Mandarin Oriental Mooncakes 2010

white coffee lotus paste baked mooncake

This year's Mandarin Oriental mooncake choices especially their new flavours don't feel very exciting compared to what I have already sampled from other hotels. For 2010, they have introduced a baked mooncake with a white coffee lotus paste, white chocolate mooncakes with coconut ganache and gula melaka, white chocolate mooncakes with green tea ganache with black sesame and mini snow skin mooncake with corn paste. They have retained last year's milk chocolate with peanut butter crunch and raspberry center but omitted the chocolate with durian.

chocolate mooncakes (white is the coconut and green for the green tea with black sesame) and old fashioned Chinese calendars

Compared to last year's prices, the baked mooncake and chocolate varieties have maintained their prices but the mini snowskin variety has seen a price increase (about RM1 to RM2). I enjoyed the baked variety with the aromatic white coffee lotus paste (medium sized for RM15++). I also liked the melon seeds within giving it a nice texture contrast with the smoothness of the paste.

Mini snowskin mooncake with corn paste, pretty white flowers from the garden, the bright gold and red boxes

The mini snowskin mooncake with corn paste (RM12++) was super tiny. This didn't fare too well with me as I felt that the corn flavour wasn't too distinct even though the filling was nice and smooth.

white coffee lotus paste mooncake revealed

Mandarin Oriental has always been famous for their chocolate mooncakes and these are well made with a smooth and not overly sweet fillings. I enjoyed the smooth taste of the white chocolate with coconut ganache and gula melaka (RM18++). They have kept the coconut aroma a tad lower than normal but I think it works well since a too strong coconut element would have made it overpowering. You don't get much of the gula melaka flavours but the silky smooth ganache does not make you miss it much.

chocolate ganache mooncakes

The other variety, white chocolate with green tea ganache and black sesame (RM18++) was a little on the sweeter side with a not very distinct green tea flavour. It didn't have much of a strong flavour to it making this mooncake kinda forgettable. Quite sad actually as I am sure the pairing of the sweet white chocolate would be perfect with the slightly bitter green tea flavour. Maybe it is best to stick to the old favourites from here like their famous mini snow skin mooncake with durian paste.

Mandarin Oriental Kuala Lumpur

Kuala Lumpur City Centre

Kuala Lumpur

Tel: 03-2179 8885 (Lai Poh Heen)

(Pork free. White lotus paste bake mooncakes and mini snowskin varieties including their famous durian paste is available at their lobby and Lai Poh Heen. They will also be selling mooncakes at Tangs Pavilion KL, Isetan Suria KLCC and 1 Utama Shopping Centre. For more pictures, see my Mooncake Flickr set.)

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed here is entirely based on my personal tastebuds and may vary for others. This review is time sensitive; changes may occur to the place later on that can affect this opinion. The reviewer also declares that she has not received any monetary or non-monetary compensation from this place for writing the review.