On the fifteenth day of the eighth month in the lunar calendar, families gather to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival. This several thousand-year-old tradition is in honor of the legend of Chang’e and the full moon, which is often associated with a bountiful harvest. For some, the true star of the show is not so much the moon itself, but the golden-brown pastries made to celebrate it: mooncakes.

These pastries resemble a full moon with their round shape, and are filled with an assortment of flavors, both sweet and savory. They typically have intricate floral designs on the front of the crust, with flavors and appearances varying according to region of origin. Each cake is deliciously packed with years of tradition, and I’ve focused on ranking the top mooncake flavors, so next year you can place your orders early, stock up on these sweet treats, and take part in the festivities.

6. Ice cream mooncake

Though Häagen-Dazs’ limited-time mooncake-shaped ice cream collection during the Mid-Autumn Festival is an innovative approach, it’s not how I would celebrate the holiday. The history of families coming together and eating these mooncakes, which have been made and enjoyed through generations, is so special that an ice cream replica can’t compete with it. Although aesthetically pleasing, the Häagen-Dazs mooncakes are a far leap away from tradition, with the chocolate exteriors and ice cream fillings instead of conventional flour-based shells and paste interiors. 

5. Five-nuts mooncake

Packed with five different nuts and seeds, including pine nuts, almonds, walnuts, sesame seeds, and watermelon seeds, the five-nut mooncake features a crunchy filling held together by a thick, sweet syrup. Dense and slightly dry, it can be an overwhelming snack, and takes an acquired taste.

4. Lotus seed paste mooncake with egg yolk

In this classic flavor, lotus seeds — turned into a sweet paste — are contrasted with a salty, crumbly egg yolk. The significance of the egg lies in its symbolism of the moon — and it doesn’t taste bad either! Still, I recommend, especially for first-time mooncake consumers, to opt for a smoother, sweeter filling before exploring ones with additional textures and flavors.

3. Green tea mooncake

As a green tea lover, and with the increasing popularity of matcha, green tea mooncakes rank high on my list. These mooncakes differ in their crust, often featuring a scoop of green tea powder in their mixture, which changes the flavor and gives them a light green appearance. These are also more modern creations, but unlike their ice cream counterparts, they include classic fillings; however, for the same reasons, they don’t rank higher.

2. Jasmine and oolong tea mooncake

Second place is a tie, as both of these tea-infused pastries are delicious. Jasmine has a darker, richer color, with the strong jasmine fragrance present. On the other hand, oolong is a lighter mixture in both color and taste. If you love these two teas, I recommend trying their mooncake counterparts.

1. Red bean mooncake

Perfection in the form of a classic sweet treat, the rich, dark red bean paste, while not too strong in flavor, comes out just enough that you will want to eat the whole box. The texture is smooth, yet you can almost taste the entire bean with every bite. There’s a nutty sweetness to it that’s simply indescribable in its addictiveness. If you’re anything like my father and me, this is what you’ll be pre-ordering weeks in advance to indulge in.

Contact Lynetta Chao at [email protected].