Yauatcha's Mid-Autumn Festival Mooncakes: A Symbol of Chinese History and Culture
Custom mooncakes crafted by Yauatcha initiate the flavorful festivities for Mid-Autumn Festival.
The Mid-Autumn Festival, a major Chinese holiday celebrating the harvest and the full moon, is fast approaching. This year, the festival falls on 17 September. And for those looking to immerse themselves in the traditions of this significant date, Yauatcha, a contemporary Chinese dim sum teahouse in London, offers limited-edition mooncakes for the occasion.
Mooncakes, round pastries filled with a variety of sweet or savory fillings, symbolize unity and completeness due to their round shape, which represents the full moon. They have a long history that dates back to the Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD).
The Legend of Mooncakes and the Yuan Dynasty Overthrow
According to a popular legend, during the Yuan Dynasty (1271–1368), established by the Mongol conquerors after their invasion of China, Han Chinese rebels used mooncakes as a secret communication tool. The story goes that the Han Chinese planned an uprising during the Mid-Autumn Festival. They supposedly concealed messages inside mooncakes to coordinate the timing of the revolt against Mongol rule. This plot is said to have contributed to the eventual overthrow of the Mongol Yuan dynasty and the establishment of the Ming dynasty in 1368.
While this story is widely told and celebrated culturally, historians debate its accuracy; there is little direct historical evidence that mooncakes were indeed used in secret communications. Nevertheless, the legend has been embraced as a symbol of Chinese unity, resistance, and cultural identity during times of foreign dominance.
Yauatcha’s Mid-Autumn Festival Mooncakes
Yauatcha, a contemporary Chinese restaurant brand known for its dim sum and desserts, carries on the tradition of mooncake-making each Mid-Autumn Festival. Their mooncakes, while modern and often innovative in flavor, pay homage to this deeply rooted cultural heritage.
This year, Yauatcha offers three sumptuous flavours: Traditional Baked Egg Custard, Snowskin Earl Grey, and Snowskin Musang King Durian. The Traditional Baked Egg Custard has a classic Cantonese-style custard filling wrapped in a golden pastry crust, while Snowskin Earl Grey boasts an Earl Grey and white chocolate shell with a mango cream filling. The Snowskin Musang King Durian celebrates the unusual sweet and savoury fruit with underlying tastes of caramel, vanilla, and almond.
Celebrating the Mid-Autumn Festival with Yauatcha
Celebrating the Mid-Autumn Festival with mooncakes like those from Yauatcha is a way for modern Chinese and enthusiasts worldwide to connect with centuries of tradition and a shared cultural narrative. The decorations will be across the windows and patisserie counters of both Yauatcha's outposts, Yauatcha Soho and City, creating a festive atmosphere for the occasion.
Mooncakes embody themes of reunion, harmony, and cultural pride. They represent not only celebration but also the spirit of resistance and unity among the Chinese people. The association with the Yuan overthrow legend adds a layer of historical symbolism to these festive foods.
So, as you gather with loved ones this Mid-Autumn Festival, consider indulging in a piece of history and culture with Yauatcha's limited-edition mooncakes. They are available until 24th September.
The Mid-Autumn Festival mooncakes from Yauatcha not only offer a taste of contemporary Chinese desserts but also pay homage to the long history and symbolism associated with these pastries. As you savor the flavors of Yauatcha's mooncakes, such as Traditional Baked Egg Custard, Snowskin Earl Grey, or Snowskin Musang King Durian, you are participating in a centuries-old tradition that represents unity, cultural pride, and even resistance.
