The "little shop on the corner" that older generations fondly remember serves pure white Meinong clear ice.

▲ The clear ice referred to by the older generations. Upon tasting, the clear ice feels rich and smooth, followed by the aroma of bananas. A bowl costs NT$25.

Reported and photographed by reporter Yu-ru You / Kaohsiung

"I remember when I was a kid, I used to go with my mom to that little ice shop on the corner, and we’d have a bowl of that white clear ice. After walking all day in the scorching heat, taking that first bite of ice was something you’d never forget!" The sweet yet distant childhood memories of the older generation always stir vivid imaginations of the past. In Meinong, Kaohsiung, there is an ice shop that has fully preserved this kind of "old-time flavor." The clear ice here has a smooth, melt-in-your-mouth texture and is filled with a strong sense of nostalgia.


                 ▲ The ice shop in Meinong, Kaohsiung, viewed from the road, has a distinct tropical vibe.



▲ The entire wall is painted with blue-themed oil paintings stretching along the wall, as if stepping into a cool paradise.

Located in Meinong, this shopTai Liang Black Tea Clear Ice, established in 1969, is now managed by the second generation. Viewed from the road, the ice shop gives off a tropical feel, and once you step inside, the entire wall of blue-themed oil paintings makes you feel as though you’ve entered a refreshing world. "The most representative item in our shop is this bowl of old-time-style Meinong clear ice!" says the second-generation owner, Wu Yu-jia. The most popular item in the shop is this bowl of pure white clear ice, which looks almost unflavored due to its white color. But Wu Yu-jia guarantees that one bite will definitely amaze you.

                                      ▲ Lei cha ice.

The clear ice, made with pure sugar, uses imported banana oil for flavoring. When you take a bite, the texture is rich and smooth, followed by the aroma of bananas. "The most important part of this clear ice is the banana oil. We tried many versions before specially selecting and perfecting the recipe," says Wu Yu-jia. Although the clear ice may not look remarkable, it serves as the base for many of the shop’s ice products. Its smooth, non-cloying sweet fragrance is the main draw for customers.

▲ Four-fruit ice.
Besides the clear ice, the shop’s lei cha ice and four-fruit ice are also bestsellers. The lei cha ice is made using lei cha from its place of origin, Hsinchu’s Beipu region, with added black rice. When you take a bite, the rich aroma of lei cha fills your mouth, and when drinking the ice through a straw, you can also bite into the black rice grains, blending them in for a unique taste. As for the four-fruit ice, it’s made with four ingredients: red beans, peanuts, aiyu jelly, and pineapple jam. Paired with the banana-scented clear ice, every bite offers a new experience, with sour, sweet, rich, and fragrant flavors bursting in your mouth. It's as if you’re truly reliving what the older generations described—going to that little corner ice shop, having a bowl of white clear ice, and feeling the best of summer.

【Tai Liang Black Tea Clear Ice】
Address: No. 14, Section 1, Zhongzheng Road, Meinong Township, Kaohsiung County
Phone: 07-6812186

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