Mooncakes are not only loved for their different flavors- sweet and salty-, but for the special role they played in Chinese history. About seven hundred years ago during the Yuan Dynasty, the Chinese were ruled by Mongolians, their northern neighbors. They were very unhappy and desparately wanted to overthrow the leaders but they were closely watched and could not talk freely. The Chinese secretly planned an attack, wrote it down on small pieces of paper, and hid the paper slips inside the mooncakes. They then secretly passed the message of the attack from family to family, house to house with the mooncakes.

The battle was difficult, but the Chinese were well-organized. The Mongolians were completely taken by surprise and the Chinese successfully won the struggle. To this day, they believe that the mooncakes were responsible for the victory.

From “Moonbeams, Dumplings, and Dragonboats,” by Nina Simonds

Video Extra:
Watch Nina and the Moon Cakes girls make The Best Recipe for Moon Cakes Ever in her kitchen.