A short ferry ride from Hong Kong, Macau packs the flavors of many nations into its diminutive size, spanning approximately 11.8-square-miles. Whether you have a sweet tooth or a penchant for savory dishes, Macau is always a celebration of the senses. Here are some of our favorite Macau’s Food-Filled Festivals.
Taste delectable Chinese staples, such as sticky rice and roasted duck alongside the salted cod and crisp Vinho Verde wine, traces of former Portuguese Colonial rule. Exotic spices brought from historic Portuguese settlements in Africa and India imbue local mainstay ingredients and further accent this far-flung mix of traditions. Appreciate Macau’s unique mélange to the fullest during one of the country’s many festivals, inextricably linking food and ritual and serving up incredible reasons to visit.
The Chinese Lunar New Year based on the solar calendar provides a delectable and colorful kick-off to your year, typically in late January or early February. Cheer on a 780-foot dragon as it winds its way through the streets followed by percussionists, floats and fireworks. The two-week celebration is filled with block parties and feasts promising luck and prosperity. Sample dishes ranging from whole fish to dumplings symbolizing wealth, niangao (glutinous cake) for health and noodles representing long life – with Macau’s life expectancy being second in the world, it’s worth a try.
Later in the lunar calendar marks Macau’s Mid-Autumn Festival, often held in September. It’s when the moon is at its fullest and in tribute mooncakes become the star attraction. This palm-sized Chinese pastry filled with a sweet paste, such as sweet lotus or red bean, is impressed with a design or Chinese characters to bring you luck. Sample an authentic mooncake or delectable almond cookie at one of Macau’s many famed bakeries. Then end your day with an evening stroll marveling over the big bright moon rivaled only by the thousands of colorful Chinese lanterns decorating the parks and plazas.
To experience both nouveau flavors and local delicacies alike, don’t miss the annual Macau Food Festival each November. In the shadow of Macau Tower, enjoy live music while trying bites of the famous fusion known as Macanese cuisine from the city’s prized chefs. The over 100 food stalls feature everything from Portuguese egg tarts to pork chop buns and the popular sawdust pudding – made of fluffy vanilla whipped cream and topped with crushed cookies. Whether you have a sweet tooth or a penchant for savory dishes, Macau is always a celebration of the senses. Learn more about Asia Travel.
