Mooncake makers try to preserve traditional methods
月饼制造商试图保留传统风味

Mooncakes have a long history in China. Traditional moon cake making has been under threat for some time now. However, in East China’s Anhui Province, some moon cake makers are still sticking to tradition.

For many of the elderly residents of Hefei, there is only one place to go if they want to relive their memories of Mid-Autumn day. And it is here, in this simple booth hidden away in a valley near the city which is Anhui’s provincial capital.

"I don’t like the taste of mooncakes nowadays. They use coconut shreds or bean mash as stuffing. I still like this old flavor." Ms Yin, Resident, said.

However, it is getting harder to find a place like this. The booth owner, 51-year old Zhang Guibao finds it is increasingly difficult to keep his booth running.

"It is exhausting. It takes lot strength to knead dough. My moon cakes are all handmade. Also the oven is hot in summer." Zhang Guibao, Mooncake maker said.

Compared to moon cakes selling for hundreds of yuan in the market, his moon cakes are only three and a half yuan each. The money he earns isn’t even enough to make a living.

His daughter is helping him during the holidays, but she is sure she doesn’t want to follow in his footsteps. She wants to be a doctor.

The traditional way of making moon cakes is unique in its own way. But many of the younger customers don’t like it as much as some of the older people. If this moon cake making tradition is to be kept alive, it will have to adapt to the needs of the changing market.

One moon cake maker who is seeing her business grow because she adapted to changes is Wang Juanjuan. She now has a workshop in Huangshan city of Anhui Province.

"We made modifications according to different needs. The ingredients are better than what we used before and the taste is also better." Wang Juanjuan, Mooncake Maker said.

For Wang Juanjuan, no matter what changes she makes, good taste is something that has to remain. Every process in making her moon cakes is measured and materials are selected very carefully.

"The sesame we use is darker than others because the soil it grows in is different. It has better scent." Wang Juanjuan said.

Wang’s whole family is working in the workshop now.

"My daughter-in-law and my cousins are all working with me. Even my grandson finds it interesting to pat some cakes. I wish my skill can pass down to them." Wang Juanjuan said.

Wang’s son is helping to promote home-made moon cakes online as well.

"I quite like it and inheriting the business from my mother as a career is a good thing." Su Shunan, Wang Juanjuan's son said.

Wang’s workshop has been doing quite well. Profits each year have so far been more than a hundred thousand yuan.