Mooncakes are a Chinese pastry traditionally eaten during the Mid-Autumn Festival These pastries have a rich history, and have become a symbol of family reunion and celebration.
Mooncakes are consumed in a variety of shapes and sizes, with fillings that range from sweet to savory. They are generally made from a flour-based or short-base crust, and filled with either sweet bean or lotus paste, or salty ingredients such as pork, mushrooms, and vegetables. All mooncakes are completed with a thin egg-wash glaze over the surface.
The five best examples of mooncakes around the world are the following:
1. Cantonese Mooncake: This is the most popular style of mooncake and originates from southern China. It typically has a thin, crunchy crust and is filled with one of several different types of sweet or savory fillings. The fillings are usually a combination of lotus or red-bean paste, pork, peanuts, mushrooms, or vegetables.
2. Baked Mooncake: This type of mooncake originates from northern China and is made from a mixture of wheat flour and a variety of other ingredients, such as sugar, lard, and baking powder. The filling is generally sweet, with a combination of either red bean or lotus paste, pork, peanuts, and vegetables.
3. Snowy Mooncake: This type of mooncake is unique in that it is made from a jelly-like sweet dough and is covered in a sugar-based frosting. The filling is typically a combination of lotus paste, pork, peanuts, and vegetables.
4. Philippine Mooncake: This type of mooncake originates from the Philippines and is a variation on the Cantonese mooncake. It typically has a thinner, crispier crust and is made with either a sweet or savory filling.
5. Chinese Mooncake: Chinese mooncakes are the traditional type of mooncake and are usually made with either a sweet or savory filling. The filling can be a combination of red bean or lotus paste, pork, peanuts, mushrooms, or vegetables. The dough is usually a soft, buttery pastry dough, and the mooncake is usually finished with a glossy, egg-wash glaze.