The Taipei Pineapple Cake Culture Festival kicks off at the Exhibition Hall 1 on August 17.

By Chi Bing-hui, compiled and reported

Pineapple cake has long been one of Taiwan’s most iconic souvenirs, and the annual Pineapple Cake Culture Festival attracts pineapple cake makers from all over the island to participate. This year, the event will be held for five consecutive days from August 17 to 21 at the Exhibition Hall 1 of the Taipei Flower Expo Park. In addition to offering an even wider selection of pineapple cakes for visitors to enjoy, the festival will also expand to include a Mid-Autumn Souvenir Carnival, showcasing the new flavors and business opportunities of Mid-Autumn mooncakes.

This year’s Pineapple Cake Culture Festival and Mid-Autumn Souvenir Carnival are expected to recruit 60 renowned bakeries from across the province. On August 17, a pineapple cake competition will be held, divided into two categories: Traditional Pineapple Cake and Creative Rice Pineapple Cake. The Traditional Pineapple Cake category requires that pineapple makes up over 20% of the filling, while the Creative Rice Pineapple Cake category must incorporate Taiwanese rice in the ingredients. Pineapple cake makers are encouraged to use their creativity to integrate rice-based products into the crust or filling, resulting in one-of-a-kind pineapple cakes.

The second day of the event will feature the “Pineapple Cake Masters Final,” followed by the “Mid-Autumn Mooncake Competition” on the third day. A panel of veteran baking experts and food critics will serve as judges, joining the public in rediscovering the delightful traditional flavors of Taiwan. For more details, please visit the official website of the Pineapple Cake Culture Festival (http://www.fonglisu.tw).