Story of the Moon Festival
The Moon Festival, also known as the Mid-Autumn Festival, is celebrated on the 15th day of the 8th month of the lunar calendar each year, when the moon is at its fullest. On the Western calendar, this typically falls somewhere between early September and early October, depending on the year.
There are many legends surrounding the Moon Festival. The most famous one is the legend of Hou Yi and his wife Chang'er. Long, long ago, there were ten suns in the sky, which caused severe drought. There was not a proper harvest for a long time. Hou Yi shot down nine of these suns. For this, the Emperor granted Hou Yi the elixir of immortality. Chang-er found out about the potion and swallowed it herself. She began to float up to the moon, where she has lived to this day. Hou Yi was very depressed from his wife leaving him; he remained in sadness year-round until the 15th day of the 8th month (by the lunar calendar). On this day, when the moon is bright, he can meet his wife once again.
Eating Mooncakes and Drinking Tea
The Moon Festival is a national holiday and one of the most important days for the citizens of China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, as well as other Asian countries. It is somewhat equivalent to Thanksgiving in the US and Canada. One of the most common ways to celebrate is to gather with your family and loved ones, sitting under the bright shining moon, while eating mooncakes, drinking tea, and appreciating each other's company.
The Moon Festival is also seen as the busiest time of year for many bakeries in these countries. Mooncakes are very sophisticated and hard to make. Because of this, many bakeries only make them once a year. People plan to buy mooncakes many weeks in advance, knowing that their favorite ones might sell out by the time the festival nears. Most commonly, people buy mooncakes to give to their family, friends, and colleagues.
The Moon Festival is a time for people to enjoy quality loose-leaf teas, even if they don't usually drink tea. Often, the gifted mooncakes are accompanied by tea, since they are very sweet and best enjoyed with a cup of tea to balance the sweetness of the bean or lotus paste.
The choice of tea will, of course, vary by region and personal preference. In China, popular tea varieties to enjoy with mooncakes include Da Hong Pao and Tie Guan Yin. These darker, roasted oolongs are richer in taste and balance the sweetness of mooncakes very well. In Taiwan, local tea varieties are enjoyed with pastries. They could be balanced with some exquisite, high-mountain, Award-Winning Ali Shan Milk Oolong. Just the right thing to enjoy the immaculate sweets.
The Moon Festival is a beautiful time to enjoy some great tea and pastries together with friends and family while chatting together under the big bright moon.
Do you celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival? If you do, do you have a tea of choice to drink during this holiday? Let us know in the comments below!
