August may be the time when you just want to cool down with refreshing iced desserts, but there’s one cake that you should definitely indulge in at this time of year.
The Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival (dating back to 1000BC) takes place in the eighth month of the Chinese calendar and is traditionally celebrated with moon cakes. They are usually offered as gifts when the moon is considered to be at its roundest and they are made to represent the full moon and unity.
I first tried moon cakes a few years ago in Hong Kong and it wasn’t exactly love at first bite. The fragrant lotus seed paste was fine, but I was less keen on the hard salted egg yolk at the centre. However, the moon cakes at London’s contemporary dim sum tea house Yauatcha are much more exciting and very moreish.
The talented pastry chefs at Yauatcha have created a modern spin on the moon cake, making them bite-size with a pretty floral pattern, made using traditional wooden moon cake moulds. The cakes have a sweet pastry exterior with a thick custard filling and are substantial but not overly sweet. They’re a perfect teatime treat!
The adorable moon cakes can be enjoyed at Yauatcha as a dessert with vanilla ice cream and crème anglaise at the end of a meal or simply with a pot of Chinese tea. You can also get them to take-out – either individually or as a box of six with Yauatcha’s beautiful packaging.
Moon Cakes are available at both Yauatcha Soho and Yauatcha City until 15th September. For more information and booking, visit: www.yauatcha.com
Photos by Chérie City
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