One moonlit night, three lands, thousands of flavors of moon cakes converge

On the Vietnamese culinary map, each moon cake in the three regions of North - Central - South is a unique cultural piece, connecting traditional values ​​and modern breath.

Mid-Autumn Festival in each person's memory often has its own color, but all are faintly visible with the bright lanterns on street corners, the aroma of moon cakes and moon cakes surrounding the full moon night tray. Hidden behind each cake is the sentiment of each land, conveyed in the crust, in the fragrant filling, creating a rich symphony of flavors.

If the North preserves traditional flavors through elaborate processing, the Central region conveys rusticity and simplicity in each cake, while the South prefers creative, unique variations with a modern feel. Let's explore the flavors of moon cakes from three regions, to see that each region contributes its "unique mark" to create a brilliant moon season.

The North keeps the memories and spirit of reunion.

Mid-Autumn Festival in the North is marked by the bustling sound of lion drums, colorful paper lanterns and especially the strong aroma of moon cakes. Just walking through the streets around Hang Ma, you will feel the jubilant atmosphere, the shimmering light of lanterns mixed with the scent of cakes spreading, reminding you of the many moon seasons that have passed.

Northern moon cakes are associated with sophistication, preserving the traditional flavor. The delicious baked cakes must have a deep golden crust, baked over a medium heat so that when cut, they do not dry out and crack but still retain their softness. Inside is the filling with lotus seeds, green beans, pumpkin jam, Chinese sausage, salted eggs... adjusted in reasonable proportions, balancing the sweet, fatty, salty flavors. The soft cakes have a lighter taste thanks to the pure white glutinous rice crust embracing the rich filling, symbolizing the connection and completeness of the reunion day.

Grilled green rice cake (left) and sticky rice cake are popular in the North. Photo: Gia Trinh.

In Hanoi , one of the most well-known addresses for selling traditional cakes and pastries is Gia Trinh. The shop is famous for its baked green rice mooncakes and sticky rice cakes. The baked cakes are golden yellow, fragrant with the aroma of young green rice, combined with soft, sticky fillings mixed with a little richness of mung beans; while the sticky rice cakes are moderately sweet, giving a light feeling when eaten, without being boring.

In addition to Gia Trinh, Hung Luong restaurant is also loved by diners. The traditional baked mixed mooncakes here “score points” with their fillings of lotus seeds, pumpkin seeds, Chinese sausage, salted eggs, etc., creating a rich, complete feeling like the meaning of reunion.

Traditional cakes always bring unforgettable flavors. Photo: Hung Luong Traditional Cakes.

The Central region is simple but full of family ties

The Mid-Autumn Festival cakes of the Central region are associated with simplicity and closeness, reflecting the simple lifestyle of the people here. The cakes are small, fit in the hand, the crust is firm, fragrant thanks to roasted sesame and wheat flour, which has become a unique feature. The cake filling usually has green beans, white sesame, sometimes a little wine is added to enhance the aroma. The mild spiciness is also a typical flavor, reflecting the taste of the sunny and windy land. However, the simplicity does not reduce the appeal of the cakes, on the contrary, it creates a feeling of closeness and authenticity.

Moon cake with lotus seed and durian filling, fatty, rich, and unique.

Nowadays, many bakeries in Hue or Da Nang such as Lac - Mother's Bakery or Bao Tien Bread bring a new breeze with variations of black sesame baked cakes, lotus seed moon cakes, or even durian cakes. However, no matter how creative, the inherent rustic spirit is always preserved. No need for elaborate packaging, just a small box, a few cakes with a pot of warm tea, the whole family can sit together to watch the moon and enjoy cakes, together creating memorable moments of reunion.

Simple but full of love, each moon cake here is like a message about the strong bond on this harsh but affectionate land.

The South is colorful and generous

Strong cultural integration, bustling urban life and liberal culinary tastes have given the Southern moon cakes a distinct appearance, constantly changing through each moon season. From traditional to modern, the common point of the cakes here is diversity and generosity, always ready to welcome new things but still maintaining familiarity. A typical example is the pandan coconut moon cake - a rustic combination of familiar ingredients but bringing a completely new experience. The sweetness of coconut blends with the characteristic pandan aroma, mixed with a bit of saltiness of salted eggs, all wrapped in a soft shell, creating a mild, fatty cake that is still rich in natural flavor.

Coconut and pandan cake version (left) and chocolate kim sa. Photo: Katinat.

Meanwhile, Katinat's version of the chocolate-filled kim sa mooncake is captivating with its smooth, melting chocolate filling, and crushed lotus seeds. The chocolate flavor is adjusted to be sweet, mixed with a slight bitterness, giving a lighter, more refined aftertaste.

In addition, Kenh Ba Chau shop also joins the moon season with taro mooncakes - a cake with a rustic flavor but enough to conquer the most demanding palates. The cake crust is baked golden brown, the purple taro filling is rich and sweet, bringing a new flavor.

Many types of fillings have been newly modified to better suit the taste of Southerners. Photo: @kenhbachau.

Mid-Autumn Festival is a festival of reunion and the meaning of the cakes lies in the moment of sharing. Whether you are moved by the nostalgia of Hanoi, love the simplicity of the Central region, or are excited by the innovation and freedom of the South, ShopeeFood can bring that flavor to your home with the collection "Buy moon cakes, 50,000 VND discount". With just a light touch, the whole spirit of Mid-Autumn Festival is fully wrapped in a reunion tray, to make the joy of the moonlit night more complete.

Source: https://lifestyle.znews.vn/mot-dem-trang-ba-mien-dat-muon-vi-banh-trung-thu-hoi-tu-post1588286.html