A Tainan street vendor has been making sugar art for 20 years — this Pikachu is priceless!

Photo & Text /Tainan Food Map

Just caught a Pikachu, and this one is “priceless”!

The traditional sugar art by this 60-year-old man on Yucheng Road shows that Pikachu is currently the most popular. He may not know what Pokémon is, but seeing kids and adults alike so happy with their Pikachu makes him smile. The old man chuckles, “As long as they’re happy, that’s what matters!”

Whenever you pass by Yucheng Road, you might occasionally spot this old man making sugar art. When there are customers, he calmly etches sugar designs onto the iron plate; when there are none, he rests on his reclining chair.

What the old man sells is traditional sugar art — shaping beloved figures with his bare hands (oh — or rather, the cartoon characters from our childhoods!). In truth, his sugar art captures the childhood memories of adults. He says he’s been making Pikachu since 2000.

The old man says, “This kind of candy isn’t really a snack for kids these days anymore. It’s more for adults reminiscing about their childhood. Sometimes the adults who get the candy end up smiling even more than the kids!”

***A-Xiong’s Little Reminder: The old man’s left hand is injured, so he can’t hold the sugar pot for too long. As a result, the sugar art can’t always be made in one go. For those who love it, take your time to appreciate the artistry while waiting for this classic treat.

Xie Longf A-Xiong - Sugar Art
Phone: 0960809026
Address: Intersection of Yucheng Road and Freedom Road (opposite Fang Shifu)
Hours: Irregular

Tainan Food Map
About the Author: Tainan Food Map is run by A-Xiong and Xiao Gao, sharing local southern Taiwanese cuisine and cultural flavors. They also frequently introduce travel destinations across the country, taste famous dishes, capture beautiful scenery, and share Taiwan’s food and unique human warmth with everyone.
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