Taiwan’s oldest century-old preserved fruit shop is located on Anping Old Street — crowds pack the place on holidays

Text & Photos /Shadow

When visiting Anping in Tainan, one must-see spot is Anping Old Street. As one of the earliest developed areas in Taiwan, Anping is home to Taiwan’s first street — Yanping Street, which dates back 300 years. Among the historic shops on the old street, Yong Taixing Preserved Fruit Shop stands out as the oldest, arguably the most ancient preserved fruit store in all of Taiwan. Our homestay happened to be nearby, so we took the opportunity to visit during the evening while looking for a bite to eat. At that time, the shop wasn’t as crowded as it is during the day, leaving more room to browse and pick our favorite preserved fruits.

In fact, there are many shops selling preserved fruits in Anping. During our two-day trip, we bought from three different stores, so our haul was quite impressive. The flavors across shops are largely similar, though some are better known due to online recommendations. Yong Taixing was founded by Lin Yin, a man from Zhejiang, affectionately called “Uncle Yin” by locals. In his spare time from farming and fishing, he used traditional methods from his hometown to pickle preserved fruits. Unexpectedly, they became very popular, and the recipe has been passed down through at least four generations. The pickling technique is a closely guarded secret, handed down within the family and never shared outside, and there are no plans to open branches.

Shops as retro as this one are rare in Anping, and its appearance, reminiscent of the old-time candy stores from everyone’s childhood, draws crowds eager to stock up. Fortunately, we avoided the peak hours and could take our time picking the flavors we wanted. When we couldn’t find a specific flavor, the staff were happy to help.

In the old days, large earthen jars like these were used to make preserved fruits. They look incredibly heavy — I’m not sure if they still use them today.

All the preserved fruits here are sold at NT$50 per pack. The unpackaged ones are stored in barrels like this, waiting for the shopkeepers to portion them out. If your desired flavor isn’t pre-packed, the owner will happily scoop it out from the barrel for you.

Shadow is a big fan of preserved fruits. Looking at those buckets brimming with fragrant treats made my mouth water non-stop — is this what the ancients meant by "quenching thirst by thinking of plums"? Of course, we didn’t just look; we bought some to enjoy later.

The preserved fruits here come in two types: dry and wet. Most of the bagged ones are dried varieties. It’s said there are over 30 types in total, mostly made from plums, waxberries, mangoes, star fruits, olives, and peaches.

On the table, rows of plastic baskets hold pre-packaged preserved fruits, each basket featuring a single flavor with clear labels. But if you’re after multiple flavors, you’ll have to check each basket one by one — not easy when the shop is crowded.

Aside from leaving space for walkways, every inch of the shop — floors and tables alike — is stacked with baskets of preserved fruits. The whole place is immersed in them, making it a paradise for preserved fruit lovers.

Preserved fruits come not only in bags but also in gift boxes with a vintage design — perfect for surprising someone. However, the pre-boxed ones don’t allow you to choose flavors. Most visitors prefer to dig through the shelves themselves to find their preferred tastes, all while enjoying the thrill of a shopping spree.

We bought four flavors for a total of NT$200. Each pack isn’t very large — we just wanted a little snack. After all, preserved fruits are best enjoyed in moderation. Back at the homestay, we emptied all our purchases to take photos. This trip, hands down, yielded the biggest preserved fruit haul yet.

The packaging for bagged items is uniform, with the flavor printed in the top-left corner — just glance there to identify. The shop uses heat-sealed bags, so once opened, it’s best to finish them quickly as they don’t keep well. Another shop we visited, Yi Sheng Tang, uses zip-lock bags, which are much more convenient for immediate snacking and storage.

Traditional methods and a century-old legacy have created a preserved fruit legend. But the owners are content with their current scale and have no plans to expand or open branches. As such, the only shop in Taiwan is often packed with holiday crowds. It seems many people, like Shadow, are huge fans of preserved fruits. But remember, all foods are best enjoyed in moderation. To avoid the rush, try visiting in the evening — the crowds are thinner, and shopping feels much more pleasant. If you visit Anping Old Street, no need to go specifically for preserved fruits. Keep an open mind, and you’ll enjoy the trip even more.

Address: No. 542, Anping Rd., Anping District, Tainan City
Phone: 06-2289271
Business Hours: 10:30–19:00
 

Kaohsiung Food Adventure Blog　Kaohsiung Foodies Facebook Fan Page