Matcha and glutinous rice balls are a perfect match — pour hot matcha over a bowl of red beans. The secret to its deliciousness is right here.

▲ Winter is the perfect time to enjoy a bowl of warm matcha red bean glutinous rice balls. (Photo / Provided by a netizen)jj44220410Authorization: Please do not reproduce without permission to avoid copyright infringement.

By Chen Hanyin / Reporting

Recently, Guilan’s matcha glutinous rice balls have exploded in popularity. With one bite, you can watch the matcha filling slowly ooze out of the rice ball, filling you with happiness. On a cold winter day, nothing beats enjoying a warm dessert. In the summer, the Japanese-style dessert shop “Ice ◆ Kakigōri,” known for its matcha-based shaved ice, has launched an eye-catching winter hot food item — Matcha Red Bean Fresh Milk.

▲ A reinvented Japanese-style dessert that has completely won over matcha lovers. (Photo / From the “Ice ◆ Kakigōri” Facebook page.)

Taiwanese people’s love for matcha is nothing short of crazy. To satisfy the taste buds of matcha enthusiasts across the country, businesses have rolled out a variety of matcha-related drinks and desserts. This bowl of “Matcha Red Bean Fresh Milk” is hitting all the right notes for matcha fans. The combination of matcha, red beans, and mochi balls is truly classic. The warm matcha soup is served separately in a small iron teapot, allowing customers to add as much as they like to their bowls full of red beans.

▲ %Jiamai Dengqian? Fang gu ye shi ren an fan, (ù? Hé zi shèng de hé yòng jiù shì shì. (Image / Provided by corn754Authorization: Please do not reproduce without permission to avoid copyright infringement.

The shop is small, with about 7–8 seats, featuring a simple Japanese-style interior. In the summer, the focus is on selling matcha milk shaved ice and red bean milk shaved ice. Tea-flavored glutinous rice ball shaved ice and seasonal fruit-flavored ices are also popular items. Meanwhile, the winter-launched Matcha Red Bean Fresh Milk has become a little winter joy for regular customers. The owner says he insists on doing everything himself, from selecting ingredients to managing staff. Though the space is small, it allows for more interaction with customers. As for the secret to its deliciousness, it’s very simple — “freshness.” The red beans are cooked fresh every day, and the glutinous rice balls are all handmade, hoping to offer customers the most sincere flavors.

▲ The secret to its deliciousness lies in using fresh, non-leftover ingredients and the owner’s dedication. (Photo / From the “Ice ◆ Kakigōri” Facebook page.)

“Ice ◆ Kakigōri”
Address: No. 155, Chongshan Road, East District, Tainan City; No. 2 Chifeng East Store (No. 46, Chifeng East Street, West Central District, Tainan City)
Business hours: 12:00–20:00