Mid-Autumn Festival (13 September) steadily approaches. As brands up the ante on their mooncake flavours and boxes each year, we’ve picked some of the most exquisite and unique designs so you can gift to impress.
We’ll also be adding more designs as more information comes in — so check back daily for the most memorable mooncake box designs this year.
Madame Fan
Mooncakes from Madame Fan will be coming in boxes featuring two designs this year — one in gold and jade; and the other in coral and marble with a rose gold tint, as a nod to the 2019 Pantone colour of the year. One can also take it a step more luxe by ordering the limited edition Madame Fan mooncake box. It takes after a rose gold velvet jewellery box and houses valuable treasures hidden within — the mooncakes, as well as a demi-bottle of Louis Roederer champagne to complement your mid-autumn delights.
Pay attention to their new offerings like the blueberry baked mooncake; a baked mooncake with mixed nuts; and a Tian Mi Mi snow skin mooncake, inspired by one of the well-loved cocktails available at Madame Fan, at the centre of which lies a white chocolate shell filled with whisky, honey and mandarin within a ganache.
Available from 12 August to 13 September.
Order by emailing jw.sinjw.festive@marriott.com or calling 6818-1908
Hilton Singapore
Over at Hilton, the treats — in both traditional baked and snow skin varieties — come tucked away in a four-tier tiffin carrier, which features warm tones and floral motifs. Alternatively, opt for their premium packaging and present your mooncakes in a limited edition designer handbag. Ornamented in chinoiserie, the bag comes in either a dark forest green or magenta, and is completed with a bamboo handle and locking clasp.
This year also sees new creations such as a blueberry cheesecake snow skin mooncake; a passionfruit and mint snow skin mooncake; and a citrus peel apricot with white lotus baked mooncake.
Available from 10 August to 13 September.
Order by emailing D9Cakery@hilton.com or calling 6730-3392
Jade Restaurant
Red and turquoise are the colours for Fullerton Hotel’s Jade Restaurant this mid-autumn festival. Aside from the standard gift box, a limited edition moon cake box is also available in the two colours, and comes with either half-bottle of Veuve Clicquot Yellow Label or TWG Fullerton Grand Tea. New mooncakes offering interesting local infusions include an ondeh ondeh snow skin mooncake; a bandung snow skin mooncake; and a mixed nuts and dried apricot baked mooncake.
Available from 30 July to 13 September.
Order from shop.fullertonhotels.com; or call 6877-8943
Old Seng Choong
There might be an “old” in their name, but Old Seng Choong has one of the modern-looking designs this year with its technicolour, psychedelic box featuring bird and peony motifs. The whole thing comes in a clear bag with faux leather handles in a choice of turquoise, purple, red, or orange. New flavours include the savoury-sweet red lotus paste baked mooncake with bak kwa — the barbecued meat adds a smoky, umami dimension.
Available 1 July to 13 September.
Order from www.oldsengchoong.com; or purchase from Takashimaya Square (from 8 August) or their flagship store.
Regent Singpaore
Regent Singapore stands apart from the square crowd this year — 360° apart to be exact — with their gorgeous hexagonal mooncake box. While the box’s shape is inspired by the hotel’s iconic bubble lifts, the gold panels on the box are modelled after the very panels found at the one Michelin-starred Summer Palace. Bronze knobs and a textured, burgundy veneer complete the look.
Within, the mooncakes themselves are also inspired by the various F&B concepts in the hotel, making for some interesting interpretations of the Mid-Autumn treats. Basilico contributes an almost-savoury, truffle carbonara flavour that’s thoroughly suffused with the prized fungi.
Order from here; or call 6725-3288.
Shang Palace
Get auspicious with Shang Palace’s Four Treasures box. The set comes with four traditional baked mooncakes stored in a deep red, satin-lined box embroidered with floral Chinoiserie patterns. The ornate container features two layers, with the top lid opening to reveal a mirror on its underside; and a drawer on the bottom layer.
The box is clearly made with the older generation in mind — besides its lucky color; the baked mooncakes are also made with a reduced sugar white lotus seed paste, with flavours like mixed nuts with chicken ham; black sesame with taro; and the quintessential salted egg yolks.
Available from 9 July to 13 September 2019.
Order by emailing dining.sls@shangri-la.com or calling 6213-4398 or 6213-4473
Ritz-Carlton, Millenia Singapore
Ritz-Carlton takes last year’s jewellery box idea to the next level with a mooncake box that converts into an elaborate desk stationery drawer. Available in red or gold, the box comes with magnetic flaps, a miniature photo frame, a desk calendar, and pen-holders for all your storage needs. The box fits both traditional and snowskin mooncakes — new flavours include snowskin mao shan wang durian; and a boozy orangetini snowskin created with chocolate, orange zest and liqueur.
Available from 2 August to 13 September 2019
Order from www.rcmooncake.com.sg; or call 6434-5190
Hai Tien Lo
Not every box has to come with bells and whistles. Hai Tien Lo’s beautifully-illustrated gift box comes with a social cause this year. They’ve worked with students from Pathlight School’s Artist Development Programme to design both the box’s cover art — an ink and color pencil illustration of the white-eared Sibia — and a limited-edition tote bag to gift the mooncakes in. $1 for every mooncake box and $10 for every limited edition tote bag sold will be donated to Autism Resource Centre (Singapore).
Five compelling snowskin flavours are presented this year, including gianduja (hazelnut-chocolate paste) and yuzu; Earl Grey and cherry; and a pina colada-inspired coconut and pineapple version.
Available from 1 July to 14 September 2019 (Snowskin Mooncakes only available from 1 August)
Man Fu Yuan
Detailing for InterContinental Singapore’s ornate mooncake box include gold-hued Chinese window cutouts on the side; and a metallic lotus-design knob for its drawers. The main panels come with a floral motif, and is available in either a bright blue (for baked) or baby pink (for snowskin). Slide the drawers open to reveal lunar confections infused with Ronnefeldt teas — assam tea with Irish cream; mango and citrus with sencha; and peppermint tea with chia seeds and lemon-hibiscus jelly truffle.
Available from 25 July to 13 September 2019
Order by emailing sinhb-festive@ihg.com or calling 6825-1131 or 6825-1132
Xin Cuisine
While most mooncake boxes are showy affairs, Holiday Inn Singapore Atrium has decided to go the opposite direction with a cleverly-designed, minimalist container that showcases the different phases of the moon. The ultramarine box slides open reaveal the change between a crescent, half, and full moon pattern for an understated yet luxurious-feeling gift. New flavours this year include a fruity Singapore Sling praline snowskin mooncake; and white lotus seed paste with rosemary honey praline.
Available from 12 August to 13 September
Order from singaporeatrium.holidayinn.com/eshop
Chang Ho Sek
Get a taste of nostalgia with Chang Ho Sek’s Mid Autumn collection this year. The brand’s presenting its mooncakes in “fiesta orange” and marigold-coloured stainless steel tiffin carriers with old-school peony designs. Mooncakes are also availble as a 4-piece set in square locking boxes, which come with traditional enamel plates.
New flavours this year are tea-themed, with osmanthus and earl grey options for their baked mooncakes; and matcha and milk tea options with boba pearls.
Available 13 July to 13 September
Order from their website , or call 6937-7896.
Crystal Jade
Crystal Jade’s Mid-Autumn offerings this year comes with their own carrying case inspired by the design of the traditional food carriers used in ancient China’s Imperial Palaces. The two-tiered box comes with a solid metal carrying handle, and features a simple floral motif in silver, set against a dark green background. New flavours this year include a fragrant oolong and pu’er-infused lotus paste; and the nutty black sesame with lotus.
Available 22 July to 13 September. More info at www.crystaljade.com
Yan Ting
The St. Regis has one of the most well-made boxes we’ve seen this year — an elegant, minimalist case that’s panelled in glass and lined with lined with felt inside. The mooncake box is available in a pastel shade of pink or blue, and features a festive gold rim on the box’s edges. The St. Regis logo is emblazoned on the box, which also has a magnetic lid. These are available as part of their premium gift set, which also includes a teapot set and premium-grade pu’er tea. Meanwhile, new flavours this year include a snowskin mooncake with cendol paste and melon seeds; as well as taro with salted egg yolk truffle and almond flakes.
Available 23 July to 13 September. More information at www.yantingrestaurant.com/our-menus
The Marmalade Pantry
Literally thinking outside of the box, The Marmalade Pantry presents its mooncakes in a ruby red, suede-lined bag bearing elegant gold motifs. Made from artificial leather, the lightweight carrier easily doubles up as an everyday bag – perfect for light grocery runs.
This year’s offerings from the homegrown bistro include a mix of traditional favourites and low-sugar options, all of which contain no pork or lard. Classic baked mooncakes include a double yolk with white lotus paste mooncake, and macadamia nuts with white lotus paste mooncake. Low-sugar baked mooncakes include the jade paste with chempedak mooncake, and the charcoal baked mooncake with black seasame and melon seeds.
Available from 8 August to 13 September at all Marmalade Pantry outlets. For more information or to place online orders, visit www.themarmaladepantry.com.sg
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