Home > China-EU Cooperation > China-EU GI Agreement
Introduction to GIs under the China-EU Agreement on Geographical Indications (13): Wuchuan Mooncake
2021-09-15 15:50

The China-EU Agreement on Geographical Indications officially entered into force on March 1, 2021. It is China's first bilateral comprehensive and high-level agreement on the protection of geographical indications (GIs), and an important and practical outcome in the development of China-EU economic and trade relations in recent years.

We will continue to introduce to you the first batch of 100 Chinese GIs and 100 European GIs under the Agreement, to better protect and market them to meet the needs of consumers on both sides for a better life.

GI Episode 13: Wuchuan Mooncake

Wuchuan County, located in southwestern Guangdong Province, has a mooncake making tradition dating back to the Southern Song Dynasty. Wuchuan offers a wide variety of mooncakes, among which the most unique and best known is the mooncake as large as a basin.

The Wuchuan Big Mooncake weighing from 1kg to 7kg is meticulously made with choice ingredients. With an exquisite form, a thin skin and rich filling, the big mooncake tastes fragrant, soft and glutinous.

Traditional exquisite handmaking holds the key to the success of Wuchuan mooncakes. For example, the "sweet meat" (small bits and ends of fat in the filling) takes 15 days to be made through the process of being repeatedly marinaded, exposed to the sun, and then dried in the shade so that it tastes delicious but not greasy. The kneading is even more important. Each piece of the dough made with flour, oil, sugar and water has to be repeatedly kneaded by an experienced guy to ensure a big dollop of filling is wrapped up by a thin crust.

Over the past 800 years, in inheriting and innovating the mooncake making craft, mooncake makers in Wuchuan always stick to high standards and quality, and maintain the traditional flavor by following rigorous standards in ingredients selection.

For example, the pork shreds for the filling must be selected from the hind leg of a premium pig to ensure the meat tastes chewy. As for ham, only the special-grade Jinhua ham which has been made for more than three years is selected and after peeling and fat removal, less than 50% of the ham can be made into the filling. And the olive seeds are the "soul" of the five-kernel mooncake. In Zengcheng, a famous olive producing area in Guangzhou, you can often hear such chats:

"How much is the olive seed?"

"Not for sale!"

"Why so?"

"Olive seeds have been purchased in advance by people from Wuchuan."

That's why Wuchuan is known as "the home of mooncakes in China".

As the Mid-Autumn Festival is around the corner, the Mission of the PRC to the EU brings you the Wuchuan Mooncake to convey the best wishes for you and your family!

 Click to watch the video

Suggest to a friend:   
Print