Mooncakes are a treasured pastry for Asian countries that participate in the mid-autumn festival, a celebration based on the lunar calendar that honors the harvest moon. The treats are compact and typically filled with a sweet paste made of red bean or purple taro, while some are savory and stuffed with pork or egg yolk.
Cantonese-style mooncakes have a golden crust and are brick-like, their tops finished with an egg wash and an intricate design. Taiwanese-style mooncakes are flaky, bun-like, and topped with sesame seeds or a red stamp.
No matter which mooncake you prefer, they’re best shared with friends and family—the holiday celebrates unity with those around you.
This year’s mid-autumn festival is Sept. 10, which, based on the lunar calendar, marks the 15th day of the eighth month. Here’s where you can grab a few to celebrate. As the note on Jeng Chi’s bag reads, “enjoy the happy moment right now.”
The bakery located in front of the Chinese restaurant in Richardson emptied out most of its refrigerated display cases and stuffed them with housemade mooncakes for the celebration. Jeng Chi has been making the pastries since 1949 with traditional flavors like date, red bean, and lotus. Newer flavors include green bean; coffee walnut and rum raisin; and chocolate and lemon. Mooncakes come packaged in an ornate gift box. Available until Sept. 10.
400 N. Greenville Ave., Ste. 11, Richardson
The popular bakery has Cantonese and Taiwanese-style mooncakes that are packaged individually and in gift boxes. The Cantonese mooncake varieties include walnut date mochi, almond lotus seed, pineapple yolk, and red bean yolk. Taiwanese offerings are the sweet and salty dong po, taro mochi, and red bean with yolk.
Various locations across DFW.
The grocery chain sells tins of mooncakes, with brands like Hong Kong-based Rong Hua and I-Mei from Taiwan. Flavors range from salted egg or mixed nuts to red bean paste or lotus seed.
Various locations across DFW.
The wholesale store celebrates, too! At the West Plano location, shoppers can pick up packaged mooncakes in gift boxes with flavors like traditional lotus seed with egg yolk and red bean paste with melon seeds.
1701 Dallas Pkwy., Plano
Another score for Plano residents: the Chinese grocery store on Coit also sells packages of mooncakes of all varieties: durian, pineapple, taro, and even purple sweet potato.
2049 Coit Rd. Ste. 300, Plano
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