The mid-autumn or mooncake festival in 2020 will fall on the 1st of October, a little later than usual. Despite the “current situation”, this looks to be another year filled with interesting and even some unusual flavors. This guide will be regularly updated with this year’s catalog of traditional baked mooncakes and snowskin mooncakes, with sub-specialties including durian mooncakes, low-sugar options and even alcohol infused ones. I will also aim to show what the containers look like, so that you’ll know which hotels have the best and most beautiful mooncake boxes for 2020.
As of this point, I have only heard from a handful of providers but one trend I am already seeing is that price increases compared to previous years are minimal or even non-existent. On top of that, the promotions look more generous than usual, with one provider even giving out 1-for-1 mooncakes for early-bird orders (find out the details below!).
As most providers have ramped up their online ordering systems, the best credit cards to use for your mooncake purchase would be those that give bonus points / miles for online spend. If you are simply looking for cashback, the UOB One Card gives up to 5% cashback as long as you can spend consistently. For miles, the Citibank Rewards Card still gives you 4 miles per S$1 spend when it comes to online transactions. There is also a promotion at the moment where you get S$200 cash reward for every successful new Citibank cardholder application.
Raffles Hotel Singapore
raffles singapore mooncakes 2020 (source: the hotel)
Their mooncakes need no introduction. The mooncakes by Raffles Hotel Singapore are among some of the most highly sought after each mid-autumn festival. This is despite them retaining the same and rather plain type of tin box each year. Their popular Champagne Truffle Snow-Skin will be available this season as well as new flavors like Yuzu and Osmanthus Truffle Snow-skin & Apricot and Sourplus Snow-skin. The latter was inspired by the Plum-picked Tomatoes with Crunchy Turnip & Sweet Vinegar at yi by Jereme Leung.
The box: This year, Raffles Hotel Singapore is changing its box. Mooncakes are now presented in a creamy ivory box designed with gold lotus flowers and palm leaves.
Prices: From S$76 (8 pieces for snow-skin; 4 pieces for classic baked) – as much as 30% discount for early-bird HSBC cardholders from 16th June to 31st July 2020
Dates: From 10 August to 1 October 2020
Order here
Pan Pacific Singapore
hai tien lo mooncakes 2020 (source: the hotel)
For the 2020 mid-autumn season, Pan Pacific Singapore has no less than 11 flavors of mooncakes available. There will be three new snowskin flavors – Raspberry Chocolate, Matcha Black Sesame and Soursop Lychee. Popular flavors from previous seasons will also be available such as Hazelnut Yuzu and Mao Shan Wang Durian Snowskin as well as the baked Signature White Lotus Paste with both double and single yolk. For a more guilt-free alternative, check out the low-sugar flavours of Jade Paste with Melon Seeds and White Lotus Paste with Macadamia Nuts.
The box: All Pan Pacific Singapore mooncakes are presented in a majestic satin-covered crimson box adorned with intricate florals and a wooden lattice centrepiece.
Prices: From S$68.80 (4 pcs snowskin) / S$69.80 (4 pcs baked)
Dates: Orders can be made available as early as now. 25% off with the promo code: MOONCAKE25 until 31st July 2020. Ends 1st October 2020
Order here
Holiday Inn Singapore Atrium
xin cuisine mooncakes 2020 (source: the hotel)
Xin Cuisine at Holiday Inn Singapore Atrium has two new snowskin mooncake flavors this year – the White Lotus Seed Paste with Grand Marnier Praline and Green Tea Paste with Jackfruit Praline. Along with this, some of the bestsellers from past years will also be made available this year like the Low Sugar White Lotus Paste with Double Yolk and the Peranakan Durian. All of Xin Cuisine’s mooncakes are baked inhouse so you are assured that this year’s flavors were also formulated with the care and thought of an inhouse team rather than through a mass producer.
The box: Xin Cuisine’s mooncakes come in their trademark red box that can be opened like a drawer.
Prices: From S$66 (4 pcs baked or 6 pcs snowskin) — Buy 1 get 1 offer from now til 9th August 2020
Dates: Now til 1st October 2020 (delivery starts 1st September 2020)
Order here
InterContinental Singapore
intercontinental singapore mooncakes 2020 (source: the hotel)
Man Fu Yuan at InterContinental Singapore stays true to its mooncake design – taking the shape of a flower as with previous years. While the appearance may be the same, the flavors have taken a different turn. This year’s mooncake theme of InterContinental Singapore is that of Peranakan desserts. Folks can look forward to the likes of Chendol, comprising Gula Melaka with Red Bean, Coconut, and Pandan Jelly; Pulot Hitam, made of Dark Glutinous Rice with Candied Longan, and Coconut; Durian Pengat filled with Durian Cream, Gula Melaka, and Butterfly-pea; and Pandan and Coconut Kaya, featuring fragrant Pandan Kaya Jam, with a Coconut Kaya Jam centre.
The box: Man Fu Yuan’s mooncakes are presented in elegant tingkat carriers – traditional tiered lunch boxes – which unveil a mooncake as each layer is revealed. The tingkat carriers are given a modern update with striking blush and turquoise hues, and feature subtle Peranakan design motifs drawn from architectural elements of InterContinental Singapore’s facade.
Prices: S$84 (4 pcs snowskin) / From S$66 (4 pcs baked) – 30% off til 28th August 2020 with additional 5% discount for online orders
Dates: Now til 1st October 2020
Order here
