Mooncakes are Chinese baked delicacies with a thin molded crust holding a thick lotus paste, monggo paste, or red bean paste sometimes with a yolk or two and some nuts in the generous filling. Often enjoyed during the Mid-Autumn Festival, also known as Mooncake Festival, which is happening right about now, specifically on 25 September, it is a food symbol that is shared with or gifted to family and friends.

These days, mooncakes are enjoyed by everyone during this mooncake season. There is no need to wait for someone to give you one, because it is readily available in Chinese deli stores and restaurants. Although a bit pricey because of the ingredients that go into every compact “cake,” you can easily buy them off the rack in commercial volume. Gourmet versions are also being homemade by chefs and high-end Chinese restaurants and top hotels as well. Imported ones, particularly well-known brands from Hong Kong, are now also easy to source now.

What’s interesting to know is that while the traditional flavors of mooncakes have stayed and continue to be available in the market, new, trendy, and contemporary flavors have also emerged as options for the younger generation, especially in the local market.

PROUDLY LOCAL

A brand that has been showing the way in the mooncake front in recent years is Eng Bee Tin, which is best known for its quality and delicious hopia, whose flavors have also expanded from traditional monggo and ube to such exciting flavors as pandan, queso, kundol, langka, even durian. Since Eng Bee Tin is most famous for its ube hopia, which Gerry ‘Mr. Ube’ Chua introduced and made famous, combinations such as Ube Langka, Ube Queso and Ube Pastillas have been made into hopia variants.

But when it comes to mooncakes, which has also long been part of the brand’s Chinese-Filipino traditions, the innovation has been awesome.

“Over the years, we have continued producing the traditional mooncake flavors people expect, while also introducing newer and more innovative variants. For us, these products are not just seasonal items. They are also a way of preserving Chinese traditions and sharing them with Filipino families, which fits naturally with Eng Bee Tin’s identity as a proudly Filipino company with deep Chinese roots,” says Royce Gerik Chua, who’s now at the helm of the 50-store chain.

Mooncake flavors started with traditional Black Mongo, White Mongo, Lotus and Mixed Nuts or Wu Ren, including traditional versions with salted egg yolks. Since mooncakes are now available year-round at Eng Bee Tin, its mooncake selections have grown considerably. Depending on the season, there are traditional favorites on the store racks as well as more modern and innovative flavors, including Black Mongo, White Mongo, Ube, Lotus, Mixed Nuts or Wu Ren, Snow Rose, Durian, Mango Jam, Choco Banana, Triple Chocolate, Coconut Cream, HK Char Siu and now, Pistachio Kataifi and Ube Matcha.

Some traditional mooncakes are also offered with different numbers of salted egg yolks.

“The idea is to offer something both for customers who want a very traditional mooncake and for the younger generation or more adventurous customers who are looking for something new,” says Gerik.

Ube Matcha, in particular, has become a big hit. The newest mooncake variant in the brand’s roster, it combines the brand’s famous ube with another flavor that has become very popular. In this case, matcha is the perfect match.

“Matcha has an earthy and slightly bitter character, while ube is creamy and naturally sweet. We felt the two flavors could complement and balance each other very well. In a way, it represents what Eng Bee Tin has always done: taking something familiar and traditional and continuously finding new ways to present it. And, of course, ube and matcha really are a perfect match,” Gerik adds.

In effect, the Ube Matcha Mooncake combines a matcha-flavored skin, the brand’s ube filling, and a matcha lava center. So, when you slice it open, When you cut into it, you get to experience the different layers of flavor and texture — the matcha from the outside, the sweetness and creaminess of ube, and then the richer flowing matcha center. Visually, you also have the contrast between green matcha and purple ube, which makes the product very distinctive.

“What makes it special for us is that we are taking ube, the flavor that has become synonymous with Eng Bee Tin, and allowing it to evolve once again by pairing it with something completely different. It is both familiar and new at the same time,” says Gerik.

Other unique and innovative mooncake variants that are gaining immense popularity include Pistachio Kataifi, Triple Chocolate, Choco Banana, Durian, Mango Jam, Snow Rose, Coconut Cream, Ube Cheese and HK Char Siu.

Eng Bee Tin mooncakes are available in regular and mini sizes, depending on the flavor and collection, and in individual pieces and gift sets, particularly during the Mid-Autumn Festival season.

Its stores can be found in key commercial areas and major malls in Metro Manila, as well as selected branches outside Metro Manila. Orders can also be coursed online through the brand’s official stores on Shopee, Lazada and TikTok Shop.

WORLD-RENOWNED MOONCAKES

Meanwhile, Hong Kong MX Mooncakes, Hong Kong’s top-selling mooncake brand for 28 years now, has brought its 2026 Mid-Autumn collection to the Philippines. It is a mix of beloved classics (such as traditional White Lotus Seed Paste and the brand’s signature Lava Custard) to contemporary flavors and collectible designs (including an Earl Grey-infused mooncake and a collaboration with Kuromi).

Its most playful arrival this year is the MX Kuromi Mooncake Gift Box, which brings one of Sanrio’s most recognizable characters into the Mid-Autumn tradition. The collectible box has been designed to look like a purple storybook and features Kuromi with her companion Baku. It comes with a detachable Kuromi charm and beaded keychain that can be used as an accessory for a phone or bag. Inside are four White Lotus Seed Paste Mooncakes with Egg Yolk featuring Kuromi designs, keeping the mooncakes themselves decidedly traditional despite the playful exterior.

Not to be missed, though, is MX Lava Custard Mooncake with its signature golden molten center, made with rich custard and salted egg yolk. The mooncake combines rich custard and salted egg yolk in a delicate pastry, using MX’s signature double-baking technique to create the golden molten center that gives the Lava series its name. French butter, Southeast Asian coconut milk and salted egg yolks round out its rich, creamy profile.

Then there is the new Lava Custard and Earl Grey Mooncake Selection. The gift box pairs MX’s signature Lava Custard with its new Earl Grey Mooncake, bringing the familiar aroma of Earl Grey tea and bergamot into a smooth lava filling. The contrast gives the box two distinct experiences: the richness and salted-egg character of the classic custard alongside the more aromatic, tea-forward Earl Grey.

The traditional mooncakes continue to be favorites, though, and on top of the list are MX’s traditional White Lotus Seed Paste Mooncake, which combines smooth lotus seed paste with salted egg yolks wrapped in golden pastry.

For this year’s Mid-Autumn Festival, Hong Kong MX Mooncakes’ 2026 collection is available at S Maison, SM Aura, Ayala Malls Vertis North, GH Mall, and Nu Star Cebu. Orders may also be made via Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Lazada and Shopee.