Strange Occurrences Are Rampant in These End Times! The Introduction of "Cricket Mooncakes" Has Taken Many by Surprise

Strange occurrences are rampant in these end times! The emergence of "Cricket Mooncakes" has left many shocked. (Video screenshot)

[People News] As the economy continues to decline and business closures surge, the once-bustling streets of major cities have turned desolate. Many shops remain closed, and the colourful "For Rent" signs stand out starkly. In this bleak economic climate, with the Mid-Autumn Festival approaching, how can businesses persuade consumers, who are tightening their budgets, to spend? Merchants have unleashed their creativity, concocting a variety of unusual mooncake flavours in hopes of making a profit during the brief festive period. Consequently, we are witnessing the emergence of mooncakes with bizarre flavours such as spicy soup, aged vinegar, and stinky tofu, which have surpassed everyone’s expectations. The most astonishing of all is a food manufacturer in Shandong that has launched "Cricket Mooncakes," which have repulsed many while also drawing curious glances.

As reported by Shandong Radio and Television's "Lightning News," a food manufacturer in Tancheng, Linyi, Shandong, has introduced Cricket Mooncakes made by cleaning farm-raised crickets, drying them at high temperatures, grinding them into powder, and mixing them with a traditional five-nut filling (which includes almonds, walnuts, black sesame, etc.).

In addition to Cricket Mooncakes, a mooncake production company in Qingdao, Shandong, has also released mooncakes filled with green beans and meat. Moreover, Taiyuan in Shanxi has introduced speciality aged vinegar mooncakes, Shaanxi has launched chilli oil and gourd chicken mooncakes, Henan has produced spicy soup mooncakes, Changsha has created crayfish mooncakes, Sichuan has offered cold rabbit and lantern shadow beef mooncakes, along with fermented bean curd mooncakes and stinky tofu mooncakes, all of which challenge consumers' palates.

Netizens have voiced their disgust, commenting, "purely natural dark cuisine," and "it must not be released, just for internal sales in Shandong." They lamented, "This year's mooncakes are inedible," and noted, "Even dogs sniffed the current mooncakes and walked away without a second glance." One user quipped, "Next, they'll develop cockroach mooncakes." Another remarked, "Isn't this something that only exists in apocalyptic novels? How has it come to life?" They concluded, "This world has finally turned upside down." 

In response, the Weibo influencer "v-v Yuyue" emphasised, "Mooncakes, as a traditional delicacy, embody people's beautiful expectations and emotional memories associated with festivals. An excessive pursuit of bizarre flavours may cause mooncakes to lose their original charm. When companies innovate, they should respect tradition and align with the genuine needs of consumers, introducing products that are both innovative and delicious. This approach will help them establish a foothold in the market and ensure the better inheritance and development of mooncake culture." △