Earl Grey Black Tea Mooncake

As the autumn wind blows and the tea aroma grows, my kitchen has a new story! This time, I incorporated the elegance of English Earl Grey tea into traditional mooncakes and created a black tea Earl Grey mooncake to bring you a wonderful fusion of the East and the West! Come and see how to make this unique tea-scented mooncake.

Why I love this recipe

The first time I encountered Earl Grey black tea flavored dim sum was in a fine afternoon tea house. The unique aroma of bergamot and black tea instantly struck me. After that, I wanted to incorporate this wonderful taste into the Mid-Autumn Festival mooncakes. Earl Grey black tea mooncakes are filled with Earl Grey black tea and paired with traditional mooncake skin. The filling is delicate and dense, with both the mellowness of black tea and the fragrance of bergamot. Every bite is a romantic fusion of Eastern and Western flavors. It is my innovative interpretation of traditional mooncakes.

Ingredients Needed and Substitutions

Earl Grey Tea Cookie Crust

Butter: Provides the buttery aroma and taste of the mooncake skin.

Condensed milk: provides sweetness and a soft texture to the mooncake skin .

Honey: increases the sweetness and aroma of mooncakes and improves their softness.

Low flour: As the main ingredient of mooncake skin, it gives it a delicate taste and softness.

Milk powder: adds milky flavor to the mooncake skin .

Earl Grey Tea Powder: Gives Earl Grey Black Tea mooncakes their unique aroma and flavour.

Cranberry Milk Crisp Filling

Butter: Used in making cream puff filling to enhance the flavor and taste.

Powdered sugar: adds a sweet taste.

Desiccated Coconut: Provides coconut flavor.

Egg yolk: Provides a rich taste and golden color.

Milk powder: adds milky flavor to mooncake fillings.

Cranberry: As one of the mooncake fillings, it brings a sweet and sour taste and fruity flavor.

Substitutions (please note substitutions are for reference only and taste and flavor may vary):

Butter: Can be replaced with plant-based butter or vegetable oil .

Condensed milk: Can be replaced with cream or sweetened honey .

Honey: You can use syrup or maple syrup instead .

Cake flour: Can be replaced with ordinary flour or a mixture of flour and cornstarch .

Milk powder: You can use soy milk powder or coconut milk powder instead .

What are mooncakes made of?

First, the outer skin is usually made of low-gluten flour, invert sugar syrup, oil and lye water. The addition of invert sugar syrup not only increases the sweetness of the mooncake, but also makes the color of the mooncake more golden and attractive. The role of oil is to make the mooncake skin more crispy and soft, while the lye water can adjust the pH of the dough, making the mooncake skin softer.

Next is the filling, which can be selected according to different tastes. Traditional mooncake fillings include lotus paste, red bean paste, and five-nut fillings, while the Earl Grey Black Tea mooncake I want to share today uses a unique filling made from a mixture of black tea and cream. The aroma of black tea and the density of cream are perfectly combined to bring a brand new taste experience.

What does a mooncake taste like?

There are many types of mooncakes. When it comes to the taste of mooncakes, there are really thousands of variations, each with its own characteristics. Traditional mooncakes, such as those with lotus paste filling, are sweet but not greasy, with a strong aroma of lotus paste, and they give you a sense of home warmth when you eat them. Mooncakes with red bean paste filling are dense and delicate, with moderate sweetness, and are very suitable for enjoying with tea.

As for the black tea Earl Grey mooncake, which I personally like very much, its taste is even more unique. Every bite can feel the mellow aroma of black tea and the silky taste of cream, as if tasting a cup of exquisite Earl Grey tea while enjoying the deliciousness of mooncakes. The bitterness of black tea and the sweetness of cream blend perfectly, bringing an unexpected wonderful taste.

Why are mooncakes so high in calories?

In fact, this is mainly due to the materials and craftsmanship of mooncakes. The main ingredients of mooncakes are flour, sugar and oil, which are high in calories. In the production process, in order to make the mooncakes taste softer and sweeter, we usually add a lot of lard, peanut oil or other vegetable oils. These oils not only increase the flavor of mooncakes, but also cause their calories to soar.

In addition, the fillings in mooncakes are also an important reason for the high calorie content. Traditional fillings such as lotus paste, red bean paste, and five-nut fillings contain high sugar and fat. Adding some innovative flavors, such as egg yolk and milk yolk, makes the calorie content of mooncakes rise sharply.

Tips for Success

Selected Materials

Black tea: Choose high-quality Earl Grey tea so that the filling will have a rich aroma.

Cream: Use fresh, high-quality cream to ensure a smooth texture.

Accurate ratio

The ratio of tea to cream: The ratio of black tea and cream should be just right. I usually recommend a ratio of 1:2 between black tea and cream, which can ensure the tea aroma without being too greasy.

Soak thoroughly

Tea soaking time: Soak the Earl Grey tea for at least 30 minutes to ensure that the tea aroma is fully released. After filtering out the tea leaves, the tea should be slightly cooled for later use.

Mix carefully

Stirring the filling: When mixing the cooled tea with the cream, stir gently to avoid creating too many bubbles and keep the filling delicate.

Dough making

Dough relaxation: When making mooncake skin, the kneaded dough should be left to relax for about 30 minutes. This will make the dough easier to handle and less likely to break when filling.

Oil-sugar ratio: The ratio of invert sugar syrup and oil must be precise. Usually the ratio of syrup to oil is 4:1, so that the crust will be crispy and soft.

Precision baking

Temperature control: Preheat the oven to 180°C and bake for about 20-25 minutes. Pay attention to the color of the mooncakes to avoid burning them.

Brush with egg liquid: Brush a thin layer of egg liquid on the surface of the mooncake. This will not only increase the gloss but also make the mooncake more attractive.