THE Mid-Autumn Festival, also known as the Moon Festival or Harvest Moon Festival, has been celebrated by the Chinese since ancient times. Observed on the 15th day of the eighth month of the lunar calendar when the moon is full, the festival is a time to gather with family and friends to feast, enjoy the moonlight and have a delicious dessert — mooncake. Considered to be an exotic sweet in some Western countries, the cake has recently undergone reforms in China to cater to modern people’s tastes and concerns about its high sugar and fat content. With this year’s festival about three weeks away, the five-star Kempinski Hotel Shenzhen has prepared two sets of mooncakes for the occasion. The classical four-piece set features two egg yolks with white lotus paste stuffing, two yolks with red lotus paste stuffing, the traditional mixed nuts and ham stuffing and the popular abalone and dried scallop stuffing respectively. A mini eight-piece set has more creative flavors such as lava matcha and bird’s nest, macadamia nuts, black beans and pine nuts, purple sweet potato, as well as rose petals and lotus paste. Presented in red boxes with golden floral patterns, the mooncake sets make a perfect gift for friends, family and business partners. Discounts are available for bulk purchases.(Li Dan) | 