With the Mid-Autumn Festival around the corner, six influencers from Latin America and the Caribbean stepped into the kitchens of Dongguan Huamei Food Co., Ltd. for a hands-on experience in mooncake making. For many, it was their first time seeing, let alone tasting, this festive treat. But as they rolled, filled, and pressed the delicate pastries, curiosity quickly turned into delight.
Inside the modern food-processing facility, the influencers got a firsthand look at how traditional and contemporary Chinese pastries are made. They explored the automated production lines churning out mooncakes, cheesecakes, and waffles, witnessing the precision and efficiency of Dongguan's food manufacturing industry.
"I had no idea what mooncakes were before today, but now I know! I'll definitely be buying them next time! They're so delicious!" one influencer exclaimed.
For Gill from Guyana, the experience was more than just culinary fun. As he admired the production lines of cheesecakes and waffles, he couldn’t help but exclaim, "Quality!" Holding up his freshly made mooncake, he proudly announced, "Success! This is the most unique mooncake in the world!"
Beyond the food itself, Gill found a deeper cultural connection, half of the Chinese population in Guyana traces their roots to Guangdong. Chinese businesses, from supermarkets to restaurants, play a vital role in the local economy, with over 150 Chinese eateries across the country. This realization made his mooncake experience feel even more special.
Meanwhile, Jamaican influencer Zanaba Hudson took the moment to live-stream her mooncake-making journey, inviting her international audience to experience the process with her. As she shaped the dough, she shared an interesting fact: "Did you know that Patty, the famous Jamaican pastry, was actually invented by Cantonese immigrants?"
She explained that the Jamaican patty, a staple street food, shares a striking resemblance to Guangdong's traditional "jiao zai" (角仔). In fact, the two biggest patty companies in Jamaica, Juici Patties and Tastee, were both founded by Hakka Cantonese entrepreneurs, and today, patties are as essential in Jamaica as rice is in China.
For Surinamese content creator Gail Eijk, the experience was a dream come true. As a food vlogger, she had long anticipated the opportunity to try authentic Guangdong cuisine.
"There are so many Cantonese people and restaurants in Suriname, Dongguan's flavors remind me of home," she smiled, deeply moved by the familiar taste.
Her words hold truth. Suriname has a large Cantonese community, with thousands of Chinese-owned businesses and over 200 Cantonese restaurants. Even the former Surinamese president, Hendrick Rudolf Chin A Sen, was of Hakka Chinese descent. In this moment, she wasn't just making mooncakes; she was rediscovering a piece of history that connected her homeland to Guangdong.
As the session wrapped up, the influencers were reluctant to leave. Some stayed behind, glued to live-streamed e-commerce sales of mooncakes, eager to learn more about how traditional Chinese pastries were marketed.
They carried a deeper appreciation for Mid-Autumn traditions, a taste of Dongguan's modern industry, and a newfound love for Chinese cuisine—one they couldn't wait to share with the world.
Written by Zheng Sihui
