Taichung’s First “Afternoon Tea Vending Machine” Lets You Grab Cheese, Cakes, and Milk Tea for Pocket Change

▲Taichung’s well-known group-buying dessert “Spilled Cheese” introduces an afternoon tea vending machine, offering everything from cheese to cakes and fresh milk tea. (Photo credit: Spilled Cheese Workshop, unauthorized photography prohibited)

By Reporter Tsai Wen-jun / Reporting

Now you can enjoy afternoon tea at vending machine prices with just one machine in sight. Taichung’s wildly popular group-buying dessert “Spilled Cheese” has recently launched the city’s first“afternoon tea vending machine”, which sells not only fresh milk tea but also various flavors of cheese and jar cakes. Limited to 30–50 servings per day, once they’re sold out, you’ll have to wait until the next day.

Mr. Xu, the owner of “Spilled Cheese,” shared that while their main service is home delivery and they currently have only a physical counter in Taipei department stores, they wanted the public to enjoy delicious treats and have fun purchasing them. That’s why they introduced this coin-operated afternoon tea vending machine, now selling cheese, jar cakes, and fresh milk tea, making it Taichung’s only “brick-and-mortar” spot.

▲The “Spilled Cheese” afternoon tea vending machine. (Photo credit: Spilled Cheese Workshop, unauthorized photography prohibited)

The “Spilled Cheese Afternoon Tea Vending Machine” offers a variety of flavors for its fresh milk tea, jar cakes, and cheese. Among them,the fresh milk tea comes in three options: matcha, original, and cocoa; the jar cakes include three flavors—taro, mango, and chocolate; while the cheese selection boasts the most variety with six flavors: cranberry, red bean, mango, strawberry, chocolate, and taro.

▲“Spilled Cheese” fresh milk teas, from left to right: matcha, original, and cocoa. (Photo credit: Spilled Cheese Workshop, unauthorized photography prohibited)

The enduring popularity of Spilled Cheese is largely due to their commitment to “natural” ingredients and daily freshly made products. Mrs. Xu, the owner, explained that for their fresh milk tea, they prioritize high-concentration milk, resulting in a richer milk flavor with less noticeable tea taste. They also keep the sweetness level low so it’s not overly sweet, aiming to deliver the purest taste of fresh milk tea.

Additionally, different milk tea flavors use carefully selected ingredients—for example, the matcha milk tea uses matcha powder imported from Kyoto, while the cocoa milk tea features Belgian chocolate powder CocoBerry blended into the drink.

▲“Spilled Cheese” cheese, available in six flavors. (Photo credit: Spilled Cheese Workshop, unauthorized photography prohibited)

As for their flagship product, “Spilled Cheese,” it has long been made purely with milk and is uniquely characterized by containing no added water, using only fresh cream for a richer taste. Though it takes longer to set, the result is a dense and creamy milk cheese experience.

The fruit jams drizzled on the six cheese flavors are also made fresh daily. For example, the mango jam uses mangoes bought fresh from the market every morning; the cranberry jam is made from Canadian-imported berries; the red bean jam is prepared with locally sourced Taiwanese red beans; and the taro flavor uses taro from Dajia, featuring both taro paste and candied taro chunks. No matter which flavor you choose, you can taste the makers’ dedication.

▲“Spilled Cheese” jar cakes, the photo above shows the taro flavor. (Photo credit: Spilled Cheese Workshop, unauthorized photography prohibited)

▲“Spilled Cheese” jar cakes, the photo above shows the mango flavor. (Photo credit: Spilled Cheese Workshop, unauthorized photography prohibited)

The adorable-looking jar cakes are also a big hit with customers. Mr. Xu explained that the jar cakes are made by layering simple sponge cake with fresh fruit. The sponge cake has a soft and moist texture, and the fresh mangoes and honey taro from Dajia are also used on the day they’re purchased.

The “Spilled Cheese Afternoon Tea Vending Machine” has only been open for four days, yet there’s already a long queue every day, with products selling out instantly upon restocking. Mr. Xu noted thatthe vending machine is restocked daily at 3 PM, and since all items are refrigerated with a one-day shelf life, it’s best to consume them immediately after opening.

▲The “Spilled Cheese” vending machine has drawn long lines since its launch just four days ago. (Photo credit: Spilled Cheese Workshop, unauthorized photography prohibited)

“Spilled Cheese Afternoon Tea Vending Machine”
Address: No. 74, Fengjia Rd., Taichung
Prices:
Spilled Cheese: 60 TWD each
Jar Cake: 100 TWD each
Fresh Milk Tea: 50 TWD per bottle
Spilled Cheese Workshop Facebook (← Click to visit)

Interview Afterword: Beyond the story lies the deep affection that Boss Xu holds for his wife, Y.

▲ The “Exploding Cheese” being carefully crafted in progress – Boss’s wife, Y (Photo provided upon permission from her husband, Boss Xu, who hopes to share her image with readers).