Does anyone else get a little tingling sensation in their mouths when the Mid-Autumn Festival gets nearer? Surely it can’t just be me? The Mid-Autumn Festival celebrated on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month, is a significant cultural holiday in East Asia. It marks the harvest season and honours the full moon, symbolising unity and reunion. Families gather to share sweet treats (enter: the mooncake!), light lanterns, and express wishes for prosperity and harmony, which we all definitely need more of these days. And so, at this time of year, my tastebuds trained from my Chinese side of the family indulging in the most decadent of mooncakes, they are hankering for the best you can find in London.

Stepping up to the plate is one of London’s newest hotel entrants, The Peninsula.  Renowned for its service and contribution towards defining Luxury hospitality since 1928, the hotel itself is a symbol of refined elegance with roots in Hong Kong. The craft of mooncake making (and innovating on the various derivatives and flavour combinations) sits squarely in Asia and so the hotel’s London outpost has created a mooncake that focuses on the classic, going hard with a traditional approach. Thank goodness. Sometimes, you just don’t want to mess with a classic. My tastebuds thank them for staying old school.

At the heart of the Peninsula’s collection is the Mini Egg Custard Mooncake, a delicately balanced creation where technique and flavour meet in harmony. The golden, flaky crust gives way to a smooth, rich custard filling, showcasing the expertise of the hotel’s pastry chefs. Each mooncake is crafted with intricate patterns that elevate these traditional pastries to something more akin to edible art.

But if you’re really looking for a veer off the classic, they also have some contemporary interpretations. The Mini Chocolate Egg Custard Mooncakes with Toffee and Brownie, alongside the Sea Salt Egg Custard with Macadamia Nuts, offer a nuanced taste experience that ultimately, you’ll have to tell me what they taste like because I will be found with the traditional.

Presented in gorgeous packaging, these mooncakes are as much about taste as they are about the ultimate gift. My advice is to give a set to a friend, and hopefully, they’ll offer you one in return so that you can satisfy those tingling tastebuds and celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival in the UK deliciously.

Available to buy at The Peninsula London Boutique & Café and link to order Mooncakes here.