Mooncakes are one of the Chinese delicacies that we all look forward to enjoying come Mid-Autumn Festival this time of the year. Taking place on the 15th day of the eighth month on the Lunar Calendar, this auspicious Chinese event is timed to coincide with the full moon and falls smack on 10 September this year, so now it is mooncake season again.

Usually filled with lotus seed paste or red bean paste with one or more "candied" egg yolks in the center, mooncakes, which have a golden brown crust with Chinese characters embossed on them, can be a bit expensive but are central to the celebration.

These days, mooncakes come in many different flavors, sizes and shapes, so that they are double the fun to partake of. Here are some exciting mooncakes in the market:

Classic and uniquely new mooncakes

For classic and traditional mooncakes, Hong Kong MX Mooncake presents its White Lotus Seed Paste Mooncake with two Egg Yolks and Lotus Seed Paste Mooncake with two Egg Yolks. More premium mooncakes, however, can have more than two yolks.

The brand also offers Lava Custard Mooncake, replacing the egg yolk with molten creamy custard via a unique double-baked technique.

Marvel-Spider-Man Tokachi Red Bean Mooncakes are an exciting new offering this year, with the mooncakes embossed with the superhero icon and packaged in a special tin can, package box and paper bag.

Hong Kong MX Mooncake stores are located at SM Mall of Asia, SM Aura Premier, V-Mall Greenhills, and Ayala Cloverleaf.

Round and delicious

Mooncakes in a new round shape. That's what Midnight Bakers' Mooncakes are. They present a whole new way of appreciating mooncakes. With a lovely flaky crust surrounding a salted egg yolk, they come in three flavors

— black monggo, white monggo, and ube — and are packaged in boxes of six. Plain ones are priced at P450 per box of six, while those with pork floss or nuts go for P510 per box. To order, call 0917-6267211.

Innovations on tradition

Kee Wah's extensive range of mooncakes includes staples such as its classic Golden Lotus Seed Paste Mooncake and innovative new flavors like Red Bean Paste Mooncake with Mandarin Peel, Assorted Nuts Mooncake with Salted Pork, Maltitol Low Sugar Mini White Lotus Seed Paste Mooncake with Yolks, and Maltitol High Fiber Mini Assorted Nuts Mooncake.

This brand from Hong Kong also carries Egg Custard Mooncake, Chocolate and Egg Custard Mooncake, Earl Grey Tea and Egg Custard Mooncake, Fruit Yogurt Custard Mooncake with strawberry and orange peel, and, the newest for 2022, Chinese Ham Mooncake with Assorted Nuts and Betty's XO Sauce.
Kee Wah Bakery pop-up locations are at Robinsons Magnolia and Uptown Mall. For orders, call 0968-2288530 or visit www.keewahproductsphilippines.com.