Mid-Autumn Festival is nigh! Every year, I continue to be shocked at the dizzying array of non-traditional mooncakes created to please all kinds of palates. In the spirit of one of my favourite Chinese festivals from my childhood (I vividly remember rocking a Donatello Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles lantern), here are three creative alternatives to your usual lotus seed paste single yolk mooncakes. And not that there's anything wrong with a lotus seed paste single yolk mooncake, on the contrary, it's the choice I'd make 95% of the time.
This is for those who prefer to embrace the odd, unique, and sensational world of non-traditional mooncakes.
W Kuala Lumpur
W Kuala Lumpur and Chivas Regal teams up to present the Moonstruck Mixology kit (RM228+), a boozy treat to usher in the Mid-Autumn Festival. Local flavours come alive with both pastry and beverage, with elements like cendol and gula melaka syrup helping to really showcase that taste of familiarity in a new light.
What's in the glimmering iridescent box?
1x Mint red bean mooncake to be paired with a Matcha Old Fashioned (Chivas Regal 12 Year Old) cocktail
1x Cendol coconut mooncake to be paired with the Loka Loko (Chivas Regal Extra) cocktail
Cocktail garnishes
Jigger
Bar spoon
Who is this for?
Those who enjoy local flavours and a cocktail or two to go along with it.
To purchase, contact W Kuala Lumpur via Oddle, Instagram, or Facebook, calling 03-2786 8888 / 012-3479088, or emailing bf.wkualalumpur@whotels.com.
Skillet At 163
Interesting oriental flavours make up this year’s mooncake offerings from chef Raymond and his team. There are five snow skin mooncake flavours to choose from, but Skillet At 163 offers different boxes with different choices. Go all out with the Full Moon Series (pictured above) for RM128, which comes with four mooncakes and two preserves.
What's in the black box?
1x Gold – St Dominique single origin brownies and Hennessy V.S.O.P Privilege
1x Yellow – corn and flaxseed paste with a single yolk
1x Red – red date paste with cranberries
1x Purple – yam paste with white pearl
1x Dolce de leche
1x Tange orange marmalade
Who is this for?
Those who enjoy oriental flavours in artisanal size mooncakes.
To purchase, or find out what else the restaurant has in store for Mid-Autumn Festival, visit their website.
Oh Cha Matcha
Do you like green tea? Do you know someone who likes green tea? Well, "liking" green tea isn't enough, with these mooncakes, you need to LOVE green tea. Why? Because matcha fanatics Oh Cha Matcha recently debuted the return of their signature snow skin mooncakes that are sugar-free and dairy-free. Each box (RM60) comes with four mooncakes that make a good gift for guilt-free indulgence.
What's in the box?
1x Matcha with mung bean
1x Beetroot with matcha mung bean
1x Purple sweet potato with hojicha mung bean
1x Blue spirulina with genmaicha mung bean
Who is this for?
Matcha fanatics and healthy eating enthusiasts.
To purchase, make a pre-order them at Oh Cha Matcha's website.