According to Chinese tradition, the Moon’s birthday occurs on the seventh Chinese mid-lunar moon, which is the only night of the calendar year when the Moon looks fully round. Moon-viewing parties with plenty of libations and food are conducted during the Moon Festival, and poets often dedicate their works to the celestial body. Moon cakes are traditionally given as a gift from a single household to another, and are often packed in sets of four.
The significance of moon cakes may be traced back as far as the 14th century, when China was conquered by the Mongols, who governed the nation cruelly and oppressively. The home ladies came up with a cunning plan to organize the revolt. During the Month of the Moon Festival, they secretly instructed those who could be counted on to join the fight for war and freedom by inserting messages into the filling of moon-shaped cakes that were distributed and received.
Moon cakes are not simple to produce since they need unique, intricately carved wooden mounds. The solid lotus flower paste filling is particularly unappealing to Westerners because of the salty egg yolk that’s in its heart. The best kind of moon cake to look for are those that are filled with preserved melon or melon seeds. Cut into small wedges and chewed with clear, aromatic Chinese tea, this is appealing to anybody with a sweet craving.
The allure of moon cakes is in their presentation; typically four cakes are packed inside a square tin painted in red and gold with Chinese characters or designs. Pastry for the dedicated chef should be particularly rich, ideally using some fat. Sweetened orchid seed paste and candied fruits are two common fillings.