Tainan Souvenirs – Peanut Candy, Tofu Cheese, Creative Tea Bags

Text & Photography / Chi Binghui

?/p>

Tainan is renowned as a food capital, boasting countless famous snacks and long-established shops. In addition to traditional time-honored pastry brands, many emerging souvenirs have risen to fame through online word-of-mouth. Yet both share the qualities of using genuine ingredients and maintaining an unpretentious, no-frills charm, earning praise from consumers. There are also customizable tea bags that have evolved into creative cultural products, offering a new option for personalized gifting.

1. Grandma Hanjin’s Tofu Cheese

“Grandma Hanjin’s Tofu Cheese,” which has been recognized as one of Taiwan’s Top 100 Tourist Specialties and one of Tainan’s Top 10 Souvenirs, is already a well-known group-buying delicacy. Grandma Hanjin is actually a genuine Taiwanese grandmother with excellent culinary skills, and her “Tofu Cheese” is the most famous. Later, she passed down the recipe to the next generation, who named it after their father’s surname “Han” and mother’s surname “Jin.” Grandma Hanjin’s Tofu Cheese has a refreshing taste, not overly sweet, and is promoted as being low in calories and high in nutrition. Currently, ten flavors have been developed and can be purchased at three stores in Tainan, or ordered online or by phone for home delivery.

Shop Name / Grandma Hanjin’s Tofu Cheese

Yuxian Main Store: No. 285, Yuxian Street, North District, Tainan City, (06)2826089, (06)2828678

Chiji Store: No. 1, Chiji Street, West Central District, Tainan City, 06-2220237, Business Hours: Mon–Fri 10:00–21:30; Sat–Sun 9:00–21:30

Anping Store: No. 760, Anping Road, Anping District, Tainan City, (06)2216580, Business Hours: Mon–Sun 10:00–19:00 (Closed on Tuesdays)

Price / One box of 6 for NT$250, one box of 10 for NT$400, with additional discounts for bulk purchases

Website / www.hjpopo-pudding.com.tw/index.php?op=home

2. Ali’s Peanut Soft Candy

Want to eat peanut candy but worried it’s too sticky or hard? The owner of the time-honored “Ali’s Peanut Candy” is actually a master peanut candy maker. For over 20 years, they’ve insisted on using the highest quality Beigang peanuts, and their handcrafted peanut candy is soft on the outside and crispy on the inside—well-known locally as a delicious regional treat. The peanut candy comes in various flavors including Original Peanut Pieces, Original Crushed Peanuts, Brown Sugar Black Sesame, Japanese Seaweed Peanut Pieces, Okinawa Brown Sugar Peanut Pieces, Cilantro Peanut Rolls, and Red? Pumpkin Seed Peanut Pieces. Each piece of peanut candy is individually packaged.