Brace yourselves, Mid-Autumn is Coming
Time for the brash durians to move over and pass the limelight to the elegant mooncakes. Mid-autumn is coming, and even if you aren’t Chinese, you can celebrate it with a light meal of mooncakes with friends and family. Carlton Hotel recently released their lineup of mooncakes for Mid Autumn Festival 2015, so we take a look at this year’s offering and check out what’s in store for you mooncake lovers!
Read till the end to find out how you can win some of Carlton Hotel’s latest offerings.
The Menu
Mini Red Velvet Snowskin Mooncakes ($62 for 8)
These are filled with cream cheese and crunchy hazelnut and chocolate. You can really taste the creamy cheese inside – I have never, in my life, tasted cheese in a mooncake and my virgin experience was one to remember.
If you’re tired of the usual stuff and are looking for a contemporary flavour, this is the answer. A new and exciting flavour sure to go down well with kids – and looks like a little piece of heaven as well.
Mini ‘Mao Shan Wang’ Durian Snowskin Mooncakes ($72 for 8)
Billed as ‘luscious durian pulp encased in pillow-light snowskin’, those who couldn’t get enough durian during the durian season will be hungry for this. We got to try some of these, and my colleagues wolfed them down like a pack of ravenous hyenas.
The unmistakable durian flavour really comes through without being overpowering – we’re sure this will prove itself a crowd favourite. Remember to store them in a freezer for maximum enjoyment!
Mini Walnut Moontarts with Egg Yolk ($66 for a box of 8)
Billed as smooth white lotus paste and egg yolk enveloped in crisp fragrant crust, this is Carlton Hotel’s best-selling Mid Autumn Festival product. Infused with walnuts, the moontarts were crunchy yet sweet – reminding us all of the crispy snacks we used to enjoy as children. The egg yolk was also satisfyingly salty but not too large, providing a good balance in taste between the yolk and the white lotus paste.
Carlton also offers a low sugar alternative without egg yolk – perfect for the health-conscious. Guilt-free mooncake madness. Yum.
White Lotus Paste Mooncakes with Double Egg Yolk ($72 for 4)
What you might call the ‘normal mooncake’. While the fillings may be ordinary, be assured that the quality you expect from Carlton Hotel is there.
Having tried these, I can assure you that if you’re an egg lover, you will be satisfied. The eggs are flavourful and large, not like some of the puny mini-eggs I’ve been disappointed by before. The saltiness is just right and I felt really satisfied after munching on these.
We highly recommend getting the double egg yolk mooncakes, but the White Lotus Paste (Low Sugar) are also great as a healthier alternative – they’re certified by the Health Promotion Board to be lower in sugar and saturated fat.
Traditional Mixed Nuts Mooncakes ($70 for 4)
If you prefer some crunchiness in your mooncakes, these will hit the spot. These mooncakes are well stocked with sesame seeds, almond seeds, walnuts, tangerine, winter melon and melon seeds – chew on that.
The Packaging
The packaging is an often underrated aspect when choosing which mooncakes to buy. But as Apple found out before its competitors, buying something is as much about the experience as it is about the product. Carlton Hotel’s mooncake box oozes elegance and quality, with a beautiful pink flowery design.
The box opens up like a flower, revealing the ‘seeds’: the mooncakes you’ve been craving for since last September. It’s clear that quite some thought has gone into the presentation, and the experience of opening this box is much more satisfying than opening a normal box.
Mooncake Madness!
Carlton Hotel will be setting up several booths all around Singapore at locations like Tampines Mall, JEM and Junction 8. There are also early bird specials for those who make payment with a UOB, DBS/POSB, BOC, AMEX or Citibank card. For more information, check out their website. (hyperlink embedded)
And now, what you’ve been waiting for – TSL will be giving away 3 x mooncake boxes! Up for grabs are the Mini “Mao Shan Wang” Durian Snowskin mooncakes (8 per box), the Mini Red Velvet Snowskin mooncakes (8 per box), and the Mini Walnut Moontart with Egg Yolk (8 per box).
To be a part of our mooncake giveaway, all you have to do is:
Step 1: Like TheSmartLocal and Carlton Hotel Singapore on Facebook
Step 2: Share THIS announcement post on Facebook.
Step 3: Leave a comment below THAT same Facebook post, telling us why you want a box of Carlton’s mooncakes! Tell us which type of mooncake you’d like to win – Durian, Red Velvet, or Walnut.
Results will be announced on 9th September 2015, 5pm. Good luck!
All prices mentioned in this article are subject to GST.
This post was brought to you by Carlton Hotel Singapore.
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