The name Thye Moh Chan may not ring a bell to most youngsters belonging to the z-generation, but it is a name that traditionalists regardless of age are well acquainted with.
Its history dates back to 1943 during the Second World War, with its first store located along Liang Seah Street. Thye Moh Chan Cake Shop was originally a collaborative effort by some members of the Teochew community in Singapore.
Specialising in producing authentic handcrafted Teochew pastries, Thye Moh Chan soon gained a strong following for its signature creations such as the Sweet and Salty Tau Sar Piah, flaky-skinned mooncakes and other sweets and cakes commonly seen at traditional Chinese celebrations such as weddings, new births in the family, Chinese New Year and Mid-Autumn Festival.
In September 2011, it was a devastating blow for fans of Thye Moh Chan when the third-generation owner announced the decision to wind down the business –but thankfully things manage to turn around. BreadTalk Group revives and re-launches the almost-70-year-old brand, hence it is to our relief that Thye Moh Chan’s legacy continues, and art of traditional Teochew confections, customs and history continues to flourish.
This Mid-Autumn Festival, an exquisite Mid-Autumn collection is unveiled for the very first time, comprising the trusty establishment’s signature Teowchew mooncakes, which will be available at both the Chinatown Point and Parkway Parade outlets.
Flavours include the Traditional Sweet Tau Sar with Egg Yolk, Traditional Savoury Tau Sar with Egg Yolk, Teochew Double Delight, Yuan Yang and Durian.
The Traditional Savoury Tau Sar with Egg Yolk ($24.80 for a box of 4) is a personal favourite out of the four flavours I’ve tried. The salty mung bean filling is combined with fried shallots, and white sesame, seasoned with white pepper, enveloping a salted egg yolk and encased in a flaky fragrant golden crust. It was love at first bite.
The Traditional Sweet Tau Sar with Egg Yolk ($24.80 for a box of 4) is my second favourite. The subdued sweetness of the mung bean filling complements the saltiness of the egg yolk flawlessly, resulting in a marriage of flavours that one can hardly resist.
The Teochew Double Delight ($24.80 for a box of 4), however, didn’t appeal to my palate. The duo filling includes a red bean paste and an amalgam of winter melon, melon seeds, dried orange peel, white sesame, spring onions and glutinous rice flour. The first nuance that hit me unexpectedly was the citrusy scent from the dried orange peel; the second disaster for me was the slightly chewy texture studded with seeds, which was too bizarre for my liking.
For those with an adventurous palate, try this and let me know what you think.
Those who like novelty can go for the Yuan Yang ($24.80 for a box of 4), which grows on you as you indulge further. The filling is a mixture of savoury mung bean paste, fried shallots, white sesame, spicy pork floss and salted egg yolk. This inventive creation is accented with a proprietary spice mix, which I suspect the Five-Spice Powder commonly used in Chinese cooking has a part to play.
While machinery was used to speed up kitchen processes, the essence of Teochew pastries was in the human touch. To create Thye Moh Chan’s smooth signature mung bean paste, the raw ingredient has to be steamed, washed, drained, cooked and thoroughly hand-grounded for hours –steps that require physical strength and meticulous efforts. Even till date, you can see the hardworking crew kneading and moulding studiously at the open kitchen.
Mooncakes are available from now till 19 September 2013.
For more information, visit
Store Locations
Food Republic, B1, Parkway Parade, 80 Marine Parade Road, Singapore 449262
Tel:
Opening hours: 10am – 10pm daily
Chinatown Point, #01-45, 133 New Bridge Road, Singapore 059413
Tel:
Opening hors: 10am – 10pm daily
WIN a box of Thye Moh Chan ooncakes and a date with Ah Boys To Men actor Joshua Tan
From now till 10 September, fans can register online to win an opportunity to indulge in Thye Moh Chan’s mooncakes and spend Mid-Autumn with popular Ah Boys To Men actor Joshua Tan on 14 September 2013, Saturday, at Thye Moh Chan, Chinatown Point. Winners will receive a complimentary box of traditional Thye Moh Chan mooncakes. Names of the 10 lucky fans will be announced on 11 September 2013.
To register, visit: (desktop users) or http://a.pgtb.me/plNgp2 (mobile users)
Programme:
5pm to 5.15pm: Joshua Tan arrives and launches Thye Moh Chan’s new commercial
5.15pm to 5.45pm: Photo-taking with selected lucky fans
5.45pm to 6.30pm: Selected fans including the 10 lucky winners will interact and play games with Joshua, and sample Thye Moh Chan signature Teochew mooncakes.