The annual Mid-Autumn Festival is here again! This year, different hotels and restaurants have introduced a great variety of mooncake flavours that are set to impress consumers. Showcasing both traditional baked and snowskin mooncakes, here’s a showcase of 15 different mooncakes for you. (Disclaimer: these mooncakes are NOT arranged according to preference.)

Behold as Peony Jade’s cute-as-a-button must-haves make their irresistible debut this year. The new Baked Prosperous Piglets with Silver Lotus Paste, Macadamia Nuts and Single Yolk ($36 for 2 pieces, $65 for 4 pieces) are as cute as they are delicious. Each handcrafted piglet also symbolises and celebrates great abundance and togetherness of the mid-autumn festival.

Five new intriguing flavours includes Mini Snowskin (Banochoc) Chocolate Salted Caramel Glaze Banana and Walnuts Mooncake, Mini Snowskin Fragrant Honey Williams Pears, Organic Apricot Apricot and Raspberry Mooncake, Mini Snowskin Teochew Orh-Ni Pumpkin with Coconut Truffle Mooncake, Black Thorn Durian Nyonya Mooncake in Coconut Mini Snowskin and Mini Snowskin Silver Lotus Paste with “Gui-Hua” Cassia Flowers and Melon Seeds Mooncake.

Durian lovers will enjoy the 100% Premium Top Grade Pure Mao Shan Wang Durian Mooncake in Organic Pandan Snow Skin ($44 for 2 pieces, $74 for 4 pieces) using only 100% premium and unadulterated bittersweet Cat Mountain King durian pulp from Pahang, enrobed in a duvet of chewy yet soft green organic pandan snowskin.

Peony Jade’s inimitable mooncakes are available at the 2 Peony Jade restaurants and the following 14 locations. For enquiries, call Peony Jade’s mooncake hotline at 6659 4159, 6659 4918 & 6659 4161.

Attention Red Velvet lovers! Talented Pastry Chefs improvised the recipe of hotel’s signature Red Velvet cake into snowskin mooncake! With the sweet and smooth cream cheese paste enveloping the crunchy royaltines within the handcrafted snowskin, this trending flavour in the form of mooncake is sure to be the crème de la crème!

Savour Carlton’s all-time bestseller – the addictive Mini Walnut Moontart with white lotus paste and egg yolk. For the health-conscious connoisseurs, this signature mooncake also comes in a low sugar option without egg yolk. The Traditional White Lotus Paste Mooncake, comes without yolk, with single or double yolk; while the Traditional Red Lotus Paste Mooncake comes with double yolk.

Prices start from $62 for a set of four baked mooncakes and $58 for a set of eight red velvet snowskin mooncakes. For orders, please call 6349 1292, fax 6311 8170 or email restaurants@carltonhotel.sg

This year, Yan Ting’s snowskin mooncake assortment comes in five palatable flavours with the popular Pure Mao Shan Wang Durian Indulgence ($118 per box of 8), new creation of Chocolate Royal Liqueur Tuffle ($70 per box of 8), Black Sesame and Melon Seeds Crunch ($68 per box of 8), Chestnut Cravings ($68 per box of 8) and Red Dates and Wolfberries Delight ($68 per box of 8).

The mooncake gems are encased in an elegant and distinctive turqoisx box, adorned with golden Chinoiserie-inspired motifs. Ideal for gifting this festive season, the box can be transformed into a lantern that is perfect ornament for the evening appreciation of mooncakes and Chinese tea.

For more information, please call Yan Ting at 6506 6887, email yanting@stregis.com or visit http://www.yantingrestaurant.com/midautumn

Bakerzin has launched 3 new snow skin mooncake ranges for the Mid-Autumn celebration this year. The Bliss, Joy and Lush Collections will join Bakerzin’s stellar mooncake range which includes the Celestial Snow Skin (Black Sesame), Divine Snow Skin (Mao Shan Wang) and Classic Collection (Traditional Baked Mooncake). Bliss Collection includes Frangelico Hazelnut Truffle Snow Skin, Grand Marnier Chocolate Truffle Snow Skin, Pink Champagne Truffle Snow Skin and Whisky Truffle Snow Skin. Lush Collection includes Lychee Snow Skin, Mango Pomelo Snow Skin, Strawberry Snow Skin and Yuzu Snow Skin.

Mooncake traditionalists, who enjoy time-honoured fillings and flavours, can look forward to the Joy Collection which showcases an interesting assortment of sweet potato, purple sweet potato, pandan lotus and yam filled snow skin mooncakes. Each box of mooncake comes with pretty, durable and recyclable bags. They come in a myriad of colours

Prices start from $52 for a set of four baked mooncakes and $52 for a set of eight snowskin mooncakes. Order online: www.bakerzin.com

Mei-Xin has the best selling mooncakes for 16 consecutive years in Hong Kong. If you are a big fan of Mei Xin, you don’t have to fly to Hong Kong to buy their mooncakes now. Because they are available in Singapore! Made with premium butter and light cream from France, the rich and aromatic egg custard mooncake is one of the unique mooncakes I have seen in the market. Plus, the custard contains no artificial colouring!

While the traditional white lotus paste mooncakes are their best-selling items, low sugar options as well as custard ones are gaining popularity too. These low sugar mooncakes has a low glycaemic index as it is sweetened mainly with malitol – a sugar alcohol. It is the most natural low sugar option in town, hence it is a good option for elderly parents. Mei-Xin snow skin mooncakes has 24 flavours, my favourite is Mango with Pomelo Dessert.

Hong Kong Mei-Xin Mooncakes will be retailing in 11 locations this year. For more information about the location, click here.

Man Fu Yuan’s acclaimed Dim Sum Chef Simon Poon created a new series of Shanghai Mooncakes, where he works his magic to create a buttery pastry crust that delightfully complements the smooth lotus seed paste. His affinity with working with pastry is apparent in the balance of flavours and the way the pastry yields at first bite, crumbling to reveal the smooth lotus seed paste filling, well-paired with choice of macadamia and pine nuts or salted egg yolk.

The assortment of snowskin mooncakes in a palette of aromatic flavours such as green tea paste with premium dragonball jasmine tea-infused snowskin, sesame paste and ‘Mao Shan Wang’ durian mooncake with coconut provides the perfect gift for the more adventurous in palate. Specially handpicked by their mooncake specialists, the decadent blend of premium ‘Mao Shan Wang’ durian combined with fragrant coconut milk is a scrumptious treat that is simply too good to resist, also available on its own in a 2-piece or 4-piece box. For the health conscious, a myriad of low-sugar offerings, made with 50 percent less sugar and all-natural ingredients, provide a guilt-free indulgence this Mid-Autumn season.

Man Fu Yuan’s perennial favourite classic baked mooncake collection comes with a variety of fillings such as Assorted Nuts, White Lotus Seed Paste with Double Yolks, and Red Bean Paste with Melon Seeds. Boxes of 2-piece from $29+ and 4-piece from $49+. Online purchase will be available at singapore.intercontinental.com/mooncakes. For
more information, please call 6820 8519 / 8520 or email sinhb-festive@ihg.com.

In celebration of the Mid-Autumn Festival, PUTIEN presents Madam Leng Mooncakes! Using the freshest ingredients, these mooncakes are created by their longest serving employee, Madam Leng Ah Eng. A mother figure well loved by our colleagues, Madam Leng has treated colleagues and regular patrons to her homemade mooncakes for the past decade without fail. This is a box of refined heritage made with a heart.

Madam Leng Mooncakes come with a generous serving of homemade signature yam and purple sweet potato filling. Made with traditional methods, the delectable mooncakes are low in sugar, contains zero preservatives and additives. Since its first public launch last year, they are only producing a limited number of boxes per outlet, with each PUTIEN outlet only having 200 boxes this year. With no preservatives, these Mooncakes are only good for 3 days. Madam Leng Mooncakes will be available across all PUTIEN outlets.

Taking centrestage this year is The Fullerton Snow Skin Treasures which offers a contemporary assortment of the classic. Two irresistible Snow Skin flavours exude a comforting taste of home with a dose of indulgence. The White Lotus Seed Paste with Single Yolk Snow Skin Mooncake features a smooth and delightfully sweet white lotus seed paste. The Pandan with Gula Melaka Snow Skin Mooncake is a nostalgic blend of familiar local flavours where the aroma of the pandan complements the deep caramel flavour of the palm sugar.

Returning this year is The Fullerton Hotel’s popular The Fullerton Golden Custard Mini Mooncake, featuring a perfect combination of savoury salted egg yolk and sweet custard encased in an aromatic light butter pastry that melts in your mouth. Those with a preference for golden brown goodness will enjoy The Fullerton Hotel’s traditional mooncakes which are baked to hearty perfection. The selection of classic mooncakes includes Baked Mooncake with White Lotus Seed Paste and Baked Mooncake with White Lotus Seed Paste and Single / Double Yolk.

Prices start from $56 for a set of four baked mooncakes and $55 for a set of four snowskin mooncakes. To order, please call 6877 8178 or email fullertonshop@fullertonhotel.com

Shang Palace celebrates the Mid-Autumn Festival with three new snow-skin mooncakes infused with premium jasmine, oolong and 18-year-old pu-erh tea. The new collection comprises poetic creations, such as Mini Snow-Skin Snowy Flake Mooncake (Jasmine Tea), Mini Snow-Skin Phoenix Supreme Mooncake (Oolong Tea) and Mini Snow-Skin Imperial Consort Mooncake (18-year-old Pu-erh Tea). Each mooncake is filled with smooth lotus seed paste with a refreshing tea jelly centre encased with chocolate.

Fans of the baked variety will enjoy the innovative Mini Baked Passion Fruit Mooncake. For traditional mooncakes, each piece guarantees a bite of quality egg yolk embedded in sweet white lotus paste. All mooncakes are presented in carefully-selected and customised satin boxes with elegant Chinese embroidery, available exclusively in Singapore.

Prices start from $64.20 for a set of four baked mooncakes and $66.35 for a set of eight snowskin mooncakes. The online order form is available at www.slsrewards.com.sg/mooncake2014. For enquiries and orders, please call (65) 6213 4448 or (65) 6213 4473.

This year, coffee and tea lovers are in for a treat, as Paradise Group cleverly infused four popular favourite from your regular cuppa into a burst of four colourful petite bites which will surely arouse one’s senses. The Luscious Earl Grey Mooncake promises to tantalise your taste buds with a subtle hint of Earl Grey tea carefully balanced with sweet and smooth lotus paste, making it the perfect accompaniment to a rich meal and an ideal dessert mooncake.

For a healthier yet unique choice, we recommended the refreshing Classic Hakka Lei Cha Mooncake. For the coffee lovers, Roasted Arabica Coffee Mooncake will leave a lingering fragrant aroma aftertaste. Finally, those with a sweet tooth will be charmed by the rich Chocolatey Mocha Mooncake where every bite is a perfect blend of chocolate and coffee.

Visit www.paradisegp.com to order from our e-store from 1 August to 5 September 2014. A minimum purchase of 2 boxes is required for online orders.

Making its debut in Jiang-Nan Chun at Four Seasons Hotel Singapore is the baked mooncake variant of assorted nuts with kaffir lime and BBQ chicken – ingredients that deliver a savoury piquancy with subtle sweetness from the pastry that enfolds it. With its smooth, velvety texture and added crunch, the black beauty baked black sesame with silver lotus seed paste and walnuts mooncake makes a revival in the restaurant, and paired with aromatic Chinese teas is sure to be a crowd-pleaser.

For chocolate lovers and those with a penchant for indulgence, Jiang Nan Chun’s innovative approach to the snowskin mooncake will delight with the duo option of Champagne chocolate or hazelnut royaltine and milk tea. Another addition to the line-up is the silver honey lotus paste and yolk snowskin mooncake. Incorporating syrupy gold honey and its natural sweetness into the lotus paste, the mooncake is delightfully soft, and the mild aromatic flavours flourish with every bite.

Prices start from $62 for a set of four baked mooncakes and $58 for a set of eight snowskin mooncakes. For enquiries and orders, contact Jiang-Nan Chun at tel: (65) 6831 7220 or email jnc.sin@fourseasons.com

To celebrate this year’s Mid-Autumn festival, Concorde Hotel Singapore injects novelty into the presentation of our mooncake boxes. Combining traditional flavours with multi-functional design, the box is not just a case to hold knick-knacks, but also a decorative lamp. What’s more, these mooncakes are halal certified!

This year, mooncake selection includes Pure Lotus, Pure Lotus Single Yolk, Pure Lotus Double Yolk, White Lotus Single Yolk, White Lotus Black Sesame and Japanese Red Bean. Prices start from $60 for a set of four baked mooncakes. To place your orders, please call 6739 8370 or email: spices.chs@concorde.net

This year, Grand Hyatt Singapore’s collection of mooncakes include two refreshing new miniature snowskin mooncake flavours perfected by our pastry artisans: white lotus with rose truffle, and white lotus with passion fruit truffle. Create the perfect gift for family, friends or business associates by choosing from four traditional and nine snowskin mooncake flavours.

The quality and freshness of both the traditional and the snowskin mooncakes is ensured, as each piece is handmade by our dedicated team of fourteen expert pastry chefs. All mooncakes are 100% preservative-free and do not contain pork or lard.

For further information, please call their hotline +65 6887 5492

Together with fashion concept store, Made by Lauren Jasmine, online gourmet food store, SUCRE, has launched a limited edition ART BOX mooncake gift set. Set in bold ink with a luxurious gold foil, the mooncake box is only available in 1,000 limied edition.

SUCRE’s mooncake flavours include White Lotus Seed Paste with Macadamia Nuts, White Lotus Seed Paste with Single Yolk, and others. The highlight is a traditional favourite with a twist – the White Lotus Seed Paste with Melon Seeds and Dried Cherries. SUCRE’s Chef Patissier has incorporated dried cherries in the mooncake, with the tartness of the dried cherries perfectly tempering the sweetness of the white lotus seed paste.

Prices range from $54 (for 4 different flavours) to S$58 (for 4 x White Lotus Seed Paste with Melon Seeds & Dried Cherries). To place orders, please visit www.ruedusucre.com, email order@ruedusucre.com, or contact SUCRE hotline at +65 6680 0295.

Back by popular demand, the signature Bum Mooncake collection by Hong Kong brand, Goods of Desire, will be available for sale in Singapore this Mid-Autumn festive season. They have brought in 4 new Bum Mooncake designs this year, namely Full Monty, Mind The Gap, Hot Pants and Spread My Cheeks.

The making of these Bum Mooncake remains traditional by Mei-Xin Fine Goods, a household confectionary brand in Hong Kong. These Bum Mooncakes are baked using indigenous baking techniques to produce a lightly fragrant skin that enfolds the velvety smooth Lotus Seed Paste accompanied by the single egg yolk.

Encasing these Bum Mooncakes is its signature packaging designed to resemble a traditional Chinese calendar that highlights the exact day of celestial full moon celebration during the festive Mid-Autumn season – 15th day of the 8th lunar month.

Big THANK YOU to Carlton Hotel & Peony Jade, I am giving away 10 BOXES OF MOONCAKES to 10 lucky readers! These mooncakes include:

– 5 boxes of CARLTON HOTEL’S Mini Red Velvet Snowskin Mooncake
– 3 boxes of PEONY JADE’S Baked Mooncake with Premium Mother of Pearl White Lotus Paste and Melon Seeds
– 2 boxes of PEONY JADE’S Baked Mooncake with Premium Mother of Pearl White Lotus Paste & Single Yolk

HOW TO WIN?
Which box of mooncake do you hope to win and why?