My first mooncake-making class

As an overseas Chinese, I’ve always kept the tradition of celebrating Chinese festivals. This year, just before the Mid-Autumn Festival, my friends and I signed up for a mooncake-making workshop on campus. I’ve eaten mooncakes for as long as I can remember, but this was actually my very first time making them by hand. Honestly, I thought we’d be making sweet ones filled with lotus paste or red bean. To my surprise, the class turned out to be about savory fresh meat mooncakes!

Before the baking began, the instructors made sure everything was safe and hygienic. We washed and disinfected our hands, then put on head caps and masks. Once we stepped into the pastry kitchen, the teachers demonstrated each step with care—from kneading, pressing, and rolling the dough, to wrapping the seasoned meat filling inside, and finally shaping and marking each mooncake. Every stage was shown patiently and clearly. It was fascinating to see how something that seemed so complicated became manageable when broken down into smaller steps.

When the mooncakes were finally placed in the oven, we all gathered around with anticipation. The aroma slowly filled the kitchen, and as soon as they were ready, everyone rushed forward with phones in hand, eager to capture the golden, flaky mooncakes fresh out of the oven. The excitement in that moment felt almost like a festival in itself.

What made the experience truly special, though, was the atmosphere. On a quiet weekend with no classes, spending a few hours with classmates all focused on the same task felt both calming and fulfilling. For me, it wasn’t just about learning how to make mooncakes—it was about sharing tradition, building connections, and finding comfort in a moment of togetherness far from home. Still, I have to admit, I definitely prefer sweet mooncakes!