Before sitting down to a sweet break with a frothy cappuccino and that pretty mooncake, a word to the wise: You could be about to bite into beef and garlic jelly. There's a mooncake to suit every occasion and fillings range from the fun and fruity to downright funky. Here's our take on some of the taste sensations available. We also offer suggestions about the best mooncakes to buy for new friends.

CLASSIC

Tried and true fillings to show you're in tune with tradition. Give to your manager or host.

* Fruit and nut

This is sweet and delicious with chunks of pinenuts, walnuts, blueberry and raisins mixed with honey, ginger and spice in a subtle cake shell. Serve with dessert wine. (Daoxiangcun)

*Black sesame

The filling is dense and dark, with a distinctly savory taste that could go well with a pork meal and a cabernet. (Holiland)

*Egg yolk

Strong stomach definitely required. I bit into this expecting something like those lovely egg custard tarts of dim sum menus. How wrong I was. Try with a bacon thickshake? (Daoxiangcun)

SWEET

For chocoholics and kids, or a gift for your Chinese tutor.

* Ice-cream

It isn't a cake, but it is shaped like a moon. Yummy, rich ice-cream covered in chocolate. (Haagen-Dazs)

*Coconut

The pastry is light and the filling firm and chewy with shredded coconut, just like a coconut macaroon. Perfect with coffee. (Daoxiangcun)

*Chocolate

Sticky and dense, this is almost bittersweet and not at all creamy. Try with shiraz. (Holiland)

* Blueberry

With a texture like jelly fruits, this is sweet in the way blueberry jam would be. Try if you liked Poptarts as a kid, could suit a cup of milk tea. (Holiland)

LUXURY

For the mature palate, a good gift to impress clients or the boss

* Grilled scallops with XO sauce

Made with dried shrimp and chili oil, XO sauce is the king of Cantonese condiments. Compliment with pinot noir. (Great Wall Sheraton)

* Salmon

This fishy take on the cake has been a favorite of the Canadian Embassy for years. Accompany with chardonnay.

(Quanjude)

HEALTHY

For your health-conscious friends, or colleagues who usually give the office cookie-tin a miss.

* Sugar-free

Pleasant taste of almond meal and a more crumbly texture. Packed with sweet spices, pinenuts and walnuts. Dunk it in soy milk (Daoxiangcun)

Sweet blueberry

* Organic olive oil and date

A heart-friendly option, the filling is a dense paste with a caramel flavor (Green dot dot)

* Sugarless oat

The makers are famed for nutritious oats, and use a range of grains in their cakes for an earthy taste (Xibei Youmaincun)

(China Daily 09/12/2007 page5)