Written/Compiled & Reported by Li Xinyi | Source: Monocle Editorial Department

Taiwan is a food paradise, and its long-established local souvenirs are perfect companions for travel or festive gifting. Wondering what distinctive souvenirs you can find across northern, central, southern, eastern Taiwan, and the outlying islands? We’ve carefully selected 22 renowned old shops from Taipei, Taichung, and Tainan—check out which ones made the list? Next Friday’s special feature will focus on the unique souvenirs of eastern Taiwan and the outlying islands, along with fresh new offerings from various regions, such as Hualien’s rose quartz pineapple cakes and Taitung’s Angry Birds buns. Novel yet deeply rooted in local flavor, they let you savor Taiwan through both taste and sight.

Taipei

1. Pineapple Cake

The classic version of pineapple cake features a tangy-sweet filling paired with a crisp and refreshing crust, leaving a memorable aftertaste. Currently, the most popular pineapple cakes in Taipei come from shops like Wei Ge, Jia De, Li Hu, and Shi Yun. These pineapple cakes not only preserve traditional recipes but also incorporate creative, health-conscious elements, making them not just delicious but also a healthier treat.

◎ Wei Ge Pineapple Cake

Address: No. 27, Section 3, Chengde Road, Taipei City

Phone: (02)2599-7533

Business Hours: 08:00–22:00

Website: www.taiwan-vigor.com.tw/front/bin/home.phtml

◎ Jia De Pineapple Cake

Address: No. 88, Section 5, Nanjing East Road, Taipei City

Phone: (02)8787-8186

Price: NT$25 each

Business Hours: 07:30–21:30

Website: www.chiate88.com

◎ Li Hu Pineapple Cake

Address: No. 90, Ren 3rd Road, Ren’ai District, Keelung City

Phone: (02)2422-3007

Price: NT$4 each

Business Hours: 10:00–21:30

Website: www.leehu.com.tw

◎ Shi Yun Pineapple Cake

Address: No. 78, Chengdu Road, Taipei City

Phone: (02)2331-4578

Business Hours: 08:00–22:20

Price: NT$380 for a gift box of 12 three-color pineapple cakes

Website: www.olympiafoods.com.tw

2. Lu Wei (Braised Delicacies)

Due to the different slaughtering times of chickens and ducks at the market, Lao Tian Lu ensures the utmost freshness by personally purchasing freshly butchered chickens and ducks from the market twice a day. These are then marinated with 15 kinds of Chinese medicinal herbs and Yilan Sanxing scallions to create a richly flavored braised dish. Over fifty years later, the fragrant braised delicacies still draw food lovers in droves.

◎ Lao Tian Lu

Address: No. 55, Section 2, Wuchang Street, Taipei City

Phone: (02)2361-5588

Business Hours: 09:30–22:00

Price: Duck wing 1 piece NT$27, duck tongue 1 portion (large) NT$170, (small) NT$140

Website: www.lautianlu.com.tw

3. Cheese Cake

AMO’s premium high-calcium cheese cake is a light cheese variety with a moist texture that melts in your mouth. The batter must be prepared before whipped egg whites are added. After multiple rounds of baking, the cake achieves a perfectly golden crust and a soft, white, delicate interior.

◎ AMO A Mo Premium High-Calcium Cheese Cake

Address: 1F, No. 184, Bangka Boulevard, Taipei City

Phone: (02)2306-3752

Business Hours: Monday–Saturday 09:00–21:00, Sunday and public holidays 09:00–20:00

Price: 1 loaf NT$240

Website: www.amo.com.tw

4. Nougat

Colorful and vibrant like a Monet garden, the assorted flavor nougat features green from Xinjiang raisins and pumpkin seeds, purple-red from cranberries, reddish-brown whole almonds and macadamias, black sesame, and a delightful touch of orange peel. The wonderfully harmonious taste is just as impressive as its colorful appearance.

◎ Li Jia Fruit Workshop Assorted Flavor Nougat

Address: 2F, No. 556, Zhongzheng Road, Xindian City

Phone: 0936-883-885, 0989-280-820

Price: 1 pack NT$220 (300g)

Website: www.leaguer.tw