Today is Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival, also known as the Moon
Festival.
Whether one likes them or not, the fact remains that moon cakes
are the main symbol of the Moon Festival. This year, to celebrate
this first traditional Chinese festival since the SARS outbreak,
people are busy purchasing these and many other delicacies.
The essence of a moon cake lies in the filling, and there have been
hundreds of varieties of moon cakes on sale months in advance of
the Moon Festival. In downtown Beijing's Wangfujing Street, moon
cake salesman Jia Huan says he's been really busy over the past
three weeks.
"So far, compared with last year's moon cake sales, our company
has sold 100 tons more. But there are still a lot of customers
waiting outside every day, even many foreign visitors. We've hired
extra hands to help produce more moon cakes. But to maintain
quality is always our top priority, especially after this year's
SARS outbreak. We've attached great importance to sanitation and
hygiene."
The salesman says his company has over 70 different styles and
flavors of moon cakes on offer this year. Last year, they had only
40 something.
Taking a look at these moon cakes, one can find not only
different flavors, but also that some of them come in exquisite
packaging, often with gifts. The price of these packs of cakes
bothers some.
Liu Jin is a taxi driver who was in a supermarket to buy
moderately priced cakes for himself and his family.
"They're just too expensive. I've read in the newspaper that as
much as 30 per cent of the cost of a gift box of moon cakes goes
into the packaging. I prefer those old brands --- several Yuan per
cake, they taste good and are very reasonably priced."
Despite this, high-priced moon cakes easily find a market, and
many have sold out. Here's moon cake salesman Jia Huan again.
"Our moon cakes are priced, in general, from 5 to 10 Yuan
apiece. But the best sellers are various 'Gift Packages'. The
cheapest one is 260 Yuan, around 30 US dollars. Besides four moon
cakes, you also get a set of tea wear, some jasmine tea and a
delicate lighter. We also have special offers such as cigarettes,
wine, jewellry, and even movie tickets and toys."
Zhang Wei bought one such gift pack for her boss.
"Nobody can eat that much cake. It's used mostly as a gift."
Meanwhile, many employers customarily give moon cakes to their
employees as a display of the holiday spirit. Some companies simply
give out coupons for the cakes, so that their employees can select
flavors to their own liking.
(CRI September 11, 2003)