“Ice-Fire Tangyuan” with Its Dual Textures Is More Than Addictive – A Popular Snack at Taipei’s Tonghua Night Market

▲A creative combo of steaming hot tangyuan and shaved ice gives rise to the Tonghua Night Market’s popular snack — “Ice-Fire Tangyuan.” (Photo / Hu Qili)

By Reporter Li Ziyi / Comprehensive Report

Have you tried “Ice-Fire Tangyuan”? At Taipei’s Tonghua Night Market, there’s a shop that specializes in tangyuan, combining freshly boiled hot tangyuan with shaved ice, then drizzling them with osmanthus syrup or sweet fermented rice with egg. The contrasting hot and cold textures are so addictive they’ve become the shop’s signature dish. Many customers even make special summer trips just to savor this unique treat.

At Yupin Yuan Traditional Handmade Yuanxiao Shop, only tangyuan are sold — and there are just two fillings: peanut and sesame. Their rich, delicate flavor is delicious on its own. The owner got creative by pairing freshly boiled, hot tangyuan with shaved ice to create the unique “Ice-Fire Tangyuan,” then adding osmanthus to make the shop’s popular “Osmanthus Tangyuan Ice.” Reinventing the way tangyuan are enjoyed has also resulted in an unconventional, creative shaved ice.

▲In winter, you can opt for sweet fermented rice with egg tangyuan, which is warm and comforting. (Photo / Screenshot fromYupin Yuan Traditional Handmade Yuanxiao – Ice-Fire TangyuanFan Page)

Not limited to a seasonal offering, the shop thoughtfully serves Ice-Fire Tangyuan all year round. Those who love sweet fermented rice with egg can choose another popular item — Sweet Fermented Rice with Egg Tangyuan, which is especially warming in winter.

Essentially, the menu is quite simple: you can choose tangyuan in peanut or sesame flavors, with shaved ice or hot soup, whether to add an egg (note: egg can only be added to hot options), and whether to go with osmanthus or sweet fermented rice flavor. Though the choices aren’t extensive, their handmade tangyuan have carved out a niche in Tonghua Night Market.

▲ There’s often a crowd outside Yupin Yuan — the place is very popular. (Photo / Screenshot fromYupin Yuan Traditional Handmade Yuanxiao – Ice-Fire TangyuanFan Page)

As you approach Yupin Yuan, you’ll see bottles of bright, translucent osmanthus syrup — a refreshing sight that appears in both shaved ice and hot sweet soups. Nearby are the handmade tangyuan, each one looking adorable.

▲ Osmanthus syrup poured over shaved ice almost resembles edible gold leaf. (Photo / Hu Qili)

When osmanthus syrup is drizzled on shaved ice, tiny golden petals dot the ice, creating a budget-friendly version of gold leaf ice. The subtle fragrance of osmanthus wafts through each bite, yet it’s not overly sweet. If you go for the mixed-flavor tangyuan, you get both peanut and sesame in one bite — the yellow peanut filling and black sesame filling oozing out. For the best taste, enjoy them while still warm, before the ice makes them hard. One bite of tangyuan, one spoon of osmanthus shaved ice, and before you know it, your bowl is empty. They also sell raw tangyuan, jars of osmanthus syrup, and sweet fermented rice, so you can recreate the shop’s delicious offerings at home.

Yupin Yuan Traditional Handmade Yuanxiao – Ice-Fire Tangyuan
Address: No. 31, Lane 50, Alley 39, Tonghua Street, Da’an District, Taipei City
Phone: 0955 861 816