PUBLISHED August 18th, 2016 10:37 am | UPDATED August 24th, 2016 02:18 pm
Isn’t the Mid Autumn season just splendid? All the colours across the spectrum, intricately designed gift boxes, and a truckload of new mooncake flavours waiting to surprise us each year – from alcohol-infused truffles to the use of exotic fruits and ingredients. Whether you’re getting some as a display of love for your friends and family or just for your own indulgence, check out our list of the best mooncakes for Mid Autumn Festival 2016.
Man Fu Yuan
Following their newly refurbished Lobby Lounge comes the latest mooncake collection from InterContinental Singapore. At $66 for a box of four snowskin mooncakes, the gorgeous turquoise blue ‘treasure chest’ hides fresh new flavours such as the Yuzu Citrus and Sakura Peach, along Sea Salt Caramel and creamy Avocado, each filled with exquisite gems such as crunchy chocolate pearls, chocolate truffle, and pistachio bits. If you’re feeling a bit decadent, you must certainly go for the king of fruits – the snowskin Mao Shan Wang Durian ($68), made with pure durian extract for maximum taste and pleasure.
Promotions: 25% off orders made before 15 Sep (not applicable to Mao Shang Wang Mooncakes). 30% off for online orders.
Available at InterContinental Singapore Tea Hut from 22 Jun to 15 Sep 2016. For orders, please click here or call +65 6820 8519.
Szechuan Court
Fairmont Singapore’s Szechuan Court sees a couple of new debuts and the return of some popular favourites – the Imperial Yuzu ($66 for box of 8) contains a tangy yuzu-infused chocolate praline and crispy chocolate pearls that offer an interesting bite; the Cranberry Snow ($66) is a real looker in rose pink, holding tarty dried cranberries amidst the sweet white lotus paste. For the alcohol-lovers out there, the familiar Rum & Raisin Chocolate Truffle ($64) is back together with the Champagne Truffle & Chocolate Ganache ($66). And let’s not forget the traditional baked skin mooncakes, including the Five Grains in White Lotus Paste ($67).
Promotions: 25% off orders before 29 Aug 2016. 20% off orders purchased with OCBC Credit Card (by 15 Sep) and for The FAR Card Members (By 7 Sep).
Available at Fairmont Hotel Level 2 from 25 Jul to 15 Sep 2016. For orders, please click here or call +65 6338 8785. Click here for a list of Szechuan Court mooncake booths.
Xin Cuisine Chinese Restaurant
Xin Cuisine Chinese Restaurant is back this year with two exciting snowskin creations: the Black Sesame Lotus Seed Paste with Strawberry Praline ($56 for box of 6) that blends aromatic black sesame with the tarty sweetness of strawberries, as well as the refreshing and delightfully tangy Passion Fruit Paste with Plum ($56). Another new addition is Assorted Nuts with French Raisins ($62 for box of 4), a modern twist combining the sweetness of fruits and nuts, right alongside other baked classics like the Teochew Yam Paste with Single Yolk ($68). Fan of durian? You’ll love the signature Peranakan Durian Snowskin Mooncake – now available in 4 large pieces ($68) or 6 mini pieces ($56).
Promotions: 15% off all Premium Collection Mooncakes, valid for both pickup and delivery. 30% off all Baked and Snowskin Mooncakes with the quote ‘CITYNOMADS’ upon checkout.
Available at Holiday Inn Singapore Atrium (Hotel Lobby) from 16 Aug to 15 Sep 2016. For orders, please click here or call +65 6731 7173. Click here for a list of Xin Cuisine Chinese Restaurant mooncake booths.
Grand Hyatt
Past the intricately-designed box of Grand Hyatt’s mother of pearl-textures and rose gold accents are nine possible miniature snowskin mooncake flavours ($69 for box of 8). After an extensive tasting session, our winners are the Black Sesame Buddha’s Hand Truffle and and Strawberry, Lime Tequila Truffle – the former for its citrusy taste from the curious-looking Buddha’s Hand fruit, and the latter for its refreshing strawberry and lime infusions. The Matcha, Azuki Bean, Sake Truffle is interesting, though we’d rather go with classics like Red Lotus Double Yolk or White Lotus with Roasted Melon Seeds ($69 for box of 4).
Promotions: 15% off for UOB, DBS, and Citibank credit cards and 20% off for Damai and Club members when collecting by 25 Aug 2016, after which discounts are 10% and $15 respectively.
Available at Grand Hyatt Singapore Lobby from 12 Aug to 15 Sep 2016. For orders, please call +65 6887 5492. Click here for a list of Grand Hyatt mooncake booths.
Raffles Hotel
We absolutely love the new handcrafted Peanut Butter Milk Chocolate Feuiletine ($70 for box of 8) from Raffles Hotel, featuring a harmonious blend of glorious (and indulgent) velvety peanut butter center and crunchy feuilletine. It also goes without saying that the all-time favourite Champagne Truffle & Ganache ($72) continues to delight our palates with white chocolate ganache and some exquisite bubbly, alongside returning flavours such as Earl Grey Tea ($70) and the Dark Chocolate Crunchy Pearl ($70). Raffles Hotel really does it best.
Promotions: UOB Visa and MasterCard cardholders enjoy 20% off all online purchases from 1 Aug to 9 Sep 2016 and 10% off orders made at Raffles Hotel Atrium.
Available at Raffles Hotel Atrium from 19 July to 15 Sep 2016. For orders, please click here or call +65 6412 1122.
Summer Palace
We’re constantly impressed by the effort Summer Palace puts into their mooncake flavours and box designs every year. This year, an elegant textured red felt box that collapses into a playable Chinese chess board envelops the traditional treats. The two snowskin flavours this year are inspired by local desserts – the marbled Chendol with White Chocolate ($64 for box of 8) that’s creamy and milky inside; and the dense Momordica Fruit with Longan ($64) delivers subtle notes of sweet fruitiness to mimic chng tng. Also, don’t miss the signature Regent’s Golden Treasure Bird’s Nest with Custard ($128) that’s loaded with antioxidants.
Promotions: 15% off for most major credit cards (including UOB, OCBC, and Citibank). 18% off for purchase of 50 to 100 boxes.
Available at Regent Singapore, A Four Seasons Hotel from 11 Aug to 15 Sep 2016. For orders, please click here or call +65 6725 3239.
Shangri-La
Like your chocolate? Then you’ll love the new Honey Chocolate Mooncake Collection from Shangri-La. Not snowskin per se, these interesting-looking babies have a luscious chocolate and Tasmanian Leatherwood Honey shell that’s filled with either Dark Chocolate, Milk Chocolate and Salted Toffee, White Chocolate Passion Fruit with Mango, or Roasted Sicilian Pistachio, at $88 for a box with two pieces from each flavour. Perennial favourites from the Four Treasures Gift Set ($75 for box of 4) include the White Lotus Seed Paste and Mixed Nuts with Chicken Ham.
Promotions: 15% off when you purchase 1 to 49 boxes
Available at Shangri-La Hotel Lobby from 28 Jul to 15 Sep 2016. For orders, please click here or call +65 6213 4511.
Antoinette
Keeping up with the molten lava trend, we now see molten lava mooncakes from Chef Pang’s Antoinette. While they come with a creamy truffle-centre that can be eaten cold, these snowskin mooncakes can also be warmed up in the microwave to reveal a luscious oozing centre. Available in three luxurious combinations – Low Sugar White Lotus Paste with Salted Egg, Chestnut Lotus Paste with White Chocolate Matcha, and Low Sugar White Lotus Paste with Dark Chocolate -, grab them at $54.50 per box of 8 along with non-lava flavours Longan Goji Berry with Cashew Nuts, and Dark Chocolate Lotus Paste with Crunchy Pearls.
Promotions: 20% off are available for orders made before 27th August. 25% off for orders between 50-100 boxes and 30% off for orders above 100 boxes.
Available at Antoinette from 1 Aug to 15 Sep 2016. For orders, please call +65 6293 3121 or email to sweets@sugardaddy.com.sg.
Summer Pavilion
The snowskin mooncakes at Summer Pavilion might just be the most delicate we’ve ever tried. This year’s highlight is the new Mini Snowskin ‘Mao Shan Wang’ ($70 for box of 8) mooncake, which comes creamy and bittersweet like the ‘king of fruits’. The Martini series ($70 for assorted box of 8) makes a comeback with flavours like Coffeetini and Berrytini. Also making a debut is the Mini Custard Lava with Vanilla ($72), which you can warm it up for a bit of decadent flow.
Promotions: 15% off online orders until 12 Sep.
Available from Ritz-Carlton, Millenia Singapore Lobby. For orders, please click here or call +65 6434 5286. Click here for a list of Summer Pavilion mooncake booths.
Hilton Singapore
Have you ever heard ‘Popping Candy’ or ‘American Cheesecake’ used in the same sentence as mooncakes? No, neither have we. Turns out, these are the Hilton Singapore’s new mooncake flavours this year. Handcrafted using premium quality flour for that melt-in-your-mouth-texture, sink your teeth into innovative creations like the Signature American Cheesecake (inspired by the hotel’s legendary cakes), Japanese Muscat White Grape, Baileys, and the aforementioned Popping Candy – starting from $55 for a box of 6.
Promotions: 30% off orders before 15 Aug. 25% off purchases of 51 boxes and above.
Available at Hilton Singapore D9 Bakery from 8 Aug to 15 Sep 2016. For orders, please call +65 6730 3392 or email to D9Cakery@hilton.com.