the adorable persona of the Jade Rabbit embracing La Famille’s signature chiffon cake.
There are three gift boxes on offer: Planet ($108) and Explore the Universe ($788) feature six collectable designs depicting the Jade Rabbit’s adventure across six planets, whilst Galaxy ($328) sports an elegant navy design decorated with gold celestial patterns. Boxes are redeemable at selected La Famille stores until 10 September.
Aqua Restaurant Group is offering complimentary and speciality mooncakes at various restaurants! For tea lovers interested to try out Chinese tea-infused mooncakes, look no further than the offers at The Chinese Library and Hutong. Dinner guests at Hutong on 2, 3, 9, and 10 September and The Chinese Library from 9 to 10 September can enjoy complimentary tieguanyin mooncakes with their premium seasonal menus.
Meanwhile, dinner guests visiting Dim Sum Library from 9 to 10 September can enjoy complimentary owl-shaped mooncakes with a delicious Longjing and egg custard filling. Plus, every two guests on Aqualuna’s dim sum cruise can enjoy complimentary oolong mooncakes, which are also available on the afternoon tea cruise from 8 to 11 September.
Martell is partnering with local bakery MoonYuet to launch a speciality mooncake gift set that’s perfect for celebrations with family and friends. It comes with two flavours: MoonYuet’s premium traditional lotus seed paste with salted egg yolk and Martell Noblige’s speciality lotus seed paste with a mixture of Martell Noblige, molten chocolate, and popping candy.
This special release also comes with a deck of Chinese riddle playing cards to get everyone into the spirit of the Mid-Autumn Festival. You can order this bespoke collection online now and pick it up from the restaurant, MOTD Concepts, between 5 and 9 September.
MOTD Concepts, 1/F, Union Park Tower, 168 Electric Road, Causeway Bay
A local bakery and a gelateria might seem like two unlikely partners, but Ho Lee Fook and Messina have one thing in common—their chefs are dab hands at transforming the traditional with their own unique and modern twists. Hence, the two have come together to introduce three new speciality mooncakes with original flavour combinations and presentation!
The chocolate hazelnut mooncake has a rich chocolate and hazelnut filling paired with gianduia gelato, coated with a Rocher glaze; the lotus seed paste and salted duck egg mooncake combines the two hero ingredients in a gelato centre encased in lotus seed mousse; and the black sesame tong yuen mooncake melds together the best of both Mid-Autumn desserts in a unique nutritious creation. These delicious alternative mooncakes come in a tin of four. You can order them now on Ho Lee Fook‘s website. Pick-up is available between 6 and 11 September at Messina. Get yours before they’re all gone!
Jianne is introverted by nature but adventurous by heart. This Hong Kong-born-and-raised Filipino, who also spent time in Japan, prides herself on being a fangirl. On days when she’s not writing or travelling, you can find her visiting art exhibitions, looking for the best new places to eat in town, or simply trying to learn another language.
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