Mango ice: A luxurious shaved ice filled with mangoes
"Mango ice"
Taipei is brimming with healthy, colorful, and exquisite sweets, but the king of summer sweets is mango ice (mango niuonui pin). Mango ice is mango shaved ice, and as the name suggests, it's a luxurious treat that lets you enjoy the harmony of fluffy shaved ice and rich mango flavor. During mango season, which runs from April to October, you can enjoy luxurious mango ice made with fresh mangoes all over the city. Of course, the appeal of Taipei shaved ice is that you can enjoy a variety of toppings, not just mango, such as strawberries, tapioca, and mung beans. Explore the many shaved ice specialty shops and cafes to find your favorite, exquisite shaved ice!
Aiyu: A jelly with a refreshing flavor and bouncy texture
Aiyu (IU)
Taipei, with its wide variety of desserts, is a "sweets paradise" in Asia. Among them, "Aiyu" (Aiyu), which can often be found at summer night markets, is a dessert that attracts many people for its "smooth taste." Made from a fruit related to the fig, "Aiyu" is a natural sweet that does not contain agar or gelatin. It is usually enjoyed with refreshing lemon syrup, and its bouncy texture and subtle acidity are extremely refreshing! It is also recommended as a palate cleanser when enjoying food stalls.
Zhen Zu Naicha: The world-famous bubble tea
Pearl milk tea
Among the many local sweets, one that is loved all over the world is "Pearl Milk Tea (Zen Zu Nai Cha)." Said to have originated in Taichung, "Pearl Milk Tea (Zen Zu Nai Cha)" is now a beloved sweet drink in Chinatowns around the world as tapioca tea (or pearl milk tea). Its unique flavor, which combines rich milk tea with chewy tapioca, is now well-known in Japan as well. There are many cafe chains and drink stands that are popular for tapioca tea scattered around the country. You can enjoy it at a more affordable price than in Japan, so be sure to give it a try!
Moo Gua Nyuonai: A drink that lets you enjoy the rich harmony of papaya and milk
"Mogu yunionai"
Taipei is home to a wide variety of beverages, from traditional oolong tea to bubble tea, and is also home to a wide variety of tropical fruit drink desserts. One of the most popular is Moo Gua Nyoonai, made with fresh papaya and milk.
The rich combination of papaya and milk is perfect for recharging your body after the heat. "Mooguanyuonai" is not only satisfying to drink but also rich in vitamins, so it is recommended to try it for breakfast as well as dessert time. Another fun point is that there are various variations such as watermelon and milk and mango and milk.
Douhua (Bean pudding): A traditional sweet with a mild flavor that is also popular in Japan.
Douhua (Bean pudding)
Among the many sweets available, douhua (douhua) is a traditional flavor loved by people of all ages and genders. Made by solidifying soy milk with bittern and topping it with syrup and beans, douhua is simple yet healthy and has a gentle taste. There are many traditional douhua specialty shops scattered around the country, and the texture, syrup flavor, and toppings vary from shop to shop. With a light taste and low calories, you can eat it over and over again! Why not enjoy a douhua tour to find your favorite dish?
Mango, lychee, passion fruit, etc.: Enjoy the "fresh fruits" grown in the tropical soil.
Speaking of tropical fruits, mangoes
Taipei is home to a wide variety of famous sweets, but encountering tropical fruits grown in the rich tropical environment is also one of the joys of traveling to this country. Taipei offers a truly diverse range of fruits, including pineapple, mangoes available from April to October (seasonal from June to July), juicy lychees in early summer, and the tropical flavors of passion fruit, papaya, and dragon fruit. Seasonal fruits can be purchased at market greengrocers and supermarkets! Compared to Japan, they are surprisingly affordable, so why not try everything?
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After savoring these exquisite sweets, we recommend experiencing traditional tea culture. We offer a wide variety of teas, including the famous high-quality oolong teas "Dongding Oolong Tea" and "Baihu Oolong Tea," as well as "High Mountain Tea" produced in Kochi at an altitude of over 1,000 meters and "Nichigetsu Black Tea" made with Assam tea leaves! Enjoying the sweets with a refreshing cup of tea is sure to make them even more delicious!
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*Some content was updated on September 20, 2019.
The contents published are accurate at the time of publication and are subject to change.
