The cheese bursts forth like an untamed horse galloping free!! Noah’s Japanese-style semi-mature cake gallops across your taste buds.

Text and photos by /Orange Dog Loves Candy

There are as many desserts available online as fish crossing a river, and I often hear colleagues starting another group buy. But it’s hard for me to get excited about buying something I can’t see in person, so over the past couple of years, I’ve almost completely stopped accepting invitations or article requests for online products—except for two brands. One is a brand I’ve grown used to, and the other I personally visited their factory to check out.

And the one I mentioned above that I’ve grown used to is 【Noah NOAH Semi-Mature Cake Specialty Shop】. Coincidentally, they launch new products around autumn and winter every year, so this year is no exception—I’m here to introduce their delicious cakes again. This year, they’ve launched two flavors: Original Flavor Melt-in-the-Middle Cheese Cake and Raspberry Melt-in-the-Middle Cheese Cake.


Ever since Noah introduced Japan’s first semi-mature cake a few years ago, many other shops selling similar sweets have popped up. Some call them concave cakes, others still call them semi-mature... I don’t want to comment too much on which ones are better or worse, but this trend of following the crowd is all too common in Taiwan. For the new year, Noah’s semi-mature cakes also have a fresh new packaging design, with box lids featuring patterns resembling nautical maps.


This gives the semi-mature cake a new sense of adventure. Though still based on yellow, unlike the original three flavors—chocolate, original honey, and Earl Grey tea—the melt-in-the-middle cheese flavor has a cuter emblem, clearly labeled with the flavor name, so you won’t mix them up when ordering as a group.


Another thoughtful detail is that, because the storage temperatures for melt-in-the-middle cheese cakes differ from the original basic version—after all, temperature determines the optimal texture for the best taste—the instructions clearly indicate whether they need to be frozen or refrigerated, so we can keep them in perfect condition after delivery.


Once you open the box lid, you’ll find equally thorough protective packaging. Each box comes with utensils and a cake description. Though it’s just a 6-inch dessert, every tiny detail has been well thought out.


Let’s take a look at the first one: [Original Flavor Melt-in-the-Middle Cheese Cake / 250 TWD / 6-inch]. Open the lid and you’ll see the golden cake body cheered up by sunlight, with the fine snowy cake crumbs on top shimmering vibrantly. The aroma of cheese wafts through the air—if I didn’t have a camera in hand, I probably would’ve snapped a photo right then and there.


In Taiwan, there are countless shops selling cheese cakes, but as far as I know, theirs is probably the only one that presents the cheese cake in this semi-mature, melt-in-the-middle style.


Noah uses pure American cream cheese and organic eggs, stirred thoroughly without adding a single drop of water or flour. That’s why the cake has a firm yet smooth texture—the taste buds are the most direct proof of that.


The bottom of the cake is covered with a handmade chocolate cookie crust, giving it a different texture and aroma compared to the cake itself.


And the moment you cut into it, the half-melted fresh cheese just bursts out like an untamed horse running wild—you can imagine how everyone would go crazy over it like zombies in The Walking Dead XDD!!! The triple-layer experience is really fresh and delicious.


But compared to the original flavor, we actually prefer the [Raspberry Melt-in-the-Middle Cheese Cake / 250 TWD / 6-inch]. Delicate pink cherry blossom-like snowflakes cover the surface of the cake, reminding me of the cherry blossom snowfall I saw in Kyoto back in April. Amid the cool blend of cheese and cake aroma, there’s also a hint of raspberry’s gentle sweet-and-sour tang.


As I mentioned at the start, this is my favorite because it adds a layer of raspberry to the original cheese cake.


Wrapped in its gentle sweet-and-sour flavor, the original cheese cake takes on a more playful vibe. No bias here, haha, but I really do recommend the raspberry flavor more.


After introducing the new flavors, it’s time for our three old friends to make their usual appearance. They’ve also gotten new packaging boxes, though the labels still feature the old Noah logo.


But on the outside of the box, there’s even more thoughtful guidance on how to eat them, with clear, detailed illustrations showing how to store and consume them at a glance. The full list of ingredients is also written out clearly—I really like that!!


First up is the [Chocolate Semi-Mature Cake / 180 TWD / 6-inch]. Its dark, glossy chocolate color exudes a rich chocolate aroma, with sunlight highlighting its captivating charm.


Their semi-mature cakes received a slight upgrade this year—the portion size increased by 10%, and the price stayed the same (with prices rising everywhere and portions shrinking, how do they manage to increase the portion without raising the price?? XD). The cake body remains soft and delicate, with the rich semi-mature chocolate melting into every part of your taste buds.


Because they use cane sugar, I think the sweetness is very well-balanced. And let’s be honest, this is the flavor my colleagues and I order the most eagerly every time.


The second one is the [Earl Grey Tea Semi-Mature Cake / 180 TWD / 6-inch].


It maintains its elegant golden-yellow hue, with the sweetness of honey carrying a faint hint of Earl Grey tea.


It transforms the Earl Grey tea typically paired with Western afternoon tea into one of the sweet dessert flavors—and of course, it performs just as well.


Finally, there’s the original [Classic Honey Semi-Mature Cake / 180 TWD / 6-inch], probably the most widely known classic version. The moment you open the box, the rich aroma of honey bursts out. With its creamy egg-milk and honey fusion, what remains unchanged is that classic emotional touch.

(Photo provided by Noah Semi-Mature Cake)

Noah’s semi-mature cakes use quality ingredients, and anyone who’s tried them probably loves them. Even now, the brand remains very meticulous and careful with every handcrafted cake product. But for now, you can only order them online or by phone (they don’t have a physical store yet).

And then—to keep up with the yellow rubber duck craze that’s been sweeping Taiwan since this year’s Mid-Autumn Festival—Noah’s semi-mature cakes have also launched a limited-time [Yellow Rubber Duck Melt-in-the-Middle Cheese Cake]. The duck design on top is made with white chocolate, so it’s completely edible. But usually, limited-edition items are priced higher, yet Noah has kindly kept the price the same.

I heard the next stop for the Yellow Duck is an exhibition at Keelung Harbor, which will last for about two months. If you don’t want to travel all the way to northern Taiwan to catch the event, ordering a Yellow Duck cake to join in the fun is also a super cute idea!! P.S., a limited-edition Yellow Duck macaron is currently in development and getting ready to hit the shelves just in time for the occasion!!

 
(Photo provided by Noah Raw Cake)


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