Savoring the Season: Beyond Mooncakes - Mid-Autumn Festival Foods
The Mid-Autumn Festival is a time for family reunions, lantern gazing, and, of course, indulging in delicious food. While mooncakes often steal the spotlight, the holiday is also celebrated with a variety of other traditional Mid-Autumn Festival foods that vary by region and family tradition. Let’s explore some of these culinary delights.
Traditional Mid-Autumn Festival Dishes
Beyond the ubiquitous mooncakes, several other special dishes are enjoyed during the Mid-Autumn Festival, each with its own auspicious symbolism and seasonal significance.
Taro
Eating taro during the Mid-Autumn Festival is a long-standing tradition in many parts of southern China. The round and plump taro root symbolizes “abundance” (余头, yú tóu), representing a year with surplus and a prosperous life. People believe that by eating taro, they are ensuring a smooth and bountiful year ahead, with wealth growing like the clusters of a taro plant.
River Snails
In the Lingnan region, it’s customary to stir-fry river snails for the Mid-Autumn Festival. The snails are at their plumpest and most succulent around this time. The Chinese character for “shell” (壳, ké) sounds similar to “gold” (金, jīn), so eating river snails is believed to bring “golden houses and a hall full of jade” (金玉满堂, jīn yù mǎn táng). This simple yet flavorful dish embodies a humble desire for a rich and prosperous life.
Crab
The Mid-Autumn Festival coincides with the peak season for plump, roe-filled crabs. In the Jiangsu and Zhejiang areas, steamed hairy crab is a highlight of the festive family dinner, symbolizing unexpected wealth (横财就手, hèng cái jiù shǒu). The savory flavor of crab perfectly complements the sweetness of mooncakes, making it a crucial and auspicious centerpiece on the Mid-Autumn table.
Osmanthus Wine
“Raising a cup to the bright moon, and with my shadow, a party of three.” (举杯邀明月，对影成三人。) Toasting to the moon is a poetic tradition. Osmanthus flowers bloom in the eighth lunar month, offering a delicate and intoxicating fragrance. Wine brewed with these flowers is not only aromatic and mellow but also carries a beautiful wish. Drinking osmanthus wine symbolizes receiving “help from a nobleman” (贵人相助, guì rén xiāng zhù) and represents the fragrant, beautiful aspects of life.
Regional Food Traditions
While the dishes mentioned above are widely enjoyed, regional variations exist in the foods eaten during Mid-Autumn Festival. Exploring these regional Mid-Autumn Festival food traditions can provide a unique glimpse into local customs and culinary preferences. For example, some regions might favor hairy crabs, while others might have specific types of mooncakes unique to their area. Experiencing these differences adds another layer of richness to the Mid-Autumn Festival celebration. You can discover more about regional variations in Regional Mid-Autumn Festival Celebrations: Experiencing Local Customs.
For a complete overview, see our [main guide to Mid-Autumn Festival] (/blog/mid-autumn-festival-a-complete-guide-for-travelers-to-china/).
