Review: 5 mooncakes to try for Mid-Autumn Festival

It feels like I've just eaten rice dumplings and now I'm moving on the mooncakes! Time can pass so quickly sometimes. :/ 

So I'm very lucky to be able to try 5 different brands of mooncakes this year, so I'll be sharing my reviews about them here, especially when there are so many different brands of mooncakes out there! Seriously, I also 眼花缭乱! Haha! 

Not a guide, just a sharing. :) 

1. Bakerzin - For awesome snowskin mooncakes

This is my second time trying Bakerzin's snowskin mooncakes. I could still remember how amazed I was when I try their snowskin mooncakes the first time. It was one of the better ones I've tried. 

To make it better, A total of 9 collections were launched this year! Of which I tried 3 of them.

1. Mini momo collection 

2. Bliss collection (alcoholic)

3. Celebration collection (local flavours)

Previously I've tried their (4) lush - fruits and (5) joy - fruits & chocolate collections! 

Others include: 

(6) celestial - black sesame (BS fans will love this!)

(7) divine - durian 

(8) oriental - traditional baked mooncakes with a twist

(9) classic - traditional baked mooncakes

ps: each purchase entitles you to this beautiful Peranakan inspired tote bag! 

Momoyama mooncakes is sometime special for this year. 

It feature a distinct cake-like baked skin made with butter bean flour!

Flavours include:

Osmanthus Lotus Momoyama Skin 

Purple Sweet Potato and Water Chestnut Momoyama Skin 

Egg Custard Momoyama Skin 

Green Tea Kumquat Momoyama Skin 

If you're just buying one, I highly recommend the Celebration Collection!

These four snowskins were inspired by favourite local desserts!

Coconut Yam & Banana Snow Skin (inspiration: Orh Nee) 

Red Bean & Black Glutinous Rice Snow Skin (inspiration: Pulut Hitam) Pandan Coconut & Gula Melaka Snow Skin (inspiration: Ondeh Ondeh) (NEW)

Mung Bean & Peanut Snow Skin (inspiration: Ang Ku Kueh) (NEW)

I have tried them all and honestly, all the 4 flavours were good! 

Bakerzin Mooncakes are on sale from: 12 August – 27 September 2015.

HSBC and OCBC Card Members enjoy a 15% discount for purchases made in Bakerzin outlets only.

2. Swensen's - For ice cream mooncakes

Doing what Swensen's does best, ice cream mooncakes. Also, in celebration of Singapore’s 50th birthday, the much-anticipated SG50 Moon Gems mooncakes feature the iconic Merlion emblem! 

Flavours include:

Crunchy Milo 

Lychee Dreams

Yummy Yam

Sticky Chewy Chocolate

Durian Royale

Strawberry Fields Forever

I deem this as a lighter alternative to the traditional mooncakes. Also, who doesn't like ice cream and mooncakes? Especially when they are combined! 

Swensen’s SG50 Moon Gems Mooncake Collection is priced at $35.80 (inclusive of GST) for a box of 4. Available from 14 August 2015 to 27 September 2015 at all Swensen’s and Earle Swensen’s outlets. No pre-orders are required. :)

3. Peony Jade - For the best durian mooncake

Honestly, because trying Peony Jade's durian snowskin mooncakes, Home's Favourite were the best. 

But not anymore. I found my new love. 

Left: PREMIUM POSH (farmed pesticide-free) “A” GRADE PURE Mao Shan Wang Durian Mooncake in Organic Pandan Snow Skin, 100% 纯正顶级 (无农药成分)猫山王榴莲有机香兰冰皮月饼 ($60 nett for 2 pieces and $102 nett for 4 pieces). 

Right: 100% PURE PREMIUM Durian Snowskin Combo, 冰皮纯正顶级榴莲组合月饼, captures some of the best durian wonders namely D100, a new hybrid that is distinguished by its slightly grey tones in its yellow flesh, the buttery and creamy Jin Feng or Golden Phoenix, and the ever-popular Grade “A” Sultan D24 Durians ($85 nett per box).

So good that it's almost like eating the durian itself! 

Besides the famous durian snowskin mooncakes, Peony Jade offers a range of different classes of mooncakes as well! 

For more exotic and interesting flavours.

Mini Century EggsPastry Mooncakes, 迷你皮蛋酥月饼 ($62 nett for 8 pieces). 

This not-for-the-faint-hearted!

Baked Mini Egg Custard Mooncakes, 迷你奶黄月饼 ($62 nett for 8 pieces). 

I love the contrasting yet complementary sweet and savoury notes of the custard!

Baked Mooncake with Premium Mother of Pearl White Lotus Paste & Single Yolk, 纯正顶级单黃珍珠白莲蓉月饼 ($37 nett for 2 pieces, $66 nett for 4 pieces).

Flaky ‘Orh Ni’ Mooncake with Premium Golden Pumpkin & Single Yolk, 前皇冠酒店潮洲酥皮金瓜芋泥单黃月饼 (S$38.50 nett for 2 pieces, S$67 nett for 4 pieces). 

Please all Peony Jade’s mooncake hotline at 6659 4159, or log-on to www.pjmooncakes.com and www.peonyjade.com to place your mooncake orders! The last day of collection for online mooncake orders is 20 September 2015, 5pm (self-collection at Vivocity from 1 Sep to 23 Sep, 12 noon to 7pm).

4. Sheraton Towers - For traditional mooncakes

I'm not a big fan of traditional mooncakes, but I really like the 4 flavours that Chef Chung from Li Bai Cantonese Restaurant, has specially crafted.  

传统五仁Mixed Nuts, 4 pcs $64.

传统双黄白莲蓉White Lotus Seed Paste with Double Egg Yolks, 4 pcs $66.

传统瓜子肉绿茶黑芝蔴莲蓉Green Tea and Black Sesame Lotus Seed Paste with Melon Seeds, 4 pcs $63.

传统蔓越莓黄莲蓉Yellow Lotus Seed Paste with Cranberries, 4 pcs $63.

Green tea and black sesame mooncake. 

Really, it is a perfect combination for fans of both! This is my fav flavour of all!

传统五仁Mixed Nuts, which was packed with some much ingredients! Another of my pick too. :)

Mooncakes from Sheraton Towers will be available at:

1) Li Bai Cantonese Restaurant (11.30am – 10.30pm) OR Sheraton Towers Singapore Hotel Lobby 

Mooncake booth (11.00am – 9.30pm), from 24 August to 27 September 2015

2) Mooncake Booth at Change Alley from 31 August to 25 September 2015 (10.00am – 7.00pm, 

weekdays only)

3) Mooncake Booth at Takashimaya from 27 August to 27 September 2015 (10.00am – 10.00pm)

4) Mooncake Booth at Jurong Point from 7 to 27 September 2015 (9.30am – 10.30pm)

5) Mooncake Booth at Jem from 15 to 27 September 2015 (9.30am – 10.30pm)

6) Mooncake Booth at Ang Mo Kio Hub from 14 to 27 September 2015 (9.30am – 10.30pm)

7) Mooncake Booth at VivoCity from 1 to 27 September 2015 (10.00am – 10.00pm)

5. Crystal Jade - For elegant mooncake boxes 

Yes, mooncake boxes are VERY IMPORTANT! Especially when we are talking about gifting. 

The stylish-chic acrylic boxes were love at first sight for me and I'm definitely keeping these boxes! :D 

Mixed nuts and ham 翡翠金华火腿($38 / $68 for box of two and four).

Less sugar white lotus paste with single and double yolk 低糖单 黄 / 双黄白莲蓉 ($36/$62 and $38/$68 for box of two and four respectively),

The less sugar option is a perfect choice for people who don't like their mooncakes too sweet! 

Assorted mini snow skin selection 缤纷迷你冰皮月饼 ($32 / $58 for box of four and eight).

PROMOTIONS

1. Exclusively for DBS/POSB Cardmembers (for online purchases only):

15% off (14 - 27 Sep)

2. Outlet Purchase:

10% off (14 - 27 Sep)

So what to get for this festive? :P 

Well, alternatively, make your own mooncakes!:D 

Recipe: Traditional mooncake

Recipe: Snowskin Mooncake

Recipe: Teochew Mooncakes

Love,

Lirong.