With the upcomig of traditional Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival, moocakes have already hit the supermarket shelves. But this year, many Chinese are turning their backs on store-bought cakes, opting to bake their own at home.
Search for "mooncake moulds" on China's top online shopping website, you can easily find over 5000 results. From moulds to pans, ingredients to decoration supplies, making mooncakes at home seems easier than ever.
The products are reasonably priced, and some shops can sell hundreds or even up to 1000 items in just a month.
An online shop owner said, "Sales have been good, we can sell more than a dozen products each day. Most customers are young people. Cartoon-shaped mooncake moulds are especially popular."
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This year, many Chinese are turning their backs on store-bought cakes, opting to bake their own at home. |
These delicate pastries, filled with anything from red bean paste to salted duck egg yolk, are the cornerstone of the billion-yuan Mid-Autumn Festival industry.
Traditionally offered to friends, family and business clients, the mooncake has undergone some evolution in recent years.
Rising obesity and diabetes rates in China have made many wary of calorie-packed cakes, and the market has responded with low-fat and low-sugar mooncakes.
In order to attract China's young urbanites, who often scoff at classic mooncakes, cakes of creative and modern designs have flooded the market. And with this year's baking craze, there's truly a mooncake for every taste.
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This year, many Chinese are turning their backs on store-bought cakes, opting to bake their own at home. |
More about DIY mooncakes at home >>
(China.org.cn, CNTV September 7, 2011)