From a single tea leaf, a cup of bubble tea and a bowl of douhua to the lights of the night market — sail six stops along Taiwan's coast to meet its flavors and people, and see how a Taiwanese food company carries them to the world.
Along Taiwan's coastline — setting off from the tea hills and finally sailing from the harbor to the world.
Brand Philosophy
Tang Sugar Brand Philosophy: Taiwanese Food and Taiwanese Service, Bringing the Flavors of Taiwan to the World
From the Formosa Oolong that sailed to New York in 1869 to bubble tea loved around the globe, Taiwan has long been sending great flavors to the world. Tang Sugar (Caitang International) is a Taiwanese company proud of the food Taiwanese people make and the service they provide. With consistent ingredient quality, clear partnership terms and verifiable supply capability, we…
It introduces Taiwan's tea, bubble tea, night-market food, fruit and sugar, everyday life and Made in Taiwan, and shows how Tang Sugar brings these flavors and Taiwanese service to partners around the world.
How is Taiwan Stories different from the blog?
Taiwan Stories covers culture, origins and Taiwan through foreign eyes; the blog covers drink recipes, ingredient dosage and sourcing. The two link to each other, so you can go from a story to a recipe.
Grass Jelly and Taro Balls: Stories of Guanxi Grass Jelly, Hualien’s Hot Grass Jelly and Jiufen Taro Balls — Where Taiwan’s Dessert Toppings Come From
Key answer
Grass jelly and taro balls are the two most classic toppings in Taiwanese desserts. Grass jelly comes from a plant in the mint family: the dried plant is boiled into a liquid and set with starch into black jelly. According to the Ministry of Agriculture, Guanxi in Hsinchu has Taiwan’s largest grass jelly growing area, and the hot version, shao xian cao, is said to have caught on first in Yuli, Hualien. Taro balls are chewy little dumplings made from taro and tapioca starch. They are said to have been created after the war by Tsai Lin Pao-yun of Ruifang, and when the 1989 film A City of Sadness brought tourists to Jiufen, taro balls became Jiufen’s signature. Tang Sugar supplies grass jelly, shelf-stable taro balls and other toppings so shops overseas can make Taiwanese desserts.
Black grass jelly, chewy taro balls
In a Taiwanese dessert bowl you will often find grass jelly and taro balls together: in summer, cold grass jelly with taro balls; in winter, steaming hot grass jelly with peanuts and taro balls. Each topping has its own hometown story (further reading: a guide to Taiwanese desserts).
Grass jelly: from the fields of Guanxi to hot grass jelly
Where it grows: Grass jelly is grown in Guanxi (Hsinchu), Xinwu and Yangmei (Taoyuan), Tongluo (Miaoli), Ershui (Changhua) and Shuishang (Chiayi), with Guanxi having the largest area.
How it’s made: The stems and leaves are sun-dried and boiled into a liquid, then starch is added so it sets into black jelly. Without setting, the liquid becomes grass jelly tea or grass jelly drink.
Hot grass jelly: The hot version is said to have appeared in Yuli, Hualien, some thirty-odd years ago, then spread to Zhongli, where it was named with the Taiwanese word shao (hot) before becoming popular across Taiwan. The story is widely told but lacks primary sources.
Taro balls: the sweet signature of Jiufen
The origin story: The most often told version is that Tsai Lin Pao-yun of Ruifang mixed taro with tapioca starch after the war and created taro balls.
How Jiufen became famous for them: Jiufen doesn’t grow taro itself. The 1989 film A City of Sadness made Jiufen a sensation, taro ball shops multiplied with the tourists, and taro balls became synonymous with Jiufen. The long-running shop A-Gan Yi was founded in 1960 as a grocery that also sold shaved ice.
Flavors: Taro balls (taro), sweet potato balls (sweet potato), green tea balls, sesame balls and more.
Grass jelly and taro balls are flavors Taiwanese people grow up with, and they’re popular items in Taiwanese dessert shops overseas. Caitang International Co., Ltd. (brand name Tang Sugar) is proud of Taiwanese desserts and supplies:
Grass jelly: for grass jelly milk tea and hot grass jelly.
This article belongs to Stop 3, Night Markets & Street Food, of the Taiwan Stories series. Series opener: Tang Sugar brand philosophy.
FAQ
What is 仙草 in English?
仙草 is grass jelly in English, and the hot version, 燒仙草, can be written as hot grass jelly dessert.
What is 芋圓 in English?
芋圓 is usually written as taro balls, and 地瓜圓 as sweet potato balls.
Where is grass jelly grown in Taiwan?
Guanxi in Hsinchu has Taiwan’s largest grass jelly growing area, and it is also grown in Taoyuan, Miaoli, Changhua and Chiayi.
Why is Jiufen famous for taro balls?
The 1989 film A City of Sadness brought tourists to Jiufen, taro ball shops multiplied, and taro balls became Jiufen’s signature dessert — even though Jiufen doesn’t grow taro itself.
Can shops overseas use Taiwanese taro balls?
Yes. Shelf-stable taro balls need no freezing, store easily and are ready after heating; exports must meet the destination’s food regulations.
