This year’s cakes are fun, colorful, and multiflavored. And very much in demand.
It’s official: Mooncake season has started in Thailand, even if it’s still two and a half months before the actual Mid-Autumn Festival, which falls on the 29th of September this year.
When we say it’s started, we’re referring to how hotels and brands have begun taking orders for one of the nation’s biggest crazes: mooncakes with a variety of stuffing (so many variations now that we’ve lost count).
Like many nations with a sizable Chinese community, mooncakes are big in Bangkok, and they make A LOT of money—millions, according to the rumor mill. That’s why most of the city’s big hotels and dessert restaurants have jumped on the bandwagon and come up with their own version.
We’ve seen the first batch of mooncakes for the season, each one encased in beautiful packaging and retailing at jaw-dropping prices. Mooncake giant The Peninsula (their custard mooncake, we think, has become less delicious when they opted for organic eggs) has co-designed a box with artist Faan Peeti (B5,888/box), while Kimpton Maa-Lai (remember its illuminated wooden box last year?) teamed up with artist Jeep Kongdechakul for a colorful box wrapped in silky floral fabric (from B2,088).
Rosewood has a drawer-style box in a colorful print reminiscent of mountainous scenery (B2,888/box), while W Bangkok goes all-white for its packaging (B1,599/box). The St Regis, meanwhile, has a box that doubles as a makeup case and the recently reopened InterContinental is dropping a giant box inspired by a Thai jasmine garland (B1,588/box).
Popular café Holiday Pastry is back in the game with six flavors (we’re curious about its black truffle looks), while Kyo Roll En raises the bar by collaborating with top fine-dining restaurants Le Du, Potong, and Suhring (B1,888/box).
We’ll come back for more updates, so stay tuned!
The Peninsula has collaborated with artist Faan Peeti to create a limited-edition box, with the aim of raising funds for charitable causes. Each box contains eight of the hotel's famous egg custard mooncakes.
Price: B5,888 net per box, limited to 150 units. B1,088 for eight mooncakes in a regular red-colored box.
To buy: Call 0 2020 6969 or email diningpbk@peninsula.com
Kimpton Maa-Lai teams up with artist Jeep Kongdechakul for a colorful mooncake box wrapped in silky floral fabric. Inside, the set comes with four varieties of mooncakes: the traditional lotus seed with egg yolk, the all-time favorite durian with egg yolk, the decadent creamy custard, and the sweet and fruity cranberry.
Price: B2,088 net until Aug 14, and B2,488 net from Aug 15-Sep 29, 2023.
To buy: Call 02 056 9999, email taste.kimptonmaalai@ihg.com, or click here
W Bangkok offers 4 snow fillings and 4 classic baked fillings this year. The snow selection features banoffee, citrus, rum raisin, and red velvet, while the classics include salted caramel, durian, chestnut, and nuts & fruits. The minimalist mooncakes come in an even more minimalist, all-white packaging inspired by the moon rabbit.
Price: B1,599/box
To buy: Call 0 2344 4000
Rosewood Bangkok pays tribute to the Chinese tradition of writing riddles on colorful lanterns during the Mid-Autumn festival by offering two delightful mooncake flavors: lotus seed paste with salted egg yolk and durian paste with salted egg yolk. The treats in a drawer-like box adorned with colors and prints reminiscent of mountain scenery.
Price: B2,888/box
To buy: Call 0 2080 0080 or email bangkok.nanbei@rosewoodhotels.
The recently reopened InterContinental Bangkok is dropping a giant box inspired by a Thai jasmine garland, and offering mooncakes in four flavors: durian custard, coffee custard, egg yolk with red bean, and lotus seed.
Price: B1,588/box
To buy: Call 0 2656 0444
The JW Marriott Bangkok, this year, presents its mooncake selection (durian with egg yolk, mixed nuts with egg yolk, lotus seed with egg yolk, and date palm macadamia with egg yolk) in a luxurious box inspired by blue-and-white Chinese porcelain.
Price: B1,288/box
To buy: Call 0 2656 7700
Popular dessert café Holiday Pastry is back in the mooncake game with six delightful flavors, divided into two categories: the Hong Kong Custard collection that pays homage to authentic recipes (featuring Hong Kong golden custard, the signature black truffle custard, and luscious durian custard), and the three Thai classics that are sure to be a hit (including durian custard, durian salted egg, jujube & date palm, and the irresistible lotus seed & almond). Each mooncake is exquisitely finished with gold powder and presented in an elegant gold octagon box.
Prices: From B1,088/box
To buy: LINE @holidaypastry and at the store
Kyo Roll En's Dej Kewkacha raises the mooncake bar this year with a star-studded collection in collaboration with three top fine-dining restaurants: Le Du, Potong, and Suhring. Chef Ton of Le Du offers mooncakes with a delightful blend of Thai tea and chewy chestnut filling. Potong's Pam Soontornyanakij adds a savory touch with her homemade fish floss mooncake. The talented Suhring twins present a delectable Black Forest filling featuring a luscious combination of dark chocolate and cherry. These three exquisite creations will be paired with Dej's popular sweet potato mooncake and elegantly presented in a striking red box.
Prices: From B1,888/box
To buy: www.kyorollen.com/mooncake
Discover Time Out original video
