Mooncake Festival 2021 – Ultimate guide to mooncakes flavours for the Singapore Mid-Autumn Festival for all budgets

The mid-autumn or mooncake festival in 2021 will fall on the 21st of September. In the lunar calendar, the mid-autumn festival is celebrated every 15th of the eight month.

REGENT SINGAPORE

Regent Singapore continues its tradition of presenting unique snowskin mooncake flavors inspired by each of its award-winning restaurants. For mid-autumn festival 2021, the Amalfi Limoncello & Basil snowskin takes inspiration from Basilico, Kyoho Grape and Kyoto Dry Gin snowskin from Manhattan, Gryphon Green Tea with Melon Seeds from Tea Lounge and Signature Black Sesame Paste from Summer Palace.

One particular new flavor I am personally excited about is the Goji Berries with Osmanthus and Dried Strawberries snowskin mooncake which carries a smooth filling studded with generous portions of dried real fruit for an added crunch.

For those preferring traditional mooncakes, Regent Singapore will again offer its bestsellers including the White Lotus Paste and Melon Seeds which come in no /single /double yolks and the Parma Ham and Pork Floss with Assorted Nuts.

The box: The mooncakes will come in a leather travel case that can transform into practical and elegant carriers.

Dates: 1st July to 21st September 2021

Prices: From S$83 per box (4pcs traditional) / from S$85 per box (8pcs snowskin)

Order here

SINGAPORE MARRIOTT TANG PLAZA

After personally observing Singapore’s mooncake scene for the past 6 years, I have pretty much observed how Wan Hao at Singapore Marriott Tang Plaza can consistently have one of the most popular mooncakes each year. I vividly remember they even ran out of boxes 3 weeks prior to Mid-autumn festival last year due to strong sales. The hotel notably manufactures its bakes inhouse and its mooncakes have no preservatives or artificial flavors.

Bestsellers include their conventional White Lotus Seed Paste with Single/Double Yolk Baked Mooncake and White Lotus Seed Paste Mooncake with Macadamia Nuts which are baked to a majestic golden brown. A new flavor of baked mooncakes this year is the Green Bean Paste with Pumpkin Seeds “Gai Zai Bing” Baked Mooncake which evokes nostalgia with its mix of sweet and salty. For those feeling luxurious, check out the property’s gold-dusted Black Truffle Baked Mooncake with San Daniele Ham, Single Yolk and Pistachios. Essentially, it has white lotus as its base with the flavor enhanced with black truffles and the ham rendering a rather savory profile.

Those who prefer snowskin mooncakes will be spoiled for choice. New flavors from Singapore Marriott Tang Plaza include the Luxurious Rose Bird’s Nest with Golden Custard Paste Snowskin Mooncake, an indulgent treat with a generous portion of bird’s nest at its core. For something more accessible, there’s the Champagne Truffle with Milk Green Bean Paste Snowskin Mooncake, Cognac Truffle with Chestnut Paste Snowskin Mooncake and the White Rabbit Truffle with Cranberry Paste Snowskin Mooncake. The hotel’s Pure Mao Shan Wang Premium Grade Durian Snowskin Mooncake will again make a comeback with its rich and creamy durian pulp encased in velvety-soft snowskin.

The box: Singapore Marriott Tang Plaza’s two-layered mooncake box for 2021 can be repurposed as a jewelry box. It features an auspicious red for good luck and gold ornate peonies to symbolize romance, joy and prosperity.

Dates: Now until 21st September 2021

Prices: From S$74 per box (4pcs traditional / 8pcs snowskin)

Order here (25% discount + free mooncake delivery)

SHANGRI-LA SINGAPORE

shangri-la singapore mooncake 2021 (source: the hotel)

Shangri-la Singapore’s Signature Mini Baked Custard with Bird’s Nest is making a comeback this year. This time, it’s filled with rich and creamy almond custard on the outside. In commemoration of the hotel’s 50th anniversary, there is also an Aged 50-year Mandarin Peel, Rose and Red Bean Paste Mooncake available in limited quantities. For those who prefer traditional baked mooncakes, Shangri-la Singapore is again offering them all in reduced sugar versions. Bestsellers such as White Lotus Seed Paste Mooncake with no / single / double yolk and Mixed Nuts with Chicken Ham are available.

Two types of snowskin mooncakes grace the mid-autumn catalog of Shangri-la Singapore. The Premium Mao Shan Wang Durian Snowskin aims to delight lovers of this delectable fruit while the Kaya with Reduced Sugar White Lotus Seed Snowskin is a treat for those looking for a local flair for their mooncakes.

The box: Snowskin mooncakes will come in a tin box while traditional baked mooncakes will come in a box that can be reconfigured to store jewelry. Customers can choose between 3 colors for this box – blue, gold and red. The Mini Baked Custard with Bird’s Nest mooncakes come in a round box

Prices: From S$76 per box (4pcs baked) / S$78 per box (8pcs snowskin) / Mini Baked Custard with Bird’s Nest goes for S$238 for 9pcs

Dates: From now until 1st October 2020

Order here

HOLIDAY INN SINGAPORE ATRIUM

xin cuisine mooncake 2021 (source: the hotel)

Two new flavors from Xin Cuisine this year include the Sea Salt Caramel Praline Snowskin Mooncake that has a well-balanced mix of buttery smooth caramel with white lotus seed paste and a bit of sea salt as well as the Green Tea Paste with Chrysanthemum Praline Snowskin Mooncake for a perk-me-up moment. Durian lovers can indulge in their best-selling Peranakan Durian Snowskin Mooncake with iconic purplish blue skin. Xin Cuisine’s baked mooncakes this year come in low-sugar versions with the White Lotus Seed Paste Mooncake coming in no / single / double yolk versions.

The box: Xin Cuisine’s mooncake box comes with two tiers and a floral motif. It can be repurposed as a jewelry box.

Prices: From S$70 (4pcs traditional / 6pcs snowskin)

Dates: Now until 20th September 2021

Order here (30% discount)

GIN THYE

gin thye mooncake 2021 (source: gin thye)

Popular online baker, Gin Thye, is rolling out is mooncake offering this year with less sugar. There are no less than 10 flavors available including Pandan Pure Lotus, Bamboo Charcoal Green Tea, Lotus Paste and more. For lovers of flaky Teochew mooncakes, Gin Thye offers them with Flaky Yam Paste, or as Single / Double Yolk. For lovers of durian snowskin mooncakes, Gin Thye has also rolled out this year’s assortment, with 1 box of 4pcs of Mao Shan Wang snowskin going for as low as S$39.90 per box.

The box: Gin Thye’s traditional mooncakes don’t come with a fancy box while the Teochew mooncakes come in a long tin box.

Dates: Ongoing

Prices: S$15 per piece (traditional) / S$52 per box (4pcs Teochew mooncakes)

Order here (minimum of just S$40 order for free mooncake delivery)

EMICAKES

First to launch from Emicakes is their durian mooncake range. This is one of the first brands to launch durian-flavored mooncakes this year. They have two versions available – Mao Shan Wang Durian Mooncake and D24 Durian Mooncake.

The box: Emicakes mooncakes don’t come with a fancy box for these early bird orders.

Dates: Ongoing

Prices: From S$18.80 per piece

Order here (free mooncake delivery)

RAFFLES HOTEL SINGAPORE

The iconic Raffles Hotel Singapore continues to expand its range of mooncake flavors this year, particularly in the area of snowskin mooncakes. Building on the usual success of their Champagne Truffle Snowskin Mooncake which will again be available in 2021, the property is also offering the new Da Li Rose and Strawberry Chocolate Snowskin Mooncake. Noted for its aroma and sweetness, the Da Li Rose comes with the fruity notes of strawberry chocolate to balance out the sweet treat. Also making a debut this year is the Yunnan Dark Brown and Truffle Snowskin Mooncake. The dark brown sugar comes caramelized and comes with a tinge of rum and candied winter melon for an earthy aftertaste. This mooncake is meant to go well with a cup of Chinese tea or an evening alcoholic drink.

Among traditional mooncake flavors, Raffles Hotel Singapore is offering the Double Yolk with Macadamia Nuts and White Lotus Paste Mooncake, Mother-of-Pearl with Single Yolk and White Lotus Paste Baked Mooncake and Pine Nuts with Macadamia Nuts and White Lotus Paste Baked Mooncake.

The box: Raffles Hotel Singapore’s mooncakes comes in two types of boxes. Snowskin mooncakes are encased in the usual square tin boxes while traditional baked mooncakes come in a hard cardboard box with floral motif.

Dates: Now to 21st September 2021

Prices: From S$78 per box (8pcs snowskin or 4pcs traditional)

Order here

CAPITOL KEMPINSKI SINGAPORE

Capitol Kempinski Singapore is focusing on traditional flavors for 2021, with all their mooncakes coming in handy mini versions as with previous years. Among snowskin flavors, highlights this year include the Strawberry Snowskin, a medley of white chocolate, whipping cream, strawberry coulis strawberry chunks and Valrhona strawberry inspiration while the glorious Champagne Truffle Snowskin makes its debut with white chocolate, whipped cream, champagne, champagne paste, white lotus paste and champagne truffle. The hotel’s signature cocktail – the Plantation 1840 is also recreated into a sumptuous morsel courtesy of the hotel’s Mini Valrhona & Plantation 1840 Truffle Mooncake. 

Among their range of traditional mooncake flavors, the Mini White Lotus Paste with Egg Yolk leads this year’s pack and is a new addition to their collection. Encased within is pure lotus paste with a golden salted egg yolk, scrumptiously nestled in its core.  The Mini White Lotus Macadamia Nuts meanwhile brings with it a satisfying crunch to the affair with macadamia nuts interspersed throughout the pure lotus paste.

The box: This year’s mooncakes from Capitol Kempinski Hotel are presented in the same  multi-functional crimson red wooden jewellery box. A new addition this year is a jade-colored version of that same box. The design draws its main inspiration from two key landmarks of Singapore’s Civic District – Capitol Singapore and CHIJMES.

Dates: 6th August to 21st September 2021 (pre-orders available now)

Prices: From S$79 per box (8pcs traditional) / S$80 per box (8pcs snowskin)

Order here (20% discount + mooncake delivery available)

SI CHUAN DOU HUA

Those looking for halal mooncakes in 2021 can check out Si Chuan Dou Hua’s range. This year, their new Lychee Paste with Rose baked mooncake makes a debut with its gentle floral notes and sweet scent of lychees. I have personally tried it and I enjoyed the mixture of floral and fruity flavors here without being too sweet. Alongside this, they also have conventional baked flavors such as White Lotus which comes in single and double yolks and the onyx black Charcoal White Lotus Macadamia Nuts mooncakes.

The box: Si Chuan Dou Hua’s mooncake box for 2021 is an elegant red and blue clutch featuring peony blooms. Each clutch comes with a pouch containing the restaurant’s exclusive tea blend called Noble.

Dates: 12th July to 21st September 2021

Prices: From S$68 per box (4pcs traditional)

Order here

PARKROYAL COLLECTION MARINA BAY

After a one-year hiatus due to the hotel’s renovation works last year, Peach Blossoms at PARKROYAL COLLECTION Marina Bay is once again offering mooncakes for 2021. Two new flavors this year are the Pu’er with Mochi which offers a wonderful combo of fragrant and earthy notes and the Lychee with Wolfberries which exudes a refreshing floral and fruity twist. Their yearly bestseller Charcoal Black Sesame Paste with Melon Seeds and Gold Dust will again appear this year and is a mix of sweet and nutty roasted aftertaste. For those who prefer the traditional mooncake, their Double Yolk with White Lotus Paste is filled with reduced sugar lotus paste and baked double egg yolk.

The box: The elegant two-drawered pastel green mooncake box comes with a built-in Bluetooth speaker and is adorned with peach blossom floral design. It also comes with a gold emblem clasp.

Dates: Now until 21st September 2021

Prices: From S$77 per box (4pcs)

Order here (25% discount and delivery options available)

CONRAD CENTENNIAL SINGAPORE

Conrad Centennial Singapore is offering its old favorites alongside new flavors for 2021’s collection of mooncakes. The Royal Hazelnut Crunch Snowskin and Green Tea Snowskin will again make their return while new flavors such as the Honey Osmanthus Snowskin and Açaí, Goji Berries and Dates Snowskin – presentend in a low-sugar version – keep their mooncake catalog fresh to current trends. The property is also one of the few hotels in Singapore that sells the Teochew-style Sweet Potato in Crispy Filo Pastry.

The box: Conrad Centennial Singapore’s mooncake box this year comes in textured red imitation crocodile leather. It can be repurposed as a sturdy jewelry or small storage case.

Dates: Now until 21st September 2021

Prices: From S$82 per box (4pcs baked) / S$88 per box (8pcs snowskin)

Order here (up to 35% early bird discount)

CROWNE PLAZA CHANGI AIRPORT

2021’s mooncake collection from Crowne Plaza Changi Airport include the White Lotus Orange Paste with Melon Seeds, a new flavor, sitting alongside perennial favorites such as the White Lotus Paste with Double / Single Yolk, Low Sugar White Lotus Paste with Macadamia Nuts and Nyonya Mixed Nuts baked mooncakes. Their snow skin mooncakes this year are inspired by Asian desserts, comprising new flavors – Yuzu and Adzuki Beans as well as bestsellers from the past – Mango Pomelo and Orh Nee (Yam Paste with Gingko Nuts).

The box: The hotel’s mooncake box takes the form of a rectangular plum or royal blue casing.

Dates: Now until 21st September 2021

Prices: From S$70 per box (4pcs baked) / S$74 per box (4pcs snowskin)

Order here (30% discount – delivery options available)

PAN PACIFIC SINGAPORE

pan pacific singapore mooncake 2021 (source: the hotel)

Hai Tien Lo at Pan Pacific Singapore is again offering its popular White Lotus Seed Paste Mooncake, White Lotus Seed Paste Mooncake with Macadamia Nuts and Jade Pandan Paste Mooncake with Melon Seeds. These perennial favorites are offered this year with reduced sugar. For those seeking something new, the hotel is debuting the Pu Er Lotus Seed Paste Mooncake which blends the earthy notes of the tea along with the fragrance of lotus paste, as a nod to the tea-appreciating festival.

For lovers of snowskin varieties, Pan Pacific Singapore continues to offer its bestselling Mao Shan Wang Durian Snowskin Mooncake, Matcha Black Sesame Snowskin Mooncake and Gianduja Yuzu Snowskin Mooncake. New to their repertoire this year are the Mango Passionfruit Snowskin Mooncake and the Virgin Singapore Sling Snowskin Mooncake – a refreshing option for alcohol lovers out there. You can also buy Hai Tien Lo’s snowskin mooncakes as a Four Treasures Snowskin Set of 4pcs with 1 piece of each flavor excluding the MSW Durian

The box: Mooncakes are encased in a ruby-red leather-esque box imprinted with motifs of birds and flowers similar to a Chinese painting.

Dates: 14th June to 21st September 2021

Prices: From S$76.80 per box (4 pcs traditional) / from S$80 per box (4pcs snowskin)

Order here (20% discount with delivery options available)

FULLERTON HOTEL SINGAPORE

Fullerton Hotel Singapore’s mooncake collection this year takes inspiration from tea culture. Notable flavors include the Osmanthus with Wolfberry Snowskin with its herbal fragrance and the Rose Green Tea with Pistachio Snow Skin that strikes a luscious balance of floral and earthy notes. Even their baked mooncakes follow this theme. Two new baked flavors this year include the Rose Coconut and Oolong Tea with Dried Cranberries. The former is an inspired variation of Executive Chef Leong Chee Yeng’s signature dessert at Jade.

The box: Fullerton Hotel’s mooncakes will come in two types of boxes. The signature mooncake collection is presented in long red or turquoise boxes filled with imagery of flowers and peacocks. Alternatively, customers can also opt for the sustainable premium box for the baked mooncakes.

Dates: Now until 21st September 2021

Prices: From S$72 per box (4pcs traditional / 4pcs snowskin)

Order here

MANDARIN ORIENTAL SINGAPORE

New flavors From Cherry Garden at Mandarin Oriental Singapore this year include the traditional baked Chestnut Paste with Hokkaido Milk, Apricot and Melon Seeds and the Pandan Coconut snowskin. Those who like tea-themed mooncakes may enjoy their BiluoChun Green Tea with Guava and Chestnut snowskin. Mandarin Oriental Singapore is also offering a series of low-sugar mooncakes such as the Low Sugar Silver Lotus Paste with 1 / 2 yolks and the Lychee Martini and Chocolate Truffle.

The box: The mooncake boxes from Mandarin Oriental Singapore come embellished with elegant floral motifs and can house either 2/4pcs of the traditional mooncakes or 8pcs for snowskin mooncakes.

Dates: Now until 21st September 2021

Prices: From S$80 (4pcs traditional / 8pcs snowskin)

Order here

HOLIDAY INN SINGAPORE ORCHARD CITY CENTRE

Holiday Inn Singapore Orchard City Centre has been out of the mooncake scene the past years and 2021 is the first time in 5 years that the hotel is again offering this mid-autumn treat. Their focus for this season is solely on traditional baked mooncakes with flavors such as the Green Tea Baked Mooncake, Lychee Baked Mooncake, Black Sesame Baked Mooncake, White Lotus Baked Mooncake with / without yolk and more. Slightly more than half of their mooncake flavors are halal.

The box: Each set of 4pcs of mooncakes is presented in a tiffin carrier that pays tribute to Singapore’s rich culinary heritage.

Dates: Now until 21st September 2021

Prices: From S$70 (4pcs per box)

Order here (20% discount)

FOUR SEASONS HOTEL SINGAPORE

Jiang Nan Chun’s iconic Smoked Duck with Assorted Nuts and Lime makes a return – a most savory type of baked mooncake prepared over a wood-fire oven. Apart from this, you will also find on the menu the usual flavors such as Silver Lotus Paste with Macadamia Nuts and Silver Lotus Paste with Single/Double Yolk. Within Four Seasons Singapore’ snowskin mooncake collection, there are a couple of new flavors such as Kumquat and Lemon. Gloved in a soft, Mandarin snowskin, a kumquat gelée gem lies shrouded in a vanilla-lemon pastry cream. A bestseller to watch out for this season is the exquisite Bird’s Nest with Custard mooncake where a velvety custard gently envelopes a core made up of bird’s nest.

The box: Four Seasons Singapore’s mooncake box this year is a blue or peach-colored floral jewelry box with four drawers and a plum blossom motif.

Dates: Now until 21st September 2021 (collection begins 10th August)

Prices: From S$80 (4pcs baked) / S$82 (4pcs snowskin)

Order here