Exploring Mid-Autumn Festival and the Tradition of Mooncakes

The Mid-Autumn Festival, a time-honored tradition in Asian cultures, is a celebration of the full moon that brings together families and friends. Observed with the lighting of lanterns and the sharing of mooncakes, this festival has its roots in ancient China over 2,000 years ago. It originally marked the end of the harvest season, serving as an occasion to express gratitude for the bounty produced during this time.

Today, the festival extends beyond China, reaching communities across the globe that follow diverse customs and enjoy various forms of mooncakes. These pastries, once seldom seen outside China, are now crafted locally in cities such as Sydney, providing a taste of tradition for Asian Australians during the festival, which this year began on September 17th.

Mooncakes come in both sweet and savory varieties and can be either baked or chilled. In Sydney, traditional Chinese mooncakes filled with lotus seed paste and egg yolk remain popular. Their golden-brown pastry, typically made from flour, oil, and golden syrup, conveys a classic taste loved by many.

In Haymarket, establishments like Emperor’s Garden invite patrons to enjoy handmade mooncakes with fillings such as lotus, five kernels, and egg yolk with Chinese ham. Nearby, XOPP offers a modern twist with Cantonese dishes and unique mooncake flavors like salted egg custard and sweet red bean available during this time.

Vivienne Li and Juno Zhu bring a Japanese influence to the festival with creations like jasmine grape and black sesame walnut mooncakes at their bakery in Kinokuniya, opened in 2021. Sweet Lu in Haymarket and Chatswood provides beautifully designed mooncakes with lava custard centers, using exclusively salted yolks for a signature creamy “custard lava” experience.

Shanghainese mooncakes, noted for their flaky crusts, are a specialty at Lilong in Darling Square and Rhodes. These creations feature both sweet and savory fillings, including pork and abalone.

Additionally, Black Star Pastry offers “crystal snow-skin” mooncakes at locations across Sydney. These chilled mooncakes are available in flavors such as strawberry and rose or black sesame cheesecake, inspired by its signature cakes.

For a twist, Ommi’s Food presents Taiwanese-inspired mooncakes, featuring innovative flavors with ingredients like taro and stretchy mozzarella-like “cheesy mochi”. These fresh, preservative-free mooncakes highlight the creativity and diversity of the festival.

Koko Black, an Australian chocolatier, adds to the celebration with chocolate-encased mooncakes. Wrapped beautifully, these confections feature fillings like red bean ganache and five-spice milk chocolate, offering a unique, sweet experience.

Despite the modern twists, traditional overseas mooncakes from Wing Wah, Mei Xin, and Sunny Hills are also cherished, found in international supermarkets and local Asian grocers. Community festivals in the region further enrich the Mid-Autumn season, with food stalls, cultural immersion, and live performances readily available.