JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com – There’s a fascinating twist in the mooncake making at JW Marriott Hotel Jakarta. Departing from time-honored traditions, this five-star establishment in Jakarta has embraced a modern approach.
Traditionally, mooncakes are crafted using wooden molds, each intricately carved with designs representing various flavors like lotus, pandan, red bean, and black sesame.
The dough is pressed firmly into these molds, then tapped against the kitchen counter until the mooncake emerges, perfectly imprinted with its flavor.
However, this traditional process was nowhere to be seen as the talented chefs at JW Marriott Hotel Jakarta demonstrated their mooncake-making techniques.
Read also: A Selection of Mooncake Hampers from Jakarta’s 5-Star Hotels, Complete with Prices
The Five-Star Hotel Approach to Mooncake Creation
JW Marriott Hotel Jakarta’s Executive Chinese Chef, Goh Chin Yan, revealed that all the mooncake ingredients are imported directly from Malaysia, ensuring the highest quality.
The dough for the mooncake crust consists of tang mien flour, also known as Hong Kong flour, expertly blended with sesame oil.
JW Marriott Hotel Jakarta offers four delectable mooncake flavor options: classic lotus, rich red bean, fragrant pandan, and nutty black sesame.
But the real innovation lies in the choice of molds. Instead of traditional wooden molds, they utilize sturdy plastic molds connected to a small compressor, which delivers a powerful burst of air pressure to release the mooncakes.
Chef Goh began by presenting the dough and fillings in different sizes, highlighting the precision involved.
“The crust dough must weigh exactly 30 grams, while the filling weighs 150 grams without the egg yolk,” Chef Goh explained during the mooncake-making demonstration at the Pearl Chinese Restaurant, JW Marriott Hotel Jakarta, on Friday (July 25, 2025).
Once each component is meticulously weighed, Chef Goh uses a rolling pin to flatten the crust dough.
The flattened dough is then carefully wrapped around the perfectly rounded filling. This is where the greatest challenge lies in mooncake making.
Despite the generous filling, it should not be visible through the crust. The chefs must therefore exercise utmost caution when shaping the mooncake.
This difficulty seemed nonexistent as the chef, boasting 30 years of experience, flawlessly molded mooncake after mooncake.
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Next, Chef Goh places the filled and rounded mooncake dough into the plastic mold.
The Malaysian chef compacts the dough within the mold and then simply presses the mold connected to the compressor.
A perfectly formed mooncake emerges effortlessly, eliminating the need for strenuous manual labor.
The freshly molded mooncakes are then brushed with a mixture of egg yolk and honey to create a glossy sheen once baked.
“After that, we typically bake the mooncakes twice, for about 12-15 minutes each time,” Chef Goh stated.
According to Chef Goh, mooncakes are best enjoyed warm with tea or stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to three months.
Read also: How to Make Homemade Mooncakes for Chinese New Year
Mooncake Prices at JW Marriott Hotel Jakarta
JW Marriott Hotel Jakarta has unveiled three exclusive mooncake hamper designs, each featuring the four core flavors: lotus, red bean, pandan, and black sesame.
* Sapphire Box: An elegant light blue box with soft pink accents, gold detailing, and an adorable rabbit motif. This two-tiered drawer box contains four mooncakes and is priced at Rp 888,000 per box.
* Ruby Box: A more masculine hamper option than the Sapphire Box, featuring a vibrant red color, elegant gold accents, and a double-opening design showcasing the four mooncakes inside. Symbolizing prosperity and joy, it is also priced at Rp 888,000 per box.
* Jade Hamper: This hamper contains eight mooncakes and boasts a larger, more elegant package in shades of green, complete with a miniature rabbit and captivating moonlight effects, creating an exceptional unboxing experience. It is priced at Rp 2.88 million per box.
Each mooncake flavor can be customized with plain filling, one egg yolk, or two egg yolks (an additional charge of Rp 50,000 per egg yolk applies).
For JW Marriott Mooncakes 2025 hamper orders, please contact 021-5798 8888 and WhatsApp at 0811-5886-111 or 0811-9610-0137.
Read also: Do Traditional Mooncakes Always Contain Lard?