Shipping Mooncakes Internationally: The Ultimate Guide

Mooncakes are traditionally eaten during the Mid-Autumn Festival, which falls on the 15th day of the 8th month in the Chinese calendar. This year, the Mid-Autumn Festival is on September 10. Mooncakes are often sent as gifts on Mid-Autumn Festival, which is celebrated in Malaysia and other countries in East and Southeast Asia.

Despite their reputation as a traditional Chinese delicacy, mooncakes are also well-known in other countries. They can be found all over the world, from United Kingdom to America and even Australia.

With the Mooncake Festival rolling in and we know you’re getting ready to send your love in the form of mooncakes across the globe. But there's one thing you haven’t thought of: Shipping mooncakes from Malaysia to other countries is tricky business. Customs restrictions can vary from country to country, so before you ship your favorite Mid-Autumn treats, you need to know how to ship them.

If you have never sent mooncakes abroad, here are some tips to help avoid any customs complications with shipping your yummy mooncakes by air express:

1. Check the destination country’s customs regulations for shipping mooncake.

Mooncakes are delicious, traditional Chinese pastries that are enjoyed all over the world. However, there are countries where mooncakes are banned due to food safety regulations and its perishable nature.

Traditional mooncakes are made of flour and egg yolks, which may not be allowed in certain countries due to food safety regulations.

Did you know? Mooncakes that contain meat or egg yolk are prohibited in certain countries such as India, Indonesia, Germany, Denmark, France, and Brazil. The last thing you want is for your precious mooncakes to be returned to you or destroyed at customs because they don't meet the requirements of your recipient's country.

So how can you avoid this? Research your destination's food safety regulations before sending mooncakes overseas. You can find it online on the government website or contact your trusted shipping provider directly for more information on whether it is allowed to send mooncakes and its ingredients into the destination’s country.

For example, Australia prohibits the import of food products containing raw eggs or egg products with a potential risk of Salmonella contamination. The United States has strict rules on the import of food products from China as well, so do check before shipping mooncakes abroad.

Before sending anything abroad, it's important that you understand the customs regulations of your destination country before shipping them there. 

2. Check if your mooncakes’ ingredients have any restrictions or prohibition.

Mooncakes can be made from a variety of ingredients such as lotus seed paste, egg yolk and other ingredients such as red bean paste and nuts. Different countries have different restrictions and prohibitions on what ingredients can be used in mooncakes. Here are nine country list with mooncake ingredient restrictions: 

3. Check the mooncakes’ shelf life.

When sending mooncakes to friends or loved ones abroad, it is crucial to consider how long it will take for the mooncakes to arrive at their destination. If you are using a delivery service, be sure to check how long shipping will take from Malaysia to your recipient’s country. Make sure you send the mooncakes with enough time so they will not arrive stale.

As a general guideline, we recommend sending mooncakes with at least three months of shelf life remaining to ensure timely delivery.

4. Pack your mooncakes properly.

Mooncakes are relatively fragile, so make sure you know exactly what type of box or container you'll need to package them up before shipping them internationally to ensure they don't get damaged in transit. 

The best way to do this is to use a Mooncake box, which is a special box designed to protect Mooncakes during shipping. Here are other tips to help you safely pack your mooncakes:

•  Line the box or container with padding to protect the mooncakes from shocks.
•  Place the mooncakes in a single layer to prevent them from bumping into each other and becoming damaged.
•  Prevent your mooncakes from spoiling by packing an Oxygen Absorber in to retain the freshness and taste simultaneously.

By following these simple tips, you can help ensure your mooncakes arrive safely to their destination.