Believe it or not, Mid-Autumn Festival is just around the corner, and that can only mean one thing… it’s mooncake season! This year the actual holiday falls on Sep 21, so pretty much anytime between now and then is totally acceptable for doling out these deliciously festive treats to your friends and colleagues. And let’s be honest, not trying to throw shade or anything, but getting mooncakes after that date usually means you’ve just been regifted.
This year, we’re going to skip the history of Mid-Autumn Festival and what a mooncake is. There’s more than enough of that going around. Instead, we want to take the guesswork out of your gifting and decided to put together this handy list of mooncakes that are available in Beijing. Though you’ll find a diverse range of fillings and flavors here, any mooncake connoisseur knows it’s not always about the taste. When it comes to gifting mooncakes, there’s an art behind it all.
TheATRE Tea
This contemporary tea and cake shop is super popular with locals and expats alike. Aside from their wide selection of herbal tea blends, they’re known for creating desserts that are both beautiful and delicate in taste. Their cakes “aren’t too sweet,” which in local Chinese is the highest compliment one can pay a dessert, and each hints at subtle flavors of various teas. This year their mooncakes reflect just that. Subtle, elegant flavors in timeless, minimalist packaging.
These are the mooncakes you gift that friend who isn’t into mainstream brands but loves quality.
RMB 288 for a box of six. Early bird price: RMB 245
Matchall’s Doramon Mooncakes
Matchall makes delicious matcha products that are bursting with flavor. What’s more, these mooncakes are an adorable blast from the past. As an added bonus, the box comes with a fun Mid-Autumn Festival Doramon display that kids can assemble, elevating these delicious treats to family activity.
For the friends with young kids, or those who are still young at heart.
RMB 169 for a box of six.
Like everything else at Venchi, this one is going to cost you an arm and a leg. The three-layer mooncake box is a veritable display case all its own. Layers of chocolate mooncakes sit above a layer of various Venchi chocolate, plus an orange Venchi branded paper lantern to quite literally top the whole thing off.
Whether it’s family, friends, or colleagues, this one is for the brand-conscious person you really want to suck up to.
RMB 1,268. Early Bird: RMB 1,068
East Beijing
This is the first year that East Beijing has created mooncakes and true to form, the design is minimalistic and environmentally friendly. They only have one option for mooncakes and it’s a four-piece box with four different flavored and colored modern mooncakes, each topped with a macaron.
For your colleagues in the office, PTA friends, or anyone else you want to show appreciation for without breaking the bank.
RMB 288 box of four. Early Bird price: RMB 230.40
The Opposite House
For the first time ever, The House Collective created an eight-piece mini-mooncake set that’s packaged in a gorgeous eco-friendly wooden box, designed to be reused long after the mooncakes have been enjoyed. Made with sustainable FSC-certified wood and crafted using eco-friendly carpentry techniques to minimize waste, even the mooncakes themselves are tucked into mini paper boxes made from recycled paper.
This one goes out to those with an eye for modern art and eco-conscious living.
RMB 528 for a box of eight
Grand Mercure Dongcheng
If you’re looking for a safe bet, this is it. In collaboration with celebrity Master Chef Jereme Leung – one of the most influential chefs in the modern Chinese culinary movement – internationally renowned hotel group Accor Hotels created two mooncake sets.
These elegant and classic designs are perfect for foodie friends and fans of innovative Chinese cuisine.
RMB 168 for a box of four.
RMB268 for a box of eight.
Fairmont Beijing x Golden Wings
Fairmont Beijing has two mooncake concepts this year. One of our favorites is their collection created with Golden Wings Art Rehabilitation Center for Disabled Children. Founded in 2010, Golden Wings is a private non-profit organization that uses art to enrich the lives of autistic children. The boxes feature six artworks by students at Golden Wings and for each box sold, Fairmont Beijing will donate a portion of the proceeds to the center.
Of course, this one is for the philanthropist in your life.
RMB 258 for a box of six
Tips for buying mooncakes:
Plan ahead! In case you missed it, just about every establishment is offering early bird discounts, so not only can you save a few RMB but you also won’t risk them selling out.
Buy in bulk! With the exception of brands like Starbucks or Venchi, hotels and restaurants will often give you a discount or throw in a couple of extra boxes if you buy in bulk. Each place has its own definition of what “bulk” is, but it never hurts to ask if you’re looking to buy more than just one or two boxes.
KEEP READING: Mooncake Memories: Your Guide to the Colorful History of this Celestial Pastry
Images: Mina Yan, Courtesy of vendors
