8 new Hong Kong mooncake flavours for 2016: the best and the rest – our verdict
Apart from traditional lotus seed and duck egg, this year’s flavours include matcha, rose, custard, pineapple, coconut, pandan and durian
It’s almost that time of year again, the 15th day of the eight month on the lunar calendar (which this year falls on September 15) when the moon is full. The traditional way to celebrate this event is by indulging in mooncakes while gazing at the moon, and Hong Kong is spoiled for choice when it comes to the flavours and styles available. While some purists go for the classic mooncakes that are as heavy as paperweights, others have more adventurous taste buds and prefer to try the new flavours that are created each year. We did the legwork and sampled some of the best new mooncakes.
Nakamura Tokichi Hong Kong Ten Maruto mooncakes (HK$198 for two, HK$498 for eight)
Kyoto matcha purveyor Nakamura Tokichi has taken Hong Kong by storm with its soft-serve ice cream and shaved ice. And just in time for Mid-Autumn Festival, the brand has released its Maruto mooncake box sets, which are only available in Hong Kong. They come in two fillings: matcha paste and Japanese sweet potato. We tried the former. And as soon as we opened the packaging, the green tea aroma escaped into the ether. But all was not lost – the filling was moist and not too sweet, thanks to the inherent bitterness of the matcha that we thoroughly enjoyed, as well as the pastry shell that didn’t crumble or flake into pieces. This was one of the best of the lot.
Nakamura Tokichi Hong Kong Ten
3/F Miramar Shopping Centre, 132 Nathan Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, tel: 2156 1168
