Dessert Special
Savor a variety of desserts in the fruit paradise
The sun in southern Taiwan is nothing short of generous, and its warmth has helped make Tainan City the island's fruit capital. The sweltering summer heat has also given rise to a thriving scene of drink shops, ice dessert shops, and traditional ice parlors, offering everything from fruit shaved ice and starfruit juice to douhua (tofu pudding) and almond tofu. Each spoonful or sip brings out the satisfying flavors of the local area. As the seasons turn, fruit shops and ice dessert shops take turns showcasing summer mangoes and winter strawberries. In this city rich in street food and snacks, desserts and fresh fruit are must-try flavors on any visit to Tainan City.
Ice desserts
Mango Shaved Ice
Tainan’s Yujing is famous for its mangoes. During summer, Tainan’s ice dessert stores are often packed with customers to savor the mango shaved ice. A bowl of shaved ice topped with fresh mangoes and condensed milk is definitely an unforgettable dessert. Mango lovers may visit Yujing Produce Market and bring home baskets of fresh mangoes.
Fruit Popsicle
The fruit popsicles are made with select seasonal fruits. The sweetness of various fruits is condensed into a popsicle, allowing you to taste the multiple flavors of fruits in one bite. For example, the sweet and sour mango popsicle with red guava and kiwi, is a not to be missed dessert for travelers.
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Cantaloupe Ice
Tainan’s Qigu and Houbi districts are the home of cantaloupe. When visiting Tainan, you have to try the cantaloupe ice which is made with half a melon, and topped with strawberry or mango ice-cream. The sweet cantaloupe is truly something to remember. You might want to share the cantaloupe ice with friends as the serving is quite big.
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Iced Fruit Tea
Starfruit Juice
Tainan’s Nanxi District is not only the home of Meiling plums, but also reputed as the “home of starfruits”, and the refreshing and thirst-quenching starfruit juice is definitely a must-try drink. You may like to try the pickled starfruit or the old shop’s candied fruit ice dessert. Crushed ice is added to smoked plum, candied mango, etc., becoming a bowl of sweet and sour dessert to drive away the summer heat.
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Pineapple Iced Tea
Pineapple is one of the three treasures of Tainan’s Guanmiao. The pineapple ice tea uses Tai-Nong No. 17 Pineapple (a.k.a. Golden Diamond), which has simmered for 4-5 hours for the purest taste with no tea leaves or ice added. Experience the natural sweet and sour taste of pineapple. You may also add a few drops of lemon juice to enjoy a different mouthfeel.
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Avocado Pudding Milk
The Avocado produced by Tainan’s Danei is reputed as “Danei’s Emerald”. It has very high nutrition values and is a popular fruit in Tainan’s dessert shops. It can be eaten alone or mixed with milk and pudding to become a smooth and creamy fruit juice. It is a not to be missed fruit juice dessert for visitors.
Fruit Dessert
Specialty pudding
Tainan has many pudding dessert stores, and during the seasons of certain fruits, many would launch season’s limited fruit pudding. For example, Tainan’s unique pudding dessert is served by drizzling Tainan’s mango puree on panna catta and pudding.
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Strawberry dessert
Tainan’s Shanhua is known for its production of strawberries. During the harvest season, Tainan’s dessert shops and cafes serve strawberry desserts such as strawberries with condensed milk shaved ice, and strawberry waffle to attract visitors. Visitors are able to savor the sweet and sour taste of strawberries in combination with different types of desserts. Additionally, strawberries are also cultivated in Tainan’s South District and Guiren, where tourist farms offer picking experiences for visitors.
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Douhua (Tofu Pudding)
Tainan City is home to many old-school traditional sweets, and douhua (tofu pudding) is a must-try treat. Made from soybeans, it has a texture even silkier and smoother than regular tofu. Served hot or cold, it is drizzled with simmered sugar syrup and can be topped with a variety of ingredients, including red beans and peanuts, giving every spoonful the delicious appeal of Taiwanese-style desserts.
Almond Tofu
In Tainan City, where summer seems to last all year, enjoying cold desserts and chilled drinks has become a favorite way to cool down. Tainan City almond tofu is another recommended sweet: handmade almond tofu preserves the rich flavor and distinctive aroma of almonds, and is served with generous toppings such as plump red beans and chewy tapioca pearls, or piled high with crushed ice to bring a refreshing touch to hot summer days.
Tainan ice desserts guide map
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