This is the taste of summer！ Tamsui’s “Chill Street” features 3 must-try ice treats to beat the heat

Travel Center / Tamsui Report

Summer is the perfect time for ice cream！ When temperatures easily hit over 36°C, besides slapping on sunscreen, cooling off with some icy treats is a must Up！ Here’s a list of 3 unique chilly desserts in Tamsui, all located along the familiar Tamsui Old Street. Enjoy them while exploring for a refreshing escape.

▲Buzz buzz～ The cicadas are out in full swing, marking the official start of sweltering summer. With temperatures often soaring past 36°C, of course you’ll want to cool down with some ice treats Up！ (Photo / Visual China)

On sunny holidays, many people think of heading to Tamsui. The MRT station lets you step right into a bustling shopping district, and with its great transport links, delicious food, beautiful sights, and newly opened specialty shops, it’s a place you can visit over and over without ever getting bored. Just exit the MRT and head toward Fort San Domingo, and you’ll find three popular dessert spots along the old street. Just looking at these ice cream treats is enough to give you a refreshing chill, and when you take that first bite and let the ice slowly melt in your mouth during those golden 5 seconds, it feels like the temperature has dropped by 5 degrees！

[Rainbow Flavor Artisan Italian Gelato]

The Rainbow Flavor Artisan Italian Gelato shop is very close to the MRT station, located near the intersection of Zhongzheng Road and Civic Street. Its cottage-like storefront is highly eye-catching. Outside, there are wooden tables and chairs where you can enjoy ice cream in the sun, and inside there’s a bar area and several seats for sit-down dining—perfect for chatting over afternoon tea with friends.

▲The biggest difference between Italian gelato and regular ice cream is that gelato doesn’t contain whipped cream, giving it a lighter texture. This adult-oriented orange gelato contains Cointreau orange liqueur, with very low sweetness and a hint of alcohol flavor. (Photo / Reporter Liao Minghui, same below)

The shop also offers coffee and pancakes, but the most anticipated item is, of course, their signature artisan Italian gelato！ The owner says the key difference is that gelato doesn’t use whipped cream, resulting in a lighter texture. All flavors are handmade by the owner, who spares no expense using fresh fruits as ingredients. He mentions that many customers eagerly await the summer-exclusive mango flavor, and this year it’s a local mango gelato. One bite and you’ll be amazed by how naturally delicious 100% mango gelato can be—it’s truly unforgettable. You’ll also realize that natural flavors are incomparable to jams or syrups.

In addition to the signature fruit series, the owner has also created many unique flavors not found elsewhere, such as pistachio gelato. The owner says just the ingredients for this pistachio flavor cost thousands of dollars. There’s also the adult-oriented orange gelato with Cointreau, offering low sweetness and a subtle alcohol aroma—even guys who don’t usually go for sweets will fall for it.

▲The owner’s original pistachio gelato, not available anywhere else.

The owner says that back when he was studying in Canada, he loved Italian gelato, so after returning to Taiwan, he wanted more locals to experience authentic flavors. Despite the challenges of starting a business, he insists on using only the freshest seasonal Taiwanese fruits to maintain quality—for example, this summer’s limited edition includes not only the universally loved local mango, but also newly developed varieties like jade-skinned lychee and local guava. Each flavor bursts with creativity and care. Notably, even the cookie cups are homemade！ They’re crispy, solid, and carry a delightful cookie aroma that pairs wonderfully with the gelato.

▲This summer’s limited flavors include the crowd-favorite local mango, plus new creations like jade-skinned lychee and local guava—each one brimming with creativity and heart.



[Rainbow Flavor Artisan Italian Gelato]
Address: No. 3, Lane 73, Gongming Street, Tamsui District
Phone: 26225370
Facebook Page:https://www.facebook.com/RainbowWay7303

[Egg-citing Egg Waffles]

These luxurious egg waffles come stuffed with ice cream, red beans, and cookies—such an indulgent sight that no one can resist trying one！ Egg-citing Egg Waffles is located in the middle of Tamsui Old Street on Zhongzheng Road, right next to the corner shop Old Store - Le Soup Dumplings, making it very easy to spot. Originally a Hong Kong street classic, the egg waffle gets a creative Taiwanese twist here, resulting in visually stunning and flavor-packed deluxe versions.

▲The combo of ice cream + egg waffles is super indulgent—kids go crazy for it.

The process starts with baking crispy egg waffles, which are then rolled into a cup shape. Two scoops of sandwich-style ice cream are generously added, followed by a drizzle of sweetened red beans. This is the shop’s most popular summer flavor. It’s a hefty treat in your hands, offering rich layers of flavor that completely satisfy your taste buds.

▲The owner goes all out with the ingredients—the entire ice cream egg waffle is almost as big as a kid’s face！

Besides the original flavor, there’s also a chocolate version. The owner tried over a dozen types of chocolate before settling on COSTCO chocolate chips, which cost 50% more but have a 50% cocoa purity and lower sweetness—chocolate lovers will definitely adore this rich yet not overly sweet taste.

▲The chocolate egg waffles use 50% cocoa COSTCO chocolate chips—high purity, low sweetness.

The trick to getting egg waffles that are both crispy and slightly chewy lies in the “airiness.” Each waffle ball needs just the right amount of hollowness. The owner explains, “If the air pocket is too big or too small, it won’t work. And if there’s no air pocket at all, it just becomes a regular Taiwanese sponge cake.” Mastering the airiness comes down to heat control and technique. He insists the batter must be poured in one smooth motion—no stopping. “Some shops make dual-color egg waffles by layering different batters, but I think they end up tasting more like cake.”

▲The secret to crispy yet chewy egg waffles lies in the perfect “airiness” in each ball.

▲With simple ingredients—just eggs, flour, butter, and water—the right heat and baking technique can create egg waffles that are crispy outside and soft-chewy inside. Many parents buy the original flavor for their little ones.

[Egg-citing Egg Waffles]
Address: No. 118, Zhongzheng Road, Tamsui District (next to Old Street Soup Dumplings)
Phone: 26291486
Facebook page:https://www.facebook.com/DS.EggWaffle

【Xu Tian Ji (Sweet Memory)】

Xu Tian Ji is located at the end of Zhongzheng Road. With its modern and stylish storefront, it’s hard to miss as you walk or drive by. At first glance, it may seem like just another bubble tea shop, but it also offers a variety of cakes and puddings. Their drinks are also unique, focusing on fresh fruits — for example, using a slow juicer to make 100% fruit juice, giving it a thick, smoothie-like texture. Since no concentrated juice is added, it tastes refreshing and light, making it perfect for little ones and those watching their weight.

▲ The 100% slow-juiced fruit drinks contain no additives, making them ideal for kids. The store’s signature vanilla pudding is incredibly memorable — so delicious you’ll want to take a dozen home to enjoy slowly.

The signature item is the vanilla pudding, with a texture that’s between baked pudding and mousse, offering a richness that scores full marks. Real vanilla beans are used instead of artificial flavoring, so every bite delivers a natural, aromatic taste. The caramel at the bottom is more liquid-like, and when paired with the pudding, creates an irresistible flavor combination.

▲ The Sapphire Yogurt Tart (left) is irresistibly gorgeous, with its layered textures and exquisite taste. Made with Anchor butter, fresh blueberries, plain yogurt mousse, homemade blueberry jam, French almond filling, and homemade almond tart crust, every bite is a unique, highly original flavor — there’s zero factory-made feel in this shop.

▲ Another highlight of the store is its freshly baked cakes and tarts. The large strawberries and freshly whipped cream are simply irresistible.

【Xu Tian Ji (Sweet Memory)】
Address: No. 151, Zhongzheng Road, Tamsui District, New Taipei City
Phone: 2628-2128
Facebook page:https://www.facebook.com/sheisdessert

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