Mid-Autumn isn’t just about mooncakes — there are plenty of local gift options

By Chi Bing-hui, compiled and reported

Mooncakes aren’t your only option for Mid-Autumn gifts. In fact, regional specialties from across Taiwan also make great choices. Department stores have launched a series of gift box displays for this festive occasion, featuring everything from Hong Kong and Taiwanese mooncakes, pastries, tea, and even fruit — all available to make your Mid-Autumn shopping convenient, whether you're buying for gifting or personal enjoyment.

Uni-President Hankyu Taipei Store has seized the business opportunity of this year’s three-day Mid-Autumn holiday. From now until the 12th (Monday), the B2 floor will host a “Mid-Autumn Gift Box” recommendation exhibition, gathering popular Mid-Autumn gifts from brands such as Hong Kong’s Kee Wah, Sunbau Zhen, and Ganso. The selection includes over 40 classic traditional mooncake and egg yolk pastry gift boxes, as well as creative pastries derived from tradition like Yuan Ming Shop’s heart-shaped sun cakes and Cai Tou Su. The display emphasizes the trend of blending modern innovation with classic tradition, with prices ranging from NT$300 to NT$955 to meet various budget needs.

In addition to mooncakes and egg yolk pastries, the selection also features refined regional specialties from across Taiwan, including 40-year-old Dongshan pomelos from Madou (Ruei Feng Fruit, recommended price NT$480), plump and hearty Taiwanese mushrooms from Puli (Da Sheng Wu, recommended price NT$1,080), premium tea varieties from Nantou’s eight major tea-growing regions (Nantou Tea Classics, recommended price NT$3,400), and an organic high-mountain tea gift set from Alishan (Geng Du Yuan, original price NT$1,600, recommended price NT$1,280). There’s also the handmade “Ke Xiang Ju Pin” soap gift box, inspired by Hsinchu Hengshan’s local citrus, offering more diverse options beyond the traditional Mid-Autumn mooncake experience.