wushijiao Posted August 16, 2004 at 01:48 AM Report Posted August 16, 2004 at 01:48 AM What do you think of yuebing, mooncakes? What is the best flavor? I'm trying to try a different one each day, starting yesterday. Quote
skylee Posted August 16, 2004 at 01:59 AM Report Posted August 16, 2004 at 01:59 AM I think the tradtional cantonese ones are the best - lotus paste (or white lotus paste) with double egg yolks. Some friends like more egg yolks, but they admit that it is kind of silly as egg yolks are cheaper than lotus paste, yet the more yolks the more expensive the cakes are. Don't eat too much, as moon cakes are not healthy food. I suggest no more than 1/8 or 1/4 of a regular-sized cake each day. And you should wash it down with hot Chinese tea. Quote
liuzhou Posted August 16, 2004 at 04:49 AM Report Posted August 16, 2004 at 04:49 AM Not only are mooncakes absolutely disgusting, the annual mindless frenzy means that I can't find anything in the local supermarket. Useful things and real food are abandoned in favour of "heart attacks in boxes". Most of my Chinese friends tell me they don't like them, but go ape buying them as gifts, because it is expected. Reminds me of the greed-fest we call Christmas in the west. (Sorry, I have a thing about mooncakes!) Quote
Quest Posted August 16, 2004 at 12:09 PM Report Posted August 16, 2004 at 12:09 PM eating mooncake should be like eating pizza, most people just eat one or two "slices" each time. It is best to eat them when you are hungry. I agree that most people don't really like them that much (including myself), it's just another excuse to celebrate your day and to visit your friends and relatives. Quote
pazu Posted August 16, 2004 at 02:48 PM Report Posted August 16, 2004 at 02:48 PM I like 冰皮奶黃月餅. Quote
Junior Posted August 17, 2004 at 12:42 AM Report Posted August 17, 2004 at 12:42 AM um, what is a mooncake? it's probably really obvious to all you who have been to China but i havent (until next week) so i have no idea. is it sweet or savoury food? Sounds interesting though, i will have to try them when i get to China... Quote
Claw Posted August 17, 2004 at 04:38 AM Report Posted August 17, 2004 at 04:38 AM 月饼 is a traditional food eaten during the Mid-Autumn Festival (中秋节). 中秋节 falls on the 15th day of the 8th month in the Chinese lunar calendar (which falls on September 28 this year), when the moon is supposed to be big and full, and marks the fall harvest. 月饼 usually are very dense and packed with lotus seed paste (which is sweet) with a thin pastry crust that has some sort of design on the top. Usually there will be one or more egg yolks embedded inside (though you can buy ones without egg yolks if you prefer). I believe the egg yolks are supposed to represent the full moon. They're so rich and dense that I usually can eat no more than a quarter of one at a time, even though they're only about the size of your fist. I personally like them... very good with some hot tea. You can usually buy them in boxes of four. I found a site that has a picture of a mooncake, and you can see the egg yolk inside too: http://www.stefmike.org/mt-archives/000577.html Quote
wushijiao Posted August 17, 2004 at 08:48 AM Author Report Posted August 17, 2004 at 08:48 AM All of the so-called mooncakes I have had have been no bigger than the size of a clenched fist, unlike Claw's picture. Is this a regional thing? Quote
skylee Posted August 17, 2004 at 09:58 AM Report Posted August 17, 2004 at 09:58 AM There are modern products called mini-moon cakes 迷你月餅 (diameter ~ 1.5 to 2 inches). The diameter of a traditional one is about 3.5 inches. Quote
wushijiao Posted August 18, 2004 at 01:13 AM Author Report Posted August 18, 2004 at 01:13 AM Thanks! Quote
keith Posted August 18, 2004 at 05:11 PM Report Posted August 18, 2004 at 05:11 PM I love mooncakes but i hate the egg yolks inside. Not that I have anything against eggs ( I normally like eggs), it's just that the egg yolks inside the moon cakes taste urrrghhh! Quote
LiYuanXi Posted August 20, 2004 at 02:12 AM Report Posted August 20, 2004 at 02:12 AM I like ice cream mooncakes! haha.. at least you don't get those "sick" feelings after eating. Quote
count_zero Posted September 17, 2004 at 05:19 AM Report Posted September 17, 2004 at 05:19 AM One of my students bought me a poshly packaged moon cake (lotus seed paste and duck egg) -it was really nice and... cakey! I bought one from a shop recently which was lotus paste and egg and it was pretty gross. I think there can be good reason why some moon cakes are really expensive. Quote
chengdude Posted September 20, 2004 at 06:01 AM Report Posted September 20, 2004 at 06:01 AM Leave it to China Daily (here through their new partner Sohu) to turn the mooncake into an economic bellwether: http://english.sohu.com/20040915/n222056637.shtml ...and would someone in Guangzhou please post a photo of this "luxury cruise liner featuring traditional Cantonese architecture?" I like ice cream mooncakes! I saw these for the first time in a Ren Ren Le the other day; chocolate coated, plain ice cream with fruit-flavored centers in the shape of a (slightly altered) mooncake. At almost 300 RMB for a box, however, I'll just be hoping someone gives one to me next Monday. Quote
LiYuanXi Posted September 20, 2004 at 06:46 AM Report Posted September 20, 2004 at 06:46 AM At almost 300 RMB for a box That is very expensive! Over here in Singapore, the price is about 300RMB selling at Swensens but 300RMB is a lot in China! Quote
skylee Posted September 20, 2004 at 10:02 AM Report Posted September 20, 2004 at 10:02 AM For those who are interested in knowing more about moon cakes, take a look -> 解構各類月餅 冰皮月餅4℃以上貯存會生菌 冰皮月餅微生物風險較高 1盒月餅18包裝品 月餅商今年生產400萬盒月餅的同時，亦製造了近6000萬件包裝物件，等於消費者每買一盒月餅，便「隨盒附上」15件包裝物品。 Quote
skylee Posted September 20, 2004 at 10:16 AM Report Posted September 20, 2004 at 10:16 AM There are also coffee mooncakes from Starbucks. (yuk) http://www.starbucks.com.hk/en-US/ Quote
skylee Posted September 27, 2004 at 05:36 AM Report Posted September 27, 2004 at 05:36 AM It is one small bite for man, one giant step for cholesterol levels. Quote
chengdude Posted September 28, 2004 at 01:38 AM Report Posted September 28, 2004 at 01:38 AM A quick primer on the business of mooncakes from Asia Times Online: http://www.atimes.com/atimes/China/FI28Ad06.html Quote
geraldc Posted September 15, 2005 at 08:15 PM Report Posted September 15, 2005 at 08:15 PM I hope everyone's well stocked up with moon cakes, at £17.50 a tin, it's a very expensive festival in the UK... I've only ever eaten Cantonese/Hong Kong moon cakes, what are the other regions mooncakes like? Quote
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