Mid-Autumn Mooncakes

We don't have autumn in Singapore, but we have autumn mooncakes as a consolation prize.

Spring Festival (a.k.a. Chinese Lunar New Year, 10 & 11 Feb) was just over not too long ago, and time zip by so quickly to bring forth the Autumn Festival.

I didn't realise that mooncakes and lanterns are already out on retail display until I zipped past the corridors of InterContinental Singapore, and a friendly voice called out to me from the booth to try a sample.

In a hurry, I picked just one flavour to try from the wondrous jars on display, and already I like it.  It's a low-sugar version of the traditional white lotus seed paste mooncake. 

This year, they have a new flavour - the Pulot Hitam (black glutinous rice) snowskin mooncake, inspired by the well-loved Peranakan dessert. 

Photo Credits: InterContinental Singapore

Their popular signature treat is back too - the Durian Mooncake with Coconut wrapped in snowskin.

Photo Credits: InterContinental Singapore

 

Couldn't decide?  They cover that too, with their 4-piece combination pack:

- Green Tea Paste with Dragonball

- Pulot Hitam

- White Lotus with Macadamia Nuts

- Sesame Paste with White Sesame Seeds

Photo Credits: InterContinental Singapore

 

But nothing brings back nolstalgia like the traditional ones.. 

Photo Credits: InterContinental Singapore

 Look at that yolk!

The "low sugar" offering caters to the more health-conscious folks.

Photo Credits: InterContinental Singapore

Not forgetting the traditional Red Bean ones.  The skin's quite thin too, unlike those let's-get-fat-together thick skins I've seen before.

Photo Credits: InterContinental Singapore

The packaging tells a story too.  Man Fu Yuan (restaurant of InterContinental) partnered with Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts in a design competition.  Student Ng Chee Yin's design was chosen from over 100 entries.  His calligraphic interpretation of the ancient Chinese folklore of the mythical Jade Rabbit and the Moon Goddess Chang Er, symbolises reunions, a central theme of the Mid-Autumn Festival.

How not to get fat in Singapore? !