Upcoming Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival To Spike SoCal's Demand For Moon Cakes

MONTEREY PARK (CBSLA.com) — The upcoming Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival is soon expected to spike Southern California's demand for a delicacy, known as moon cakes.

The popular harvest festival is observed by those of Chinese and Vietnamese descent on the fifteenth day of the eighth month in the Chinese calendar during a full moon.

This year's celebration takes place on September 19.

In preparation, Craig and Youlen Chan, second- and third-generation co-owners of the Phoenix Bakery in Chinatown, have been molding the traditional treat, which is made exclusively for the annual festival.

"It's very exciting. It's great to see that folks of all ages, all cultures, all demographics are coming in, getting a moon cake, trying it, loving it and then coming back for more next year,"
Craig Chan told CBS2's Amy Johnson.

Crowds were also flocking to Kee Wah Bakery in Monterey Park, which specializes in gift boxes for the flaky treat.

Kim McCurdy, a shopper, told Johnson she drove from Claremont to Monterey Park to purchase the delicacy.