Newly opened！A unique taiyaki born from the meeting of sugarcane juice and mung beans

Text/Photos byHu Li Xiao Hai Hai

It’s been a while since I last had taiyaki, and I was lucky enough to be dragged by Xiao Hu to try the new Ganzhe Shao Taiyaki Honpo XD Of course, us sweet tooth fans were thrilled about it. This brand’s fillings and pastry crusts were co-developed with Ganzhe Pao and Kaohsiung University of Hospitality and Tourism—pretty innovative, as it’s one of the first carbon-grilled sugarcane juice-flavored snacks. Sally originally thought it might not taste like much and was even worried about recommending it to pickier foodie friends... Fortunately, the texture turned out just fine (〃∀〃)

The owner said both the crust and filling include carbon-grilled sugarcane juice, which enhances the flavor, though not everyone can easily detect it. When eating, you might catch a brief whiff of sugarcane aroma... Sally, with her sensitive taste buds, picked up on a hint of that grilled note, haha. Sugarcane juice is a naturally extracted ingredient, so its sweetness and concentration aren’t overly fixed, but it’s definitely better than chomping down on a bunch of artificial flavorings ("g∀"f)0? After officially opening on the 18th (Saturday), the full menu became available, so those interested should check it out on their socials.

The sugarcane-grilled taiyaki really did impress us～～ We’ve passed by some street vendors before and seen battered, beat-up taiyaki in sad shapes XD But here, they’re well-prepared—at least when Xiao Hu went to try them, everything was great. But you do have to wait patiently... taiyaki is definitely a test of endurance.

【Mung Bean Granules】NT$25 each
Although the main photo shows smooth, grainy red beans, our personal favorite is actually the mung bean flavor. Fans of mung bean desserts or mung bean kernels will probably enjoy it too～～ (you know the texture). Just hearing the owner describe the filling-making process gave this lazybones a headache.... Soaking, steaming, blending, and frying—it takes a ton of time (°?°e). Forgive scatterbrained Xiao Hu and Sally for not remembering all the details, but just focus on that unique texture XDDD.

We mentioned earlier you need to be patient, right～～ The grilling tray only holds four taiyaki at a time, and no amount of urging will speed things up %n(′～ 50)%m There are a couple of tables and chairs under the arcade—lucky ones can grab a seat (and maybe buy some Ganzhe Pao to drink?). It’s made fresh to order, so you get to enjoy it hot—you’ll just have to let the owner do their thing ^^

Be careful, it’s hot when you get it. (Sally burned her finger trying to pry it open = =)

The color of this mung bean granule flavor is so natural and pretty. When we saw the item, we imagined it would be like regular mung bean soup bits.... But they actually use mung bean kernels, which taste way better. Beyond the creamy texture, the kernels have a nice bite to them, making it a great snack for anyone who gets bored eating plain stuff (´σ-`)

This mung bean look is just too tempting～～～ And it pairs perfectly with the moist crust. Xiao Hu hates dry crusts, but she said this one has a nice chew. If you prefer your taiyaki crispy and hard, we wouldn’t really recommend this one (´-ω-｀)

【Red Bean Granules】NT$25 each
Seems like a lot of people are especially into red beans. Ganzhe Shao uses homemade fillings, and you’ll taste the difference once you try it XD These red beans also include sugarcane juice and come in granular form～～ Salt-lovers Xiao Hu thought the sweetness level was just right, an amount most people can handle (unless you normally avoid sweet stuff or go overboard, then maybe not Up).

Truthfully, we weren’t huge fans of the red bean after trying it.... Our hearts were totally stolen by the mung bean granule taiyaki ┳━┳ノ( ' - 'ノ) Red bean fans can give it a shot, but if you’re looking to try something new, we personally recommend the mung bean granule version～～ (kiss)

The filling is super generous, with a texture that’s kinda “fluffy～soft～～” ^^ And the moisture level is pretty good—even if it cools down, it’s still enjoyable.

【Sugarcane Lychee Custard】NT$30 each
Since the original sugarcane custard flavor wasn’t available on the day we visited, we tried the lychee one instead XD Sally generally loves lychee-flavored treats, but this filling is a bit on the sweeter side～～ Choose wisely. If you’re as wary of lychee as Xiao Hu, maybe go for another flavor Up.

When you first get it, you’ll notice a strong lychee aroma..... Xiao Hu initially thought it was artificial fragrance (& д⊙). Turns out the Ganzhe Pao owner has a contract-growing arrangement with fruit farmers, turning the lychees into jam first before simmering and adding it to the filling～～ So when you eat it, the lychee flavor is actually subtle, not overpowering (|||?д?)

Love freshly made, hot snacks? Overall, the flavors at Ganzhe Shao were all pretty good for us～～ But the lychee one is still a bit sweet (sweat). That one’s probably more for the ant-loving sweet-tooth folks... haha.

Some folks have sensitive tongues and fear heat, but still want to eat taiyaki without it getting hard and stale.... Xiao Hu waited for it to cool a bit before eating, and it still retained its moisture. The owner said early trials had issues with the pastry drying out, but after collaborating with Kaohsiung University of Hospitality and Tourism, they nailed the recipe. The adjusted crust is pretty well-received～～ Even the little kids we met said it was delicious (so cute).

【Cold Brew Tea】NT$22 per bottle
If you’re worried about the taiyaki being too sweet or making you thirsty, grab a bottle of cold brew tea to go with it. It’s that refreshing kind of tea flavor～～～σ`∀´)σ

Or you could just go straight for one of Ganzhe Pao’s drinks. Sally is totally a sugarcane juice fan.... I’ve been drinking theirs for years XDDD. Want it richer? Just pay a bit more for double-strength sugarcane juice～ (though the regular strength is great too). This time, I tried their summer special “Sugarcane Apple Ice Vinegar,” and I really liked it ^^ Perfect for vinegar-loving girls.

There are some promotions at the stall—check their social media for details.

There are quite a few taiyaki options out there, but adding carbon-grilled sugarcane juice is a first. Though we were a bit surprised that Ganzhe Pao launched a dessert sub-brand, the end result was satisfying～～ The pricing is reasonable too, since nothing weird is added.... Totally safe to buy for kids ^^ After grabbing a bite nearby, stop by and get a few as a little walking snack. Not a bad idea.

Recommended for taiyaki lovers and anyone wanting to try sugarcane-infused snacks &a(*´∀｀*)人(*´∀｀*)&a

Ganzhe Shao · Taiyaki Honpo｜Facebook｜Phone 07-5506099
Address: No. 259, Yucheng Road, Zuoying District, Kaohsiung City (at Sugarcane Bubble Arcade) | Business Hours: 11:00–19:00

Huli Xiaohaihai
Life is about experiences, and living is about trying new things. “Taste” is highly subjective—only when expectations are met and emotions are stirred can the flavor of love truly be savored.
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