Popular IG check-in spot in Zhongli, Taiwan: Yuzhi Jintang shaved ice loaded with red beans and matcha jelly!

Text & photos byHappy Cloud

Since last year, I’ve heard friends mention new IG check-in spots here and there. Ah~~~ I feel old now!! I’m not much into using IG for check-ins, but I’ve noticed quite a few popular IG-worthy shops popping up in Zhongli. Besides my favorite European-style bakery...M PAIN ● BOULANGERIE & PÂTISSERIE

[Taoyuan City, Taiwan, Zhongli District] A must-visit for bread lovers—delicious and stylish M PAIN ● BOULANGERIE & PÂTISSERIE.

The European bread at this bakery is really, really good. Yep~~ it can definitely be called the best European bakery in Zhongli, and the place has great charm too!!!

Then another popular IG check-in shop popped up in the alley next to it—Youshihou. Red Bean (Zhongli Branch). This place is kinda over the top. We noticed it when it was under construction, but after three visits with long queues each time, we gave up!! Hmm~~~ maybe fate will bring us there eventually, or perhaps once the hype dies down, we’ll get to try it.

That afternoon, I saw a friend who lives near Chung Yuan University post about a small shaved ice shop, Chen Shi • Commoner Desserts. The ice treats looked very Japanese. My friend said they’ve been getting busier and busier, so after dinner, Cloud and Pipi headed straight there to check it out Up!! (Having an evening tea session) Surprisingly, despite its not-so-prime location, the place had decent business at night!! Plus, with students from Chung Yuan University on summer break, there were still quite a few people inside. It felt like it could be a pretty nice spot.

The Mt. Fuji design at the entrance makes everyone—those coming in and going out—want to take photos. Hmm~~ these days, shops know to include photo-worthy spots, which helps customers promote the place through social media. Hahaha, that’s me too—I even wrote about it!!

Inside, the space is actually quite simple. It seems to be an older-style house, and the ceilings are pretty high, which makes the space feel comfortable. There aren’t many seats, and the size is just right—a small, lightly Japanese-styled shop.

The menu the staff brought over was quite cute, with a hand-drawn style that really had a Japanese vibe. The vase holding flowers on the table turned out to be a Mt. Fuji-shaped beer glass.

Hahaha, what a coincidence—I was just looking atJapan Amazon (amazon.co.jp)this exact cup the other day, and now I see the real thing being used as a vase. Hmm~~ pretty adorable, and it instantly made me think the owner pays attention to the little details.

The wooden box holding the Mt. Fuji cup became a decoration on the shelf, along with some dried flowers. It’s not overly elaborate, but it creates a simple style.

There were also three cloth bags filled with beans that seemed to match the shop’s theme, plus some flags often seen with Japanese desserts. Hmm~~~ it momentarily gives off the illusion of being in a Japanese-style hipster café.

I ordered the Yuzhi Jintang shaved ice. Hahaha, it looks like a huge bowl!! There’s no minimum order here, but everyone has to order something. Pipi couldn’t eat much, so he just got a dessert: “Grilled Mochi.” Hmm~~ simple but tasty. We’ll come back again!!!

Ah~~~ the Yuzhi Jintang shaved ice is seriously a huge bowl!! Topped with tons of red beans, Job’s tears, and matcha jelly. Hmm~~~ such sincerity!!

Even though it was my first time seeing Job’s tears in Yuzhi Jintang shaved ice, they were cooked well and didn’t overpower the dish. Paired with the familiar red beans and matcha jelly, they added a nice touch, and it even gave off a skin-beautifying vibe (hahaha).

Maybe the sweetness has been adjusted, because the red beans weren’t overly sweet—just right for Taiwanese tastes. The raised layer of matcha ice below had matcha flavor, along with condensed milk and syrup, but none of it was too sweet. It felt easy on the palate.

Although the towering ice dessert was a bit tricky to eat, the wooden tray underneath caught any fallen beans, ice, or matcha jelly. Overall, this is a version of Yuzhi Jintang shaved ice I can get behind. At 140 NT$, it’s really full of value!!

If I had to nitpick, I think the mochi balls could be cooked a bit better. I’m not sure if it’s the ingredients or the cooking method, but every time I have mochi in Taiwan, it always feels different from Japan’s. Especially the mochi on the Yuzhi Jintang shaved ice. Hmm... sometimes it’s just a bit off... you know that feeling??

Originally, we wanted to order grilled dumplings, but they were sold out, so we went with the grilled mochi instead. The soy-based sauce with seaweed and seven-spice powder, crispy outside and chewy inside—it was pretty good. Paired with a cup of tea, our post-dinner dessert adventure was a success tonight. We’ll probably come back, and hopefully next time we won’t have to wait in a long line!!

Actually, Cloud and Pipi eat a lot in daily life—we’ve tried way more than what we’ve written about.

We’ll probably share more everyday food experiences in the future. They might not be the most extraordinary, but they’re the things we often enjoy. Friends, if you find any delicious eats in Zhongli, please share them with us too!!
..................................................................... Endless fun in food, drink, and play

Chen Shi • Commoner Desserts
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Address: No. 27, Dayong 1st St., Zhongli District, Taoyuan City
Phone: 03-438-4818
Business hours: 12:00–21:00

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