Preserved Fruits Meet Icy Treats: A 50-Year-Old Legacy of Salty-Sour-Sweet Vintage Flavor

Text and photos byShadow

Kaohsiung is famous for the Gong family’s star fruit soup, but in the West Central District of Tainan, there’s also a vintage drink shop called Mitao Xiang that has been around for fifty years. The owner started the business after returning from military service, and in the blink of an eye, he’s now graying. The second generation also helps out in the store. This shop is one of the few in Tainan that still preserves the classic salty-sour-sweet flavor in its icy beverages. A whole row of preserved fruits displayed at the entrance is practically a living signboard—anyone who sees it can’t help but be tempted, especially in this sweltering heat. Skipping a cup here would just be doing yourself a disservice.

Early frozen treats didn’t have things like tapioca pearls or chewy textures. Most were made with salty, sour, and sweet flavors—the tangy-sweet taste is almost like being in love. Tainan’s preserved fruits are quite famous, including Yongtaixing, which has a century-long history, and the later-rising Yishengtang herbal preserved fruits. Combining preserved fruits with icy drinks proved to be a hit, and over fifty years later, this delicious vintage flavor hasn’t been washed away by changing market trends. That alone proves how beloved the salty-sour-sweet combo still is.

Some customers even come specifically to buy preserved fruits, often by weight. Honestly, seeing all the different flavors of preserved fruits, it’s hard to resist their sweet-and-sour charm. Whether eaten on their own or added to icy drinks, they’re definitely refreshing and thirst-quenching.

In addition to jarred preserved fruits, there are also pickled fruits like green mango, pineapple, and star fruit. Adding them to ice creates a nostalgic, tangy-sweet taste that’s quite retro.

The items on the price list are all classic old-school drinks, like plum ice and salty plum ice—older generations would probably feel quite nostalgic seeing these.

Pineapple Ice – 30 TWD
Crushed ice is mixed with pickled pineapple. Unlike typical icy treats loaded with shaved ice, this one has a bit more broth-like texture. With a few slices of pineapple, its mild sourness and fragrant aroma make it genuinely refreshing and delicious.

Star Fruit Soup – 40 TWD
Personally, I feel the star fruit soup here isn’t as rich as the one from Gong’s in Yungkang. The saltiness seems a little low, and the sweetness is a bit higher, making it taste more like a regular beverage.

Finding such a traditional icy drink shop in a modern city is truly rare. The owner insists on using traditional methods to maintain its classic retro flavor—simple yet delicious. No wonder it has won the hearts of so many Tainan locals. Friends from other cities, if you have the chance to visit Tainan, do stop by and try this rare vintage-style cooling icy treat. Highly recommended.

Address: No. 71, Qingnian Road, West Central District, Tainan City
Phone: 06-2284228
Business Hours: 09:30–21:30

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