Every Mid-Autumn Festival, social media buzzes with new trends centered around mooncakes. Some years, it’s lava mooncakes; others, it’s mini versions or luxurious fillings like lobster, bird’s nest, or abalone. But this year, the spotlight shines on a seemingly ordinary mooncake: the lotus seed salted egg yolk mooncake.
What’s fascinating is how, amidst countless brands vying for attention, this simple mooncake has climbed to the top of trends, sparking endless discussions. It’s even earned a playful nickname: the “Controversial Mooncake.”
The Origin of the “Controversial Mooncake”
This mooncake is tied to Nguyễn Hồng Nhung, an online seller often known as the “wife of a celebrity.” She sells a variety of products, from dried jackfruit to dried mushrooms and ham, but during Mid-Autumn, her mooncakes take center stage. Without flashy packaging or numerous fillings, her 400g lotus seed mooncake with four salted egg yolks has created a frenzy.
Its uniqueness lies not just in its size or flavor but in how it’s eaten. Instead of slicing it into small pieces, many tutorials suggest chilling it, flattening it, and then cutting it. This ensures the salted egg yolk spreads evenly, blending savory and sweet flavors in every bite. This detail made the mooncake go viral, with netizens eager to try it.
However, its rapid rise to fame also brought controversy, earning it the label of the “Controversial Mooncake.”
This year’s hottest mooncake
The controversy stems from several aspects:
– Flavor: Some praise its softness, chewiness, and fragrant lotus seeds, with the rich salted egg yolk adding a unique twist. Others find it unremarkable, similar to regular mooncakes, and even cloying in large amounts.
– Price: At 300,000 VND per mooncake (or 590,000 VND for two), opinions are divided. Supporters argue the price is fair for its size, generous egg yolks, and use of Hue lotus seeds. Critics, however, question if it’s worth the hype.
Mention the “Controversial Mooncake,” and heated debates erupt online. Thus, the name stuck.
The mooncake dominates online discussions
Selling Out Despite the Controversy
Surprisingly, the more it’s debated, the faster it sells. Social media is flooded with purchase receipts, and distributors have popped up everywhere—from Hanoi and Bac Ninh to Ho Chi Minh City. While some criticize it, its popularity this Mid-Autumn is undeniable.
As one person joked, “They argue, but the orders keep coming.” Indeed, distributors constantly running out of stock and buyers struggling to place orders prove the mooncake’s incredible appeal.
Netizens scramble for the “Controversial Mooncake”
From its flavor and price to its size and eating method, the “Controversial Mooncake” sparks endless debates. It’s both celebrated and scrutinized, creating unprecedented online discourse for a Mid-Autumn treat.
Yet, in reality, it remains the hottest mooncake of the 2025 season. Not a luxury brand or exotic filling, but a traditional mooncake with a twist, has kept social media abuzz for weeks.
