{"id":30666,"date":"2024-09-08T19:46:42","date_gmt":"2024-09-08T17:46:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bake-street.com\/?p=30666"},"modified":"2026-04-08T12:23:51","modified_gmt":"2026-04-08T10:23:51","slug":"osmanthus-and-coconut-snow-skin-mooncakes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bake-street.com\/en\/osmanthus-and-coconut-snow-skin-mooncakes\/","title":{"rendered":"Osmanthus and Coconut Snow Skin Mooncakes"},"content":{"rendered":"

It’s going to become a tradition to come back from holidays, return to the blog and leave you with a recipe for mooncakes<\/strong><\/a>. But, it is more than a coincidence since my return from summer is usually around the celebration of the Mid-Autumn Festival (this year 2024 is on the 17th of September), so I feel obliged to leave you a new recipe to celebrate this wonderful day. This time I bring you Osmanthus and Coconut Snow Skin Mooncakes <\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Last year, after my insatiable search for the Sakura flower to make the Sakuan-An paste<\/strong><\/a>, I came across the osmanthus flower<\/strong>. As you may have guessed, I made a note of this marvel, searched for it and located it so that I could leave you with a recipe for it the following year. In fact, I had a recipe for a mooncake filling with it, but I lost it…<\/p>\n

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I’m not going to lie to you if I tell you that I was a bit overwhelmed because I had everything \u2018prepared\u2019, just waiting to pass the recipe on, check it and try it out. But I couldn’t find the website where the recipe was to be found. So I started a new search that led me to a girl I already knew who had some mooncakes with this flower. From here I thank you, Jasma<\/strong><\/a>, for your fantastic work, so clear, clean and original.<\/p>\n

\"Osmanthus <\/picture><\/div>\n

Osmanthus flower.<\/h2>\n

My great passion is cooking, but what I like most about my profession is that it allows me to link many other hobbies\/passions I have; photography, creating\/editing videos, music, modelling, growing vegetables and flowers. I have a few more, but I won’t go on too long.<\/p>\n

I dream of having a farm where I can grow a thousand things and even make videos about it, I see myself like that in a few years and I hope to make it happen. The fact is that I am fascinated by flowers because I believe that each one has a hidden essence, but that we do not have the ability to see with the naked eye. The beauty of things goes beyond their simple appearance.<\/p>\n

The osmanthus flower<\/strong><\/a> (Osmanthus fragans<\/em>) is a fascinating plant, rich in history, symbolism and cultural uses, especially in Asia.<\/p>\n

Also known as fragrant olive<\/strong> or sweet olive<\/strong>, it is a plant native to East Asia, particularly China, Japan, Taiwan and the Himalayas. The plant belongs to the Oleaceae family<\/strong> and is known for its characteristic sweet and fruity fragrance<\/strong>, reminiscent of a blend of peach, apricot and jasmine<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

The origin of its name comes from the Greek, where \u2018osme<\/strong>\u2019 means \u2018fragrance\u2019 and \u2018anthos<\/strong>\u2019 translates as \u2018flower\u2019, highlighting one of its main characteristics: its powerful and pleasant aroma. This fragrance is especially noticeable in the autumn months, as this is when the plant flowers.<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\"Osmanthus <\/picture><\/div>\n

Tradition and culture.<\/h2>\n

In China<\/strong>, the osmanthus flower has a very special place in the culture and traditions. It has been cultivated for more than 2,500 years and is seen as a symbol of love, prosperity and longevity<\/strong>. In fact, it is a floral emblem of Guilin<\/strong><\/a>, considered the most beautiful city in China. It is famous for its osmanthus which bloom in great numbers every autumn, filling the air with their sweet perfume.<\/p>\n

The flower is also closely associated with the Mid-Autumn Festival<\/strong><\/a> (or Moon Festival), which celebrates the harvest and family reunion. During this festival, it is traditional to drink osmanthus wine<\/strong> or osmanthus tea<\/strong> and enjoy mooncakes, which may also be scented with osmanthus.<\/p>\n

In traditional Chinese medicine, osmanthus is used for its medicinal properties. It is believed to help improve digestion, relieve colds and cleanse the lungs. It is also used to calm anxiety and improve mood, thanks to its delicate and relaxing aroma.<\/p>\n

According to Chinese mythology, a huge osmanthus tree grows on the moon, which is constantly cut down by the immortal Wu Gang<\/strong><\/a> as punishment for his reckless behaviour, but the tree magically regenerates itself again and again.<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

In Japan<\/strong>, the osmanthus is known as \u2018kinkan<\/strong><\/em>\u2019 or \u2018kinmokusei<\/strong><\/em>\u2019 in Japanese, a plant often found in gardens and parks. In Japanese culture, it symbolises elegance, purity<\/strong> and is associated with the changing seasons and the transient nature of life, a central concept in Japanese philosophy.<\/p>\n

In addition, the osmanthus appears in Japanese art, where it is frequently depicted in haiku poems<\/strong><\/a> and other art forms to emphasise the delicacy of nature and the ephemeral beauty of life.<\/p>\n

\"Osmanthus <\/picture><\/div>\n

Symbolism of the osmanthus flower.<\/h2>\n

This flower has a profound symbolism. Throughout history and in different cultures it has represented qualities ranging from nobility to love and purity.<\/p>\n

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  • Longevity and fortune:<\/strong> In China, osmanthus is associated with longevity and prosperity. This connection stems from the belief that its durability and persistent growth represent a long and prosperous life. It is also believed that bringing osmanthus into the home can attract good luck.<\/li>\n
  • Love and marriage:<\/strong> In some regions of China, osmanthus is used in wedding ceremonies, as it is believed to represent romantic love and good wishes for a harmonious relationship. Its soft but lingering fragrance is considered a metaphor for lasting love.<\/li>\n
  • Purity and beauty:<\/strong> In Japan, osmanthus is seen as a symbol of purity and elegance, due to the flower’s delicate fragrance and simple beauty.<\/li>\n
  • Resilience and rebirth:<\/strong> The Chinese myth of the osmanthus tree growing on the moon, which is repeatedly cut down and regenerates itself, has been interpreted as a symbol of resilience and rebirth, as the tree never stops blooming, regardless of obstacles.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    This flower not only boasts beauty and fragrance, but also has a prominent place in Asian cuisine, especially in China. Its dried flowers are used to prepare infusions, syrups, honey, to flavour sweets and savoury dishes, and even in the production of liqueurs such as osmanthus wine.<\/p>\n

    Osmanthus is also used as an offering at Buddhist temples and family altars, where its fragrance is offered to the gods and ancestors as a gesture of respect and devotion.<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

    If you are curious to know the origin of the Mooncakes<\/strong>, along with their history and legend, you can do it in this post<\/strong><\/a> and in this one<\/strong><\/a> I talk about the origin of the Snow Skin Mooncakes, the version that I leave you with today.<\/p>\n