Newly opened café in Dajia: Matcha red bean ice with Hokkaido condensed milk

Text and photos by /Mika

I always struggled to find a good place to enjoy desserts and coffee when visiting Dajia for an afternoon tea with my girlfriends. There are plenty of such cafés in Taichung, but not many in Dajia. More importantly, the desserts have to be really delicious, don’t they? Until I sawBanana Mrs.check in at Xing House, I found out a dessert and afternoon tea café had opened in Dajia (yay!), and I immediately made plans with friends to check it out. The flagship store of Xing House’s cheesecake is in Taichung, and I heard that the Taichung branch only offers takeout, but you can dine in at the Dajia location. They serve not only desserts and drinks but also a matcha red bean ice made with Hokkaido condensed milk—and it’s exclusive to the Dajia branch. The texture of the ice is soft, smooth, and delicate, almost like snowflakes. It’s exactly the texture I love, and as a matcha enthusiast, the desserts and drinks are top-notch. This place is definitely going to become a favorite spot for me and my friends.

Xing House is located right next to the old Fudu Theater, a spot well-known to locals in Dajia.

The entire café has a Japanese-style, high-quality interior that feels fresh and cozy. There’s also a small seating area inside, but I didn’t dare take pictures because there were people around.

You can pick your own desserts and cakes from the display case. They’re not cheap—might be a bit pricey for Dajia locals—but with such a nice environment, I think it’s worth it.

Of course, their signature item is the cheesecake. But why didn’t we get any? I only realized while writing this article… I’ll have to make a return visit soon.

When I saw this, I immediately ordered a serving. I think it was 120 NT. It’s a small bowl, but it has a lot of charm—a very Japanese-style matcha flavor.

The drink prices are reasonable, and the matcha-based drinks are especially tasty. The others are good too, all in my preferred refreshing and crisp style.

The business card really matches the café’s vibe.

The table design is quite thoughtful. The original tables are quite small, and ordering a lot can feel cramped. So they specially designed a small side table—it’s such a great design, very considerate for us.

Matcha Red Bean – NT$90

I’ve always loved matcha-flavored treats, so I couldn’t resist ordering the matcha red bean cake. Xing House’s version has a lighter matcha flavor with more emphasis on tea taste and lower sweetness. I think it could be a bit richer for a more intense flavor.

Kyoto Matcha Latte – 90 NT / M 150 NT / L

The in-store and takeout cups look the same, so the Kyoto Matcha Latte isn’t very photogenic, but it’s really delicious—rich, aromatic, and refreshing. It even matches the colors of the matcha red bean cake perfectly.

Obba – NT$120

Brandy-marinated cherries paired with chocolate cake. I love the rich texture—decadent and smooth. It pairs wonderfully with Tieguanyin tea.

Rich Tieguanyin – 45 NT / L

It complements the Obba cake nicely. The rich, sweet Obba paired with the fresh, crisp Tieguanyin cuts through the richness and leaves a lingering tea aroma.

Matcha Red Bean Ice – NT$120

This is an exclusive item at the Dajia branch. When it arrived at the table, it was even more attractive than the poster—the adorable little green mountain of ice. Topped with Hokkaido condensed milk, red beans, and three mochi pearls. The ice itself is soft, smooth, and has a slightly snowy texture. Once the matcha is poured on, it adds a fragrant tea note. Paired with the red beans and condensed milk, it’s sweet, icy, and refreshing—delicious.

I’m actually quite interested in the serving plate—it has a retro Japanese aesthetic that I love. Also, I think the downside of this matcha ice is the mochi pearls. You have to eat them quickly once served because they harden if left too long and aren’t as enjoyable. For this, I really admire...TSUJIRI? LeCha? Mochi pearls never harden no matter how cold the ice gets.

Actually, the real size is about this big. I was worried the photo might mislead you into thinking it’s a huge serving, so I got Bùsǐtù (Undying Rabbit) to act as a scale XD. This is definitely a café I’ll revisit often—the desserts have that sweet-but-not-cloying flavor I love, the drinks are great, and the matcha ice is a must-have in summer.

Xing House Cheesecake Dajia Branch
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Address: No. 95 Zhenlan Street, Dajia District, Taichung City (next to the old Fudu Theater)
Time: 10:00–22:00
Phone: 04-26803285
Website:www.mousecake.com.tw/

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