Ice-cold and addictive fun—A lazy guide to Tainan’s 7 ultra-popular vending machines

Photos & text byHualululu

Alright—what’s hot in Tainan lately? Even Lulu doesn’t know why, but it’s definitely trending. Here’s a summary of Tainan’s vending machine locations and restocking times (a Tainan lazy guide). | Longevity Milk | Royal Milk | Furry Milk | Young Fresh Meat Milk Tea | Mua Mua Da | Senlin Yogurt | Aside from the endless stream of milk bottles to chase, I truly think milk tea deserves to be named one of Tainan’s specialties—another big trend being unmanned vending machines themselves.

When it comes to vending machines, what’s inside is the real highlight. Definitely not coffee, cola, or boring mineral water—that’d be no fun at all. It has to be milk, and the cuter or more “moe” the design, the more popular it gets. Even though we’re not sure how long this vending machine craze will last, let’s take a look back at all the milk we chased together this year.

This piece compiles info on Tainan’s current 7 super-popular vending machines. Friends who are interested can check it out. But my advice is to just try your luck when you pass by—after all, it’s just milk. Don’t go too far out of your way for it. Some purchases are just spontaneous—you grab it if you see it. So the photos here are just simple phone snaps.

Speaking of the originator of Tainan’s vending machine craze, you have to mention Longevity Milk. It was originally placed on Weimin Street, but after media coverage caused a huge sensation, people started lining up at the crack of dawn just to get their hands on that bottle of milk. Wait… isn’t it the same if you just buy it at the store? Isn’t it the same? Isn’t it the same? Because your own milk has to be dispensed by YOU!!!! (Just kidding)

After relocating to Xihua South Street, it switched to irregular restocking. So no more lining up—just grab it if it’s there when you pass by. Fortune favors the bold (or the milk-thirsty)!

Longevity Milk Vending Machine
No. 28, Xihua South Street, West Central District, Tainan City
Irregular restocking
Longevity Milk, Wheat Milk, Matcha Milk (limited edition items)
$35~$55

Fufa Brand also sells milk—but calling it a vending machine is more like calling it an honor system shop. Just toss in your coins, open the fridge yourself, and take what you want. The packaging leans into Fufa’s retro style, and the taste is straightforward milk tea—not bad, but made with powdered creamer. Before I tried Royal Milk, I thought this had the best value, but now the highest CP (cost-performance) goes to Royal Milk’s fresh milk tea.

Aside from Furry Milk, they also offer black tea, cold brew tea, and berry tea. By the way, standing in front of the machine while it keeps yelling “Welcome!” was kinda nerve-wracking for me, haha XD

Furry Milk Vending Machine
No. 172, Guohua Street, West Central District, Tainan City (Fufa Brand)
Only displayed during business hours: 13:00–22:00
Furry Milk, Black Tea, Cold Brew Tea, Berry Tea
$30~$40

This store is located within the Asakusa shopping district. Their homemade yogurt ice cream is pretty tasty. It’s a self-made yogurt that emphasizes being free of preservatives, artificial colors, fragrances, and animal gelatin—100% natural. Later, they set up a vending machine closer to the fried chicken shop. The matcha yogurt has a faint, pleasant matcha aroma—it’s not bad, though a bit pricier. Honestly, even if you don’t get it from the machine, the yogurt at the actual shop is delicious enough to make the trip worthwhile.

Yogurt Vending Machine
No. 26, Section 3, Guohua Street, West Central District, Tainan City (next to the Fried Chicken Shop)
Matcha, Sweet Potato, Brown Sugar, Unsweetened, Lightly Sweetened
Irregular restocking
$80~$90

Zhang San Feng’s latest product, “Mua Mua Da,” is sold both in-store and via a vending machine. Alongside the Young Fresh Meat and Young Fresh Lady milk teas, you’ll also find this Mua Mua Da flavor. Sometimes they even have limited-edition Black Milk. Mua Mua Da features a cute moe-inspired design and contains sesame milk—slightly sweeter than usual. If you’re lucky, you might snag all three bottles at once, though the vending machine occasionally acts up... huh?!

Young Fresh Meat Vending Machine
No. 69, Weimin Street, West Central District, Tainan City
Restocked at midnight
Young Fresh Meat, Young Fresh Lady, Mua Mua Da

Imperial Private Reserve Fresh Milk Tea, aka Royal Milk. Originally a bubble tea shop, they’ve recently added a vending machine right outside their store. When I first went and found it sold out, I asked the staff—and apparently, Royal Milk uses a different tea base from their in-store drinks, so it’s only sold via the vending machine. It’s made with fresh milk, comes in a fairly large bottle, and offers great value for money. Currently available flavors include Hokkaido Fresh Milk Tea, Earl Grey Fresh Milk Tea, and Matcha Fresh Milk Tea. Just note the sweetness level can’t be adjusted, so some might find it a bit too sweet.

Royal Milk Vending Machine
No. 17, Yule Street, East District, Tainan City (in front of Royal Private Reserve Fresh Milk Tea)
Restocked daily at 15:00
Hokkaido Fresh Milk Tea, Earl Grey Fresh Milk Tea, Matcha Fresh Milk Tea
Uniform price: $45

The Pocari Sweat vending machine is so cute, it has a nostalgic retro vibe from childhood!! In addition to the usual Pocari Sweat you find in convenience stores, this machine also sells milk, café au lait, and strawberry yogurt—items you can't get at convenience stores.

Yakult Vending Machine
No. 107, Chenggong Road, West Central District, Tainan City (located downstairs from the Yakult company building at the intersection of Chenggong Road and Ci Yin Street)
Restocked during company business hours
Yakult, milk, café au lait, yogurt, and more...
$8~$15

Yu Jian Milk Tea—should I call it "Yu Milk" or "Jian Milk"? Oh no, the owner might want to punch me~ It’s actually a drink shop called “Yu Jian Handmade Tea House.” The vending machine offers a variety of drinks, including matcha lattes, oolong lattes, coffee lattes, and cold-brewed tea. The lattes are all lightly sweetened, so they’re not overly sugary or cloying; the matcha may seem a bit pricey at first glance, but the aroma is mild and the sweetness level is low; the honey oolong cold-brewed tea is sugar-free and very refreshing and mellow—I personally really like it~

Yu Jian Milk Vending Machine
No. 216, Section 4, Ximen Road, North District, Tainan City (right outside Yu Jian Handmade Tea House)
Restocked at 9:00 AM and irregularly during business hours
Uji Matcha Latte, Oolong Milk, Coffee Latte, Honey Oolong, etc.
$45~$90

That's it, the world of milk drinks for me~