Under the Harvest Moon

Shortly after the autumn equinox, in that golden window when the heat of summer has faded but the first frosts have yet to set in, communities around the world gather to celebrate the abundance of the year, and await the rising of the harvest moon.

It arrives shortly after sundown, perfectly full and bright as a coin, giving farmers extra illumination to harvest the year’s bounty. In China, families come together to eat mooncakes under the glow of delicate paper lanterns. In Mexico, jimadores (agave harvesters) uphold the tradition of harvesting under the full moon, believing its gravitational pull draws out deeper, more complex flavour from the sap.

It is a time to celebrate abundance and the inextricable ties between the cosmos, the land, and the food traditions that are born from it.

SEASONAL TREASURES

“When the autumn winds blow, the hairy crabs grow.”

This Chinese folk saying speaks to a much-anticipated time of the year: hairy crab season. Adored for their plump flesh and buttery roe, the most prized hairy crabs are found in Yangcheng Lake, a freshwater lake in Suzhou, China, famed for producing the best of this seasonal delicacy. Its clear waters, natural minerals, and abundant food sources yield crabs with a refined, umami-rich flavour, fragrant flesh, and rich, creamy roe.

Every autumn, visitors flock to the lake to indulge in this seasonal luxury. Nestled on Yangcheng Lake’s languid shores, Banyan Tree Yangcheng Lake lies at the heart of this autumnal feast. The finest hairy crabs can be savoured here. Enjoy them steamed, infused in delicate soups, folded into elegant dumplings, or in myriad other ways, both traditional and modern.

Thousands of miles away, along the Mediterranean shores of Morocco’s Tamouda Bay, the olive-harvesting season is about to begin. On the lush grounds of Banyan Tree Tamouda Bay, roam the private grove of 133 olive trees, each a symbol of abundance. Olive Harvesting Week is held each year, inviting guests into the local, communal tradition of olive-harvesting, from tree to table. The harvest produces extra-virgin olive oil that is used by the resort’s culinary team to create sustainable, deeply local Mediterranean flavours.

PORTRAITS FROM THE PENINSULA

Valle de Guadalupe, Mexico’s premier wine region, is nestled in the north of the peninsula. Every sunrise, the Pacific Ocean cloaks the valley in a cool marine fog, which eventually lifts to reveal a sun-drenched Mediterranean landscape of granite hills and rolling vineyards. Banyan Tree Veya Valle de Guadalupe’s award-winning Pictograma Winery is dedicated to the Grenache grape in particular, and the valley’s winemaking heritage can be explored through tastings, sensorial journeys, and guided tours from grape to glass.

Delve further into the valley’s flavours at Amapola, where acclaimed chefs Solange Muris and Benito Molina present a six-course tasting menu of the region’s heritage. From land to sea, each dish celebrates seasonality, local ingredients, sustainability, and a profound sense of place infused with contemporary Mexican artistry.

In between wine tastings and gastronomic discoveries, explore food as medicine at the on-property the Ethnobotanical Garden. Here, native and endemic plants such as hierba santa, safe, and jojoba are nurtured. Guided discoveries and sensory workshops illuminate the aromas, flavours, and powerful healing properties of these herbs and flowers, which can be experienced through tea tastings and essential oil infusions.

DINING ON EGGSHELLS

At Banyan Tree Bangkok’s Saffron Grill, sustainability and local craftsmanship come together naturally. Natural minerals are reclaimed from discarded egg and seashells, and are given a second life as ceramic tableware hand-thrown by local ceramicist Lamunlamai. Experience flame-cooked cuisine served on sustainable, handmade art at Saffron Grill.

Food cultures are as unique and personal as fingerprints, shaped by the landscape and the people who tend it. Our signature Destination Dining experience celebrates these intimate bonds. Explore them below, or read more stories Under the Banyan Tree.